Qatar Daily News

Mark Cavendish claimed his second stage win in the Tour of Qatar as Belgium’s Tom Boonen clinched overall victory on Friday.

Cavendish, who had won Wednesday’s fourth stage, proved the fastest man in the bunch yet again after the 121 kilometers from Sealine Beach Resort to the Doha Corniche.

The Columbia High-Road rider hit the front with 250 meters to go and crossed the line two bike lengths clear with German pair Robert Forster and Heinrich Haussler finishing second and third.

Boonen, who wrested the overall lead on Tuesday on the way to his third victory in Qatar, could not match Cavendish for pace and finished 10th to protect his race leadership.
Read the rest of this entry »

Mark Cavendish won his first race of 2009 with a sprint victory in the 141km fourth stage of the Tour of Qatar in Madinat al Shamal.

On a day marked by strong crosswinds, a high pace and littered with crashes in the last 15km, Cavendish looked to have again missed out on the decisive move.

But the Columbia rider was helped back to the front where he managed to outsprint race leader Tom Boonen.

The tour continues on Thursday, with a 147km stage from the Camel Race Track.

Britain’s triple Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins has the leader’s jersey after winning the first stage of the Tour of Qatar, a 6km time-trial.

Wiggins, riding for American team Garmin, crossed the line first in six minutes and 34 seconds, just ahead of the Netherlands’ Hans Dekkers.

Garmin also topped the team standings – for the time of the fifth rider in each team to finish – ahead of Quick Step.

The second stage, a 134km race, takes place on Monday.

“As a team we’ve put in long hours in pre-season training and it is good to see all of that effort paying off,” said Wiggins
Read the rest of this entry »

Mark Cavendish (Columbia Highroad) of Great Britain and Tom Boonen (Quick Step) of Belgium, will renew their rivalry for world’s top sprinting honors beginning Sunday in the Tour of Qatar.

Cavendish was one of the main stories of the 2008 cycling season. He had18 victories and arguably arrived as the world’s best sprinter.

Boonen, who has twice won the Tour Qatar, is the 2005 world road titlist. He has 14 Tour of Qatar stage wins while racing in five editions of the race, dating to its inception in 2002.

The six-day, 685-kilometer race, Feb. 1-6, will feature 17 teams of eight riders, including American ProTour teams Garmin-Slipstream and Columbia Highroad and U.S. Pro Continental team BMC.
Read the rest of this entry »

Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish dips his toe in the water for what could be a tumultuous year when he makes his season’s debut for Team Columbia-Highroad in the six day Tour of Qatar which starts on Sunday.

The Tour will feature a number of sprint stages suited to Cavendish but is also notorious for its high winds which can cause chaos in the peloton which will include many riders embarking on their first competitive ride of the year.

“It’s been quite a while since I raced,” said Cavendish whose last race was last Sept at the Tour of Missouri where he won three stages.

“I’m in good shape, I’ve had a good winter and I’m feeling excited about the new season.
Read the rest of this entry »