Gallery: Tour of Qatar through the lens of Tim De Waele

The Tour of Qatar is entering its 13th year on the UCI calendar, and the peloton will push its triskaidekaphobia aside to once again do battle against crosswinds and crashes in the Middle Eastern peninsula.

Photographer Tim De Waele has been on the Tour of Qatar since 2005, when the race hosted defending champion Tom Boonen and his QuickStep team.

Fast forward nine years, and the scenes will likely be similar: desert winds howl, split the peloton along the long, open highway as sand blasts the riders and their gear.

But there is beauty, too - enriched by the wealth of the country, its soaring skyscrapers, lush gardens and seaside charm. The peloton makes the view even more picturesque, adding bold strokes of colour to an otherwise monochrome landscape.

We hope you enjoy this gallery, and come back for Cyclingnews' full coverage of the 2014 Tour of Qatar.

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