GHENT BELGIUM(AFP) - Belgian Gert Steegmans stunned a depleted bunch, and himself, to claim the second stage of the Tour de France ahead of Quick Step teammate Tom Boonen here on Tuesday.

Steegmans, known as the sprint lead-out man for his superstar compatriot, beat Boonen and around 25 other riders to the finish after a mass pile-up had caused havoc within the final two kilometers of the rain-plagued 168.5km stage.

Thousands are in Las Vegas hoping to cash in at this year's World Series of Poker, an event that has exploded in popularity in the recent years.

The 189 contenders paraded through central London on Sunday before heading off for the first road stage. It's the first time the world's biggest cycling race has started from the city in its 104-year-history.

Tiger Woods' tournament at Bethesda, Maryland honors U.S. Military personnel, who get in for free. Woods late father Earl was a Green Beret. At a pre-tournament press conference, Woods also talked about his new baby.

DETROIT, United States (AFP) - Chauncy Billups and the Detroit Pistons agreed upon a five year deal thought to be worth 60 million dollars, the Detroit News reported Tuesday, but his agent said no deal was concluded.

Billups cannot officially sign the contract until a National Basketball Association free agent moratorium ends on July 11, but his agent, Andy Miller, told the newspaper the final details have not been concluded.

Car Edwards' stock car was repainted white, with the traditional red stitches of a baseball, to celebrate his first visit recently to the land of Boston Red Sox since the ballclub's owners invested in his NASCAR race team.

NASCAR race team owner Jack Roush has voiced his complaints about the Car of Tomorrow, but says his crew will be able to adapt to the new car.

UPI - The NBA's free agency period began at midnight Sunday, and this year's list includes marquee names such as Rashard Lewis, Pao Gasol and Vince Carter.

The Bergen Record reported this weekend that Carter's team, the New Jersey Nets, likely will offer him a guaranteed four-year contract with a partial guarantee for a fifth year. The total guarantee money for the new deal would be $65 million, the newspaper said.

Carter led the Nets last season with an average of 25.2 points per game.

UPI - Kimi Raikkonen Sunday captured the Formula One French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, France.

Raikkonen ended the two-race winning streak of rookie Lewis Hamilton, whose McLaren finished more than half a minute behind Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.

UPI- A Connecticut man is being questioned for allegedly posting a notice about wrestler Chris Benoit's wife's death on Wikipedia hours before her body was found.

Authorities say the unidentified man posted information on the internet site last about the death of Nancy Benoit allegedly at the hands of the WWE wrestler, the New York Daily News said Sunday.

The former heavyweight champion allegedly killed his wife and son last weekend before killing himself in their Atlanta home.