Boonen claims Flanders warm-up win
 |  Boonen (left) and Klier broke away with 57km of the race remaining |
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HARELBEKE, Belgium -- Belgian sprinter Tom Boonen coasted to victory in the E3 Grand Prix one-day race, a warm-up for next weekend's Tour of Flanders, the fourth race in the 27-leg Pro Tour series.
The Quick Step rider, finished ahead of Germany's Andreas Klier, who had been the 24-year-old's breakaway companion for nearly a third of the 200km race.
It was Boonen's second straight victory after his win here last year.
Belgian Peter Van Petegem, of the Davitamon-Lotto team, was back in third place, 10 seconds behind.
Boonen, who once rode for Lance Armstrong's US Postal team, now has five victories this season and it came thanks to a 57km breakaway with Klier who could not match the Belgian at the finish.
"I think I've shown today that I'm ready for the Tour of Flanders," said Boonen, who next week will come up against Armstrong, although the 33-year-old Texan should be working for the benefit of his Discovery Channel team-mate George Hincapie.
World road race champion Oscar Freire decided not to race because of a buttock muscle strain.
However, according to the 29-year-old Spaniard's Rabobank team, he will take part in Sunday's Fleche Brabanconne, where Armstrong is also scheduled to compete.
