TdF Stage 3 : Dunkerque - Gent

Today the Tour de France entered Belgium and thousands of crazy cycling fans would be on the road to see their Tom Boonen win the sprint in Gent. Sadly enough the rain was a partypooper and this was also an obstacle for the drivers.

The race became a typical sprinterstage. Three men Ruben Perez, Marcel Sieberg and Cedric Herve escaped early and they kept their lead untill 3km before the finish. Then the sprint would start but with a huge fall it became a sprint with a small group. Gert Steegmans started the sprint for Tom Boonen but he was too quick and won the stage before Boonen.

For Euskaltel there was of course the escape with Ruben Perez. In the sprint no one could compete because of the huge fall in the peloton.

Stage Result
1 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 3.48.22
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic ST
3 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas ST
...
57. Mikel Astarloza ST
67. Inaki Isasi ST
68. Ruben Perez ST
73. Haimar Zubeldia ST
74. Jorge Azanza ST
105. Amets Txurruka ST
109. Gorka Verdugo ST
162. Igor Anton ST
176. Inigo Landaluze ST

General Ranking
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 8.36.13
2 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana +0.13
3 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir +0.21
...
16. Mikel Astarloza +0.33
22. Ruben Perez +0.36
79. Gorka Verdugo +0.54
96. Haimar Zubeldia +0.57
117. Igor Anton +1.02
141. Inigo Landaluze +1.08
143. Amets Txurruka +1.08
160. Inaki Isasi +1.16
162. Jorge Azanza +1.16