Boonen digs deep to claim photo-finish stage 12 win

TOM BOONEN produced a stunning late sprint to claim a photo-finish win in the 178-kilometre Tour de France stage 12 dash from Montpellier to Castres yesterday.

The Belgian rider’s surge, coming after Euskaltel rider Amets Txurruka and Bouygues Telecom’s Pierrick Fedrigo had led for 125 kilometres only to be caught a kilometre from the finish, saw him pip Erik Zabel to the line by a matter of centimetres.

It was a thrilling end to a fascinating race and leaves Boonen, who also won stage six, with the green jersey – 20 points ahead of Robert Hunter, the third-placed finisher in Castres.