Gert Steegmans
Encyclopedia
Gert Steegmans is a Belgian
professional road bicycle racer who rides for UCI ProTeam . He has a strong finishing sprint and can compete in the sprint with fellow Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen
.
to two stage wins during the 2006 Tour de France
.
During the second stage of the 2007 Tour de France
, a Liquigas rider fell sideways in the last 3 kilometres causing others to fall. Around 20 riders fell blocking the entire road and leaving approximately 30 riders to sprint for the victory, eventually taken by Steegmans in his home country ahead of his compatriot and team-mate Tom Boonen
, who took over the green jersey by coming second in the stage.
On 6 July 2008, it was announced Steegmans signed a two-year contract with Tinkoff Credit Systems
. In the Tour de France
, he won the prestigious stage at Champs-Élysées
. Team Tinkoff later folded under that name, and the management and ridership re-emerged as Team Katusha
.
Steegmans made headlines in the weeks leading up to the 2009 Tour de France
with his refusal to sign an anti-doping agreement which Team Katusha was trying to get all its riders to sign. The agreement called for any rider who tested positive for a doping substance to pay a fine of five times their annual salary. Steegmans persisted in his refusal even after an ultimatum handed down by the team, which resulted in his not being selected for Katusha's Tour de France squad. Katusha and Steegmans dissolved his contract on 5 August after Steegmans' continuing refusal to sign the anti-doping charter. Team RadioShack
announced that he would be joining the team in 2010 starting with the Tour Down Under
in late January.
On 7 March 2010, during the time-trial for the Paris–Nice bicycle race, he was injured in a whirlwind accident, breaking a collarbone.
1998
2002
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
professional road bicycle racer who rides for UCI ProTeam . He has a strong finishing sprint and can compete in the sprint with fellow Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...
.
Career overview
Although Steegmans was already known in Belgium, he gained more popularity outside Belgium as he piloted Robbie McEwenRobbie McEwen
Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes...
to two stage wins during the 2006 Tour de France
2006 Tour de France
The 2006 Tour de France was the 93rd Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 23, 2006. It was won by Óscar Pereiro following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis....
.
During the second stage of the 2007 Tour de France
2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
, a Liquigas rider fell sideways in the last 3 kilometres causing others to fall. Around 20 riders fell blocking the entire road and leaving approximately 30 riders to sprint for the victory, eventually taken by Steegmans in his home country ahead of his compatriot and team-mate Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...
, who took over the green jersey by coming second in the stage.
On 6 July 2008, it was announced Steegmans signed a two-year contract with Tinkoff Credit Systems
Tinkoff Credit Systems
Tinkoff Credit Systems was a professional continental cycling team based in Italy that had UCI Professional Continental status, raced in UCI Continental Circuits races and when selected as a wildcard to UCI ProTour events...
. In the Tour de France
2008 Tour de France
The 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...
, he won the prestigious stage at Champs-Élysées
Champs-Élysées stage in Tour de France
The Tour de France has finished on the Champs-Élysées every year since 1975. In the first edition of 1903, the finish was at Ville d'Avray; from 1904 to 1967 in Parc des Princes track and from 1968 to 1974 at the Vélodrome de Vincennes track.-History:...
. Team Tinkoff later folded under that name, and the management and ridership re-emerged as Team Katusha
Team Katusha
Team Katusha is a Russian road bicycle racing team which participates in the UCI World Tour, using Focus bikes.- History :At the beginning of the 2009 season, the Tinkoff Credit Systems squad was renamed to Team Katusha. It is organised by the Russian Global Cycling Project foundation, which...
.
Steegmans made headlines in the weeks leading up to the 2009 Tour de France
2009 Tour de France
The 2009 Tour de France was the 96th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on 4 July in the principality of Monaco with a individual time trial which included a section of the Circuit de Monaco...
with his refusal to sign an anti-doping agreement which Team Katusha was trying to get all its riders to sign. The agreement called for any rider who tested positive for a doping substance to pay a fine of five times their annual salary. Steegmans persisted in his refusal even after an ultimatum handed down by the team, which resulted in his not being selected for Katusha's Tour de France squad. Katusha and Steegmans dissolved his contract on 5 August after Steegmans' continuing refusal to sign the anti-doping charter. Team RadioShack
Team RadioShack
Team RadioShack is a professional road bicycle racing team, with RadioShack as the title sponsor, the creation of which was announced on July 23, 2009. Lance Armstrong co-owns and leads the team, which plans to race in the Grand Tours and the UCI ProTour, as well as running and triathlon events...
announced that he would be joining the team in 2010 starting with the Tour Down Under
Tour Down Under
The Tour Down Under is a cycling race in Adelaide, South Australia and surrounding area. The race starts on the third Tuesday of January each year and attracts riders from across Australia and the world. In 2005, the Tour Down Under was promoted by the Union Cycliste Internationale to the...
in late January.
