Thor Hushovd did a good sprint in stage 2 of the Tour of Belgium to take fifth in a finale dominated by the Omega Pharma-Quick Step. Having had a less successful season so far, the Norwegian saw the results as a good sign for the future.

BMC Racing Team's Thor Hushovd finished fifth and teammate Klaas Lodewyck was 10th Thursday as Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) won his second straight stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour. 

Hushovd said he was in good position leading into the the slightly uphill finish in the seaside resort of Knokke-Heist in West Flanders.

"I did a good sprint, but I just didn't have the speed to go on (Boonen's teammate) Geert Steegmans' wheel when he went," Hushovd said. "Then it was just a long fight into the finish line. I am there, so that's a good sign."

Lodewyck said his own result was encouraging.

"I was there in the last corner to maybe help Thor if it was possible," Lodewyck said. "But a guy hit me out of the wheel and then we were separated. Then I just followed the bunch. So it was not really a job to do the sprint. But I was there in the end and that means I have the legs for the next few days."

Heading into Friday's 16.8-kilometer individual time trial, BMC Racing Team's Greg Van Avermaet and Philippe Gilbert stand fifth and seventh overall, respectively. The pair earned three and two bonus seconds, respectively, after the BMC Racing Team worked hard to catch the day's breakaway of four riders just before the bonification sprint with five kilometers to go in the 170.4-km race. The two now stand 15 and 18 seconds off the lead with three stages to go.

"That's really good for the weekend that they get some bonus seconds up their sleeve because it can make a big difference in the two stages on the weekend," BMC Racing Team Sporting Manager Allan Peiper said.