Dominant start for Sky in Qatar team time trial

Edvald Boasson Hagen is the first leader at the Tour of Qatar after Team Sky blasted to victory in the windswept opening team time trial on Sunday. With Bradley Wiggins doing massive turns on the front and the riders sticking to a carefully planned race strategy, Team Sky set a time of nine minutes and 41 seconds for the circular 8.2km course.

Team Sky started and finished with a strong tailwind but had to handle ever-changing conditions as they completed the lap around the West Bay Lagoon. On the final tailwind section, the squad flew to the finish at over 70km/h and set an average speed of 50.809km/h.

The Cervelo TestTeam set the second fastest time, but they were later penalized one minute because Heinrich Haussler pushed teammate Gabriel Rasch after doing a turn on the front. Haussler claimed it was for safety reasons, after a gust of wind blew Rasch towards him, but the judges refused to listen to their appeal, and the entire team was penalized one minute.

Garmin moved up to second overall but was eight seconds slower than Team Sky. Team Saxo Bank finished third; 13 seconds slower, despite losing the time trial World Champion Fabian Cancellara partway round the course.

HTC-Columbia was fourth at 18 seconds, and Tom Boonen's Quick Step team was fifth at 20 seconds. The small French team Saur-Sojasun put in a surprisingly strong ride, finishing sixth at 21 seconds.

Boasson Hagen in gold

Edvald Boasson Hagen was the first rider to cross the line for Team Sky and so pulled on the leader's gold jersey.

"It's nice for the whole team. We worked so well together. We practiced a lot in training in the last few days, and we got it exactly right," Boasson Hagen said.

"It's going to be hard in the rest of the race with the wind, but I hope to stay in the front group and get some results. I've got the jersey now, and hopefully I can keep it but we'll take each day as it comes. There are so many good sprinters here but we'll see what happens. It's important to have a lead on some of them."

Team Sky riders waited together just after the finish and listened nervously as the other teams failed to beat their time. When last team Quick Step crossed the line, 20 seconds slower, team principal Dave Brailsford shouted out the news and the riders and staff celebrated with hugs and high fives.

After winning the opening criterium and final stage at the Tour Down Under, the team had struck again, showing they know how to win as a team.

Perfect ride in difficult conditions

Senior directeur sportif Scott Sunderland was all smiles after Team Sky put out a perfect ride in technically very difficult conditions.

"We had two guys, Russ Downing and Lars Petter Nordhaug, who had never done a team time trial and the other guys had never done it together, so it was quite new for us. But we did it and it's very special," he said to Cyclingnews.

"The guys prepared very well in training both yesterday and this morning when the conditions changed. Just getting the team to gel is the magic here. The strong guys did what they had to do and the weaker guys supported them fantastically, doing everything they had to do."

Team Sky filled the first six places in the overall standings after the team time trial. Tyler Farrar is seventh at eight seconds and has the best chance of taking the race lead if he can collect time bonuses during stage two and in the sprint at the end of the stage. Stuart O'Grady and JJ. Haedo (Saxo Bank) are at 13 seconds, while Tom Boonen (Quick Step) needs to pull back 20 seconds on Boasson Hagen if he is to win the Tour of Qatar again this year.

Time bonuses of three, two and one second(s) are available at intermediate sprints and 10, six and four seconds are awarded at stage finishes.

The fight for those bonus seconds will begin on Monday's second stage over 147km from the Camel Race Track to the Qatar Foundation near Doha.
 

