Stage 2 Preview and Results

Stage 2: Brussels → Spa
Date: Monday, July 5
Distance: 201 km

Stage 2 start time: Monday 12:10 CEST (10:10:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Brussels
Earliest live video: 14:20 CEST (12:20:00 PM GMT+0000); Live video, audio and text options
Approximate finish: 17:25 CEST (3:25:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Spa

Stage 2 results: Sylvain Chavanel survives a 183 km break including a solo run over the slick Ardennes hills for the win in Spa and the Yellow Jersey

Stage 2 results
1  Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step)
2  The Peloton (sprint not contested)            3:56

General Classification after Stage 2
1  Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step)
2  Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank)            2:57
3  Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia)                    3:07

Stage 2 preview: Brussels → Spa, 201 km (rolling/hilly)

Lots of hills normally used by Ardenees classics in the second half of the stage but none are very difficult

June 27 post: On this the third day of the Tour, we'll have the first KOMs of the race.

Starting at yesterday's finish in Brussels, the Tour continues southeast where the route will get progressively hillier as it heads over the same roads used by the Ardennes classics, Fleche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

In total, there are 6 category 4/3 climbs over the second half of this stage. These climbs are not too difficult, but the roads are narrow so it will be interesting to see how many sprinters remain when the stage finishes in Spa. Jens Voigt believes this will be a dangerous stage with so many fresh guys attempting to ride at the front of the race on narrow roads. The last 2 km are flat/slightly uphill. Apparently, "a Mecca in the world of thermal spas", the host finish was appropriately named Spa during Roman Times. — Steve

  Bob Roll Previews Stage 2 (01:12) — versus
  Bernard Hinault Previews Stage 1 in english and en français (01:04) — letour.fr

A monument to Eddy Merckx at the top of the second last climb of stage 2, Cote de Stockeu. Merckx doesn't like this monument, he says monuments should only be unveiled after a person dies.

Stage 2 Climbs
Km 98.0 - Côte de France - 2.2 km climb, 6.2 % - Category 4
Km 128.5 - Côte de Filot - 3.9 km climb, 4.5 % - Category 4
Km 136.0 - Côte de Werbomont - 4.5 km climb, 3.5 % - Category 4
Km 161.5 - Côte d'Aisomont - 4.5 km climb, 5.2 % - Category 3
Km 167.5 - Col de Stockeu - 3.0 km climb, 5.9 % - Category 3
Km 189.0 - Col du Rosier - 6.4 km climb, 4 % - Category 3

Last Km Profile