Downing captures second stage of Criterium International

RUSSELL Downing became Team Sky's first British stage winner after flying home to win the second stage of the Criterium International in Corsica.

VICTORY: Team Sky's Russell Downing delivered on his promise to claim the second stage of the Criterium International in Corsica 

After his teammates had worked hard to haul in an early six-man breakaway, the 31-year dashed fastest for the line, holding off HTC-Columbia's Michael Albasini and stage one winner Pierrick Fedrigo.

The British team hadn't enjoyed the best start as Australian Simon Gerrans suffered a horrific crash but the Sky riders kept together to keep Downing in the race.

And Norwegian Lars-Petter Nordhaug eventually brought Downing to the fore, leading the Brit to the front where he sprinted home in 1:42.20 minutes.

"I came to the Criterium to win the second stage," said Downing. "The Criterium was the first goal on my list and now I've done it, that's great.

"The boys worked really hard in the final 15km or so then Lars-Petter did a great job to get me to the front and on to the HTC-Columbia train.

"This victory feels very special for me because it's for Team Sky."

In their first race together since last year's Tour de France, Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador finished within the leading group for the second consecutive stage.

Fedrigo maintained his 17 second lead in the general classification ahead of Sunday afternoon's final stage 7.7km time trial in Porto-Vecchio.