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Results
1Sky Pro Cycling Team0:09:41
2Garmin-Transitions0:00:08
3Team Saxo bank0:00:13
4Team HTC - Columbia0:00:18
5Quick Step0:00:20
6Saur - Sojasun0:00:21
7Liquigas - DoimosRow 6 - Cell 2
8BMC Racing TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:00:22
10Team Milram0:00:25
11Team Katusha0:00:33
12Omega Pharma - LottoRow 11 - Cell 2
13Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator Pro Cycling TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14AG2R - La mondiale0:00:37
15Trek Livestrong U230:00:39
16Cervélo Test Team0:01:08
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Results
1Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Pro Cycling Team0:09:41
2Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Sky Pro Cycling TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Pro Cycling TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Pro Cycling TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Lars-Peter Nordhaug (Nor) Sky Pro Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Russel Downing (GBr) Sky Pro Cycling Team0:00:02
7Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions0:00:08
8Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - TransitionsRow 7 - Cell 2
9Murilo Antoniobil Fischer (Bra) Garmin - TransitionsRow 8 - Cell 2
10Svein Tuft (Can) Garmin - TransitionsRow 9 - Cell 2
11Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin - TransitionsRow 10 - Cell 2
12Kirk Carlsen (USA) Garmin - TransitionsRow 11 - Cell 2
13Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank0:00:13
14Frank Hoj (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 13 - Cell 2
15Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 14 - Cell 2
16Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo BankRow 15 - Cell 2
17Dominik Klemme (Ger) Team Saxo BankRow 16 - Cell 2
18Luis-Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo BankRow 17 - Cell 2
19Baden Cooke (Aus) Team Saxo Bank0:00:18
20Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 19 - Cell 2
21Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 20 - Cell 2
22Martin Velits (Svk) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 21 - Cell 2
23Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Lars Bak (Den) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 23 - Cell 2
25Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 24 - Cell 2
26Adam Hansen (Aus) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 25 - Cell 2
27Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step0:00:20
28Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick StepRow 27 - Cell 2
29Marco Velo (Ita) Quick StepRow 28 - Cell 2
30Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick StepRow 29 - Cell 2
31Kévin Van Impe (Bel) Quick StepRow 30 - Cell 2
32Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Saur-Sojasun0:00:21
33Rony Martias (Fra) Saur-SojasunRow 32 - Cell 2
34Cédric Coutouly (Fra) Saur-SojasunRow 33 - Cell 2
35Laurent Mangel (Fra) Saur-SojasunRow 34 - Cell 2
36Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Saur-SojasunRow 35 - Cell 2
37Jimmy Casper (Fra) Saur-SojasunRow 36 - Cell 2
38Romain Matheou (Fra) Saur-SojasunRow 37 - Cell 2
39Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 38 - Cell 2
40Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 39 - Cell 2
41Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 40 - Cell 2
42Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 41 - Cell 2
43Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-DoimoRow 42 - Cell 2
44Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 43 - Cell 2
45Davide Cimolai (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 44 - Cell 2
46Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Zahner Simon (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49John Murphy (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:00:22
54Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 53 - Cell 2
55Arnoud Van Groen (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Wouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 56 - Cell 2
58Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Pro Cycling Team0:00:24
59Björn Schröder (Ger) Team Milram0:00:25
60Servais Knaven (Ned) Team MilramRow 59 - Cell 2
61Wim De Vocht (Bel) Team MilramRow 60 - Cell 2
62Roger Kluge (Ger) Team MilramRow 61 - Cell 2
63Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team MilramRow 62 - Cell 2
64Peter Wrolich (Aut) Team MilramRow 63 - Cell 2
65Roy Sentjens (Bel) Team MilramRow 64 - Cell 2
66Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Saur-Sojasun0:00:26
67Gert Dockx (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia0:00:27
68Jens Mouris (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 67 - Cell 2
69Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step0:00:32
70Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Katusha0:00:33
71Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) KatushaRow 70 - Cell 2
72Nicolaï Trussov (Rus) KatushaRow 71 - Cell 2
73Filippo Pozzato (Ita) KatushaRow 72 - Cell 2
74Artem Ovechkin (Rus) KatushaRow 73 - Cell 2
75Styn Vandenbergh (Bel) KatushaRow 74 - Cell 2
76Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma - LottoRow 75 - Cell 2
77Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Omega Pharma - LottoRow 76 - Cell 2
78Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Omega Pharma - LottoRow 77 - Cell 2
79Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma - LottoRow 78 - Cell 2
80Leif Hoste (Bel) Omega Pharma - LottoRow 79 - Cell 2
81Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Omega Pharma - LottoRow 80 - Cell 2
82Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 81 - Cell 2
83Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 82 - Cell 2
84Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 83 - Cell 2
85Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 84 - Cell 2
86Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 85 - Cell 2
87Klaas Lodewijck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 86 - Cell 2
88Steven Van Vooren (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 87 - Cell 2
