3rd Tour of Qatar - 2.3

Qatar, February 2-6, 2004

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Stage 5 - February 6: Doha Golf Club - Doha Corniche, 163 km

Hunter finishes in style

Hunter wins the stage and the tour
Photo ©: AFP

Robert Hunter (Rabobank) finished the third Tour of Qatar in fine style, taking the final stage and finishing atop the podium in the general classification. The South African won two of the five stages, beating Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) and Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon), who held onto the silver and blue jerseys for the points and young rider classifications.

The final stage of the tour was held over 163 kilometres between the Doha Golf Club and Doha Corniche. From the drop of the flag, the tempo was extremely fast throughout the stage, with the top sprinters and their teams looking to control the bunch in what has been a hard-fought race. Still seeking a stage win, Robbie McEwen dispatched his Lotto-Domo teammates to put the pressure on Tom Boonen and race leader Hunter. The team's effort was not enough to shed McEwen's rivals, but it was enough to split the peloton into several groups and put nearly half the field in difficulty.

Boonen, although he was unable to win the final stage, showed himself to be the most consistent sprinter of the bunch by taking both intermediate sprints and securing his silver jersey of points leader. At each sprint McEwen was just behind, but unable to get the better of the big Belgian.

Finishing on a circuit, the race thundered to the Doha Corniche and McEwen's teammate Koos Moerenhout took his chances on a last ditch effort to break clear of the dwindling field. Quick.Step was not about to let a break go clear, and promptly reeled in the Dutchman.

In the end it was Robert Hunter who rocketed clear, dusting McEwen and Boonen and winning the stage ahead of Italian Francesco Chichi (Fassa Bortolo) and Wouter Van Mechelen (Vlaanderen-T Interim). Hunter claimed the final gold jersey at the head of a final classification whittled down to just 41 riders. A tough week for some as the Tour of Qatar perhaps begins to shed its moniker as an easy training race.

Photography

Images by AFP Photo/Karim Jaafar-STR

Robert Hunter (Rabobank) takes the final sprint ahead of Francesco Chichi (l)
Robert Hunter (Rabobank) is awarded the trophy and final gold jersey of the 3rd Tour of Qatar

Results

1 Robert Hunter (RSA) Rabobank                    3.28.41
2 Francesco Chichi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                   
3 Wouter Van Mechelen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim         
4 Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus) Lotto-Domo                        
5 Giosuè Bonomi (Ita) Team Saeco                         
6 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team CSC                          
7 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon                  
8 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner                      
9 Eric Baumann (Ger) T-Mobile                            
10 Frank Hoj (Den) Team CSC                              
11 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance              
12 Lilian Jegou (Fra) Crédit Agricole                    
13 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole               
14 Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto-Domo                 
15 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC                        
16 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère          
17 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Team Saeco                   
18 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                      
19 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance                 
20 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Lotto-Domo                         
21 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick.Step-Davitamon             
22 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2r Prévoyance                  
23 Roberto Petito (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                    
24 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Lotto-Domo                      
25 Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                           
26 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Fassa Bortolo               
27 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon                
28 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon             
29 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                              
30 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems     0.08
31 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) Team CSC                    0.10
32 Leif Hoste (Bel) Lotto-Domo                       0.12
33 Davide Bramati (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon         0.14
34 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon     0.17
35 Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) De Nardi                   0.34
36 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo                 
37 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick.Step-Davitamon           1.42
38 Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Rabobank                    15.55
39 Gregory Rast (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems             
40 Daniel Schnider (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems          
41 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank                           
 
