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1999

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Daily stages of the Tour de France.  Click on any day for a complete report.  Other Tour links will also be added as they become available.  Other Racing News

Stage 17

Steels wins Bordeaux sprint classic

By Francois Thomazeau

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Tom Steels of Belgium (C) raises his arms to win a sprint to the finish of the 200km 17th stage of the Tour de France cycling race from Mourenx to Bordeaux, south western France, July 22. Erik Zabel of Germany (L) arrived third and Robbie McEwen (R) of Australia was second. The tour ends in Paris on July 25. cp/Photo by Jean-Paul Pelissier REUTERS

BORDEAUX, France, July 22 - Tom Steels put past disappointments in the Tour de France behind him on Thursday to win the most coveted stage victory for sprinters in Bordeaux.

The Belgian, disqualified after sprinting to victory in the sixth stage to Maubeuge earlier in this Tour, outclassed Australian Robbie McEwen and German Erik Zabel to claim his third stage win this year.

Steels won the second sprint finish in this Tour in St Nazaire and the third in Laval, but then had to bow four times in succession to Italian Mario Cipollini.

"Last year we did not come to Bordeaux, which is a classic finish for sprinters," said the Mapei rider.

"I had already won in Paris (last year), now I won here, it's perfect," the Belgian added.

Steels, who has now won seven stages in the Tour, having won four in 1998, had been unable to stop Cipollini from making history by winning four successive stages earlier in the race.

But he again prevented Zabel from achieving one of his dreams.

The German sprinter, winner in Bordeaux in 1995 and 1997, was looking for a treble only Eddy Merckx and Walter Godefroot -- now his team director -- had achieved in the past.

His Telekom team mates worked hard for him, leading the sprint for nearly two kilometres to place him in the best position before the line.

But when left on his own, 200 metres from the line, the German was unable to resist Steels' assault, while McEwen surged at the last minute to claim second place.

Should he fail to win a stage in the three days left before the finish in Paris, Zabel could make history as the only rider to twice win the points classification without a stage win.

On the other hand, the German's bid to become the first rider to win the points leader's green jersey four times consecutively was boosted by the bad crash suffered by Australian Stuart O'Grady.

The Credit Agricole rider fell heavily about a mile before the finish and was lucky not to be hurt as dozens of riders at full speed were following him.

O'Grady was second in the points standings behind Zabel and is now 14 points adrift.

The German will have a rare opportunity to put an end to his two years drought in Friday's 187-kms 18th stage to the Futuroscope theme park, as Steels said he would save strength for the Paris finish.

"The team worked really hard today and I think they deserve a rest tomorrow," the Belgian said.

"I want them to be strong Sunday in Paris for the most beautiful stage finish in the world," he added.

Steels' victory was also a tribute to his Mapei team leader Pavel Tonkov of Russia, who did not start the stage from Mourenx in the morning because of a death in his family.

The stage was halted for one kilometre at the start by a peaceful demonstration by firemen.

Tour de France 17th stage placings/overall standings

BORDEAUX, France, July 22 - Leading placings in the 17th stage of the Tour de France over 199 kms from Mourenx on Thursday:

1. Tom Steels (Belgium) Mapei 4 hours 22 minutes 29 seconds
2. Robbie McEwen (Australia) Rabobank
3. Erik Zabel (Germany) Telekom
4. George Hincapie (U.S.) U.S. Postal
5. Silvio Martinello (Italy) Polti

6. Lars Michaelsen (Denmark) La Francaise de Jeux
7. Pascal Chanteur (France) Casino
8. Gianpaolo Mondini (Italy) Cantina Tollo
9. Christophe Capelle (France) Big Mat
10. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) Casino

11. Elio Aggiano (Italy) Vitalicio Seguros
12. Jacky Durand (France) Lotto
13. Laurent Brochard (France) Festina
14. Francois Simon (France) Credit Agricole
15. Frederic Guesdon (France) La Francaise de Jeux

16. Fabio Sacchi (Italy) Polti
17. Peter Wuyts (Belgium) Lotto
18. Christophe Moreau (France) Festina
19. Ludovic Auger (France) Big Mat
20. Jens Voigt (Germany) Credit Agricole  all same time as winner

Leading overall standings:

1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal 82 hours 25 minutes 30 seconds
2. Fernando Escartin (Spain) Kelme 6 minutes 15 seconds behind
3. Alex Zuelle (Switzerland) Banesto   7:28
4. Laurent Dufaux (Switzerland) Saeco   10:30
5. Richard Virenque (France) Polti  11:40

6. Daniele Nardello (Italy) Mapei  13:27
7. Angel Casero (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros 13:34
8. Abraham Olano (Spain) ONCE 14:29
9. Wladimir Belli (Italy) Festina 15:14
10. Kurt van de Wouwer (Belgium) Lotto 18:35

11. David Etxebarria (Spain) ONCE 19:31
12. Andrea Peron (Italy) ONCE  20:17
13. Benoit Salmon (France) Casino   22:55
14. Roland Meier (Switzerland) Cofidis  23:37
15. Stephane Heulot (France) La Francaise de Jeux 24:15

16. Tyler Hamilton (France) U.S. Postal  25:24
17. Paolo Lanfranchi (Italy) Mapei   26:03
18. Carlos Contreras (Colombia) Kelme  26:46
19. Alberto Elli (Italy) Telekom   28:06
20. George Totschnig (Austria) Telekom    31:58