Tour of Qatar

[Cippo]

http://www.letour.com/tour-of-qatar/2014/us/stage-1/news/flm/deserved-win-for-golden-boy-terpstra.html

 

Stage 1

Al Wakra / Dukhan Beach

 

 

Deserved win for golden boy Terpstra

 

Like a year ago, in Dukhan, when Brent Bookwalter captured the first stage, clear from the pack of sprinters, Niki Terpstra made the best of his breakaway to clinch his first win on the 2014 Tour of Qatar. With just under 30kms to go, the Dutchman from Omega Pharma - Quickstep who had been extremely active all along the day, managed to break away, taking with him four other men. He eventually outsprinted his rivals. Terpstra captures the first leader's Golden Jersey.

 

After rain showers hit Qatar during the morning, the skies miraculously cleared for the start of the first stage of the men's Tour of Qatar by the sea in Al Wakra. 152 riders took off at 1:06 PM for a 135.5-kilometre ride all the way to Dukhan beach on the west coast of Qatar. No rain, no clouds but a very strong wind! Indeed the pace was impressively fast straight from the start (over 70km/h). Lieeuwe Westra (AST) was the first to manage a significant break at km 9, enjoying a 20” lead but he was soon to be gobbled up by the chasing pack at km 18.

 

The first intermediate sprint (Mesaieed, km 20) was claimed by Terpstra (OPQ) ahead of Kristoff (KAT) and Bennett (TNE) while the pack remained bunched. At kilometre 32, five men broke away: Kohler (BMC), Westra (AST), Houlé (ALM), Salomein (TSV) and Chtioui (SKD). Their lead went from 1'35 at km 34 to a maximum 6'20 at km 40.

 

Under the influence of the crosswind and while some of the big guns of the Tour pushed harder on their pedals, the pack broke up into several groups. 21 riders managed to break away including Boonen (OPQ), Cancellara (TFR), Greipel (LTB) and Gilbert (BMC). They caught the front five as soon as km 59. Eventually, the different groups bunched up together again at km 95.

 

Another decisive move occurred just before the second bonus sprint (Umm Bab, km 107.5) when Niki Terpstra took off on his own. He went on to win that sprint with a 5” lead over Roelandts (LTB) and Schar (BMC). These three men continued their efforts and were joined by Van Kersbulck (OPQ) and Elmiger (IAM), already a key actor of last year's final breakaway on stage 1. The front five riders had a 25” lead with 25 kilometres to go and that advantage grew to 32” in the last 5 kilometres.

 

Despite strong efforts from the sprinting teams but obviously not Omega Pharma-Quickstep, having two men at the front, the escapees kept a decent enough lead to consider stage victory on the last straight along Dukhan Beach. Ever present all along the day, Niki Terpstra powered to the line to win his first individual stage in Qatar (he had already won a team time-trial).

 

The 29 year-old Dutchman from Bewerwijk beat Jurgen Roelandts and Michael Schar to the line. Thanks to his 12th career win, Terpstra captures the overall leader's Golden Jersey as well as the leadership in the points' classification. After this first stage, Sam Bennett (TNE) claims the Pearl White jersey for the best young rider.

[Cippo]

Stage in pictures.

[jcza]

Boonen takes Stage 2

[rock]

aahhh.......glad to see Boonen having some form........

['Dale]

aahhh.......glad to see Boonen having some form........

 

He's been desperate to kick some azz after a horrendous 2013.

Well done, Tommeke.

[Cippo]

The OPQS master piece

 

Specialists of the Tour of Qatar, especially on windy stages, the Omega Pharma Quickstep team managed one of the most impressive performances in the history of the race. With all 8 of their riders in the decisive break, with fifty kilometres to go, the Belgian squad went on to capture stage victory thanks to Tom Boonen, while his team mate Niki Terpstra kept his overall leader's Golden Jersey.

