Tour of Britain: Boom set for Tour of Britain triumph
- Published
Boom (left) is favourite to win the Tour of Britain
Lars Boom remained on course for a Tour of Britain win by protecting his 28-second advantage on stage seven.
The Rabobank rider heads the standings going into the final stage in London, which will involve an individual time trial and circuit race.
Boom finished in the peloton, meaning he gave up no time to his rivals.
Lithuanian Gediminas Bagdonas took the stage seven honours in a sprint finish, ahead of Britain's Ian Wilkinson, with Mark Cavendish coming in seventh.
The 199.7km stage took riders from Bury St Edmunds to Sandringham and Bagdonas won in four hours, 33 minutes and 17 seconds.
Afterwards Dutchman Boom, 25, said: "Another long day tomorrow but I am confident for the time trial and criterium [circuit]."
Welsh Team Sky rider Geraint Thomas finished the stage in 10th.
Stage seven results, Bury St Edmunds to Sandringham:
1) Gediminas Bagdonas (Lit, An Post-Sean Kelly) 4hrs 33min 17secs
2) Ian Wilkinson (GB, EnduraRacing) same time
3) Mathieu Claude (Fra, TeamEuropcar) same time
4) Stijn Neirynck (Bel, TopsportVlaanderen) same time
5) Richard Handley (GB,Team Raleigh) @ 0:04
General classification:
1) Lars Boom (Ned, Rabobank) 24hrs 47mins 58secs
2) Leopold Konig (Cze, Team NetApp) @0:28
3) Daniel Lloyd (GB, Garmin-Cervelo) @ 0:29
4) Linus Gerdemann (Ger, Leopard Trek) @ 0:31
5) Stephen Cummings (GB, Sky Procycling) @ 0:32