Oustide time limit
 
HD Wesley Van Speybroeck (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim      
HD Kevin Van Der Slagmolen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim    
HD David Meys (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                 
HD Bart De Spiegelaere (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim        
HD Steven Caethoven (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim           
HD Koen Barbe (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                 
HD Jehudi Schoonacker (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim         
HD Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) De Nardi                     
HD Igor Pugaci (Mda) De Nardi                            
HD Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) De Nardi                       
HD Matej Jurco (Svk) De Nardi                            
HD Leonardo Giordani (Ita) De Nardi                      
HD Simone Cadamuro (Ita) De Nardi                        
HD Ruggero Borghi (Ita) De Nardi                         
HD Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Crédit Agricole                 
HD Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Crédit Agricole               
HD Stéphane Auge (Fra) Crédit Agricole                   
HD Ief Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Domo                       
HD Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Domo                     
HD Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Lotto-Domo                    
HD Alexandre Naulleau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère       
HD Rony Martias (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère             
HD Christophe Kern (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère          
HD Anthony Geslin (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère           
HD Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère       
HD Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère          
HD Alexandre Usov (Blr) Phonak Hearing Systems           
HD Johann Tschopp (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems           
HD Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems                
HD Bert Grabsch (Ger) Phonak Hearing Systems             
HD Michael Albasini (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems         
HD Christophe Oriol (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance                
HD Julien Laidoun (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance                  
HD Stephane Goubert (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance                
HD Stéphane Berges (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance                 
HD Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance            
HD Michael Sandstod (Den) Team CSC                       
HD Jimmi Madsen (Den) Team CSC                           
HD Bekim Christensen (Den) Team CSC                      
HD Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Den) Team CSC                   
HD Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) Rabobank                        
HD Hans Dekkers (Ned) Rabobank                           
HD Kevin De Weert (Bel) Rabobank                         
HD Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                      
HD Torsten Schmidt (Ger) Gerolsteiner                    
HD Volker Ordowski (Ger) Gerolsteiner                    
HD Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner                        
HD Marcus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner                      
HD Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                     
HD Jorg Ludewig (Ger) Team Saeco                         
HD David Loosli (Swi) Team Saeco                         
HD Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Team Saeco                       
HD Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Team Saeco                   
HD Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Team Saeco                    
HD Dario Pieri (Ita) Team Saeco                          
HD Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) T-Mobile                       
HD Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile                        
HD André Korff (Ger) T-Mobile                            
HD Tomas Konecny (Cze) T-Mobile                          
HD Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) T-Mobile                       
HD Mario Aerts (Bel) T-Mobile                            
HD Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile                       
HD Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon          
HD Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                  
HD Mauro Facci (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                       
HD Luca De Angeli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                    
HD Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Saunier Duval                      
HD Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval                 
HD Manuele Mori (Ita) Saunier Duval                      
HD Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval                       
HD David Canada (Spa) Saunier Duval                      
HD Alberto Loddo (Ita) Saunier Duval                     
DNS Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval                   
DNS Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval               
 
Points
 
1 Robert Hunter (RSA) Rabobank                         30 pts
2 Francesco Chichi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                 27
3 Wouter Van Mechelen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim       25
4 Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus) Lotto-Domo                      23
5 Giosuè Bonomi (Ita) Team Saeco                       21
6 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team CSC                        19
7 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon                17
8 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner                    15
9 Eric Baumann (Ger) T-Mobile                          13
10 Frank Hoj (Den) Team CSC                            11
11 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance            10
12 Lilian Jegou (Fra) Crédit Agricole                   9
13 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole              8
14 Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto-Domo                7
15 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC                       6
16 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère         5
17 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Team Saeco                  4
18 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                     3
19 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance                2
20 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Lotto-Domo                        1
 
Sprints
 
Al Khor - 38.00 km
 
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon                 3 pts
2 Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus) Lotto-Domo                       2
3 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance              1
 
Doha - 107.50 km
 
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon                 3 pts
2 Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus) Lotto-Domo                       2
3 Robert Hunter (RSA) Rabobank                          1
 
