PARIS, France, July 27, 2008 (AFP) – Belgian Gert Steegmans of the Quick Step team won the final stage of the Tour de France here on Sunday.

Steegmans claimed his second career stage win on the race, but his first on the Champs Elysees, in timely fashion having failed to challenge the peloton’s fast men during three weeks of intense racing.

He was led out to the finish in commanding fashion by several of his teammates before driving for the line on his own in the final 150 meters, where he beat Germany’s Gerald Ciolek of the Columbia team.

Spaniard Oscar Freire, of Rabobank, came home in third to secure his first green jersey for the race’s points classification.

Photo by: CorVos Pro