Boonen digs deep to claim photo-finish stage 12 win
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.