<p>Belgian Jan Bakelants, a last-minute inclusion on the RadioShack-Leopard Tour de France roster, rode his luck to win the second stage by one second and take the overall leader’s yellow jersey on Sunday. </p>.<p>Bakelants powered away from a six-man late breakaway group with just over one kilometre to go on the 156 kms hilly ride from Bastia and crossed the line with the bunch breathing down his neck. <br /><br />Slovakian Peter Sagan finished second and Polish champion Michal Kwiatowski took third place. <br /><br />“It’s the best day of my cycling career,” said Bakelants. “It’s hard to believe after all the problems I had this year and the previous years. <br /><br />“I had opportunities earlier in my career but I lacked a bit of luck. I had it today.” <br />It was the first professional win for the 27-year-old, whose previous victory came in 2008 when he claimed the prestigious Tour de l’Avenir. <br /><br />“This year I had knee surgery and on my comeback at the Tour de Romandie (in April) I suffered from a knee inflammation,” Bakelants said. “I had to quit and could not take part in the Criterium du Dauphine (this month). But after I did well at the Tour du Luxembourg (third overall), the team took a gamble and took me to the Tour.” <br />RadioShack sports director Kim Andersen told reporters Bakelants had often been injured and had made a bad start to the season. <br /><br />“He was happy to be on the Tour and his mission was to win the second or the third stage,” Anderson said.</p>
<p>Belgian Jan Bakelants, a last-minute inclusion on the RadioShack-Leopard Tour de France roster, rode his luck to win the second stage by one second and take the overall leader’s yellow jersey on Sunday. </p>.<p>Bakelants powered away from a six-man late breakaway group with just over one kilometre to go on the 156 kms hilly ride from Bastia and crossed the line with the bunch breathing down his neck. <br /><br />Slovakian Peter Sagan finished second and Polish champion Michal Kwiatowski took third place. <br /><br />“It’s the best day of my cycling career,” said Bakelants. “It’s hard to believe after all the problems I had this year and the previous years. <br /><br />“I had opportunities earlier in my career but I lacked a bit of luck. I had it today.” <br />It was the first professional win for the 27-year-old, whose previous victory came in 2008 when he claimed the prestigious Tour de l’Avenir. <br /><br />“This year I had knee surgery and on my comeback at the Tour de Romandie (in April) I suffered from a knee inflammation,” Bakelants said. “I had to quit and could not take part in the Criterium du Dauphine (this month). But after I did well at the Tour du Luxembourg (third overall), the team took a gamble and took me to the Tour.” <br />RadioShack sports director Kim Andersen told reporters Bakelants had often been injured and had made a bad start to the season. <br /><br />“He was happy to be on the Tour and his mission was to win the second or the third stage,” Anderson said.</p>