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LATEST NEWS: TOUR OF QATAR, STAGE ONE
Road Bike Action and AFP
February 5, 2012
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In perfect weather conditions despite ever present wind, stage 1 of the Tour of Qatar ended in a bunched sprint. Belgian Tom Boonen once again proved he was the man to beat on a race he's already won three times. The Omega Pharma-Quickstep rider captured his 19th stage success here and will carry the first overall leader's Golden jersey of this 2012 edition.
Boonen won a stage last week at the Tour de San Luis in Argentina and his team-mates were left in no doubt that he is firmly back in the saddle.
"I am confident that I can still compete with all top sprinters out there even though these days that is not my priority," he said. "Last year at this time I was struggling with pains in my left leg which stemmed from the knee operation I had. That dragged on for months and then I broke bones in my hand in the Tour of Spain. Today all that is behind me and at last I am free from injuries."
The former world champion, however, said he had been surprised at winning on Sunday having spent three days travelling to the Gulf from South America.
"There was also jet lag to get over and at the start of the race I didn't feel great. But gradually it all came together for me," he said.
After a very windy Ladies' Tour of Qatar, the conditions were a lot milder for the men's event as the World's best riders gathered at the start of stage 1 under a bright sun and far less wind than on the previous days. For this 11th edition, 127 riders (Clarke (CSS) failed to start) took off from the BarzanTowers including World champion Mark Cavendish (SKY), World number one Philippe Gilbert (BMC ), title holder Mark Renshaw (RAB), three-time Tour of Qatar winner Tom Boonen (OPQ), as well as the likes of Hushovd (BMC), Cancellara (RNT), Farrar (GRM) and Pozzato (FAR).
As soon as kilometer 3, Adam Hansen took off on his own. His lead grew rapidly from 25" at km 5 to a maximum 6'40 at the first bonus sprint (km 28.5) he captured ahead of Hallen (KAT) and Renshaw. From that point on the gap dropped down.
Just after the feeding zone (km 69), as the leader headed back south and the wind blew sideways, the pack broke up into several parts with a group of 29 pulling away. That pack, including Boonen, Cancellara, Sagan and Farrar caught up with Hansen and could enjoy a 20" lead. They reached the second intermediate sprint (km 82), won by Farrar ahead of Appolonio (SKY) and Maes (OPQ), with a 14" lead. But all the riders eventually gathered together again at km 83, enjoying a tailwind all the way
to the finish.
The decision was to be made in a bunched sprint. Well helped out by his team mates, Tom Boonen flew to victory, his 19th on Qatari soil. The Belgian beat Blythe (BMC) and Sagan (LIQ) to the line. Boonen will therefore be wearing the overall leader's Golden Jersey for tomorrow's team time-trial. He also leads the points' standings while Blythe is the best young rider (White jersey). |
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