Boom busts out winning sprint

Boom: Made advantage pay

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Lars Boom became the fourth consecutive Dutchman to triumph at the Grote Prijs Jef Scherens by outsprinting his five breakaway rivals at the end of 13 gruelling laps around central Leuven.

The Rabobank rider jumped clear of the bunch in the closing stages with team-mate Paul Martens, Maxime Vantomme (Katusha), Fabian Wegmann (Milram), Francesco Reda (Quick-Step) and Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil), and despite a late rally from the chase pack, those six riders stayed clear to battle it out for victory along the long closing straight.

Martens selflessly sacrificed his own chances of success by leading Boom out on the Bondgenotenlaan and that numerical advantage proved decisive as the 24-year-old kicked on again to secure a narrow win ahead of Vantomme and Wegmann

After the race, Boom was full of praise for his accomplice and admitted the result would boost his confidence ahead of the winter.

He told reporters: "Martens piloted me to victory in the perfect way and I'm really happy to have been able to have got the victory for the team.

"Now my attention will switch to the World Cup in December where you'll see me competing in cyclo-cross."

Boom's success also ensured he followed in the footsteps of compatriots Bram Tankink, Wouter Mol and Sebastian Langeveld.