The moment of the day came at the end of a typical early stage of the Tour.

Halfway through the sprint for the line at the end of the stage Tom Steels was unintentionally baulked by one of Erik Zabel's lead out men.

The Telekom team had set up an effective three-man train at the front of the fast-travelling pack.

But as one of the riders peeled off the front he lost a lot of speed, blocking Steels' path in a typically franctic bunch sprint.

Steels did well to stay upright, and the former BMX rider did even better to quickly regain his rhythm and finish in first place for the eight Tour de France stage win of his career.

It was a rough and ready sprint - and proved how strong Steels was.

He deserved his victory.