Tour of Qatar: Boonen makes it two on stage 4

Tom Boonen's early-season showcase continues, as the Omega Pharma-QuickStep man claimed his second victory in three days by pipping no less a figure than André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) in the sprint, at the end of stage 4 of the Tour of Qatar. The win moves Boonen up to second place overall, 17 seconds off his teammate Niki Terpstra.

"Timing," was the simple explanation Boonen gave for his victory, but his canny outmanoeuvring of Greipel in the final 100 metres tells only half of the story. The average speed for the day, an eye-watering 56.8kph, was surely also a contributing factor. The furious afternoon of racing, it seems, drew more of the string from Greipel's legs than it did from Boonen's.

"It helped that I've already won one stage. I think you are a little bit more relaxed and you don't make any mistakes," Boonen said afterwards. "But it's also about being in a very good condition, and knowing when you can go: that gives you the confidence not to make mistakes."

The stage was run off at a ferocious pace from the moment the flag was dropped, with some 58.9 kilometres covered in the first hour alone. By the time the race reached its crescendo in Mesaieed, QuickStep's forcing in the final crosswind section had already whittled the front group down to 70 riders, and it was clear that the biggest resistance to their dominance would come from Greipel and his well-organised Lotto-Belisol team.

Greipel opened up his sprint from distance, and with 200 metres to go, the German looked set to notch up his third victory of the campaign. Boonen, however, had deliberately hesitated and waited for Greipel to seize the initiative before launching his own acceleration. Inside the final 100 metres, he duly came around Greipel. They both dived for the line at the same time, and while the margin was just a rim, Boonen instantly knew that he had landed the win.

"I just let him start and waited until he was on speed, because I knew I had that 100 metre punch," Boonen said. "That's what I've been working on since I started training. It was to get my punch back, that I've maybe lose a little bit. But it's still there, you just have to wake it up a little bit."

Greipel crossed the line without knowing whether or not he had won, and when he wheeled to a halt, he sat waiting by his team car waiting for the result of the photo finish. The white smoke, so to speak, brought only disappointment for Greipel, but he admitted that he could not have done any more in the finale.

"It was hard for everyone but I made a good sprint, I think," Greipel said. "Ok, Tom won but that's racing."

Behind the two big guns, some young sharp shooters competed for the minor placings in the sprint, as Barry Markus (Belkin) claimed third and Sam Bennett (NetApp-Endura) took 5th. FDJ's Arnaud Démare could only manage 8th, though his performance was mitigated by the fact that he had only regained contact with the leaders in the final 5 kilometres.

In the overall standings, Omega Pharma-QuickStep now holds the top two positions through Terpstra and Boonen, with Lotto's Jürgen Roelandts, 3rd at 20 seconds, the closest challenger. Given his sprint form and the bonus seconds on offer in the coming days, Boonen is surely close to a fifth Tour of Qatar victory, but he said that he would not look to deny Terpstra: "No, if I get second, it's perfect. I will not try to win."

How it unfolded

At the start village in Dukhan, a delegation from the Qatari police gathered the directeurs sportifs for an impromptu briefing, ordering them to prevent their riders from taking natural breaks in public during the race.

They needn't have bothered. Such was the pace on Wednesday's stage that there was never a moment's respite wherein a rider might have found the time to wheel to a halt at the roadside and spend a penny.

As ever, the black jerseys of Omega Pharma-QuickStep instantly massed on the front of the peloton once the flag dropped, and while Boonen said their only aim was to control the race, the bunch soon fragmented into three distinct groups in the early crosswind, as Lotto-Belisol and Belkin also put their shoulders to the wheel.

At the cement factory at Umm Bab (25km), whose smoke-belching towers seemed transposed from an LS Lowry painting to the desert, the route swung into a lengthy tailwind section, where the leading group swelled to 90 riders. Those who didn't manage to claw their way back on at that point would never regain contact, lost on a long, dusty road to nowhere through the Qatari interior.

