Boonen sprints to Tour victory

TOM BOONEN defied a raging toothache to win yesterday’s second stage of the Tour de France.

The 24-year-old Belgian, riding for the Quickstep team, timed his sprint perfectly to overhaul Robbie McEwen in the closing metres and take stage honours after a 181.5km run from Challans to Les Essarts in the La Vendee region of France.

McEwen, one of five Australians to finish in the top 10, had to settle for third with Norway’s Thor Hushovd also passing him to come home second on the day.

The yellow jersey was retained by American starlet David Zabriskie who had pipped his compatriot and reigning Tour champion Lance Armstrong to victory in Saturday’s opening time-trial.

Boonen, who had needed dental treatment before the opening stage but still picked up his third career Tour stage win, said: “It was a bit of an uphill finish but my boss told me before the start ‘it looks your sort of finish’.

“I thought it was one for me as well and that’s the way it turned out. I saw Robbie on my right and looked straight ahead and fortunately I won the race.”

Early in the second stage a group of four breakaway riders mounted the first escape of the tour - it lasted 160km and only failed in the closing six kilometres.