Garmin-Barracuda claims team time trial in Qatar

Garmin-Barracuda put in a scorching performance to win the season's opening team time trial at the Tour of Qatar by seven seconds, beating Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Team Sky over the 11.3-kilometre course at Lusail International Racing Circuit just outside Doha.

The win for Garmin moves Tyler Farrar into second place on GC, but overnight leader Tom Boonen, who won stage one yesterday, keeps the golden jersey. Garmin leapfrog Quick Step into first place in the overall team standings and their Lithuanian rider Ramunas Navardauskas takes the white jersey as leader of the young riders GC.

Once again conditions were perfect in Qatar, with the crosswinds at a minimum and temperatures again reaching the mid 70s. Garmin were the fifth team out and after they completed the course in 12:48, only three teams could get within ten seconds of them. Quick Step were the last team on the course and knew that they needed to finish within seven seconds of Garmin's time to ensure that Boonen clinged on to the overall lead. They achieved just that, but only just. It was a relief for Boonen who now moves into tomorrow's third stage hoping for a change in the weather.

"It was a great effort by the team and I am really happy to keep the lead," he said. "I said yesterday that a top three finish here at the time trial would be a very good job and we managed that. We only lost to a very strong Garmin team and a lot of our guys are young riders so it was a great performance by them. It was very still here again today and I hope that tomorrow the weather changes so that we can have some different conditions. Otherwise we are just in for more of the same and it will be hard to keep winning because of all the top sprinters we have in this race."

There is now only a hair's breadth between Boonen and Farrar, and the Garmin rider admitted his surprise at the strong form he has shown so far in what is his first race of the season.

"It's my first time out this season and I definitely still have a few kinks to iron out so I am really happy to be where I am," the 27-year-old American said. "We've been working on a few things as a team over the winters, including our time trial tactics, and this has been our first chance to test ourselves. That's what these early season races are all about."

When pressed for a reaction to Alberto Contador's two-year doping ban, news which broke as the riders were preparing to start the stage, Farrar refused to be drawn.

"The authorities have made their decision and you have to respect that," he said. "It's not for me to pass comment on it. We are just here worrying about the Tour of Qatar and obviously so far it's going well for us."

