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LATEST NEWS: TOUR OF QATAR, STAGE FIVE
Road Bike Action and AFP
February 9, 2012
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Tom Boonen is poised to take the overall win.
Photo: Bettini
For the second time on this 11th edition of the Tour of Qatar, Mark Cavendish flew to stage victory. The fastest of a final bunched sprint in Al Khor proudly lifted the arms in the air wearing his World champion's rainbow jersey, beating Oss and Sagan to the line. Tom Boonen keeps the overall leader's Golden jersey and closes in on a possible fourth crown with one stage to go.
It's a tradition now on the Tour of Qatar, the riders were welcomed by hundreds of camels for the start of stage 5 at the Camel Race Track. A picturesque way to start the 160km long day for the 121 remaining riders (2 non starters: Chicchi - OPQ, Gardeyn - CSS).
The pack took off just after noon at a very fast pace making the best of the tailwind (52.3kms covered during the first hour). Five men however managed to break away after five kilometres: Wagner (RNT), Bodnar (LIQ), Kuchynski (KAT), Bertolini (FAR) and Nishizono (BGT), the first man to attack. Their lead went from 1'05 at km 13 to 2'40 at the first intermediate sprint (km 37) won by Kuchynski ahead of Bertolini and Bodnar. The gap reached a maximum 4'40 at km 97.
At the second bonus sprint (km 124.5) claimed by Wagner ahead of Kuchynski and Bodnar, the gap had dropped down to 1'45. Nishizono, Bertolini and Wagner were the first to be caught by the pack at km 129, while Bodnar and Kuchynski insisted. The front two could still enjoy a 1'10 advantage with 25kms to go, and 1'22 with 20kms to go. The peloton bunched up together again ten kilometres from the line. Time had come for a bunched sprint on the Al Khor corniche.
Like on day three, Mark Cavendish powered to victory beating Oss and Sagan to the line. Not quite in the winning pace, Tom Boonen had to settle for 13th spot and keeps his overall leader's Golden Jersey with a 31" lead over Farrar and 34" over Flecha. The Belgian also keeps the points' classification lead while Navardauskas remains the best young rider.
RESULTS: The fifth and penultimate stage of the Tour of Qatar on Thursday:
Stage
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) 3hr 30min 40sec, 2. Daniel Oss (ITA) same time, 3. Peter Sagan (SVQ) s.t., 4. John Dengenkolb (GER) s.t., 5. Rudiger Selig (GER) s.t., 6. Allan Davis (AUS) s.t., 7. Arnaud Demare (FRA) s.t., 8. Andrea Guardini (ITA) s.t., 9. Denis Galimzyanov (RUS) s.t., 10. Gregory Henderson (NZL) s.t.
Selected
13. Tom Boonen (BEL) s.t. 50. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) s.t.
Overall standings
1. Tom Boonen (BEL) 13hr 21min 30sec, 2. Tyler Farrar (USA) at 31sec, 3. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP) 34, 4. Gert Steegmans (BEL) 36, 5. Bernhard Eisel(AUT) 45, 6. Tom Veelers (NED) 1:00, 7. Mark Cavendish (GBR) 1:05, 8. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) 1:06, 9. Ramunas Navardauska (LIT) 1:09, 10. Aidis Kruopis (LIT) 1:10
Selected
23. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) 2:23. |
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