Rodriguez soldiers on, Steegmans injured

By Shane Stokes in Compiegne, France

Fred Rodriguez (Predictor-Lotto) said he was still pretty beat up following Tuesday's Stage 3, having been involved in the massive pileup on the previous day's stage. "I'm pretty sore from the crash yesterday," he said after rolling across the finish line, his arm bearing a big bandage. "My shoulder and my hip are niggling at me. I wanted to help out Robbie [McEwen] really badly today but I wasn't at 100 percent. I also didn't have the confidence to fight. It was disappointing."

Stage two winner Gert Steegmans was another who came a cropper, suffering a fall on the road to Compiege. "I am not really super after the crash," the Stage 2 winner said. "I hope I will be okay tomorrow. It is actually my upper leg [that is affecting him]. On the cobbles when I go hard I lack a little something."

Steegmans spent Monday evening celebrating his Gent success. "We had a little party but not too long, because we had a race this morning."