June 8 update: Stage 2 is a southern jaunt parallel to the main highway (A7) that divides the Ardèche and Provence. (Valence and Montélimar are two notable A7 cities just east of today's route) The roads west of A7 that are part of stage 2 are hilly and twisty in the first half of the stage. Like stage 1, stage 2 will have four categorized climbs, but they are more difficult, although, the last climb is 53 km from the finish so there should be enough time for the sprinter teams to bring the race back together if they want to.

The last 5 km are flat, a further indication we'll have a sprint finish in Bourg-Saint-Andéol, a Rhône Valley town in the Ardèche. By the way, you may want to avoid the famous Gorges de l'Ardèche, just southwest of today's finish, in the August, unless you like vacationing with the masses. — Steve

Stage 2 climbs:
Km 11.0 - Côte de Saint-Jeure-d'Ay - 2.1 km at 5.8 % - Category 4
Km 54.0 - Col des Nonières - 4.7 km at 4 % - Category 3
Km 102.0 - Col du Moulin-à-Vent - 10.5 km at 4 % - Category 2
Km 124.0 - Col du Benas - 10.6 km at 4.8 % - Category 2