Belgian world champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Innergetic) won a bunch sprint to claim the leader's jersey at the end of the first stage of the Tour of Switzerland, held over 154.8km around Baden on Saturday.

Italian Daniel Bennati (Lampre-Fondital) was second with Spanish sprinter Oscar Freire (Rabobank) third.

Boonen, 25, paid tribute to his Quick Step-Innergetic team for cranking up the tempo to dominate potential rivals such as Australian Robbie McEwen and Austria's Bernhard Eisel on the final slope. Lead-out man Matteo Tosatto took him to within 250 meters of the line.

The script was different this time around for the man who last year faded in Switzerland but went on to dominate the two opening sprints of the Tour de France. This year's preparations for the Grande Boucle are about perfect.

"At the start of the season I had two objectives: the spring classics and the green (points winner) Tour jersey," Boonen said. "I don't have any other goals but if I win, all the better."

Stage 1, Baden-Baden
Top 10
1. Tom Boonen (B) Quick Step-Innergetic, 154.8km in 3:51:14
2. Daniele Bennati (I), Lampre-Fondital, s.t.
3. Oscar Freire (Sp), Rabobank, s.t.
4. Alexandre Usov (Blr), Ag2r, s.t.
5. Allan Davis (Aus), Würth, s.t.
6. Geoffroy Lequatre (F), Cofidis, s.t.
7. Isaac Galvez (Sp), Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears, s.t.
8. Bjorn Schroder (G), Milram, s.t.,
9. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Phonak, s.t.
10. Alexei Markov (Rus), Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears, s.t.