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Return to Tour de France 2012 Live DashboardStage 02 »
Stage 1 Preview
and Results

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Stage 1: LiègeSeraing
Date: Sunday, July 1
Distance: 198 km
Categorized Climbs for Stage 1:

Km / To Go Climb Length Grade Max Cat Google Earth Streetview
42 / 156Côte de Cokaifagne2.9 km5.1 %n/a4 3D Tour Streetview
49 / 149Côte de Francorchamps1.1 km6.4 %n/a4 3D Tour Streetview
94 / 104Côte de Lierneux2.1 km5.1 %n/a4 3D Tour Streetview
139 / 59Côte de Barvaux1.6 km4.2 %n/a4 3D Tour Streetview
198 / 0Côte de Seraing2.4 km4.7 %n/a4 3D Tour Streetview


View Stage 1 in Google Earth (kml file) or Export the Stage 1 GPX file

Stage 1 start time: Sunday 12:05 CET (10:05:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Liège, BE
Earliest live video: 14:00 CET (12:00:00 PM GMT+0000); Live/delayed coverage options
Approximate finish: 17:35 CET (3:35:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Seraing, BE


This stage preview is available in the following languages:

(We are looking for translations in ALL other languages. Please submit your translation with the stage no. and language in the subject title. If you don't see your preview posted within 12 hours then please resend your preview as an attachment if you didn't already do so because we've had problems with some inline character sets like German.)

Stage 1 preview: Liège → Seraing, 198 km (lumpy/uphill finish)


Philippe Gilbert won an almost identical stage finish to kick off last year's Tour in France

June 29 update: The Stage 1 uphill finish in Seraing, Belgium is almost identical in length and steepness (2.4 km @ 4.7 %) to last year's opening stage easily won by Philippe Gilbert on Mont des Alouettes in France. But, 2012 hasn't been good to Gilbert after his move to BMC so it should be a closer finish. Simon Gerrans, Alejandro Valvarde and Cadel Evans, Gilbert's new BMC teammate and last year's stage 1 runner-up, are also good at these short, punchy finishes. Tour de France debutant Peter Sagan, has shown great versatility in his young career, and he'll be a favorite on any of the flat, rolling and lumpy stages at this year's Tour that end with a sprint finish of any kind.


In 1995, Johan Bruyneel and Miguel Indurain successfully escaped on a similar but less hilly course that finished in Liége where we'll start this year...

... Amazingly, the day following his 30k break in 1995, Miguel Indurain won a 54 km ITT that finished in Seraing

In 1995, on a similar but less hilly Ardennes loop, Johan Bruyneel sat on Miguel Indurain's wheel for 30k in the break before passing him at the line to take the win and the yellow jersey. The next day, Miguel Indurain took revenge by winning a 54 km individual time-trial in Seraing where this year's Stage 1 finishes. Miguel Indurain also took the Yellow Jersey (photo above) that day and went on to claim his fifth and final Tour de France title. The other time Seraing hosted a Tour stage was in 2001 when Erik Zabel won a sprint finish. — Steve

Stage 1 Flyover (00:52 Music)letourdefrance
Stage 1 Preview w/ Bob Roll (02:09 English)nbcsports

Last Km Profile