Chavanel gains Tour de France lead

SPA, Belgium, July 5 (UPI) -- Sylvain Chavanel of France finished Stage 2 of the 2010 Tour de France nearly 4 minutes ahead of the pack Monday, claiming the race's overall lead.

Chavanel biked the 125-mile stage from Brussels to Spa, Belgium, in 4 hours, 40 minutes and 48 seconds, seizing the yellow jersey with his second career stage victory.

Chavanel moved up from the No. 89 overall position he had held at the start of the rain-soaked day.

Defending Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of Spain and seven-time winner Lance Armstrong of the United States finished in the midst of the main pack, or peloton.

Armstrong ended Stage 2 in fifth place, 3:19 behind Chavanel, and Contador completed the course in seventh place, 5 seconds further behind.

The yellow jersey holder from Stage 1, Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara, dropped to second overall, 2:57 off the pace.