HASSELT, Belgium, Aug 21, 2009 (AFP) – Belgian Tom Boonen, riding for Quick Step, won the third stage of the Eneco Tour at Hasselt on Friday, seeing off overall leader Tyler Farrar of Garmin in a sprint finish which saw Italian Francesco Chicchi take third spot.

“I had earmarked this stage and it’s super to have won it,” grinned Boonen.

“It was really nice today to have been riding in my home region. We went right past past my parents’ place and my village, my house, my training ground,” he added.

“To win here, in front of my fans, is really satisfying, and only makes this day more perfect.

“The four weeks off after the Tour de France have really done me good. I expected a couple of bad days this week but actually things are going great. My physical conditioning is getting better and better,” Boonen said.

The Belgian is now only 10sec behind Farrar, who won the opening two stages.

Norwegian Edval Boasson Hagen is third overall 19sec off the pace 6sec clear of Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel.

Saturday’s fourth stage in the ProTour event between Belgium and the Netherlands is a 221km ride from Hasselt to Libramont.