Valverde ready to yield yellow jersey in 2nd stage

Enlarge Photo Caisse d'Epargne rider Alejandro Valverde of Spain wears the leader's yellow jersey on the podium...

Sun, Jul 6 11:06 AM

PLUMELEC, France (Reuters) - Spaniard Alejandro Valverde is ready to yield his yellow jersey when the second stage of the Tour de France takes the peloton from Auray to St Brieuc over 164.5 km on Sunday.

The Caisse d'Epargne leader, who won the opening stage in impressive fashion on Saturday and leads a dozen riders by one second, will retain the overall lead if he ends the day safe in the peloton and the stage is decided in a mass sprint.

But it is unlikely to end that way as the riders will approach the finish line having tackled four minor climbs.

"It is not a stage for the pure sprinters," confirmed race director Jean-Francois Pescheux.

The attackers should be favoured again, with Italy's Filippo Pozzato one of those looking to make up for Saturday's failure.

Valverde, happy to take a longer view, said after winning stage one on Saturday: "I had three goals coming to the Tour - win a stage, wear the yellow jersey and win the race.

"I feel peaceful already as I have already reached two. But obviously it will be hard to defend it in the coming days, so why fight for something you already have."

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