The Credit Agricole man's strength on the uphill finish held off Kim Kirchen and Gerald Ciolek (Team Colombia) to land his sixth Tour stage win as Britain's fast man Mark Cavendish had to settle for 27th.
Thor Hushovd (centre) grimaces as he wins the second stage of the Tour de France between Auray and Saint-Brieuc
Hushovd said: 'I'm not a true sprinter like Mark Cavendish or Robbie McEwen who are unbeatable on flat terrain.
'I don't mind a little hill at the finish.'
Spain's Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) retained the yellow jersey after winning Saturday's opening stage into Plumelec.
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London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures
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EXCLUSIVE: I won't play with Joey Barton, says Adel Taarabt
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Diamond Jubilee: Boat by boat, here is where to watch the Queen's Thames flotilla - VIDEO
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Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party
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News pictures of the day
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Locked up and banned: The Tube drunk whose vile racist rant was caught on film (video)
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London 2012 Olympics: Raising the bar and the Games haven't even started yet. Price of toasting Team GB is £6 a pint! -
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Shrimpy's - review 
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