RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF QATAR STAGE 4: CHICCHI TAKES VICTORY

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RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF QATAR STAGE 4: CHICCHI TAKES VICTORY
Road Bike Action & AFP
February 10, 2010

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Francesco Chicchi of Italy won the fourth stage of the Tour of Qatar on Wednesday while Dutchman Wouter Mol retained the overall lead. Chicchi won a sprint finish ahead of Heinrich Haussler of Germany and Juan Jose Haedo of Argentina. The stage was a 146.5 kilometer run from The Pearl to the Al Khor corniche.

Three riders attempted to break the sprinters stranglehold on the race. Swiss Martin Kohler (BMC), Australia's Jesse Sergent (Trek Livestrong) and the Belgian Sepp Vanmarcke (Vlaanderen) made up the day's break. The trio reached a lead of 3:20, but the team of yellow jersey wearer Mol and the other sprinters' teams reeled them in during the final kilometers. This allowed Chicchi to take his first victory in Qatar.

Mol increased his overall lead from 9 to 15 seconds on Steurs, who was a victim of a mechanical problem in the stages finale. The defending champion, Tom Boonen (Quick Step) retained third place at 1:55.

Thursday is the fifth and final stage between Lusail and Madinat Al Shamal, of 142-kilometers.

Tour of Qatar: Stage 4, The Pearl to Al Khor corniche 146.5km
1. Francesco Chicchi (Ita/Liquigas) 3:16:58
2. Heinrich Haussler (Ger/Cervélo) @ s.t.
3. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg/Saxo Bank)
4. Theo Bos (Ned/Cervélo)
5. Kenny De Haes (Bel/Omega Pharma-Lotto)
6. Roger Kluge (Ger/Milram)
7. Kristof Goddaert (Bel/Ag2R-La Mondiale)
8. Taylor Phinney (USA/Trek Livestrong)
9. Danilo Napolitano (Ita/Katusha)
10. Baden Cooke (Aus/Saxo Bank)

Overall
1. Wouter Mol (Ned/Vacansoleil) @ 6:42:30
2. Geert Steurs (Bel/Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) @ .15
3. Tom Boonen (Bel/Quick Step) @ 1:55
4. Roger Kluge (Ger/Milram) @ 1:59
5. Marcus Burghardt (Ger/BMC) @ 2:05
6. Danilo Napolitano (Ita/Katusha) @ 2:15
7. Philippe Gilbert (Bel/Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 2:17
8. Heinrich Haussler (Ger/Cervélo) @ 2:37
9. Francesco Chicchi (Ita/Liquigas-Doimo) @ 2:38
10. Stuart O’Grady (Aus/Saxo Bank) @ 2:40

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