Steegmans wins reduced Paris-Nice stage

NEVERS, France -- Belgian rider Gert Steegmans triumphed in a sprint finish after the first stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race was slashed because of bad weather on Monday.

Prologue winner Thor Hushovd of Norway retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after the start was switched from Amilly to La Chapelotte -- cutting the distance from 184.5km to 93km.

"It was quite odd because we were ready to race and then we had to get back in the bus," QuickStep's Steegmans said. "It was quite cold, but in Belgium it's often cold and rainy and we're used to that."

The 27-year-old Steegmans, winner of a stage during last year's Tour de France, finished two seconds clear after powering up the steep finish for a time of two hours 21 minutes 29 seconds.

France's Jerome Pineau was second ahead of Hushovd who leads Steegmans by six seconds overall. Pineau and Dutch rider Karsten Kroon -- he was placed fifth on Monday -- are another six seconds adrift.

Belgian Philippe Gilbert, who finished the opening stage in fourth, is 25 seconds down on Hushovd.

"When we saw the wind blowing so strongly on the route the team decided to take the initiative," Steegmans said.

"First of all to launch an escape and then to try to win in a sprint. But that proved not so easy. Philippe Gilbert, who was stronger than me, moved out front a bit too early and once I made my effort there was no one on my wheel."

Hushovd of Credit Agricole said the wind made the going tough.

"When we found the wind alongside in the final 40 kilometers I stayed vigilant. Everything went well except for the final sprint," said the Norwegian.

"Steegmans set off so strongly he was impossible to follow."

Earlier Slovak Peter Velits, the world junior champion, carved out a lead of more than four minutes along with Dutch teammate Niki Terpstra and Austrian Bernhard Eisel.

They were caught 10 kilometers from the line, with only Eisel eventually finishing in the chasing group.

Italian Davide Rebellin and Briton David Millar found themselves struggling at one point, but battled back to finish at two and seven seconds respectively.

Australian Cadel Evans, second in the 2007 Tour de France, finished in another group two minutes behind.

The race ends on March 16, with Tuesday's second stage taking the pack on a 201km route from Nevers to Belleville.

International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid had urged riders to boycott Paris-Nice because of a dispute with race owners Amaury Sport Organization.

McQuaid has threatened teams with six-month suspensions, fines and bans from the track world championships later this month, which would affect cyclists trying to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. E-mail to a friend