Boonen Wins Tour Of Qatar Fourth Stage

Last updated : 12 February 2014 By Covsjupport News Service

Omega Pharma Quick Step's Tom Boonen won the fourth stage of the Tour Of Qatar on a stage his team controlled from the start.

A 135km stage from Dukhan to Mesaieed saw the riders split into four groups early on with race leader Nicky Terpstra of Omega Pharma Quick Step in the first group.

Belkin's Michael Morkov took the first sprint ahead of Jurgen Roelandts before riders caught up forming two groups with Omega Pharma Quick Step having all their riders in the first group who were 1.30 ahead of the second group after 51kms.

Naturally, Omega Pharma dominated the second sprint with Tom Boonen taking maximum points ahead of Nicky Terpstra  and Jurgen  Roelandts.

With 75kms gone, former World Champion Phillipe Gilbert of BMC and Jarl Salomein from the Topsport team took to the front and gained a thirty three second advantage.

Lars Boom and Fabian Cancellera who has been in the second group, suffered mechanicals as Omega Pharma controlled the race from the front.

Katusha and Orica Green Edge also came forward as the second group caught the first group, setting things up for the bunch sprint.

The sprint was on and there was Omega Pharma Quick Step's Tom Boonen to take the stage victory, ahead of  Greipel,  Markus,  Kruopis,  Bennet, Guarnieri, Demare, Pelucchi, Van Staeyen and Team Sky's Bernie Eisel.

Nicky Terpstra continues to lead the race from team mate Tom Boonen by seventeen seconds and twenty seconds from Jurgen Roelandts.

Team Sky's Ian Stannard rode well all day and moved up to fourth on the General Classification. He is some 37 seconds down on Terpstra.