|
|
RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF QATAR STAGE TWO RACE REPORT
Road Bike Action & AFP
February 2, 2009
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Roger Hammond wins after breaking free with 3km to go
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Britain's Roger Hammond, riding for the Cervélo team, won the second stage of the Tour of Qatar after bringing home a solo attack late in the 134km race around Al Khor. Hammond, who takes over the race lead from fellow Briton Bradley Wiggins of Garmin, finished just ahead of a fast approaching group headed by Italian Danilo Napolitano and including Belgian sprint star Tom Boonen, who finished fourth.
Boonen now lies second in the overall standings, six seconds off the pace. The 35-year-old Hammond paid tribute to the assistance he received from his teammates in collecting Monday's stage. "It's a great collective victory," Hammond said. "In a sprint into the wind I would have had no chance against Boonen, so I preferred to anticipate," added the Briton who made his decisive move three kilometers from the line.
Hammond noted that this stage win had come just five months after his team Cervélo, which includes reigning Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre of Spain, was launched. "This first success is reward for all the team who've worked really hard over the winter. The aim now is to win this Tour of Qatar and then to make our mark in the races that follow."
Tuesday's third stage will take the peloton over 137.5km from Al Zubarah to Doha.
Tour of Qatar
Stage 2, Doha to Al Khor, 136.5km
1. Roger Hammond (GBR) Cervelo 3hr 33min 00sec
2. Danilo Napolitano (ITA) at 1sec
3. Heinrich Haussler (GER) s.t.
4. Tom Boonen (BEL) s.t.
5. Angelo Furlan (ITA) s.t.
6. Murilo Fischer (BRA) s.t.
7. Andreas Klier (GER) s.t.
8. Xavier Florencio (ESP) at 4 secs
9. Vicente Reynes (ESP) s.t.
10. Daniel Lloyd (GBR) s.t
Overall standings
1. Roger Hammond (GBR) Cervelo 3hr 39min 30sec
2. Tom Boonen (BEL) at 6secs
3. Heinrich Haussler (GER) at 7secs
4. Murilo Fischer (BRA) at 9secs
5. Andreas Klier (GER) at 11secs
6. Steven De Jongh (NED) s.t.
7. Vicente Reynes (ESP) at 13secs
8. Angelo Furlan (ITA) at 14secs
9. Xavier Florencio (ESP) s.t.
10. Daniel Lloyd (GBR) s.t.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|