Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel wins crash-marred 2nd Tour de France stage on slick Belgian roads

France’s Chavanel wins Tour de France 2nd stage

SPA, Belgium — Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel has won the second stage of the Tour de France, a rainswept ride in Belgium marred by crashes.

Chavanel appeared set Monday to take the leader’s yellow jersey from Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara, who like 2010 Tour champion Alberto Contador and seven-time winner Lance Armstrong were minutes behind in the pack.

Chavanel jumped out early in a small group in Monday’s 125-mile run from Brussels to Spa. This is the second time he has won a Tour stage during his career.

Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck, the 2009 Tour runner-up, was involved in a spill. He appeared to injure his elbows, but he returned to the race and rejoined the pack.

The Tour ends July 25 in Paris.