Big Gert Steegmans of U.S.-sponsored Quick Step beat yellow jersey holder Thor Hushovd in a four-man sprint to the finish Tuesday and won for the second straight day in Paris-Nice.

Big Gert was in a four-man break with Credit Agricole’s Hushovd, Cofidis’ Sylvain Chavanel and Michael Albasini, one of the Liquigas boys from Italy. They got a 17-second gap on the field with less than 5 km remaining in the 201 km stage between Nevers and Belleville.

After the peleton caught Thierry Hupond of Skil-Shimano and ended his all-day break with about 10 km to go, Hushovd attacked. Big Gert teammate Carlos Barredo chased Hushovd and was joined by Phillipe Gilbert, Chavanel, Steegmans and Albasini. Gilbert and Barredo faultered, leaving the four-man group to race to the finish.

Hushovd retained the yellow jersey by 3 seconds over Steegmans. Trent Lowe of American squad Slipstream-Chipotle has the white jersey as the top young rider. Lowe is fifth overall, 29 seconds behind Hushovd.

Poor weather again plagued the controversial race, which is being held outside of Union Cycliste Internationale’s regulations and under the auspices of the French Cycling Federation apparently in violation of UCI bylaws.

“It was very cold and rainy in the beginning,” Big Gert was quoted as saying on the letour.fr website after the race.

The temp was in the low 50s with rain and clouds throughout the day Tuesday. The forecast for Wednesday’s 165.5 km stage from Fleurie to Ste. Etienne calls for much the same, with a 70 percent chance of rain, according to weather.com.

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