Lars Boom keeps his race lead as the OVO Tour of Britain heads to Hertfordshire

Caleb Ewen claimed his third stage victory and Lars Boom kept his overall lead in the OVO Tour of Britain as the race prepares to hit Hertfordshire.

Stage seven of the week-long cycle race starts in Hemel Hempstead tomorrow morning (Saturday) before taking the riders west towards Cheltenham.

And the Dutchman ensured he would still be in the leader’s green jersey, finishing safely in the bunch behind the flying Australian into Aldeburgh at the end of stage six.

As has been the case with most of this year’s race, the finish was decided by a bunch sprint.

The run-in included a tricky 90 degree right-hand turn with just 350 metres to go.

Quickstep Floors led through that but their sprinter Fernando Gaviria was just gapped and it allowed Ewan of Orica Scott to come through and take the win.

It had been fast and furious after leaving the start in Newmarket, which saw two riders abandon after heavy crashes, but when the day’s break was finally allowed up the road, it contained seven riders.

They were never given that much of a gap as the peleton, and Boom’s Lotto NL Jumbo team in particular, looked to keep things tight.

They still managed to stay clear until 3km from the finish though and at one point it appeared touch and go as if they would be pegged back.

But with Team Sky adding to the chase, the catch was made and set-up the expected sprint.

Boom will be happy with that outcome again tomorrow. So too, in all likelihood, would Ewan.