Tour of Qatar Finale – Cavendish wins Overall

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Mark Cavendish repeated his overall win from 2013 with a second GC victory after losing the final to Kristoff stage sprint by millimetres

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Tour of Qatar Finale – Cavendish wins Overall

After reconquering the golden jersey yesterday in Madinat Al Shamal, Mark Cavendish battled it out to the line capturing second spot of the final sprint which was enough to give him overall victory on the 15th edition of the Tour of Qatar. The last stage of the event was captured by Alexander Kristoff, claiming his third success this year and his 6th in Qatar. Winner of the Tour back in 2013, Cav manages a triumphant return to the race after a three-year absence. The Brit conquers the race with a slim 5” lead over Kristoff and 8” over Van Avermaet.

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Photo © Tim De Waele / Team KATUSHA

The faces were tense at the start of the 5th and final stage of the Tour of Qatar. And the reasons were obvious. Not only due the wind blowing significantly on the Qatar peninsula, but mainly because there was still a lot at stake in this 15th edition of the event. Indeed after yesterday’s upset (puncture in the final 10 kms) concerning former race leader Edvald Boasson Hagen (DDD), the GC had dramatically changed with extremely slim gaps. Taking off with the golden jersey, Mark Cavendish (DDD) only had a 2” advantage over Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), 6” over Maniuel Quinziato (BMC) and 9” over Alexander Kristoff (KAT). In other words overall victory would have to await the final sprint on the Doha Corniche.

Taking off from the Sealine Beach Resort, south of the nation, 130 remaining riders (two non-starters: Koep (SSG) and Ibrahim (SKD) took off for a 114.5-km ride all the way to the Doha Corniche. After only 5 kilometres, three men managed to break away: Tronet (FVC), Declercq (TSV) and Sergent (ALM). Their advantage reached 52” over counter-attacking rider Van Goethem (ROP) and 2’20” over the pack.

QatarSTage5Pphotfinish

Fifteen kilometres later, while the first chasing rider was caught, the gap grew to 2’25” at km 28 and even a maximum 4′ at km 40. Under the control of teams Katusha and Dimension Data, le front rider could still enjoy a comfortable lead once on the final circuit. At the first intermediate sprint of the day (4th crossing of the line, km 74.5), won by Sergent in front of Tronet and Declercq, the main bunch remained 2’15” adrift.

Apparently not interested by the bonus seconds up for grabs at the second intermediate sprint, team Katusha let the front men battle it out by themselves. Indeed at the 8th crossing of the line (km 97.5), Declercq won the sprint ahead of Sergent and Tronet while the pack was still 28” adrift. The first man to be caught was French Champion Steven Tronet at km 104 while the remaining two leaders were gobbled up by the pack with just under two laps to go.

The pack remained bunched all the way the final straight. As expected a royal sprint took place between the two fastest men of the peloton: Cavendish vs Kristoff and it was finally the latter who outsprinted his main rival, crossing the line with a whisker of a lead on ‘Cav’ while Roy Jans (WGG) finished third. Like a year ago, Kristoff wins three out of five stages on the Tour of Qatar but only just misses out on overall glory.

A winner of the event back in 2013, Cavendish tops the GC and conquers the final golden jersey. The Brit wins the race with a slim 5” lead over Kristoff and 8” over Van Avermaet (BMC). The silver jersey for the best rider in the point’s classification naturally goes to Kristoff. Danish rider Søren Kragh Andersen (TGA) finishes best young rider (pearl white jersey) while BMC claims the team classification.

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Photo: Ottilie Quince 

REACTIONS
Mark Cavendish: “We were really motivated for today and I have won this stage before a couple of times. The wind was always going to make it difficult today, it was a block head wind and we thought it was going to be cross. Actually it was more a cross head wind so you were never really comfortable.”

“We knew we were going to have to take control and the team were really motivated after yesterday. Obviously we were in control at the beginning of yesterday but then with the puncture of Edvald it really put the team in a difficult situation.”

“It also made it harder for us to take the overall today so we really had to be on top of our game to make sure we finished on the top step of the podium. The lads did it perfectly on the final laps when it was hectic, keeping me in the front and out of danger, so I was ready for the sprint.”

“Obviously it’s nice to be wearing gold now, but I know I am only wearing it on behalf of Edvald. He only lost it because of bad luck and not through any other kind of cause. He should be the guy wearing this gold jersey but we are just super happy to keep it in Team Dimension Data. The team made the step up to World Tour this year and we’ve already won a GC. It is great for the new sponsors, Dimension Data, Deliotte and also to highlight Qhubeka here on the international stage.”

