Belgium's Tom Boonen, of the Quick Step team, on Tuesday won the second stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race, reduced to 45km between Aigueperse and Thiers in central France because of snow.

The 24-year-old, who had also won the first stage, earned the leader's jersey because of the bonus points he picked up.

The Belgian rider finished several lengths ahead of Norway's Kurt-Asle Arvesen and Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovych.

While Boonen said it had been a good try out for the Milan-San Remo classic later this month he added that taking the overall lead did not put him in pole position for winning the race.

"I got the leader's overall jersey but I wasn't really bidding for that,” Boonen remarked. "It's good to have it but winning the Paris-Nice is not a target of mine."

Heavy snowfall meant organizers had to move the starting point from La Chatre to Aigueperse meaning the length of the stage was reduced by 144.5 kilometers.

In the overall standings, Boonen, who earned his fourth victory of the season, leads Dutchman Erik Dekker by three seconds.

Six-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong of the United States failed to fire once again finishing in 90th position, 21sec behind Boonen, leaving the Texan in 72nd position overall.