Not even a mechanical problem just a few metres from the finish line hindered World Champion Tom Boonen in scoring his third stage win in Paris-Nice. The Quick.Step sprinter again beat Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros-Würth) and Stefan Schumacher (Team Gerolsteiner) across the Rasteau finish line for his third win in four days, reinforcing his leadership of the points classification.
"At about 200 metres from the finish line I had a problem with my bike chain," explained Boonen, who was passed by Davis in that moment. "I had to stop pedalling - thankfully I managed to get the bike back in gear and launch myself into the final sprint." Which he again won by a length over the Liberty Seguros sprinter!
Boonen, who scored his tenth victory this year today in Rasteau, can only be happy at how the race unfolded for him. "I am very satisfied with how things are going so far at the Paris Nice. I’ve got my eyes on the Cannes stage but I think it will depend on how that stage evolves. I’ve already asked an awful lot of my teammates," added the Belgian, who will also be handed the "Oscar of Cycling" by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport next Thursday. The trophy is reported to be a decorated bar of Gold. The "Oscar"-jury consists of the 20 managers of the ProTour teams, the organisers of the three Grand Tours and a group of 27 international champions.
