BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Defending champion Niki Terpstra of Etixx-Quick-Step yesterday did the unimaginable - he beat acclaimed time trial experts Fabian Cancellara and Bradley Wiggins to take the third stage and the golden jersey on day three of the Tour of Qatar.
Terpstra clocked a time of 14:03 at the windswept Losail Circuit where Cancellara emerged eight seconds slower than the 2014 Tour of Qatar champion.
Great Britain’s Wiggins - who initially produced the fastest time - was a second slower than Cancellara as dusty conditions made cycling a challenge at the wind-exposed track snaking around the Losail Multipurpose Hall and the Shooting Range.
Maciej Bodnar (Tinkoff-Saxo) finished in fourth spot and Ian Stannard (Team Sky) was fifth-fastest yesterday. Both cyclists clocked a time of 14:13, 10 seconds slower than 30-year-old Terpstra.
Terpstra was delighted with his effort.
“That is a great (win). I was just going for a good time trial to get up in the classification but to take the stage victory is really nice,” Terpstra said after pulling on the golden jersey.
“Yeah, it was a really good time trial (for me). I was not going full gas in the first part to save some energy for going strong in the head-wind. My sportive director was pushing me on and on. Then I was going full gas and kicked up a good speed up to the finish line,” he added.
“Good to be back in the golden jersey and now we’re going to fight hard during the next stages,” Terpstra warned.
In extremely windy conditions, Terpstra surprised the field of specialists to clock the fastest time of the day’s stage 3 individual time-trial after riders assembled at Losail Circuit.
After Monday’s hectic stage that saw Alexander Kristoff conquer his first stage win in Qatar and the golden jersey, it was time for a totally different exercise.
The strong winds, however, had other plans to make cycling difficult for the riders.
The first man to clock a fast time was Lars Boom who had finished second of the same time-trial a year ago. But his time of 14’33 was beaten by the former hour record holder Mathias Brandle with 14’21.
Then came the UCI World time-trial champion Wiggins. After clocking the fastest time at the halfway mark, the Brit went on to conquer top spot with 14’12.
Wiggins would finally have to settle for third spot overall as two men managed to do better.
“This is the first time I’ve put on the rainbow jersey (as world champion) since September. It’s always special, it’s a big event,” Wiggins said.
First it was Cancellara whose time of 14’11 looked good enough to give him his first success this year.
However, Terpstra went on to smash that best time. The Dutchman clocked an impressive 14’03 that gave him his second stage victory on Qatari soil.
“There were lots of specialists, a good peloton. And I beat them all, it’s fantastic,” Terpstra said.
“I set off to put in a good time-trial for the overall standings...but winning the stage!” he added. “The wind was stronger even than yesterday, I knew it was going to be hard,” the 30-year-old added.
“It was important not to start too quickly, especially as the final two kilometres were into the wind,” he said.
While the last man on the course, Kristoff eventually finished 26th, 44 seconds adrift, the Tour of Qatar changed leader as Terpstra conquered the overall lead in impressive fashion.
The 2014 champion now has an 11-second advantage over Maciej Bodnar and 12 seconds over Ian Stannard.
The silver jersey (points classification) remains on the shoulders of Boonen while Luke Rowe who finished at a great 15th spot yesterday, conquered the pearl white jersey for the best young rider.
Today’s fourth stage will start from Al Thakhira and end at Mesaieed after the riders complete a distance of 165.5kms.
The Peninsula
