Tour of Qatar #2: Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka put in strong ride to retain race lead

A mass crash would affect the 2nd Tour of Qatar stage but our Dimension Data for Qhubeka team kept out of trouble in the front of peloton to have Mark Cavendish take 2nd place in a photo finish with Alexander Kristoff (Katusha). Roy Jans (Wanty Gobert) was 3rd.

The 2nd stage of the of the Tour of Qatar saw the peloton head off into a stern headwind, making for a tough start to the day. 4 riders tried to muscle away in the early kilometers, but after getting a minute gap, Katusha and Bora brought them back in order to contest the first intermediate sprint of the day. After Edvald Boasson Hagen took 2nd at the sprint for our African Team, there was a big split in the peloton with 4 notable groups forming.

It was a big scramble behind as 22 riders tried to get away, with only Edvald in the front group for us and Bora having 5 while Katusha had 4 riders in this lead group. The gap was kept around 50″ for some time as the chasing groups behind tried to regather. Soon there were 4 Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka riders in front of our race leader, Mark Cavendish, chasing down the dangerous move up front.

With 60km to go, our team were able to nullify the threat of the lead group and the race was all together heading onto the finishing circuit in Doha. 2 riders would get away on the circuit, but with our full complement of 8 riders now, our African Team could control the gap quite easily to set up another bunch sprint.

A number of teams would push their way to the front in the final 15km but it was always our African Team and Katusha who proved to be the strongest. In the final kilometer we went toe to toe with Katusha as there was a mass pile up just behind us. Edvald led it out followed by Kristoff and Cavendish. It looked like the Manxman was coming around the Katusha rider, even with the wind on his face, just before the line but on the photo, Kristoff got it by a tyres width.

Edvald was able to hold on to 5th place on the stage and the results of the day saw Cavendish retain the gold leader’s jersey while our Norwegian champion moved up to 4th on GC ahead of tomorrow’s all important time trial.