In a show of “turnabout is fair play,” Thod Hushovd (NOR used some of George Hincapie’s (USA) own strategy today to retake the yellow jersey and the lead in the 2006 Tour de France. Despite the injury to his arm from yesterday’s Stage 1 finish line run-in with a huge green plastic hand (which required 5 stitches), Hushovd managed to win two third-place intermediate sprints, earning him enough time bonuses to retake the yellow jersey.

Meanwhile, the stage victory went to Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen who timed his final sprint perfectly, beating out Tom Boonen (BEL) and Thor Hushovd for the win. At the line it even looked like Hushovd might have unintentionally bumped McEwen’s rear wheel, forcing Hushovd to swerve and unclip from his left pedal.

This is McEwen’s ninth Tour de France stage win.

At the end of today’s stage, here are the standings in the general classification:

1. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Credit Agricole
2. Tom Boonen (BEL) Quickstep at 05″
3. Robbie McEwen (AUS) Davitamon Lotto at 08″
4. George Hincapie (USA) Discovery at 10″
5. David Zabriskie (USA) CSC at 16″
6. Sebastian Lang (GER) Gerosteiner at 16″
7. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) at 16″
8. Stuary O’Grady (AUS) CSC at 16″
9. Micahel Rogers (AUS) T-Mobile at 18″
10. Paolo Salvoldelli (ITA) Discovery at 20″