GHENT, Belgium, July 9 (UPI) -- Gert Steegmans won the second stage of the Tour de France, which covered the 101 miles from Dunkirk, France, to Ghent, Belgium, on Monday.
Stage 1 winner Robbie McEwen finished sixth. He rode Monday despite hand and knee injuries suffered in a spill Sunday. Fabian Cancellara, showing obvious pain as he crossed the finish line, was involved in a large pileup with about half a mile to go but retained the overall lead.
That crash involving Cancellara left about 20 racers to fight out the finish in Ghent. Steegmans was able to just hold off Quick-Step teammate Tom Boonen for the stage victory.
Andres Kloeden is in second overall behind Cancellara while David Millar is third.
Stage 3 in the 2007 Tour de France is set for Tuesday. At 142 miles from Waregem, Belgium, to Compiegne, France, it is the longest stage in this year's race. The race has 20 stages covering more than 2,200 miles and ending July 29 in Paris.
