Boonen does it again

ByEurosport

Published 07/03/2006 at 16:08 GMT

For the second year in a row Tom Boonen has won the first two stages of Paris-Nice, again taking a bunch sprint win in front of Australia's Allan Davis. Danilo Napolitano (Lampre) finished third, as the Quick Step leader retains the yellow jersey.

Boonen, the 2005 world champion, took the final assualt on the mountainous 200km stage from Cerilly to Belleville after his Quick Step teammates set him up perfectly for the final sprint for a second straight day.

Quick Step had been given a golden opportunity after the leader for most of the day France"s Nicolas Crosbie (Agritubel) dropped back into the pack at the 10km mark.

CYCLING 2006 Paris-Nice Tom Boonen Quick Step stage two

Image credit: Reuters

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Crosbie grabbed the lead after just one kilometre and held it for 189km, building his margin to 27 minutes at one point. But Boonen said the final sprint opportunity was never in doubt.

"I already told [my teammates] today when the gap was 25 minutes, we'd catch him with 15k to go," Boonen said of Crosby after the win. "In the cold at the final it just kind of kills you slowly."

"I won for my team-mates, because they ride for 25,000 kms at the front each year for me."

"We arrived just in time to make a nice sprint."

Boonen will keep the yellow leader's jersey by a full 17 seconds in front of CSC's Bobby Julich, while Kazakhstan's Andrey Kashechkin is another second back in third.

CYCLING 2006 Paris-Nice Nicolas Crosbie France Agritubel

Image credit: Reuters

Crosbie grabs the polka-dot jersey after leading through the day's five catagory three, and one catagory two climbs.

Crosbie also attempted failed breakaways in th recent Tour of Qatar and Tour of Mediterranean. He was frustrated with his inability to win the stage but said his showing justified team Agritubel's spot in the Tour de France as a wildcard.

"I'm very disappointed and I begin to lose hope about winning my first pro victory at last. But at least it show we deserve to take part in the Tour de France," he said.

Going into today's stage Boonen had promised a more relaxed approach, the same guarantee he was making after Tuesday's win.

"I can tell you that tomorrow, if the fight starts for real, I won't be part of it. I will sit back and watch," the 25-year-old Belgain said.

Follow LIVE coverage of Wednesday's 170-km stage from Julienas to St. Etienne on Eurosport TV and www.eurosport.com

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