By Rizwan Rehmat
DOHA: Norwegian cycling legend Edvald Boasson Hagen yesterday produced a convincing ride to win the time trial on what was day three at the Tour of Qatar.
The Dimension Data rider clocked a time of 13 minutes 26.98 seconds to win the 11km time trial and take the leader’s golden jersey.
Dutch rider Jos Van Emden (Team LottoNl-Jumbo) emerged as the second fastest yesterday, finishing 25 seconds behind Boasson Hagen.
Italy’s Manuel Quinziato (BMC Racing Team) finished 29 seconds behind the day’s leader while Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) was 32 seconds slower than the Norwegian.
Kazakhstan rider Dmitriy Gruzdev (Astana Pro Team, 40 seconds behind) completed the list of the top five fastest riders.
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Overnight leader and 2013 champion, Mark Cavendish was seventh fastest (44 seconds behind) on what was another windy day in Doha.
By virtue of his dominant performance, Boasson Hagen now leads the general classification (GC) with an overall time of 6 hours 53 minutes and 35 seconds.
Boasson Hagen’s Dimnesion Data team-mate Cavendish is 26 seconds behind in GC.
Quinziato (BMC Racing Team) is in third place, 32 seconds adrift of Boasson Hagen.
Van Avermaet is 34 seconds slower than Boasson Hage while stage two winner Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha) is in fifth spot (45 seconds).
“Yes, it was nice to win this stage,” Boasson Hagen said after getting the golden jersey.
“I have been feeling good this week,” he said.
“We will try to stay in the front now,” he added.
“I was suffering because of the wind but then that was the case for every rider,” Boasson Hagen said. “That happens when you try to go fast,” he said.
Boasson Hagen praised the role played by Cavendish in the Dimension Data camp.
“He’s a good team-mate,” Boasson Hagen said of the Briton.
“He also great in lead-outs. He has a lot of experience and is good with the younger guys.
“I think it is really good to have him in the team. It is no less pressure (to have Cavendish in the team) but it is an opportunity to do well together.
“My goals are the spring classics. Pretty much all the races I will compete in,” Boasson Hagen said when asked about his targets in 2016.
After two normal stages and intense battles between the top guns of the Tour of Qatar, day 3 of the event offered a far different menu to the 133 remaining riders: a windy 11.4-km individual time-trial set between the Losail MotoGP Circuit and the spectacular arena that welcomed last year’s Handball World Championships.
After best times set by Jesse Sergent, and Jordan Kerby, experienced Lieuwe Westra hit hard, clocking a reference time of 14’09’’.
The Dutchman’s time remained safe for 45 minutes before compatriot Jos van Emden flew to the line in an impressive time of 13’51’’.
But the man of the day would be Boasson Hagen.
The Norwegian first set the fastest time at the intermediate time-check in 6’16’’ before crossing the line in an astonishing 13’26’’, winning the stage at an average speed of 50.918 km/h, with a comfortable 25’’ advantage over Van Emden and 29’’ over Quinziato. On the exact same circuit as last year, the Dimension Data rider thrashed the previous record set by Niki Terpstra (14’03’’) and established a time that was 59’’ faster than his personal best of 2015 when he finished 8th.
Starting his timed effort with a slim 5’’ lead over Kristoff in the GC, Cavendish had to bid farewell to his golden jersey, despite a very decent 7th fastest time, just 44’’ adrift.
Cavendish, however, maintained command of the points classification and will therefore be wearing the silver jersey in today’s 4th stage between Al Zubarah and Madinat Al Shamal.
The white pearl jersey for the best young rider switched shoulders and returned to those of Soren Kragh Andersen.
Cavendish said he was looking forward to the next two days.
“I have done well in the time trial. Normally in another race I’d use it as a rest day but obviously I had to do since I had the golden jersey,” Cavendish said.
“I wanted to go hard and create confidence. I wanted to test myself. I am pretty happy with my performance. It is superb for team Dimension Data,” Cavendish, 30, said. “We want to build a strong team. It is superb for this team. I feel super happy,” the Briton said.
Kristoff, who began the day in second overall after his dramatic photo-finish dash during stage 2 on Tuesday, seemed disappointed.
The Norwegian is 45 seconds behind Boasson Hagen.
“I thought I would do better today, at least, as I did it last year but maybe I just missed some power,” said the Norwegian rider.
“I was not bad at all today, but I wanted more. It wasn’t my best day, but it happens. Anyway, I am looking forward to next stages, still everything can happen in this race,” he said.
The Peninsula
