History repeats for Boonen

Tom Boonen almost crashed in the closing stages before recovering to snatch his third stage win in the Paris-Nice race on Thursday. The Belgian world champion was ideally placed when a chain problem struck with 150 metres of the 193-km fourth stage from S

The Quick Step team leader salvaged the situation in time to beat Australian Allan Davis, as he had done in the first and second stages.

Italy's Danilo Napolitano finished third but was later disqualified. Germany's Stefan Schumacher moved up from fourth to third.

American Floyd Landis, the third stage winner, retained the overall lead with a nine-second edge over Spain's Patxi Vila.

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"Everything was fine before the final sprint. My team mates had done a great job and suddenly my chain slipped, I nearly went over and crashed," Boonen said.

"I was unable to move up one gear but I still managed to keep pedalling and win that great sprint as you all saw," said Boonen who has now won five stages in two years.

The stage was stopped halfway through by a demonstration of students who threw barriers on the course. The peloton was able to start again 10 minutes later.

CYCLING 2006 Paris-Nice Demontrators stage four

Image credit: Reuters

Two young riders, France's Eric Leblacher and Dutchman Bas Giling, staged the longest breakaway of the day, staying in front for 101 kms before being reined in in the last kilometre.

Boonen still insists he has come to the week-long stage race to prepare for Milan-San Remo on March 19.

His Quick Step team will be among the favourites in the Italian classic after Boonen's team-mate Paolo Bettini won the first two stages of Tirreno-Adriatico.

"For sure, things are going fine for us, we're very strong. The problem is that in Milan-San Remo, which is our main goal, we won't be alone in controlling the race as is the case here.

"We'll be the favourite team and everybody will be out to get us. I would say Alessandro Petacchi retains a 60 percent chance to win Milan-San Remo while my chances are 40 percent."

Friday's 5th stage takes the 144 riders from Avignon to Digne les Bains over 201.5 kms.

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