Young rider
 
1 Francesco Chichi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo            3.28.41
2 Wouter Van Mechelen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim         
3 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon                  
4 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner                      
5 Eric Baumann (Ger) T-Mobile                            
6 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance                  
7 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2r Prévoyance                   
8 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon                 
9 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo              0.34
10 Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Rabobank                    15.55
11 Gregory Rast (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems             
12 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank                           
 
Teams
 
1 Team CSC                                       10.26.03
2 Lotto-Domo                                             
3 Fassa Bortolo                                          
4 Ag2R Prevoyance                                        
5 Rabobank                                               
6 Quick.Step-Davitamon                                   
7 Phonak Hearing Systems                            31.58
 
Final general classification
 
1 Robert Hunter (RSA) Rabobank                   17.33.17
2 Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus) Lotto-Domo                    0.08
3 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon              0.12
4 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance           0.13
5 Frank Hoj (Den) Team CSC                           0.33
6 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Fassa Bortolo            0.34
7 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC                     0.38
8 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick.Step-Davitamon              
9 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Lotto-Domo                      0.40
10 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                      
11 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner                 0.44
12 Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto-Domo                 
13 Roberto Petito (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                0.50
14 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon            0.56
15 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon     1.12
16 Francesco Chichi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo              1.29
17 Lilian Jegou (Fra) Crédit Agricole                1.30
18 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team CSC                         
19 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère          
20 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance                 
21 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Team Saeco                   
22 Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                           
23 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo             1.32
24 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2r Prévoyance              1.42
25 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                          2.11
26 Wouter Van Mechelen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim    6.47
27 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick.Step-Davitamon           8.33
28 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Lotto-Domo                  9.08
29 Leif Hoste (Bel) Lotto-Domo                       9.48
30 Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) De Nardi                  10.46
31 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon        10.48
32 Eric Baumann (Ger) T-Mobile                      15.24
33 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank                      16.39
34 Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Rabobank                    31.20
35 Giosuè Bonomi (Ita) Team Saeco                   34.46
36 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole          34.51
37 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) Team CSC                   34.56
38 Davide Bramati (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon        35.49
39 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems    43.17
40 Gregory Rast (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems        59.15
41 Daniel Schnider (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems          
 
Points classification
 
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon               120 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Rabobank                        116
3 Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus) Lotto-Domo                     108
4 Francesco Chichi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                 84
5 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance             83
6 Wouter Van Mechelen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim       49
7 Frank Hoj (Den) Team CSC                             47
8 Lilian Jegou (Fra) Crédit Agricole                   35
9 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC                       33
10 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo               30
11 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team CSC                       30
12 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Lotto-Domo                    30
13 Roberto Petito (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                  25
14 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Fassa Bortolo             23
15 Giosuè Bonomi (Ita) Team Saeco                      23
16 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner                   21
17 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick.Step-Davitamon           20
18 Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto-Domo               19
19 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole             19
20 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon           17
21 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank                         16
22 Eric Baumann (Ger) T-Mobile                         14
23 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Team Saeco                 12
24 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Lotto-Domo                       10
25 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère        10
26 Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Rabobank                       10
27 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                     9
28 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2r Prévoyance                 9
29 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance                8
30 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                             5
 
Young rider classification
 
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon          17.33.29
2 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner                  0.32
3 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon             0.44
4 Francesco Chichi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo               1.17
5 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance              1.18
6 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo              1.20
7 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2r Prévoyance               1.30
8 Wouter Van Mechelen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim     6.35
9 Eric Baumann (Ger) T-Mobile                       15.12
10 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank                      16.27
11 Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Rabobank                    31.08
12 Gregory Rast (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems        59.03
 
Teams classification
 
1 Fassa Bortolo                                  52.41.35
2 Lotto-Domo                                         0.06
3 Quick.Step-Davitamon                               0.12
4 Rabobank                                           0.57
5 Team CSC                                           1.06
6 Ag2R Prevoyance                                    1.58
7 Phonak Hearing Systems                          1.50.26