Chavanel takes TDF yellow

Spa - France's Sylvain Chavanel broke almost from the starting gun to win a rain-soaked second stage of the Tour de France in which most of the favourites crashed.

Chavanel, 31, attacked after 11km in the 201km ride, was joined by seven other riders and finally broke on his own to snatch his second Tour stage victory after a previous one in 2008 in Montlucon.

The three-times French time-trial champion also took the yellow jersey off Swiss Fabian Cancellara. Chavanel leads the Swiss by 2 minutes 57 seconds with German Tony Martin third a further ten seconds in arrears.

His victory, helped by a massive pile-up in one of the seven climbs of the day, was sweet revenge for the Frenchman as he was seriously injured on the same roads two months ago in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic and was long doubtful for the Tour.

"It's a lot of emotion and it shows how the wheel can turn in cycling," Chavanel said.

This time, he was among the few riders not to hit the canvas.

Rain and nerves on a hilly, tricky course, caused havoc in the peloton and nearly ruined the Tour chances of last year's runner-up Andy Schleck of Luxembourg.

A series of crashes took place in the descent of the Stockeu climb, 30km from the finish line and the younger of the Schleck brothers was among the most seriously hurt.

The 25-year-old Saxo Bank team leader was seen holding his bleeding right arm and was able to start again on the bike of his Danish team-mate Matti Breschel.

His brother Frank was also caught in the crash.

But the other two leading favourites in this Tour, defending champion Alberto Contador and seven-times winner Lance Armstrong, who had a big bruise on the thigh, were not spared.

Held up by the pile-up, they found themselves chasing behind the first pack, comprising yellow jersey holder Cancellara.

Escorted by their team-mates, both managed to make their way back into the main peloton.

As for the Schleck brothers, they also finally managed to catch the main pack with 15 km to go, thanks to an intense effort by their team captain Jens Voigt, who led the chase.

At the end of the stage, the peloton crossed the line together at a slow pace in protest against the crashes.

If Tour contenders eventually limited the damage, the stage was a sound warning before Tuesday's 201km stage to Arenberg, which comprises seven cobbled sections and could cause more mayhem.

Stage Two Results:

1. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/QST) (average: 42.9 km/h) 4hr4 0min 48sec
2. Maxime Bouet (FRA/ALM) at 3:56.
3. Fabian Wegmann (GER/MRM) 3:56.
4. Robbie McEwen (AUS/KAT) 3:56.
5. Christian Knees (GER/MRM) 3:56.
6. Jurgen Roelandts (BEL/OLO) 3:56.
7. Thor Hushovd (NOR/CTT) 3:56.
8. Linus Gerdemann (GER/MRM) 3:56.
9. Matthieu Ladagnous (FRA/FDJ) 3:56.
10. Bernhard Eisel (AUT/THR) 3:56.
11. Daniel Moreno (ESP/OLO) 3:56.
12. Fabian Cancellara (SUI/SAX) 3:56.
13. Karsten Kroon (NED/BMC) 3:56.
14. Johan Van Summeren (BEL/GRM) 3:56.
15. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP/GCE) 3:56.
16. Serge Pauwels (BEL/SKY) 3:56.
17. Jeremy Hunt (GBR/CTT) 3:56.
18. Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL/KAT) 3:56.
19. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) 3:56.
20. Martijn Maaskant (NED/GRM) 3:56.
21. Thomas Rohregger (AUT/MRM) 3:56.
22. Danilo Hondo (GER/LAM) 3:56.
23. Luke Roberts (AUS/MRM) 3:56.
24. Carlos Barredo (ESP/QST) 3:56.
25. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) 3:56.
26. Kristjan Koren (SLO/LIQ) 3:56.
27. Mauro Da Dalto (ITA/LAM) 3:56.
28. Pierre Rolland (FRA/BTL) 3:56.
29. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/SAX) 3:56.
30. Aliaksandr Kuschynski (BLR/LIQ) 3:56.
31. Ruben Perez (ESP/EUS) 3:56.
32. Kevin De Weert (BEL/QST) 3:56.
33. Chris Horner (USA/RSH) 3:56.
34. Levi Leipheimer (USA/RSH) 3:56.
35. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/OLO) 3:56.
36. Amets Txurruka (ESP/EUS) 3:56.
37. Rui Costa (POR/GCE) 3:56.
38. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) 3:56.
39. Grischa Niermann (GER/RAB) 3:56.
40. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE/SKY) 3:56.
41. Bram Tankink (NED/RAB) 3:56.
42. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) 3:56.
43. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ) 3:56.
44. Andreas Kloden (GER/RSH) 3:56.
45. Carlos Sastre (ESP/CTT) 3:56.
46. Bert Grabsch (GER/THR) 3:56.
47. Alessandro Ballan (ITA/BMC) 3:56.
48. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM) 3:56.
49. Denis Menchov (RUS/RAB) 3:56.
50. Nicolas Roche (EIR/ALM) 3:56.
51. Janez Brajkovic (SLO/RSH) 3:56.
52. Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC) 3:56.
53. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP/SKY) 3:56.
54. Lance Armstrong (USA/RSH) 3:56.
55. Christophe Moreau (FRA/GCE) 3:56.
56. Christophe Kern (FRA/COF) 3:56.
57. Frank Schleck (LUX/SAX) 3:56.
58. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR/RSH) 3:56.
59. Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ/AST) 3:56.
60. Johannes Frehlinger (GER/MRM) 3:56.
61. Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ/AST) 3:56.
62. Paolo Tiralongo (ITA/AST) 3:56.
63. Inaki Isasi (ESP/EUS) 3:56.
64. Imanol Erviti (ESP/GCE) 3:56.
65. Maarten Wijnants (BEL/QST) 3:56.
66. Ivan Gutierrez (ESP/GCE) 3:56.
67. Volodomir Gustov (UKR/CTT) 3:56.
68. Remi Pauriol (FRA/COF) 3:56.
69. Simon Gerrans (AUS/SKY) 3:56.
70. Alexandre Kolobnev (RUS/KAT) 3:56.
71. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 3:56.
72. Markus Eibegger (AUT/FOT) 3:56.
73. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 3:56.
74. Alexandr Pliushkin (MDA/KAT) 3:56.
75. Julien El Fares (FRA/COF) 3:56.
76. Benjamin Noval (ESP/AST) 3:56.
77. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/EUS) 3:56.
78. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/GCE) 3:56.
79. Iban Velasco (ESP/EUS) 3:56.
80. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 3:56.
81. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) 3:56.
82. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX) 3:56.
83. Daniel Navarro (ESP/AST) 3:56.
84. Rafael Valls (ESP/FOT) 3:56.
85. Gorka Verdugo (ESP/EUS) 3:56.
86. Aitor Perez (ESP/FOT) 3:56.
87. Daniel Oss (ITA/LIQ) 3:56.
88. Egoi Martinez (ESP/EUS) 3:56.
89. Cyril Gautier (FRA/BTL) 3:56.
90. Sylvester Szmyd (POL/LIQ) 3:56.
91. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 3:56.
92. Matthieu Perget (FRA/GCE) 3:56.
93. Michael Rogers (AUS/THR) 3:56.
94. David Le Lay (FRA/ALM) 3:56.
95. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/SKY) 3:56.
96. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 3:56.
97. Arkaitz Duran (ESP/FOT) 3:56.
98. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP/RAB) 3:56.
99. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR/THR) 3:56.
100. Maxime Monfort (BEL/THR) 3:56.
101. Steven Cummings (ENG/SKY) 3:56.
102. Christophe Riblon (FRA/ALM) 3:56.
103. Ruben Plaza (ESP/GCE) 3:56.
104. Mathieu Sprick (FRA/BTL) 3:56.
105. Damien Monier (FRA/COF) 3:56.
106. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/KAT) 3:56.
107. Oscar Freire (ESP/RAB) 3:56.
108. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA/BTL) 3:56.
109. Francesco Bellotti (ITA/LIQ) 3:56.
110. Tony Martin (GER/THR) 3:56.
111. Yukiya Arashiro (JPN/BTL) 3:56.
112. Martin Elmiger (SUI/ALM) 3:56.
113. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA/FDJ) 3:56.
114. David Millar (GBR/GRM) 3:56.
115. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA/ALM) 3:56.
116. John Gadret (FRA/ALM) 3:56.
117. Francesco Reda (ITA/QST) 3:56.
118. Anthony Charteau (FRA/BTL) 3:56.
119. Jerome Pineau (FRA/QST) 3:56.
120. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/BTL) 3:56.
121. Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL/QST) 3:56.
122. Michael Barry (CAN/SKY) 3:56.
123. Remy Di Gregorio (FRA/FDJ) 3:56.
124. Nicolas Vogondy (FRA/BTL) 3:56.
125. Wesley Sulzberger (AUS/FDJ) 4:09.
126. Fabio Felline (ITA/FOT) 4:09.
127. Amail Moinard (FRA/COF) 4:12.
128. Sebastien Minard (FRA/COF) 4:12.
129. Francis de Greef (BEL/OLO) 4:58.
130. Gregory Rast (SUI/RSH) 8:51.
131. Marcus Burghardt (GER/BMC) 8:51.
132. Sebastien Turgot (FRA/BTL) 8:51.
133. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 8:51.
134. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA/LAM) 8:51.
135. David Zabriskie (USA/GRM) 8:51.
136. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 8:51.
137. Rein Taaramae (EST/COF) 8:51.
138. Sergio Paulinho (POR/RSH) 8:51.
139. Lars Boom (NED/RAB) 8:51.
140. Dimitri Champion (FRA/ALM) 8:51.
141. Jens Voigt (GER/SAX) 8:51.
142. Maartens Tjallingii (NED/RAB) 8:58.
143. Koos Moerenhout (NED/RAB) 8:58.
144. Mauro Santambrogio (ITA/BMC) 9:49.
145. Steve Morabito (SUI/BMC) 9:49.
146. Alan Perez Lezaun (ESP/EUS) 9:49.
147. George Hincapie (USA/BMC) 9:49.
148. Mark Cavendish (IDM/THR) 9:49.
149. Mark Renshaw (AUS/THR) 9:49.
150. Lloyd Mondory (FRA/ALM) 9:49.
151. Charles Wegelius (GBR/OLO) 9:49.
152. Mario Aerts (BEL/OLO) 9:49.
153. Robert Hunter (RSA/GRM) 9:49.
154. Christian Vande Velde (USA/GRM) 9:49.
155. Serguei Ivanov (RUS/KAT) 13:32.
156. Brett Lancaster (AUS/CTT) 13:37.
157. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) 13:37.
158. Anthony Roux (FRA/FDJ) 13:37.
159. Sebastian Lang (GER/OLO) 13:37.
160. Adriano Malori (ITA/LAM) 13:37.
161. Daniel Lloyd (ENG/CTT) 13:37.
162. Gerald Ciolek (GER/MRM) 13:38.
163. Nicki Sorensen (DEN/SAX) 13:38.
164. Brian Vandborg (DEN/LIQ) 13:38.
165. Mirco Lorenzetto (ITA/LAM) 13:38.
166. Matthew Lloyd (AUS/OLO) 13:38.
167. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/LIQ) 13:38.
168. Ivan Mayoz (ESP/FOT) 13:38.
169. Dmitry Muravyev (KAZ/RSH) 13:38.
170. Julian Dean (NZL/GRM) 13:38.
171. Simon Spilak (SLO/LAM) 13:38.
172. Juan Jose Oroz (ESP/EUS) 13:38.
173. Dries Devenyns (BEL/QST) 13:38.
174. Jose Alberto Benitez (ESP/FOT) 13:38.
175. Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL/QST) 13:38.
176. Eros Capecchi (ITA/FOT) 13:38.
177. Jesus Hernandez (ESP/AST) 13:38.
178. David De la Fuente (ESP/AST) 13:38.
179. Vasil Kiryienka (BLR/GCE) 13:38.
180. Pavel Brutt (RUS/KAT) 13:38.
181. Samuel Dumoulin (FRA/COF) 16:35.
182. Anthony Geslin (FRA/FDJ) 19:03.
183. Benoet Vaugrenard (FRA/FDJ) 19:03.
184. Matti Breschel (DEN/SAX) 19:03.
185. Stuart O'Grady (AUS/SAX) 19:03.
186. Chris Anker Sorensen (DEN/SAX) 19:03.
187. Niki Terpstra (NED/MRM) 19:03.
188. Roger Kluge (GER/MRM) 19:03.
189. Andreas Klier (GER/CTT) 19:03.
190. Stephane Auge (FRA/COF) 19:03.
191. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRM) 19:03.
192. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU/CTT) 19:03.
193. Grega Bole (SLO/LAM) 19:03.
. Mickael Delage (FRA/OLO) Retired
. Adam Hansen (AUS/THR) Withdrawn