Alexander Kristoff of Katusha has taken victory on the second stage of the Tour Of Qatar.
The race organisers used part of the course for the 2016 World Championships on this 145.5km stage from Katara Cultural Village to Qatar University and it was a stage which set off with 136 riders and Mark Cavendish in the leaders golden jersey.
As soon as the flag dropped, Lieuwe Westra, Van Hecke, Bagdonas and Van Goethem.formed a break which was soon eighteen seconds clear.
Despite a headwind, they took a two minute lead but Katusha and Dimension Data chased them down and they were caught before Alexander Kristoff of Katusha took the first sprint of the day.
The Norwegian sprinter took his place in a front group along with Guarnieri, Kuznetsov, Morkov, Boassen Hagen, Van Avermaet, Oss, Schar, Sam Bennett, Dempster, Schillinger, Selig, Scott Thwaites, Guardini, Westra, Hofland, Teunissen, Brown, Gretsch, Pedersen and Palini and with almost 70 kms ridden, the first group was forty seconds ahead of the golden jersey group.
Cavendish's group caught the front group which allowed Van Hecke and Smukulis to get away and take the second sprint which came on the third of six finishing laps around the University.
With twenty kilometres left, Smukulis dropped Van Hecke and went up the road on his own.
He was caught and it came down to a bunch sprint. There was a massive crash inside the final kilometre but Alexander Kristoff got through and he beat Mark Cavendish to take the win in 3.11,26, followed by Roy Jans, Greg Van Avermaet, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Andrea Palini, Sacha Modolo, Andre Looij, Thomasz Kiendys and Viacheslav Kuznetsov.
Picture courtesy of the Tour Of Qatar