Sergent wins Eneco 4th stage, Boasson Hagen leads

New Zealand's Jesse Sergent claimed victory in the rain-hit fourth stage of the Eneco Tour Friday as Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen took over the race lead from Belgian champion Philippe Gilbert. The 23-year-old Sergent, who rides for RadioShack, finished the 14.7 km course 14secs ahead of Dane Alex Rasmussen to claim his third win of the season. Gilbert, who held an overnight lead of 6secs on Team Sky rider Boasson Hagen, dropped to second overall at 12sec ahead of Saturday's penultimate stage over 189km around Genk. Sergent competed in dry conditions but the majority of his rivals had to contend with the wind and a slippery road making the Kiwi's time of 17min 55sec unbeatable. Boasson Hagen was the best of the later riders finishing in ninth place some 30sec behind the winner giving him a 12sec lead on Gilbert in the overall standings with Scotland's David Millar third at 18sec. "It was my intention to take the (leader's) jersey this Friday but it turned out be more complicated than planned because of the wind and rain," said Boasson Hagen. "Twelve seconds lead on Gilbert with two stages to go - I don't know if it will be enough. But I'll do all I can to win this Eneco Tour," added the 2009 winner ahead of the penultimate stage which should favour the sprinters.