TDF Stage 2 Dunkirk to Gent

Belgian Gert Steegmans(Quick Step) finishes ahead of fellow Belgian and teammate Tom Boonen.
The crashed that occurred 3km from the finish in Gent.
Fabian Cancellara(CSC), who went down in the crash, crosses the finish line.
American champ George Hincapie(Discovery Channel), who also went down, crosses the line, but will continue with just a small cut on his knee and some pain.
Lithuanian rider Tomas Vaitkus(Discovery Channel) crosses the finish line being helped by teammate Alberto Contador. Vaitkus shattered his thumb and will not be able to continue in the Tour de France.

Today brought turmoil and a huge pileup less than 3km from the finish of stage 2 of the Tour de France. Belgian fastman Gert Steegmans finished ahead of teammate Tom Boonen to take stage 2 in Ghent. It is the first TDF stage victory for Steegmans. More importantly man favorites for the race were involved in a hairy crash right before the finish. Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara, American's George Hincapie and Freddie Rodriguez, as well as many others went down and some will not make the start of stage 3 tomorrow from Waregem to Compiègne.

Stage 2 Results

1. Gert Steegmans (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, 168.5km in 3:48:22

2. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, same time

3. Filippo Pozzato (I), Liquigas, s.t.

4. Robert Hunter (RSA), Barloworld, s.t.

5. Romain Feillu (F), Agritubel, s.t.

6. Robbie McEwen (Aus), Predictor - Lotto, s.t.

7. Erik Zabel (G), Milram, s.t.

8. Heinrich Haussler (G), Gerolsteiner, s.t.

9. Oscar Freire (Sp), Rabobank, s.t.

10. Chavanel Sébastien (F), Française Des Jeux, s.t.

Overall standings after Stage 2

1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), CSC, 8:36:132.

2. Andréas Klöden (G), Astana, at 0:13

3. David Millar (GB), Saunier Duval-Prodir, at 0:21

4. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, at 0:23

5. Bradley Wiggins (GB), Cofidis, s.t.

6. Vladimir Gusev (Rus), Discovery Channel, at 0:25

7. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 0:26

8. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Caisse D'Epargne, s.t.

9. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole, at 0:29

10. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), Astana, at 0:30