Omega Pharma Quick Step's Nicky Terpstra won the opening stage of the Tour of Qatar.
With the first ever race in Dubai over and done with, some of the riders moved on Qatar for this annual race which started with a 135.5km stage from the pier at Al Wakra to Dukhan Beach.
On a windy day, the action started as soon as the riders left the neutral zone, Astana's Lieuwe Westra was first to attack but was caught just before the opening intermediate sprint.
Omega Pharma Quick Step briefly took control splitting the peloton and stopping every attack which include a break of 22 riders including Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara, Philippe Gilbert, Greg Van Avermaet, Jurgen Roelandts and Andrei Greipel.before they were halted after 95kms and the peloton regrouped.
With thirty kilometres remaining, Nicky Terpstra, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (both of Omega Pharma Quick Step), Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol), Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling) and BMC's Michael Schär took to the front.
Belkin riders tried to reel them in but Terpstra took the final intermediate sprint of the day to add to his maximum points in the first sprint after 20kms and then carried on to take the win in 3.13.42, finishing a second in front of Jurgen Roelandts of Lotto Belisol, Schär and Elmiger and seven seconds ahead of his team mate Van Keirsbulck and Tom Boonen who sprinted to beat the rest of the peloton.