Qatar Cycling Federation - News - Boonen gives up on another title in Qatar

News News Boonen gives up on another title in Qatar

Boonen gives up on another title in Qatar

12-02-2010

Belgian ace Tom Boonen sprinted to another stage victory in the Tour of Qatar here yesterday, but it did little to impact his position in the overall standings.
Netherlands’ Wouter Mol of Vacansoleil Pro Cycling team continues to keep the yellow jersey after making sure he finished yesterday’s stage with the lead group.
Boonen’s countrymate Geert Steurs of Cervelo Test Team is currently in second spot, nine seconds behind Mol.Steurs’ teammate Heinrich Haussler retained the silver jersey after leading the points table, while Roger Kluge of Team Milam keeps the blue jersey for the best young rider.
Quick Step’s Boonen, despite having clinched two stages from five, is almost certain to miss out on the title in Qatar. The 29-yr-old is still trailing by 1min 45sec and is currently in third spot.
“I’m very happy to win again. There was headwind and that made it hard to pass. To do the sprint right, is so resounding,” said an elated Boonen, who has now swelled his stage victories in Qatar to 17.
Boonen, who completed a hat-trick of titles in Qatar last season, however acknowledged that it is curtains for him as far as retaining his title is concerned.“I think Wouter Mol will be the winner. It’s impossible to get back the time. We’ll try for another stage win and hopefully I can finish second overall,” said Boonen.
In yesterday’s 142km stage between Losail and Madinat al-Shamal, Italian Danilo Napolitano of Katusha finished second after Boonen, while Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen of Team Sky, who won the yellow jersey after the stage one time trial, finished third.With this being the penultimate stage, a tooth-and-nail battle was always going to be on the cards between the title contenders.
The wind was strong and taking full advantage of the tailwind, the riders knocked off the first 49.4km in just an hour.
The first to break away after 18km were three riders - Adam Hansen of HTC Columbia, Mikhail Ignatiev of Katusha and Svein Tuft of Garmin. They were soon joined by Martin Reimer of Cervelo, Simon Zahner of BMC and Christophe Riblon of AG2R.
These six widened the lead from 50secs at 29kms to 1min 50sec at the first intermediate sprint at Umm Suwaiya which was won by Reimer ahead of Ignatiev and Zahner.
Reimer kept up the pace and went on to pocket the second intermediate sprint at Al Zubarah after 113.5km. Here Riblon stood second, while Zahner settled for another third place.
All the escapees were finally caught at 115km. Later the front group of 14 riders comprising top riders – Mol and Kluge enjoyed a slim 30sec lead over the group including Boonen and Haussler.
However, at the final one kilometre mark, all the favourites were together for a bunch sprint. Boonen once again stamped his authority by peddling first to the tape.
Today’s 123.5km final stage starts at Al Wakra at 12pm and finishes at Doha Corniche by 3pm. The first intermediate sprint will be held at Mesaieed after19.5km, and the second in Doha Corniche after 93.5km.
Results
Stage
1. Tom Boonen (BEL/QST) 142 km in 3hours 13minutes, 2. Danilo Napolitano (ITA/KAT) s.t., 3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) s.t., 4. Theo Bos (NED/CTT) s.t., 5. Juan Jose Haedo (ARG/SAX) s.t., 6. Peter Wrolich (AUT/MRM) s.t., 7. Francesco Chicchi (ITA/LIQ) s.t., 8. Heinrich Haussler (GER/CTT) s.t., 9. Bernhard Eisel (AUT/THR) s.t., 10. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRM) s.t.
Overall standings
1. Wouter Mol (NED/VAC) 13 h 12:28, 2. Geert Steurs (BEL/TSV) at
00.09sec, 3. Tom Boonen (BEL/QST) at 1:45, 4. Roger Kluge (GER/MRM) at 1:59, 5. Marcus Burghardt (GER/BMC) at 2:05, 6. Danilo Napolitano (ITA/KAT) at 2:09, 7. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/OLO) at 2:17, 8.
Heinrich Haussler (GER/CTT) at 2:37, 9. Francesco Chicchi
(ITA/LIQ) at 2:38, 10. Stuart O’Grady (AUS/SAX) at 2:40.

Gulf Times

By N.D. Prashant/Doha

Writer : Sonia Azad