Tony Gallopin (Cofidis) overcame searing heat to win a hilly second stage of the Tour du Limousin from St Hilaire Peyroux to Allassac.

The Frenchman sprung clear in the final kilometre to take the victory six seconds ahead of the peloton which was led in by FDJ's Matthieu Ladagnous .

Björn Leukemans (Vacansoleil-DCM) safely finished 12th and held on to his overall leader's jersey.

Gallopin showed great aggression in the final part of the 184km stage as he was also part of an attacking group 6km from the finish with Thomas Degand (Veranda's Willems-Accent), Jeremie Galland (Saur-Sojasun), Bert De Waele (Landbouwkrediet), Florian Guillou (Bretagne-Schuller) and race leader Leukemans.

That group was reeled in 2km from the finish, but another burst from the 23-year-old saw him take the victory.

Stage three of four on Thursday sees the riders travel 181km from Lanouaille to St Yrieix La Perche.

Eurosport