European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 10, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse July 2007 stars and stripes Page 39 belgian wins Tours 2nd stage at Home by Jamey Keaten the associated press Belgium Gert Steeg mans won the second stage of the tour de France on monday with an inspirational Victory in his Home avoiding a late crash that slowed Many riders and left them with scrapes and Steegmans led a 12 belgian Fin ish in winning a tour stage for the first he covered the 105mile course on rain drenched roads from to Ghent in 3 48 22 Switzerland Fabian Cancellara kept the leaders yellow what an explosion of emotion it was after the Steeg mans it was really important for the you could feel this enormous pressure because were a belgian Quickstep teammate Tom Boonen of Belgium was followed by Filippo Pozzato of Italy after a sprint among a group of breakaway i think it was a perfect the two of us next to each Steegmans Steegmans said the Victory could help rebuild spirits at Quick a team under pressure amid speculation about there was a big attack from one newspaper on our Steegmans it was a hard time for us especially when you take a people see you As a gang member and not As a team cycling credibility was sent reeling last year because of Dop Floyd the 2006 tour tested positive for syn thetic testosterone and is await ing an arbitration panels Deci to beat their service credit Union is proud to offer you the absolute Best Auto loan rate if we cant beat a competitor Well pay you Low rates and fast approvals mean hassle free shopping for people on the used refinances Are eligible no payments for 90 Days apply at a local Branch or by phone beit Auto loan Rote 39 apr of for iwo Tomt it we or tuft Jet it Fly no far Fate full Cilmet of Alessandro Gert Steegmans of Belgium re acts after crossing the finish line to win the second stage of the 94th tour de France cycling race Between and Belgium on Sion about whether to uphold the positive Cancellara kept the Overall Lead for a third straight Day de spite falling in the crash and injuring his hand with a Little More than a mile to Andreas Kloeden of Germany is 13 seconds behind can and British time trial specialist David Millar is 23 seconds the crash caused a bottleneck for most of the Steegmans led a group of about 20 riders that was Tomas Vaitkus of discovery Channel was taken to the Hospital for an injured right team spokesman Rabice under course because the crash occurred within Miles of the All riders in the main pack were awarded the same time As the stage the three week race returns to France nearly for Good leaving the belgian town of Ware Gem for a 147mile ride to comp Northeast of the main contenders typically dont seek stage victories in the Flat Early stages that Are prone to preferring to wait for tougher Mountain stages to make their Alexandra Vino Levi Cadel Evans and Alejandro Valverde Are All within 40 seconds of can who int expected to keep up in the Alps and a former world Cham Pion with four tour stage Victo said there were no hard feel Ings toward Steeg mans typically helps Boonen but is not supposed to beat its a situation that exists Only once or twice per and Gert has already done a lot for said who took the Green Jersey As top sprinter from mondays stage Winner Robbie when you have the Chance to do its
