Boonen clinches victory in second stage of Tirreno-Adriatico

BELGIUM'S Tom Boonen has clinched victory in the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico on Thursday, edging out Rabobank sprinter Paul Martens in the closing stages.

Boonen, who rides for Quick Step, clocked four hours 14 minutes and 13 seconds in the 165km stage, which started and finished in Montecatini Terme, for his third victory of the season.

The 29-year-old has also collected stage wins in the Tour of Oman and the Tour of Qatar this season and had enough in the tank to keep Martens at bay as the reigning Belgian road race champion moved to second in the overall classification.

Martens finished with the same time in second place while Daniele Bennati of Liquigas was third.

Race-leader Linus Gerdemann, who rides for Milram, finished with the main bunch to retain his overall lead, but the German shares the same cumulative time as Boonen.

A four-man group consisting of Euskaltel's Alan Perez, ISD's Diego Caccia, Katusha's Mikhail Ignatiev and Alan Marangoni of Colnago broke from the main bunch midway through the stage, eventually building a lead of more than four minutes.

It appeared as if the breakaway group had done enough to ride clear to the finish, but the quartet was caught by the chasing pack four kilometres from the line.

The seven-stage Tirreno-Adriatico continues Friday with the 159km third stage from San Miniato to Monsummano Terme.

Great Britain's Mark Cavendish, who was 157th in Wednesday's opening stage, was again off the pace as he attempts to be ready for the defence of his Milan-San Remo crown, despite having to delay the start to his season with dental problems.