Boonen’s thrills amid the Tour spills

TOM BOONEN of Belgium took the sixth stage honours yesterday in another day of thrills and spills on the Tour de France.

Boonen, riding for the Quick Step Davitamon team, edged out Australian Stuart O'Grady and German Erik Zabel in a sprint finish after a breakaway bid from Spanish rider Juan Antonio Flecha failed just one kilometre from home.

Flecha had been one of six riders to launch an early breakaway, but as his fellow escapees were reeled in the Spaniard made a solo bid for glory in the 196km run from Bonneval to Angers.