Some 58.9 kilometres were covered in the opening hour of racing and the tempo scarcely relented thereafter. The bunch would reach the finish in Mesaieed almost an hour up on the fastest estimated schedule and by the time the television feed went live, there were only ten kilometres left to race.

In the intervening period, Niki Terpstra had endured a brief scare when he punctured just before the first sprint after 60km, but he was soon back in the convoy and latched on to the pack. Philippe Gilbert (BMC) tried his luck by attacking with Jarl Salomein (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) after 90km, but they were shut down shortly afterwards.

The race then swung back into crosswinds on hitting the coast for the final 30 kilometres, and once again, Omega Pharma-QuickStep hit the front, whittling the front group down still further, with Fabian Cancellara (Trek) and Lars Boom (Belkin) among those left behind. The stage was set, then, for the grandstand finale, where Boonen would take the decision from Greipel.

"We never tried to really split the group today, we just tried to control as much as possible, with the eight of us," Boonen said. "We succeeded and then in the last 50km we were going for the sprint, full speed."

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team2:22:34
2André Greipel (Ger) Lotto BelisolRow 1 - Cell 2
3Barry Markus (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Orica GreenEdgeRow 3 - Cell 2
5Sam Bennett (Irl) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 4 - Cell 2
6Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.frRow 6 - Cell 2
8Matteo Pelucchi (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 7 - Cell 2
9Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 8 - Cell 2
10Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team SkyRow 9 - Cell 2
11Marco Coledan (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 10 - Cell 2
12Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team KatushaRow 11 - Cell 2
13Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 12 - Cell 2
14Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 13 - Cell 2
15Matti Breschel (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 14 - Cell 2
16Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Filippo Fortin (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 16 - Cell 2
18Alexei Tsatevich (Rus) Team KatushaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Sébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 18 - Cell 2
20Ian Stannard (GBr) Team SkyRow 19 - Cell 2
21Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJ.frRow 20 - Cell 2
22Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 21 - Cell 2
23Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 23 - Cell 2
25Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 24 - Cell 2
26Oscar Gatto (Ita) CannondaleRow 25 - Cell 2
27Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 26 - Cell 2
28Blaz Jarc (Slo) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 27 - Cell 2
29Vladimir Isaychev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 28 - Cell 2
30Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto BelisolRow 29 - Cell 2
31Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
32Robert Förster (Ger) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 33 - Cell 2
35Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto BelisolRow 34 - Cell 2
36Karsten Kroon (Ned) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 35 - Cell 2
37Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Trek Factory RacingRow 36 - Cell 2
38Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Kristof Goddaert (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 39 - Cell 2
41Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 40 - Cell 2
42Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 41 - Cell 2
43Pieter Van Speybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 42 - Cell 2
44Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Marko Kump (Slo) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 44 - Cell 2
46Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Michel Koch (Ger) CannondaleRow 46 - Cell 2
48Kristijan Koren (Slo) CannondaleRow 47 - Cell 2
49Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 48 - Cell 2
50Alan Marangoni (Ita) CannondaleRow 49 - Cell 2
51Jos Van Emden (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Gert Dockx (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 53 - Cell 2
55Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 54 - Cell 2
56Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 55 - Cell 2
57Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 56 - Cell 2
58Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 58 - Cell 2
60Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Team KatushaRow 59 - Cell 2
61Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 60 - Cell 2
62Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 61 - Cell 2
63Markel Irizar (Spa) Trek Factory RacingRow 62 - Cell 2
64Christopher Sutton (Aus) Team SkyRow 63 - Cell 2
65Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Team SkyRow 64 - Cell 2
66Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) CannondaleRow 65 - Cell 2
67Jesse Sergent (NZl) Trek Factory RacingRow 66 - Cell 2
68Jetse Bol (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 67 - Cell 2
69Robert Wagner (Ger) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:00:11
70Theo Bos (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 69 - Cell 2
71Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica GreenEdge0:00:13
72Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:00:24
73Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Team KatushaRow 72 - Cell 2
74Zico Waeytens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:00:29
75Iljo Keisse (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 74 - Cell 2
76Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) FDJ.fr0:00:32
77Christopher Jones (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 77 - Cell 2
79Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto BelisolRow 78 - Cell 2