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Full Results
1Garmin - Barracuda0:12:38
2Omega Pharma-Quick Step0:00:07
3Sky Procycling0:00:09
4Katusha TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:13
6RadioShack-Nissan0:00:14
7GreenEdge Cycling Team0:00:16
8BMC Racing TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:17
10Lotto-Belisol TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11FDJ-Bigmat0:00:23
12Project 1t4i0:00:24
13Farnese Vini-Selle Italia0:00:31
14Champion System0:01:03
15Bridgestone Anchor0:01:11
16RTS Racing Team0:01:34
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General classification after stage 2
1Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep3:24:07
2Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-BarracudaRow 1 - Cell 2
3Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin-Barracuda0:00:03
4Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin-BarracudaRow 3 - Cell 2
5Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin-BarracudaRow 4 - Cell 2
6Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin-BarracudaRow 5 - Cell 2
7Davide Appollonio (Ita) Sky Procycling0:00:10
8Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quick StepRow 7 - Cell 2
9Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick StepRow 8 - Cell 2
10Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick StepRow 9 - Cell 2
11Marco Haller (Aut) KatushaRow 10 - Cell 2
12Frantisek Rabon (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick StepRow 11 - Cell 2
13Matt Brammeier (Irl) Omega Pharma-Quick StepRow 12 - Cell 2
14Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:12
15Alexander Kristoff (Nor) KatushaRow 14 - Cell 2
16Vladimir Isaychev (Rus) KatushaRow 15 - Cell 2
17Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Sky ProcyclingRow 16 - Cell 2
18Gatis Smukulis (Lat) KatushaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Michaël Barry (Can) Sky ProcyclingRow 18 - Cell 2
20Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 19 - Cell 2
21Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Sky ProcyclingRow 20 - Cell 2
22Rüdiger Selig (Ger) KatushaRow 21 - Cell 2
23Mikhail Ignatyev (Rus) KatushaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Christian Knees (Ger) Sky ProcyclingRow 23 - Cell 2
25Adam Blythe (GBr) BMC Racing Team0:00:13
26Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Katusha0:00:15
27Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:16
28Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 27 - Cell 2
29Alan Marangoni (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 28 - Cell 2
30Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 29 - Cell 2
31Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 30 - Cell 2
32Robert Wagner (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan0:00:17
33Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) RadioShack-NissanRow 32 - Cell 2
34Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-NissanRow 33 - Cell 2
35Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack-NissanRow 34 - Cell 2
36Markel Irizar (Spa) RadioShack-NissanRow 35 - Cell 2
37Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 36 - Cell 2
38Mark Renshaw (Aus) Rabobank0:00:19
39Baden Cooke (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Thor Hushovd (Nor) BMC Racing TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Svein Tuft (Can) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Jens Mouris (Ned) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Klaas Lodewijck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team0:00:20
51Lars Bak (Den) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Dennis Van Winden (Ned) RabobankRow 51 - Cell 2
53Maarten Wynants (Bel) RabobankRow 52 - Cell 2
54Graeme Brown (Aus) RabobankRow 53 - Cell 2
55Frederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Gregory Henderson (NZl) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) RabobankRow 56 - Cell 2
58Thomas Leezer (Ned) RabobankRow 57 - Cell 2
59Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Procycling0:00:23
60Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ-BigMat0:00:26
61Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ-BigMatRow 60 - Cell 2
62Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJ-BigMatRow 61 - Cell 2
63David Boucher (Fra) FDJ-BigMatRow 62 - Cell 2
64Mickaël Delage (Fra) FDJ-BigMatRow 63 - Cell 2
65Gabriel Rasch (Nor) FDJ-BigMatRow 64 - Cell 2
66Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJ-BigMatRow 65 - Cell 2
67Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ-BigMatRow 66 - Cell 2
68John Degenkolb (Ger) Project 1t4i0:00:27
69Tom Veelers (Ned) Project 1t4iRow 68 - Cell 2
70Roger Kluge (Ger) Project 1t4iRow 69 - Cell 2
71Koen De Kort (Ned) Project 1t4iRow 70 - Cell 2
72Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Project 1t4iRow 71 - Cell 2
73Albert Timmer (Ned) Project 1t4iRow 72 - Cell 2
74Roy Curvers (Ned) Project 1t4i0:00:29
75Luca Ascani (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia0:00:34
76Andrea Guardini (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle ItaliaRow 75 - Cell 2
77Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle ItaliaRow 76 - Cell 2
78Diego Caccia (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle ItaliaRow 77 - Cell 2
79Robbie McEwen (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team0:00:37
80Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:44
81Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin-Barracuda0:00:47
82Thomas Bertolini (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia0:00:55
83Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia0:00:57
84Matthias Friedemann (Ger) Champion System0:01:06
85Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Champion SystemRow 84 - Cell 2
86Aaron Kemps (Aus) Champion SystemRow 85 - Cell 2
87Mart Ojavee (Est) Champion SystemRow 86 - Cell 2
88Joss Van Emden (Ned) RabobankRow 87 - Cell 2
89Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:01:11
90Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 89 - Cell 2
91Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 90 - Cell 2
92Murilo Antoniobil Fischer (Bra) Garmin-Barracuda0:01:13
93Miyataka Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor0:01:14
94Thomas Lebas (Fra) Bridgestone AnchorRow 93 - Cell 2
95Alexandre Lemair (Fra) Bridgestone AnchorRow 94 - Cell 2
96Blaise Sonnery (Fra) Bridgestone AnchorRow 95 - Cell 2
97Kazuo Inoue (Jpn) Bridgestone AnchorRow 96 - Cell 2
98Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia0:01:21
99Allan Davis (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team0:01:23
100David McCann (Irl) RTS Racing Team0:01:37
101Jai Crawford (Aus) RTS Racing TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
102Alex Coutts (GBr) RTS Racing TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
103Lee Rodgers (GBr) RTS Racing TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Clinton Avery (NZl) Champion System0:01:39
105Hayato Yoshida (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor0:01:45
106Jacob Rathe (USA) Garmin-Barracuda0:01:48
107Jérémy Hunt (GBr) Sky Procycling0:01:50
108Klaas Sys (Bel) Bridgestone Anchor0:01:51
109Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) RadioShack-Nissan0:01:56
110Joost Posthuma (Ned) RadioShack-NissanRow 109 - Cell 2
111Dominic Klemme (Ger) Project 1t4i0:02:02
112Gregory Rast (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan0:02:03
113Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step0:02:12
114Mehdi Sohrabi (IRI) Lotto Belisol Team0:02:16
115Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step0:02:18
116Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team0:02:23
117Christian Benenati (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia0:02:42
118Pengda Jiao (Chn) Champion System0:02:48
119Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha0:03:09
120Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team0:03:56
121Ryota Nishizono (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor0:04:08
122Chin-Lung Huang (Tpe) RTS Racing Team0:04:55
123Gang Xu (Chn) Champion System0:05:31
124Wei Kei Chang (Tpe) RTS Racing Team0:14:15
125Sergey Kudentsov (Rus) RTS Racing Team0:14:30
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Points classification
1Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep15pts
2Adam Blythe (GBr) BMC Racing Team12Row 1 - Cell 3
3Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Barracuda10Row 2 - Cell 3
4Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale9Row 3 - Cell 3
5Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale6Row 4 - Cell 3
6Mark Renshaw (Aus) Rabobank6Row 5 - Cell 3
7Davide Appollonio (Ita) Sky Procycling5Row 6 - Cell 3
8Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha4Row 7 - Cell 3
9Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol Team3Row 8 - Cell 3
10Marco Haller (Aut) Katusha2Row 9 - Cell 3
11Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team2Row 10 - Cell 3
12Robert Wagner (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan1Row 11 - Cell 3
13Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step1Row 12 - Cell 3
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Young rider classification
1Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin-Barracuda3:24:10
2Davide Appollonio (Ita) Sky Procycling0:00:07
3Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick StepRow 2 - Cell 2
4Marco Haller (Aut) KatushaRow 3 - Cell 2
5Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:09
6Alexander Kristoff (Nor) KatushaRow 5 - Cell 2
7Gatis Smukulis (Lat) KatushaRow 6 - Cell 2
8Rüdiger Selig (Ger) KatushaRow 7 - Cell 2
9Adam Blythe (GBr) BMC Racing Team0:00:10
10Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:13
11Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) RadioShack-Nissan0:00:14
12Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-NissanRow 11 - Cell 2
13Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team0:00:16
14Klaas Lodewijck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank0:00:17
16Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Procycling0:00:20
17Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ-BigMat0:00:23
18Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ-BigMatRow 17 - Cell 2
19John Degenkolb (Ger) Project 1t4i0:00:24
20Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Project 1t4iRow 19 - Cell 2
21Andrea Guardini (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia0:00:31
22Thomas Bertolini (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia0:00:52
23Alexandre Lemair (Fra) Bridgestone Anchor0:01:11
24Clinton Avery (NZl) Champion System0:01:36
25Hayato Yoshida (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor0:01:42
26Jacob Rathe (USA) Garmin-Barracuda0:01:45
27Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha0:03:06
28Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team0:03:53
29Ryota Nishizono (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor0:04:05
30Chin-Lung Huang (Tpe) RTS Racing Team0:04:52
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Teams classification
1Garmin - Barracuda9:47:14
2Omega Pharma-Quick Step0:00:07
3Sky Procycling0:00:09
4Katusha TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:13
6RadioShack-Nissan0:00:14
7BMC Racing Team0:00:16
8GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Lotto-Belisol Team0:00:17
10Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11FDJ-Bigmat0:00:23
12Project 1t4i0:00:24
13Farnese Vini-Selle Italia0:00:31
14Champion System0:01:03
15Bridgestone Anchor0:01:11
16RTS Racing Team0:01:34

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Mark joined the Cyclingnews team in October 2011 and has a strong background in journalism across numerous sports. His interest in cycling dates back to Greg LeMond's victories in the 1989 and 1990 Tours, and he has a self-confessed obsession with the career and life of Fausto Coppi.

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