 

The 152 riders of the Tour of Qatar gathered at the Al Sheehaniya Camel Race track for the start of stage 2. On the day's menu: 157.5 kilometres of riding all the way to the Al Khor Corniche and still a lot of wind. Despite several vain attempts, the pack remained bunched until the 13-kilometre mark when the strong men pushed harder and several groups spread apart. Up front: all the main favourites of the Tour. The front group of around 40 riders was finally caught and the pack bunched up together again at kilometre 22 when two men decided to take off: Gilbert (BMC) and Reijnen (UHC). After enjoying a 1'20 advantage, the escapees were caught at km 33.

 

The first intermediate sprint (km 34.5) was claimed by Maes (OPQ) ahead of Golden Jersey Terpstra (OPQ) and Kruopis (OGE). At kilometre 89, Gatis Smukulis (KAT) tried his luck on his own. The Latvian saw his lead reach 2'20 at km 96. After a right turn and as the pack headed east, the wind again played an essential part in the day's stage and the Omega Pharma Quickstep made the best of it. Indeed after several Tinkoff-Saxo men pushed harder at the front, all eight riders of the Belgian squad managed to be in the front group as the pack broke up.

 

At the front, 23 men took off and caught Smukulis at km 104. Other than the OPQS riders, the only others to survive were Popovych (TFR), Boom, Wagner (both BEL), Eisel, Rowe, Stannard (all SKY), Guarnieri (AST), Smukulis (KAT), Kruopis (OGE), Bennati, Breschel, Juul Jensen, Kroon and Morkov (TCS). While the second bonus sprint (at km 121.5) was claimed by Roelandts (LOT) ahead of Boonen (OPG) and Terpstra (OPQ), a first chasing group including Greipel (LOT), Gilbert (BMC) and Démare (FDJ) was 25” adrift. Further back, it looked to be all over for Fabian Cancellara (TFR), trapped behind a fall and stranded in a dropped group, 1'45 behind. With 20 kilometres to go, the leaders had a 35” lead over the first group and 3'10 over the Cancellara bunch.

 

With the Omega Pharma-Quickstep and Belkin teams working perfectly together, the gap remained the same with 5 kilometres to go. Time had come to start considering stage victory. The first attempt came from both Wagner and Boom taking off just before the final straight but they were finally caught at the Red Flame. And there wasn't much to be done against Qatar master Tom Boonen. The Belgian 4-time winner of the event flew to his 21st stage win in the peninsula, beating Morkov and Roelandts to the line.

 

Seventh of the stage, Niki Terpstra keeps command of his GC leader's Golden Jersey. The Dutchman now has a 5” lead over new Silver Jersey Roelandts and 14” over Boonen. Great Britain's Andrew Fenn becomes the new best young rider of the Tour and will be wearing the White Pearl jersey tomorrow for what should be a decisive time-trial for overall victory.

[Cippo]

Already Australian time-trial champion this year, Michael Hepburn confirmed his huge potential by finishing fastest of the day's time-trial on the Tour of Qatar. Beating Lars Boom and Daniele Bennati on the 10.9-kilometre circuit of stage 3, the Orica-Greenedge rider claimed his first success in Qatar. Fifth today, Niki Terpstra keeps his overall leader's Golden Jersey.

 

Taking off among the early competitors on the day's 10.9-kilometre circuit, set just by the Lusail Race track, Micheal Hepburn (OGE) hit hard by clocking a time of 13'28. At only 22 years of age the Australian from Brisbane adds a stage victory in Qatar to his National time-trial title and to his two successes conquered at the Tour de l'Avenir back in 2011.

 

Despite having set the fastest time at the half-way mark (6'42), Lars Boom (BEL) proved to be slower on the second part of the course, finishing 2nd on the line, just a second adrift. In third spot was Italian Daniele Bennati (TCS), 6” behind.

 

Last man to start, overall leader and stage 1 winner, Niki Terpstra managed a fine performance, capturing the fifth fastest time, just 8” adrift. The Dutchman keeps his Golden Jersey and now has a 21” lead over Roelandts (LTB) and 24” over Boom while Boonen (OPQ) drops down to fourth spot.

