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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Belgian Steegmans stages victory for hometown fans

Associated Press

GHENT, Belgium — The Tour de France veered into Belgium yesterday, and Gert Steegmans responded with a victory before his home fans in a country passionate about its cycling.

"What an explosion of emotion it was after the finish," he said. "It was really important for the team. You could feel this enormous pressure because we're a Belgian team."

Steegmans avoided a late crash that slowed many riders and left them with scrapes and bruises. He led a 1-2 Belgian finish with Tom Boonen in winning a Tour stage for the first time as fans thronged the team bus.

"I think it was a perfect picture, the two of us next to each other," Steegmans said.

He covered the 105-mile course on rain-drenched roads from Dunkirk, France, to Ghent in 3 hours, 48 minutes, 22 seconds. Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara kept the leader's yellow jersey.

Steegmans hoped his victory would help rebuild spirits at QuickStep, a team under pressure amid speculation about doping.

"There was a big attack from one newspaper on our team," Steegmans said. "It was a hard time for us — especially when you take a train, people see you as a gang member and not as a team rider."

Cycling's credibility clearly is on the line amid doping scandals and investigations. Floyd Landis, the 2006 Tour champion, could be stripped of his victory.

American George Hincapie was cut and bruised, and Discovery Channel teammate Tomas Vaitkus of Lithuania dropped out of his debut Tour after breaking his right thumb in five places.