Tom Boonen made the most of home advantage when winning the fifth stage of the Eneco Tour of Benelux Monday in Balen, Belgium.

The Quick Step rider came out on top in a sprint just meters from the house where he lives, with New Zealand's Julian Dean (Crédit Agricole) and Italy's Simone Cadamuro (Milram) taking second and third.

George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) retained the leader's red jersey with just two stages remaining. Germany's Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) is lying second with Vincenzo Nibali (ILiquigas) third.

Boonen, who was adding this to his successes in stages one and three, said: "This is a very special victory. I will remember the reception I got from my fans today for years to come.

"Everyone was expecting me to win but it was by no means a foregone conclusion. I was worried about falling, a puncture, and then the rain came down to make things tricky towards the finish."

Boonen's Quick Step colleagues were among a group that reeled in a seven-strong breakaway column 10km from the end and he paid tribute to his colleagues' effort.

"I'm no kamikaze like some other sprinters. I'm not ready to risk everything to win, but it was made much easier for me with the incredible support from my teammates over the last two kilometers."

His vocal, 15,000-strong fan club, which lined the road in the closing stages, did not hinder him, either. Nor did the presence in the crowd of his parents, grandparents, cousins and companion.

"My contract with the Tour of Benelux is completed," said Boonen. "I can now ride out to the end without a single care."

Tuesday's sixth and penultimate stage takes the peloton on a run between Bornem and Saint Truiden and features the demanding climb at Huy.

Stage results
1. Tom Boonen (B) Quick Step, 181km in 3:52:20
2. Julian Dean (NZ), Crédit Agricole, s.t.
3. Simone Cadamuro (I), Milram, s.t.
4. Alexei Markov (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears, s.t.
5. Alessandro Ballan (I), Unibet.com, s.t.

Overall standings
1. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, 17:24:55
2. Stefan Schumacher (G), Gerolsteiner, at 0:03
3. Vicenzo Nibali (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 0:11
4. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears, at 0:15
5. Manuel Quinziato (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 0:31