Boom wins Tour Med time trial, takes overall lead
Dutchman wins time trial to take command at Tour Med with three days remaining
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Lars Boom (Blanco) won the stage 2 time trial at the Tour Méditerranéen on Thursday.
Maxime Monfort (RadioShack-Leopard) was second in the 24km test, at 22 seconds, and Anthony Roux (FDJ) was third, 36 seconds back.
“On Wednesday evening, I previewed the course, but I had the tailwind. Today was much more complicated with the side wind. But ok, I felt good,” said Boom.
Boom took the overall lead from overnight leader André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol).
American Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp), who had the best intermediate time lost any chance of winning the stage on the ascent of the 2km, 15-percent Mont Saint Clair. He finished 11th, 59 seconds behind Boom.
Boom is sure to wear the jersey to Mount Faron on Saturday. The third stage, which was to run Friday between Marseille and Saint-Rémy de Provence, was cancelled in its entirety, “due to logistical problems” organizer André Martens reported Thursday. According to the Saxo-Tinkoff team, organizers were unable to secure the appropriate permits for the 140km stage from L’Estaque to Saint Remy de Provence.
The Tour Méditerranéen will continue Saturday with the penultimate fourth stage, a 145km romp from Rousset to Toulon and the Mont Faron finish climb.