McEwen won the sprint after a small collision with Hushovd

Australia's Robbie McEwen won a bunch finish in Esch-sur-Alzette to take the green jersey as top sprinter.

Hushovd, who needed five stitches after injuring his arm on Sunday, came third, taking a 10-second lead overall.

Spanish debutants Aitor Hernandez and David de la Fuente staged a breakaway of 187km but were brought back late on.

McEwen moved up to second in the general classification, five seconds behind Hushovd, with Belgian Tom Boonen in third.

My goal now is to keep (the yellow jersey) as long as possible - Boonen will want it but my form is good Thor Hushovd

Hushovd, who lost the race lead after hitting an object in the crowd during Sunday's massed finish, did not even know if he would complete Monday's stage.

He managed to grab third place in two intermediate sprints to take the yellow jersey on the road, before gaining another eight-second bonus at the finish.

But there were more hairy moments in the sprint as he collided with McEwen, who also beat Boonen.

"I wasn't expecting it but I wasn't giving up. I didn't know this morning if I could even sprint but you forget the pain," said Hushovd.

"When I tried to pass Robbie he turned a bit left and I touched his foot. I almost crashed so I had to take my shoe out of the pedal.

"My goal now is to keep (the yellow jersey) as long as possible. Boonen will want it when we pass Belgium but my form is good so I think I can make it."

De la Fuente's marathon effort on the second-longest stage of this year's race was enough to gain him the polka dot jersey for best climber.

But the 14 points he gained over five low-category climbs will be dwarfed by those on offer in the Pyranees and the Alps later in the race.

Stage two results:
1 Robbie McEwen (Aus - DVL) 5 hours, 36mins, 14secs
2 Tom Boonen (Bel - QSI) same time
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor - CA) same time
4 Oscar Freire (Esp - RAB) same time
5 Daniele Bennati (Ita - LAM) same time
6 Luca Paolini (Ita - LIQ) same time
7 Stuart O'Grady (Aus - CSC) same time
8 Bernhard Eisel (Aut - FDJ) same time
9 Erik Zabel (Ger - MRM) same time
10 Peter Wrolich (Aut - GST) same time
Selected others:
23 David Millar (GB - SDV) same time
164 Bradley Wiggins (GB-Cof) +6:55

Overall classification:
1 Thor Hushovd (Nor - CA) 9h54min 19sec
2 Tom Boonen (Bel - QSI) +05
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus - DVL) +08
4 George Hincapie (USA - DIS) +10
5 Alejandro Valverde (Esp - CEP) +16
6 Stuart O'Grady (Aus - CSC) +16
7 Michael Rogers (Aus - MOB) +18
8 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita - DIS) +20
9 Floyd Landis (USA - PHO) +21
10 Manuel Quinziato (Ita - LIQ) +24