89Geert Steurs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 88 - Cell 2
90Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Sky Pro Cycling Team0:00:36
91Nikita Eskov (Rus) Katusha0:00:37
92Kristof Goddaert (Bel) Ag2R-La MondialeRow 91 - Cell 2
93Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Ag2R-La MondialeRow 92 - Cell 2
94Christophe Riblon (Fra) Ag2R-La MondialeRow 93 - Cell 2
95Lloyd Mondory (Fra) Ag2R-La MondialeRow 94 - Cell 2
96Nicolas Rousseau (Fra) Ag2R-La MondialeRow 95 - Cell 2
97Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Ag2R-La MondialeRow 96 - Cell 2
98Taylor Phinney (USA) Trek Livestrong0:00:39
99Julian Kyer (USA) Trek LivestrongRow 98 - Cell 2
100Jesse Sergent (Nzl) Trek LivestrongRow 99 - Cell 2
101Alex Dowsett (GBr) Trek LivestrongRow 100 - Cell 2
102Ben King (Aus) Trek LivestrongRow 101 - Cell 2
103Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank0:00:56
104Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing Team0:01:02
105Martin Reimer (Ger) Cervélo TestTeam0:01:08
106Jérémy Hunt (GBr) Cervélo TestTeamRow 105 - Cell 2
107Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervélo TestTeamRow 106 - Cell 2
108Theo Bos (Ned) Cervélo TestTeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109Roger Hammond (GBr) Cervélo TestTeamRow 108 - Cell 2
110Andreas Klier (Ger) Cervélo TestTeamRow 109 - Cell 2
111Davide Appollonio (Ita) Cervélo TestTeamRow 110 - Cell 2
112Danny Pate (USA) Garmin - Transitions0:01:11
113Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Cervélo TestTeam0:01:13
114Marco Bandiera (Ita) Katusha0:01:30
115Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Omega Pharma - LottoRow 114 - Cell 2
116Ben Gastauer (Lux) Ag2R-La Mondiale0:01:32
117Julien Berard (Fra) Ag2R-La MondialeRow 116 - Cell 2
118Justin Williams (USA) Trek Livestrong0:01:34
119Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas-Doimo0:01:35
120Ben King (USA) Trek Livestrong0:02:05
121Cody Campbell (Can) Trek Livestrong0:02:13
122Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step0:02:14
123Andreas Stauff (Ger) Quick StepRow 122 - Cell 2
124Kenny De Haes (Bel) Omega Pharma - LottoRow 123 - Cell 2
125Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram0:02:25
126Steven Cozza (USA) Garmin - Transitions0:02:52
127Matthé Pronk (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:03:14
128Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 127 - Cell 2
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Young Riders Classification
1Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Pro Cycling Team0:09:41
2Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Pro Cycling TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Kirk Carlsen (USA) Garmin - Transitions0:00:08
4Dominik Klemme (Ger) Team Saxo Bank0:00:13
5Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia0:00:18
6Martin Velits (Svk) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 5 - Cell 2
7Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 6 - Cell 2
8Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 7 - Cell 2
9Romain Matheou (Fra) Saur-Sojasun0:00:21
10Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 9 - Cell 2
11Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-DoimoRow 10 - Cell 2
12Davide Cimolai (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 11 - Cell 2
13Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:00:22
16Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Pro Cycling Team0:00:24
17Roger Kluge (Ger) Team Milram0:00:25
18Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team MilramRow 17 - Cell 2
19Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Saur-Sojasun0:00:26
20Gert Dockx (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia0:00:27
21Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Katusha0:00:33
22Nicolaï Trussov (Rus) KatushaRow 21 - Cell 2
23Artem Ovechkin (Rus) KatushaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Omega Pharma - LottoRow 23 - Cell 2
25Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 24 - Cell 2
26Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 25 - Cell 2
27Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 26 - Cell 2
28Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 27 - Cell 2
29Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 28 - Cell 2
30Klaas Lodewijck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 29 - Cell 2
31Steven Van Vooren (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 30 - Cell 2
32Kristof Goddaert (Bel) Ag2R-La Mondiale0:00:37
33Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Ag2R-La MondialeRow 32 - Cell 2
34Taylor Phinney (USA) Trek Livestrong0:00:39
35Julian Kyer (USA) Trek LivestrongRow 34 - Cell 2
36Jesse Sergent (Nzl) Trek LivestrongRow 35 - Cell 2
37Alex Dowsett (GBr) Trek LivestrongRow 36 - Cell 2
38Ben King (Aus) Trek LivestrongRow 37 - Cell 2
39Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing Team0:01:02
40Martin Reimer (Ger) Cervélo TestTeam0:01:08
41Davide Appollonio (Ita) Cervélo TestTeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Ben Gastauer (Lux) Ag2R-La Mondiale0:01:32
43Julien Berard (Fra) Ag2R-La MondialeRow 42 - Cell 2
44Justin Williams (USA) Trek Livestrong0:01:34
45Ben King (USA) Trek Livestrong0:02:05
46Cody Campbell (Can) Trek Livestrong0:02:13
47Andreas Stauff (Ger) Quick Step0:02:14
48Steven Cozza (USA) Garmin - Transitions0:02:52
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Teams Classification
1Sky Pro Cycling Team0:09:41
2Garmin-Transitions0:00:08
3Team Saxo bank0:00:13
4Team HTC - Columbia0:00:18
5Quick Step0:00:20
6Saur - Sojasun0:00:21
7Liquigas - DoimosRow 6 - Cell 2
8BMC Racing TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:00:22
10Team Milram0:00:25
11Team Katusha0:00:33
12Omega Pharma - LottoRow 11 - Cell 2
13Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator Pro Cycling TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14AG2R - La mondiale0:00:37
15Trek Livestrong U230:00:39
16Cervélo Test Team0:01:08

 

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Stephen Farrand
Head of News

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.

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