Boonen wins second stage as Farrar leads in California

SACRAMENTO, Ca. (Reuters) - Former world road champion Tom Boonen of Belgium sprinted past Mark Cavendish of Britain in the final 50 meters to win a rainy second stage of the Tour of California on Tuesday.

American Tyler Farrar took the overall race lead.

Boonen, competing in the U.S. for the first time since 2002, claimed the 186.4-kilometre Santa Rosa to Sacramento road race in five hours, nine minutes and 35 seconds.

Heinrich Haussler, an Australian living in Germany, finished second and Mario Cipollini of Italy, competing in his first race since his retirement in 2005, third, both in the same time.

The 23-year-old Farrar, who trailed race leader Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland by two seconds at the start, gained three seconds of bonus time in two mid-stage sprints.

Farrar, who finished sixth, holds a one-second lead over Cancellara, the reigning world time-trial champion.

Boonen's win vaulted him into third place, four seconds behind.

Defending champion Levi Leipheimer of the United States, finished 21st in the stage and is now sixth overall, seven seconds adrift of the leader.

The eight-day race continues on Wednesday with the 166-kilometre Modesto to San Jose third stage.

(Reporting by James Raia; Editing by Ed Osmond)