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CATEAU-CAMBRESIS, France, May 7, 2008 (AFP) - Belgium’s Gert Steegmans of the Quick Step team won a sprint finish in the second stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk cycling race here on Wednesday.

France’s Stephane Auge of the Cofidis team retained the leader’s pink jersey after the 192km stretch from Henin-Beaumont.

Steegmans, who averaged an impressive 40.2km/h, crossed the line just ahead of Australia’s Marc Renshaw and Jean-Patrick Nazon of France.

As in the first stage, it was France’s Anthony Roux who attacked early on and he was soon joined by Britain’s Ian Stannard and Florian Vachon, also of France, though their escape was hampered at the 95km mark when their path was blocked at a crossing and they had to stop cycling for about two minutes.

After more than 170km of breakaway, Stannard and Roux were swallowed up by the main group in the final kilometer.

Steegmans, often the one who sets up Tom Boonen for the sprint, this time took the initiative and left little chance to Renshaw and Nazon.

Thursday’s third stage, the longest of the competition, is a 193km run from Cateau-Cambresis to Saint Quentin.

Four Days of Dunkirk cycling results

Results from the 192km second stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk race on Wednesday:

2nd stage
1. Gert Steegmans (BEL) Quick Step 4hr 46min 50sec, 2. Mark Renshaw (AUS) s.t., 3. Jean-Patrick Nazon (FRA) s.t., 4. Gerald Ciolek (GER) s.t., 5. Stefan Van Dijk (NED) s.t., 6. Jose Joaquim Rojas (ESP) s.t., 7. Elia Rigotto (ITA) s.t., 8. Borut Bozic (SLO) s.t., 9. Tom Steels (BEL) s.t., 10. Matheus Pronk
(NED) s.t.

Overall
1. Stephane Auge (FRA) Cofidis 9hr 11min 00sec, 2. Clement Lhotellerie
(FRA) 9:11.17, 3. Gert Steegmans (BEL) 9:13.55, 4. Ian Stannard (GBR) 9:13.57, 5. Florian Vachon (FRA) 9:13.58, 6. Mark Renshaw (AUS) 9:13.59, 7.
Jean-Patrick Nazon (FRA) 9:14.01, 8. Sebastian Siedler (GER) 9:14.01, 9.
Anthony Roux (FRA) 9:14.02, 10. Mathieu Drujon (FRA) 9:14.03