On 7 March 2010, during the time-trial for the Paris–Nice bicycle race, he was injured in a whirlwind accident, breaking a collarbone.
Palmares
1996- 1st
U-17 Road Race Champion
1998
- 1st U-19 Time Trial Champion
2002
- 1st U-23 Time Trial Champion
- 1st Zesbergenprijs Harelbeke
2005
- 1st Nationale Sluitingprijs
- 1st Stage 1 Tour de PicardieTour de PicardieThe Tour de Picardie is a professional multi-stage cycle road race held annually in Picardy, France. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
2006
- 1st Stage 3 Tour of Algarve
- 1st Stage 4 Tour of Algarve
- 1st Stage 2 Tour de PicardieTour de PicardieThe Tour de Picardie is a professional multi-stage cycle road race held annually in Picardy, France. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 1st Stage 3 Four Days of DunkirkFour Days of DunkirkThe Four Days of Dunkirk is road bicycle race around the Nord-Pas de Calais region of northern France. Confusingly, since the addition of an individual time trial in 1963, the race has usually been held over a 5 or 6 day period. Since 2005, the race is organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe...
- 2nd Overall Tour of BelgiumTour of BelgiumThe Tour of Belgium is a four-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium.It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Between 1982 and 1990 several of races were not organised and none at all during the decade 1991 to 2001...
- 1st Stage 5
2007
- 1st Tour de RijkeTour de RijkeTour de Rijke is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in June in Spijkenisse, Netherlands. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.- Winners :-External links:*...
- 1st Stage 2 Tour de France2007 Tour de FranceThe 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
- 1st Stage 1 Volta ao AlgarveVolta ao AlgarveThe Volta ao Algarve is a road bicycle racing stage race held annually in the Algarve, Portugal. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. Due to its early February position in the European calendar, it is used by many riders to prepare for the Spring...
- 1st Stage 3 Three Days of De PanneThree Days of De PanneThe Three Days of De Panne is a mid-week, three-day stage race before the Ronde van Vlaanderen in De Panne in West Flanders, Belgium. It is rated 2.HC by the UCI and is part of the UCI Europe Tour.- Winners :...
- 1st Overall Circuit Franco-BelgeCircuit Franco-BelgeThe Tour de Wallonie-Picarde is a stage race cycling race held annually in Belgium and France. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour- Winners :...
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st Stage 4
2008
- 1st Stage 21 Tour de France2008 Tour de FranceThe 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...
- 1st Stage 1 Paris–Nice
- 1st Stage 2 Paris–Nice
- 1st Stage 2 Four Days of DunkirkFour Days of DunkirkThe Four Days of Dunkirk is road bicycle race around the Nord-Pas de Calais region of northern France. Confusingly, since the addition of an individual time trial in 1963, the race has usually been held over a 5 or 6 day period. Since 2005, the race is organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe...
- 1st Memorial Rik Van SteenbergenMemorial Rik Van SteenbergenMemorial Rik Van Steenbergen is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in September in Aartselaar, Belgium. The race, paying respect the famous Belgian rider of the 40's and 50's, quickly gained importance and since 2005, it is a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
- 1st Trofeo Calvia
2009
- 1st Stage 2 Vuelta a AndalucíaVuelta a AndalucíaThe Vuelta a Andalucía or Ruta del Sol is a regional Spanish road bicycle race. Since 2005, it has been a 2.1 category race on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 1st Trofeo Mallorca
2010
- 3rd Paris–Tours2010 Paris–ToursThe 2010 Paris–Tours was the 104rd edition of this single day road bicycle racing event and is organized by the Amaury Sport Organisation , which also runs the Tour de France.- 2010-10-10: La Loupe–Tours, 233 km :...
2011
- 1st Nokere Koerse