BELLEVILLE, France -- World champion Tom Boonen
outclassed his rivals again by charging to his second successive
stage win in the Paris-Nice race on Tuesday.
The Belgian outsprinted Australian Allan Davis and Italy's
Danilo Napolitano over the final 300 meters to win the 200-kilometer
stage from Cerilly to Belleville.
Boonen retained the yellow jersey after establishing a
17-second lead over prologue winner and defending champion Bobby
Julich. Kazakhstan's Andrey Kashechkin was third a further
second adrift.
Having won the first two stages in 2005, Quick Step team
leader Boonen will be hoping the feat will once again spark a
successful season.
Last year, the Belgian followed up his promising showing in
France by winning some of the most prestigious classics on the
cycling calendar -- the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix -- en
route to capturing the world championship.
Unheralded Frenchman Nicolas Crosbie had earlier surprised
the favorites when he broke away in the opening kilometer and
stayed in front for 185 kilometers.
At one point he held a 27 minute, 30 second lead but was
caught by the chasing pack 15 kilometers from the finishing line.
"It was a special stage today with a rider in the front all
day," said Boonen.
"It was not easy to decide how to react. Finally we decided
to take the reins and we caught him at the very last minute to
finally battle it out in a great sprint."
Crosbie, who had also staged unsuccessful breakaways in the
recent Tour of and Tour of Mediterranean, was frustrated
with his inability to win the stage but felt his performance
justified the decision by Tour deb France organizers to award his
Agritubel team a wild card.
"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 deb France," he said.
Crosbie claimed the best climber's jersey as a consolation
prize.
Wednesday's 168.5-kilometer third stage will be between Julienas in
the Beaujolais vineyards and St Etienne.