 

With two stages to go on this 2014 Tour of Qatar, Terpstra will still need to battle hard but has an enjoyable advantage. The 29-year-old also leads the points' classification while his team mate Guillaume Van Keirsbulck is the best young rider and will wear the White Pearl Jersey tomorrow between Dukhan and Mesaieed.

 

[jcza]

**** me check the average speed for today!!! :eek:

[jcza]

Yes 57.1 km/h and Boonen won.

[Gandalf]

**** me check the average speed for today!!! :eek:

 

WOWSER! must have been flat or downhill all the way

[jcza]

WOWSER! must have been flat or downhill all the way

 

Flat I think, total ascent 333m.

[T-Bob]

Boonan beat Griepel is a straight sprint for the stage. Can't wait for the classics now!

[Frosty]

WOWSER! must have been flat or downhill all the way

Flat I think, total ascent 333m.

Tailwind for most of the route… http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/tour-qatar-stage-four-fastest-road-race-history-114642

 

How cool is this photo (of the racing conditions), crosswinds + gutters = splits in the peloton

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/02/qatar14-st4-Echelons-e1392221761913-630x418.jpg

[Cippo]

Terpstra and Demare triumph on the Doha Corniche

 

Like two years when he captured his first ever professional victory on the Doha Corniche, Arnaud Démare flew to a fantastic sprint victory on the final stage of the 2014 Tour of Qatar. The Frenchman managed to beat Daniele Bennati and Bernhard Eisel to the line. In the bunched pack, Niki Terpstra wins his first ever Tour of Qatar ahead of Tom Boonen and Jurgen Roelandts.

 

As the 147 remaining riders of the Tour of Qatar gathered to the start at the Sealine Beach Resort, south of Qatar, Golden Jersey Niki Terpstra (OPQ) could enjoy a comfortable 17” lead in the general classification over team mate Tom Boonen. The Dutchman knew that he didn't have a lot to worry about on the day's 113.5-km stage that would finish on a circuit around the Doha Corniche. In fairly warm and sunny conditions, it took just a few metres for the first attacks to occur. Indeed five men powered away in the first kilometre: Sergent (TFR), Burghardt (BMC), Westra (AST), Bazzana (UHC) and Chtioui (SKD).

 

The front five who were of not a threat for overall victory pulled away progressively. The gap indeed went from 1'20 at km 7 to a maximum 2'50 at km 35. As they entered the final 6-km circuit, the leading group enjoyed a 2'30 advantage at the crossing of the line. The gap however dropped down to 51” at the first intermediate sprint (km 73.5, 4th crossing of the line), claimed by Chtioui ahead of Sergent and Westra.

 

While the pack led by the Omega Pharma – Quickstep, Lotto – Belisol and Orica – Greenedge boys kept the escapees within shooting distance, the gap moved back up to 1'55 at the second bonus sprint (km 90.5, 7th crossing of the line) that Wetsra won ahead ofSergent and Burghardt. The strong men at the front hung on to the lead all the way to the last lap and were eventually caught just before the final 1-km mark.

 

In a bunched sprint, as expected, Arnaud Démare (FDJ) flew to an impressive victory, beating to the line Daniele Bennati (TCS) and Bernhardt Eisel (SKY). Winner of his first ever victory as a professional rider at the end of his first ever stage race, the 2012 Tour of Qatar, the 22-year-old Frenchman triumphed again on the Doha Corniche.

 

The other man of the day was Niki Terpstra. After first capturing the Golden Jersey on day 1 of the event when he won in Dukhan, the Dutchman managed to hang on to the overall leadership all the way to the finish of the Tour. The 29-year old wins his first major stage race, beating Tom Boonen by 17” and Jurgen Roelandts by 20”.

 

Winner of two stages on this 13th edition (22 stage wins in Qatar), Boonen wins the points' classification (Silver Jersey) while his team mate Guillaume Van Keirsbulck finishes best young rider of the race (White Pearl Jersey). Impressive all along the Tour of Qatar, Omega Pharma – Quickstep are crowned best team.