McEwen wins Tour stage; Boonen keeps lead

VITRE, France — Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen won the sixth stage of the Tour de France on Friday — his third stage victory in this race — while Tom Boonen kept the overall lead.

McEwen consolidated his lead in the green-jersey competition for sprinters by winning the final dash to the line in the 117-mile race through Normandy. He has won 11 stages in nine Tours

"It's fantastic," McEwen said. "I had not imagined three stages in the first week."

The Davitamon-Lotto cyclist was timed in 4 hours, 10 minutes, 17 seconds for the stage from Lisieux to Vitre, in northwest Brittany, averaging 28 mph.

Italy's Daniele Bennati was second, with Boonen third. They were credited with the same time as McEwen, whose win vaulted him to second in the overall standings, 12 seconds behind Boonen.

McEwen again praised teammate Gert Steegmans, who led him into the final sprints, likening the Belgian to France's sleek, high-speed trains.

Boonen, the Quickstep star still winless in this Tour, will wear the race leader's yellow jersey for a fourth straight day Saturday in the first long time trial. That race against the clock should provide the first solid indication of the favorites in a field stripped of its stars by a doping scandal before the three-week race began July 1.

McEwen and Boonen are not considered contenders for the overall Tour title. They are instead vying for the green jersey that the Australian sprinter won in 2002 and 2004.