Roger Hammond “on a difficult last day of the tour, the entire team stepped up to the challenge and defended the jersey. I am so pleased for all the guys and the entire team, they really deserved the win”.

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Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) “That sprint was pretty hectic. A lot of teams were trying to take the lead. We did actually a very good job all day. We controlled the break and were able in the end to be in front at the last corner. There we had a good position”.

“Dimension Data overtook us a little bit. We managed to stay together more or less. The last 500 meters were for them but I passed them again with 200 meters to go. Then Cavendish came by my side. I thought he got me but then… I think my body is just a little bit longer… That made the difference. My results in Qatar are even better than last year, even if I did a worse time trial. The team did such a good job. Without them I would never have been able to win these stages because every day I had a very good lead out. We are ready for Oman, – concluded Alexander Kristoff.”

Jans Roy (3rd on the stage) “I think more would have been possible today,” Jans reflected. “I sprinted from the wheel of Hutarovich and was already at full speed when I had to go around Kristoff’s lead-out man Jacopo Guarnieri. I didn’t need to hit the brakes but skipped one pedal turn.” According to Jans’ bike computer his maximum sprint speed was 73 kilometres an hour.

“The start of the stage was pretty slow. The first 60 kilometres before the Doha criterium we faced a headwind. The average speed was only 40 km/h today. The team did a fantastic job today. I am really, really happy with how we work together at the moment. Robin Stenuit and Danilo Napolitano were with me in the final 1,5 kilometres. Unfortunately Kenny Dehaes lost me in the last turn. He would have been a great help in the final, I am sure.”

“My form is good but it’s not top yet. Next week we race in Oman and then there is resting at home. That’s the final step to take towards a top condition,” Jans concludes.

Greg Avermaet (3rd overall): It is a good way to start the season, Van Avermaet said. “I’m happy with the week here in Qatar. I like this kind of racing. It’s always a big fight to be in position and be up there, and I think it’s really good preparation for the Classics and the rest of the season. You do a lot of speed work here, and at every corner you have to be up there.”

“The team did a great job here working together and making sure I was in the right position. I really have to credit their efforts here and it shows that our work together in the off-season at the training camps has paid off. Now I’m off to Oman where it is a little bit hillier and a bit more relaxed. Every day here it is stressful with the winds and the speed. There are a lot of stages for me in Oman, and probably some sprints better suited to me.”

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STAGE
1 KRISTOFF Alexander TEAM KATUSHA 02h 56′ 16”
2 CAVENDISH Mark DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 00”
3 JANS Roy WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT + 00′ 00”
4 HUTAROVICH Yauheni FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 00′ 00”
5 MODOLO Sacha LAMPRE – MERIDA + 00′ 00”
6 BENNETT Sam BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 00”
7 HOFLAND Moreno TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO + 00′ 00”
8 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 00”
9 LOOIJ André ROOMPOT ORANJE PELOTON + 00′ 00”
10 CANOLA Marco UNITEDHEALTHCARE + 00′ 00”

15 THWAITES Scott BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 00”
23 MC LAY DANIEL FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 00′ 00”
45 DEMPSTER Zakkari BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 00”
106 MCNALLY Mark WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT + 00′ 46”
109 BRAMMEIER Matthew DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 48”

OVERALL
1. CAVENDISH Mark DIMENSION DATA 13h 47′ 23”
2. KRISTOFF Alexander TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 05”
3. VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 08”
4. QUINZIATO Manuel BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 12”
5. BOASSON HAGEN Edvald DIMENSION DATA + 00′ 25”
6. ANDERSEN Søren Kragh TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN + 00′ 36”
7. BENNETT Sam BORA-ARGON 18 + 00′ 47”
8. BYSTRÖM Sven Erik TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 55”
9. KUZNETSOV Viacheslav TEAM KATUSHA + 00′ 56”
10. SCHÄR Michael BMC RACING TEAM + 01′ 04”

12. DEMPSTER Zakkari BORA-ARGON 18 + 01′ 19”
23. THWAITES Scott BORA-ARGON 18 + 03′ 22”
43. MCNALLY Mark WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT + 06′ 03”
44. BRAMMEIER Matthew DIMENSION DATA + 06′ 05”
119. MC LAY DANIEL FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT + 22′ 35”

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