COURSE: This looping course has a 50km section through Frenchterritory before returning to Belgium on rolling terrain. The last 8kmfollow the Meuse River with a finish in downtown Namur.

FAVORITES: There is a sharp turn just 200 meters from the finishline, a set-up that favors McEwen or Cooke rather than Petacchi or Cipollini.Being on a Belgian team, Lotto-Domo’s McEwen will be especially anxiousto win.

HISTORY: About 45km from the finish, the race passes throughMarennes, Belgium, the birthplace of former Tour winners Firmin Lambot(1919 and 1922) and Léon Scieur (1921). The last of four finishesin Namur came in 1959, when the winner in a mass sprint was Vito Faveroof Italy.

STAGE 2 July 05 Charleroi - Namur (121.173mi/195km)

CHARLEROI:
Starts: 1 (1975)
Finishes: 4 (1957-61-77-95)
NAMUR:
Starts: 0
Finishes: 3 (1952-55-59)