Cyclists leave the starting point of the first stage of the Ladies Tour of Qatar from the entrance of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha yesterday. Australian rider Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products) yesterday won the first stage, bagging all three jerseys in the process with a slick dash to the finish line.
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Australian rider Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products) yesterday won stage one of the Ladies Tour of Qatar, bagging all three jerseys in the process with a slick dash to the finish line.
The 22-year-old Australian edged compatriot Gracie Elvin (Orica-AIS) in a tight finish involving four riders that had separated from the peloton nearly 4kms from the end.
Hosking and Elvin finished ahead of Lisa Brennauer (Specialized-lululemon) and Liesbeth De Vocht (Rabo Women) in sunny conditions in Mesaieed.
The 97-kms stage started under a cloud cover from the Museum of Islamic Art but the apparent threat of rains later gave way to bright sunshine.
With a cheeky grin that never left her face, Hosking admitted she was surprised to emerge stage one winner.
“For me, I really had no expectations coming in because this is my first race other than the national championships this year,” Hosking said after clocking a time of 2hrs 23mins and 51secs.
“I thought I was going to suck. So I am very, very happy to win in the end and hopefully I can build on in the next few stages and races,” the Bendigo-born added.
Hosking, who took part in the women’s road race at the London Olympic Games in August last year, said her past races in Qatar helped her make a fine start this year.
“This is my fourth visit to Qatar. So I know what the race is like,” Hosking said.
“It is generally fast and smaller groups get away during a stage. But probably with 40kms to go, a group of 20 or maybe 25 riders got away and that group seemed bigger than what we had thought it would be.
“So when I saw some of the other girls break away, I knew that I had to be there (at the finish line),” she said.
Hosking said winning a stage in Qatar was just reward for hard work.
“When we (the group of four) started working together, the gap became bigger and bigger. It was good because we had 10kms to go.
“I am really pleased to finally get a win. I have had few podium finishes in the past but I am thrilled with this one,” she said.
Despite the tight finish, the Australian rider said she knew she had crossed the finish line first.
“I knew that I had won, yeah. I knew it was close,” Hosking said.
“She (second-placed-Elvin) is also from the same place as I am. We train together. I knew she was in form. I knew she was the one to beat. I am pretty glad.”
Yesterday’s stage win has set things in motion for Hosking.
“You got to have any bit of advantage you can get at these stages. I could have won this by at least 20 seconds but it was not to be. (However), that’s a good buffer for the next three stages.
“This is definitely preparation for the spring. I am really geared up for the season. Hopefully this is a step up for me and my team.”
Marta Tagliaferro (MCipollini-Giordana) brought home a small group but the peloton finished much further back, perhaps reducing the number of overall contenders on the very first stage.
Thanks to time bonuses, Hosking leads Elvin by six seconds. Third-placed Brennauer is eight seconds adrift of Hosking.
Kirsten Wild, the two-time champion in Qatar, ended day one as the sixth-fastest rider.
The Ladies Tour of Qatar continues today with the 96km second stage which will start from the Camel Race Track and ends Al Khor Corniche around 3:10pm.
THE PENINSULA