80Graeme Brown (Aus) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 79 - Cell 2
81Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team0:00:40
82Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling0:01:00
83Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica GreenEdge0:01:11
84Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo0:01:15
85Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenEdge0:01:23
86Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:01:25
87Paul Voss (Ger) Team Netapp - Endura0:01:32
88Scott Thwaites (GBr) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 87 - Cell 2
89Luke Rowe (GBr) Team SkyRow 88 - Cell 2
90Kevin Ista (Bel) IAM Cycling0:01:34
91Sébastien Hinault (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 90 - Cell 2
92Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:02:01
93Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team0:02:36
94Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:03:25
95Daniel Schorn (Aut) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 94 - Cell 2
96Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory RacingRow 95 - Cell 2
97Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 96 - Cell 2
98Hayden Roulston (NZl) Trek Factory Racing0:07:02
99Christian Knees (Ger) Team SkyRow 98 - Cell 2
100Elia Viviani (Ita) CannondaleRow 99 - Cell 2
101Michael Kolar (Svk) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 100 - Cell 2
102Marco Canola (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 101 - Cell 2
103Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 103 - Cell 2
105Patrick Gretsch (Ger) AG2R La MondialeRow 104 - Cell 2
106Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 105 - Cell 2
107Adil Jelloul (Mar) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling TeamRow 106 - Cell 2
108John Murphy (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Team KatushaRow 108 - Cell 2
110Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 109 - Cell 2
111Soufiane Haddi (Mar) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
112Paolo Colonna (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 111 - Cell 2
113Danny Pate (USA) Team SkyRow 112 - Cell 2
114Rafaa Chtioui (Tun) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling TeamRow 113 - Cell 2
115Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 114 - Cell 2
116Sebastian Lander (Den) BMC Racing TeamRow 115 - Cell 2
117Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
118Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 117 - Cell 2
119Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeRow 118 - Cell 2
120Nicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 119 - Cell 2
121Aldo Ino Ilesic (Slo) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
122Alexandr Pliuschin (Mda) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling TeamRow 121 - Cell 2
123Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 122 - Cell 2
124Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 123 - Cell 2
125Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro TeamRow 124 - Cell 2
126Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 125 - Cell 2
127Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 126 - Cell 2
128Maher Hasnaoui (Tun) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling TeamRow 127 - Cell 2
129Oscar Pujol (Spa) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling TeamRow 128 - Cell 2
130Dominic Klemme (Ger) IAM CyclingRow 129 - Cell 2
131Svein Tuft (Can) Orica GreenEdgeRow 130 - Cell 2
132Kenneth Hanson (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 131 - Cell 2
133Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling TeamRow 132 - Cell 2
134Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 133 - Cell 2
135Laurent Mangel (Fra) FDJ.frRow 134 - Cell 2
136Mickaël Delage (Fra) FDJ.frRow 135 - Cell 2
137Davide Villella (Ita) CannondaleRow 136 - Cell 2
138Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 137 - Cell 2
139Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) CannondaleRow 138 - Cell 2
140Gregory Rast (Swi) Trek Factory RacingRow 139 - Cell 2
141Marcel Aregger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 140 - Cell 2
142Marco Haller (Aut) Team KatushaRow 141 - Cell 2
143Stefano Locatelli (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 142 - Cell 2
144Evan Huffman (USA) Astana Pro TeamRow 143 - Cell 2
145Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 144 - Cell 2
146Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 145 - Cell 2
147Jens Mouris (Ned) Orica GreenEdgeRow 146 - Cell 2
148Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:07:14
DNFKiel Reijnen (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 148 - Cell 2
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Sprint 1 - Umm Bab Road
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo3pts
2Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Karsten Kroon (Ned) Tinkoff-Saxo1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 2 - Al Wukair
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team3pts
2Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Points
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team15pts
2André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol12Row 1 - Cell 3
3Barry Markus (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team9Row 2 - Cell 3
4Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Orica GreenEdge7Row 3 - Cell 3
5Sam Bennett (Irl) Team Netapp - Endura6Row 4 - Cell 3
6Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana Pro Team5Row 5 - Cell 3
7Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr4Row 6 - Cell 3
8Matteo Pelucchi (Swi) IAM Cycling3Row 7 - Cell 3
9Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise2Row 8 - Cell 3
10Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Sky1Row 9 - Cell 3
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Young riders
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Barry Markus (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team2:22:34
2Sam Bennett (Irl) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 1 - Cell 2
3Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.frRow 2 - Cell 2
4Matteo Pelucchi (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 3 - Cell 2
5Filippo Fortin (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 4 - Cell 2
6Alexei Tsatevich (Rus) Team KatushaRow 5 - Cell 2
7Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 7 - Cell 2
9Michel Koch (Ger) CannondaleRow 8 - Cell 2
10Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 10 - Cell 2
12Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 11 - Cell 2
13Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 13 - Cell 2
15Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Team KatushaRow 14 - Cell 2
16Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Jetse Bol (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Zico Waeytens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:00:29
19Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team Katusha0:00:32
20Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenEdge0:01:23
21Scott Thwaites (GBr) Team Netapp - Endura0:01:32
22Luke Rowe (GBr) Team SkyRow 21 - Cell 2
23Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo0:03:25
24Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale0:07:02
25Michael Kolar (Svk) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 24 - Cell 2
26Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 25 - Cell 2
27Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 26 - Cell 2
28Soufiane Haddi (Mar) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 28 - Cell 2
30Sebastian Lander (Den) BMC Racing TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Nicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 30 - Cell 2
32Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 31 - Cell 2
33Maher Hasnaoui (Tun) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Davide Villella (Ita) CannondaleRow 33 - Cell 2
35Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 34 - Cell 2
36Marcel Aregger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 35 - Cell 2
37Marco Haller (Aut) Team KatushaRow 36 - Cell 2
38Stefano Locatelli (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 37 - Cell 2
39Evan Huffman (USA) Astana Pro TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 39 - Cell 2
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Lotto Belisol7:07:42
2Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Team KatushaRow 2 - Cell 2
4Tinkoff-SaxoRow 3 - Cell 2
5Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 4 - Cell 2
6BMC Racing TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Team Netapp - EnduraRow 6 - Cell 2
8Team SkyRow 7 - Cell 2
9IAM CyclingRow 8 - Cell 2
10CannondaleRow 9 - Cell 2
11Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Trek Factory RacingRow 11 - Cell 2
13Orica Greenedge0:00:13
14FDJ.fr0:00:32
15UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Astana Pro Team0:02:36
17Bardiani CSF0:07:02
18AG2R La MondialeRow 17 - Cell 2
19Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:14:04
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General classification after stage 4
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
Row 0 - Cell 0 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team9:19:38
2Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team0:00:17
3Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:00:20
4Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky0:00:37
5Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team0:00:47
6Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo0:00:48
7Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol0:00:51
8Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team0:01:00
9Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team0:01:08
10Karsten Kroon (Ned) Tinkoff-Saxo0:01:21
11Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:01:23
12Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team0:01:25
13Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team0:01:27
14André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol0:01:33
15Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr0:01:34
16Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:01:36
17Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Belisol0:01:44
18Matti Breschel (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo0:01:48
19Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale0:01:49
20Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:01:55
21Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana Pro Team0:01:59
22Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica GreenEdge0:02:02
23Barry Markus (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:02:05
24Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Orica GreenEdge0:02:07
25Iljo Keisse (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team0:02:14
26Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Team Katusha0:02:17
27Pieter Van Speybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:02:25
28Blaz Jarc (Slo) Team Netapp - Endura0:02:48
29Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM Cycling0:02:52
30Jos Van Emden (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:02:56
31Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:03:00
32Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:03:11
33Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Trek Factory Racing0:03:18
35Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha0:03:28
36Robert Wagner (Ger) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:03:43
37Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:03:51
38Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Team Netapp - Endura0:04:00
39Kristof Goddaert (Bel) IAM Cycling0:04:01
40Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Team Sky0:04:03
41Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team0:04:09
42Zico Waeytens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:04:23
43Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky0:04:30
44Christopher Sutton (Aus) Team Sky0:04:32
45Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica GreenEdge0:04:42
46Marko Kump (Slo) Tinkoff-Saxo0:05:00
47Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Belisol0:05:06
48Markel Irizar (Spa) Trek Factory Racing0:07:50
49Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:08:13
50Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:08:14
51Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJ.fr0:08:15
52Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La Mondiale0:08:19
53Sébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:08:30
54Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:08:35
55Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:08:40
56Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling0:08:47
57Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team0:08:57
58Oscar Gatto (Ita) Cannondale0:08:58
59Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica GreenEdge0:09:00
60Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro Team0:09:04
61Sam Bennett (Irl) Team Netapp - Endura0:09:06
62Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:09:07
63Mickaël Delage (Fra) FDJ.fr0:09:10
64Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:09:16
65Gert Dockx (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:09:33
66Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:10:01
67Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory Racing0:10:58
68Marco Coledan (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:11:59
69Scott Thwaites (GBr) Team Netapp - Endura0:12:00
70Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Sky0:12:07
71Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory Racing0:12:36
72Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo0:12:41
73Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team Katusha0:12:53
74Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team0:13:09
75Graeme Brown (Aus) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:13:40
76Vladimir Isaychev (Rus) Team Katusha0:13:48
77Filippo Fortin (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:13:50
78Alexei Tsatevich (Rus) Team Katusha0:14:16
79Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Cannondale0:14:17
80Jens Mouris (Ned) Orica GreenEdge0:14:45
81Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team0:15:06
82Christopher Jones (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team0:15:16
83Paul Voss (Ger) Team Netapp - Endura0:15:29
84Rafaa Chtioui (Tun) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:15:39
85John Murphy (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team0:16:08
86Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica GreenEdge0:16:47
87Danny Pate (USA) Team Sky0:17:03
88Laurent Mangel (Fra) FDJ.fr0:17:33
89Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp - Endura0:17:53
90Jesse Sergent (NZl) Trek Factory Racing0:17:58
91Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Team Katusha0:18:21
92Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale0:18:23
93Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team0:18:26
94Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale0:18:28
95Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 94 - Cell 2
96Matteo Pelucchi (Swi) IAM Cycling0:18:56
97Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:18:59
98Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Team Katusha0:19:02
99Jetse Bol (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:19:04
100Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:19:16
101Robert Förster (Ger) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team0:19:18
102Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) FDJ.fr0:19:20
103Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:19:21
104Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team Netapp - Endura0:19:35
105Marco Haller (Aut) Team Katusha0:20:00
106Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:21:14
107Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo0:21:30
108Sebastian Lander (Den) BMC Racing Team0:21:52
109Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team0:22:04
110Sébastien Hinault (Fra) IAM Cycling0:22:34
111Theo Bos (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:23:02
112Daniel Schorn (Aut) Team Netapp - Endura0:24:02
113Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo0:25:05
114Alexandr Pliuschin (Mda) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:25:19
115Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Cannondale0:25:20
116Svein Tuft (Can) Orica GreenEdge0:25:22
117Marco Canola (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:25:25
118Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek Factory Racing0:25:27
119Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:25:30
120Christian Knees (Ger) Team Sky0:25:34
121Hayden Roulston (NZl) Trek Factory Racing0:25:36
122Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale0:25:37
123Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 122 - Cell 2
124Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale0:25:50
125Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La Mondiale0:25:54
126Soufiane Haddi (Mar) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:25:58
127Gregory Rast (Swi) Trek Factory Racing0:26:02
128Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:26:06
129Paolo Colonna (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:26:07
130Nicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:26:10
131Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Astana Pro Team0:26:18
132Adil Jelloul (Mar) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:26:31
133Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:26:40
134Kevin Ista (Bel) IAM Cycling0:26:55
135Kenneth Hanson (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team0:26:58
136Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale0:31:58
137Evan Huffman (USA) Astana Pro Team0:31:59
138Patrick Gretsch (Ger) AG2R La Mondiale0:32:05
139Dominic Klemme (Ger) IAM Cycling0:32:06
140Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:32:14
141Maher Hasnaoui (Tun) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:32:33
142Marcel Aregger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 141 - Cell 2
143Michael Kolar (Svk) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 142 - Cell 2
144Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:32:37
145Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro Team0:32:47
146Aldo Ino Ilesic (Slo) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team0:33:06
147Stefano Locatelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:33:12
148Oscar Pujol (Spa) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:33:40
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Points classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team40pts
2Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team36Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol29Row 2 - Cell 3
4Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenEdge15Row 3 - Cell 3
5Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo15Row 4 - Cell 3
6Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team14Row 5 - Cell 3
7Barry Markus (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team13Row 6 - Cell 3
8André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol12Row 7 - Cell 3
9Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM Cycling12Row 8 - Cell 3
10Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team10Row 9 - Cell 3
11Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team10Row 10 - Cell 3
12Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo9Row 11 - Cell 3
13Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Orica GreenEdge8Row 12 - Cell 3
14Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team7Row 13 - Cell 3
15Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr7Row 14 - Cell 3
16Sam Bennett (Irl) Team Netapp - Endura7Row 15 - Cell 3
17Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory Racing7Row 16 - Cell 3
18Matti Breschel (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo6Row 17 - Cell 3
19Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky5Row 18 - Cell 3
20Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana Pro Team5Row 19 - Cell 3
21Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol4Row 20 - Cell 3
22Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise4Row 21 - Cell 3
23Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team3Row 22 - Cell 3
24Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team3Row 23 - Cell 3
25Matteo Pelucchi (Swi) IAM Cycling3Row 24 - Cell 3
26Karsten Kroon (Ned) Tinkoff-Saxo2Row 25 - Cell 3
27Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha2Row 26 - Cell 3
28Jens Mouris (Ned) Orica GreenEdge2Row 27 - Cell 3
29Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team1Row 28 - Cell 3
30Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Sky1Row 29 - Cell 3
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Young rider classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team9:20:25
2Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team0:00:21
3Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr0:00:47
4Barry Markus (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:01:18
5Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Team Katusha0:01:30
6Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:02:24
7Zico Waeytens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:03:36
8Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky0:03:43
9Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:07:48
10Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro Team0:08:17
11Sam Bennett (Irl) Team Netapp - Endura0:08:19
12Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:08:20
13Scott Thwaites (GBr) Team Netapp - Endura0:11:13
14Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory Racing0:11:49
15Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team Katusha0:12:06
16Filippo Fortin (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:13:03
17Alexei Tsatevich (Rus) Team Katusha0:13:29
18Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica GreenEdge0:16:00
19Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp - Endura0:17:06
20Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale0:17:41
21Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 20 - Cell 2
22Matteo Pelucchi (Swi) IAM Cycling0:18:09
23Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:18:12
24Jetse Bol (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:18:17
25Marco Haller (Aut) Team Katusha0:19:13
26Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo0:20:43
27Sebastian Lander (Den) BMC Racing Team0:21:05
28Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale0:24:50
29Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 28 - Cell 2
30Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale0:25:03
31Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La Mondiale0:25:07
32Soufiane Haddi (Mar) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:25:11
33Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:25:19
34Nicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:25:23
35Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:25:53
36Evan Huffman (USA) Astana Pro Team0:31:12
37Maher Hasnaoui (Tun) Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:31:46
38Marcel Aregger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 37 - Cell 2
39Michael Kolar (Svk) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 38 - Cell 2
40Stefano Locatelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:32:25
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Teams classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team28:00:25
2Tinkoff-Saxo0:00:41
3Lotto Belisol0:01:37
4Team Sky0:01:47
5Orica Greenedge0:02:44
6BMC Racing Team0:02:48
7Belkin Pro Cycling Team0:03:31
8Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:05:04
9Team Netapp - Endura0:07:12
10Team Katusha0:07:26
11Trek Factory Racing0:09:49
12FDJ.fr0:10:54
13IAM Cycling0:12:50
14Astana Pro Team0:19:18
15Cannondale0:22:08
16AG2R La Mondiale0:24:18
17UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team0:24:54
18Bardiani CSF0:49:43
19Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team0:58:04

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Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.

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