WIGGINS SECOND IN CIRCUIT SARTHE TT

Bradley Wiggins showed his Cofidis professional team that he can also get results on the road with an impressive second place in the 8.8km time trial stage of the Circuit de la Sarthe stage race in France on Wednesday.

The double track pursuit world champion finished just two seconds behind Germany?s Andreas Kloden (Astana), covering the 8.8km around Angers in 10-14, at an average of more than 51km an hour.

Magnus Backstedt showed he is now on form and ready to give is all in Sunday?s Paris-Roubaix with an excellent third place, 12 seconds slower than Kloden. His talented Liquigas team mate Vincenzo Nibali was fourth at 16 seconds.

Thanks to his stage win Kloden now leads the Circuit de la Sarthe, two seconds ahead of Wiggins. France?s Killian Patour, of the American Slipstream team managed by Jonathan Vaughters, is third overall at 11 seconds after finishing third on stage one and fifth in the time trial, 18 seconds behind Kloden.

Italian sprinters Angelo Furlan (Credit Agricole) and Paride Grillo (Panaria) won Tuesday?s opening stage and Wednesday morning?s semi-stage. The four-day stage race ends in Le Mans on Friday.