New Delhi: Gert Steegmans won the second stage of the Tour de France on Monday with an inspirational victory in his home country, avoiding a late crash that slowed many riders and left them with scrapes and bruises.
Steegmans led a 1-2 Belgian finish in winning a Tour stage for the first time. He covered the 105-mile course on rain-drenched roads from Dunkirk to Ghent in three hours, 48 minutes, 22 seconds.
Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara kept the leader's yellow jersey with QuickStep teammate Tom Boonen of Belgium second, followed by Filippo Pozzato of Italy.
Australian Robbie McEwen of the Predictor-Lotto team had won the first stage of the Tour de France on Sunday, a 203-km ride from London to Canterbury.
McEwen had clocked four hours, 39 minutes and one second on a mostly flat 203-kilometre route to Canterbury that favoured sprinters.
Norway's Thor Hushovd was second and Belgian Tom Boonen was third, among the 181 cyclists who had the same time as McEwen.
The victory came despite McEwen sailing over his handlebars and injuring his wrist in a group crash with 20 kilometre to go.
After the win McEwen said that the pain was worth it.
"It's worth that pain to have a stage win in the Tour de France," McEwen was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
"This is definitely one of the best ever. After the crash, I hurt myself – hurt my wrist - but the boys brought me back. I still can't believe I won this stage," he had said.
Comments
0 comment