News – Tour of Qatar 2015

2013_Oct_VelotasticBanner

World’s top sprinters Marcel Kittel, Alexander Kristoff & Peter Sagan to tackle the 14th Tour of Qatar

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

News – Tour of Qatar 2015

NOTE: Send your results as well as club, team & event news here

News – Tour of Qatar 2015

ASO Press Release

The three sprinting stars of the 2014 Tour de France Marcel Kittel (4 stages), Alexander Kristoff (2 stages) and Peter Sagan (green jersey) are set to test their legs in Doha and around as they’ve been entered by Giant-Alpecin, Katusha and Tinkoff-Saxo respectively.

2014_ToB_Stage1_003

Marcel Kittel

Escorted by his new lead out man Jacopo Guarnieri, the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff who had a real breakthrough last year when he claimed his first Spring classic (Milan-San Remo) will make his sixth appearance at the Tour of Qatar with higher ambitions.

Fans of French cycling will be delighted to stay tuned for the sprints of the 2015 Tour of Qatar as national champion Arnaud Démare and one of his predecessors in the blue-white-red jersey Nacer Bouhanni (2012) will have their first direct encounter as rivals following the departure of the latter from FDJ to Cofidis.

But the provisional start list features many more than just two top sprinters from the same country although Démare, with fifteen victories in 2014, and Bouhanni, a five-time stage winner at the Grand Tours (Giro and Vuelta), are probably the most interesting up and coming fast men in the best young riders category worldwide.

It’ll be the launch of a new season for South African team MTN-Qhubeka after recruiting high profile sprinters like Tyler Farrar, Theo Bos and Matt Goss who will line up alongside the 2013 Milan-San Remo winner Gerald Ciolek.

2014_RideLondonClassic_12

Adam Blythe

The other sprinters in contention will be Andrea Guardini (Astana), Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida), Adam Blythe (Orica-GreenEdge), Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo), the Van Poppel brothers (Trek Factory Racing), Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18), Heinrich Haussler and Matteo Pelucchi (IAM Cycling).

Once again, the Tour of Qatar is a springboard for the classics specialists as defending champion and Paris-Roubaix winner Niki Terpstra (Etixx-Quick Step), Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing), Lars Boom (Astana), Philippe Gilbert and Greg van Avermaet (BMC), Matthieu Ladagnous (FDJ), Ian Stannard (Sky) and Matti Breschel (Tinkoff-Saxo) have chosen the race of the wind and the sand as part of their preparation once again.

Least but not last, 2014 World’s number 1, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) will make his debut at the Tour of Qatar as he tackles his thirteen pro season while Tom Boonen (Etixx-Quick Step) is set for a new campaign. The Belgian hasn’t missed a single Tour of Qatar since he first paid a visit to the Gulf in 2004. He holds the record of stage wins since he imposed himself for the 22nd time in Messaied last year. He also tops the tally of the overall victories with four successes under his belt (2006, 2008, 2009, 2012).

Send your results as well as club, team & event news here

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

Other News on VeloUK

Tags: