Boasson Hagen wins stage six

After the longest - and possibly wettest - day in this year's race, Boasson Hagen proved the strongest in a bunch sprint at Lisieux, attacking with 200m to spare and holding off the challenge from HTC's Goss and compatriot Hushovd of Garmin-Cervelo.

Boasson Hagen's win was the biggest of his career - and a first Tour scalp for the British-based Sky team of Bradley Wiggins.

With the finish coming after a punchy climb 3km from the end of the long 226.5km stage, many of the peloton's fastest sprinters were already out of contention when Boasson Hagen threw down the hammer.

In the absence of stage five winner Mark Cavendish (HTC) and reigning green jersey champion Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre), the 24-year-old Norwegian showed just why he is so widely tipped to become one of the best all-round riders of his generation.

The win comes one day after Boasson Hagen mistimed his dash to the line at the end of stage five. Believing the finish to come 300m earlier, the Norwegian national time trial champion had jumped clear of the peloton in Cap Frehel only to round the final bend and see the chequered flag further up the road than expected.

"I came close yesterday, but today I managed to finally do it," he said. "Geraint Thomas did a really good lead out and it was fantastic to beat Thor - especially in front of my parents, who came to watch. It's hard to say anything - I'm just really happy."

Hushovd maintains a one-second lead over Australia's Cadel Evans (BMC) in the overall standings ahead of Friday's 215km flat stage seven from Le Mans to Chateauroux.