‘Master of the house’ Tom Boonen is returning to Qatar but so is rival André Greipel (starts Feb 9)
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For the last twelve years at the start of the season, the roads of Qatar have brought together riders with different ambitions. Each has his own strategy and short – or medium-term objectives, and everyone starts with his confidence sky-high.
The best way to boost this confidence is, not surprisingly, previous wins, and race number 1 holder Tom Boonen has often taken first place on the podium in Doha. The winner of 20 stages knows full well that the years in which he has won in Qatar are among the most productive of his career.
Indeed, his only stumble in the Qatar race in 2013 took place in his most unproductive season, with just one stage win in the Tour of Wallonia. To get back in the groove, ‘Tornado Tom’ will return to the formula that has given him the best results.
In his search for gold however, he may well come up against the hunger of another collector of bouquets, a man who has decided to come to Qatar to give his season an early boost: André Greipel. The German rider was only 22 years old when he took part in his first and only Tour of Qatar in 2005, but he is back with a much better chance of beating Boonen on his ‘home ground’.
Greipel, nicknamed ‘the Gorilla’, has already made his mark by winning two stages of the season’s curtain-raiser, the Tour Down Under. Apart from the two main favourites, the circle of aspirants can be extended to a few other sprinters who will be there or thereabouts, such as the previous stage winners Heinrich Haussler, Greg Van Avermaet or Arnaud Demare, but they will also have to fight off Daniele Bennati, Borut Bozic, Alexander Kristoff and Elia Viviani.
19 teams: the main competitors
Orica – GreenEDGE : Howard (Aus), Tuft (Can)
Omega Pharma-Quick Step: Boonen, Steegmans (Bel), Terpstra (Ned)
Lotto-Belisol : Greipel (Ger), Roelandts (Bel)
Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise : Van Staeyen, Wallays (Bel)
FDJ.fr : Demare, Offredo (Fra)
AG2R La Mondiale : Riblon, Turgot, Gaudin (Fra)
Team NetApp-Endura : Bennett (Irl)
Team Sky : Eisel (Aut), Stannard (Gbr)
Cannondale : Viviani (Ita)
Bardiani CSF : Battaglin (Ita)
Astana Pro Team : Guardini (Ita), Bozic (Slo), Westra (Hol)
Belkin Pro Cycling : Bos, Boom (Hol)
Team Katusha : Kristoff (Nor)
Tinkoff-Saxo : Bennati (Ita), Morkov (Dnk)
IAM Cycling : Haussler (Aus), Elmiger (Che)
BMC Racing Team : Gilbert, Van Avermaet (Bel)
Trek Factory Racing : Cancellara (Che)
United Healthcare Pro Cycling Team : Förster (Ger), Maaskant (Ned)
Skydive Dubaï : L-S. Haedo (Arg), Chtioui (Tun)
Stages
Stage 1, Sunday, February 9: Al Wakra – Dukhan Beach (135.5 km)
Stage 2, Monday, February 10: Camel Race Track – Al Khor Corniche (160.5 km)
Stage 3, Tuesday, February 11: Lusail Circuit, individual time trial (10.9 km)
Stage 4, Wednesday, February 12: Dukhan – Mesaieed (135 km)
Stage 5, Thursday, February 13: Al Zubara Fort – Madinat ash-Shamal (159 km)
Stage 6, Friday, February 14: Sealine Beach Resort – Doha Corniche (113.5 km)
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Kent CA 10m Time Trial
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 25m TT
- HC Result: Elevate RT Hill Climb
- Result: Welsh Road Race Championships 2024
- Result: Will Houghton Circuit Race (Hillingdon)
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- TT Result: Barnesbury CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Rutland CC 10m Time Trial
- TT Result: VC Glasgow South 22m TT
- BMCR Result: E/F/G/H/W Stallard Finale (Darley Moor)
- Crit Result: Melton Olympic CC Summer Crit 4
- Youth Result: The ‘Back to School’ Youth Races
- HC Result: Dursley Road Club Hill Climb
- TT Report: VTTA 100 Mile Championship
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- RR Result: Nick Clayton Memorial RR
- RR Result: Jef Schils Memorial Road Race (Nat B)
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- Crit Result: YBC & No Nonsense Circuit races
- RTTC 10 Mile Time Trial Championship (Women)
- RTTC 10 mile Time Trial Championships (Youth/Junior)
- RTTC 10 Mile Time Trial Championship
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- REPORT: Victor Berlemont Trophy Race
- RR Result: Junior Tour of Wales
- BMCR RESULT: Dulwich Paragon Road Race
- BMCR Result: Dinosaurs at the Palace
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Crit Result: Mountbatten Summer Circuit Series #10
- Crit Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series #25
- RR Result: Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race
- Youth Results: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League 19
- Youth Result: 360 Cycling North West Youth Tour (Girls)
- Youth Result: 360 Cycling North West Youth Tour (Boys)
- Crit Result: 360 Cycling Open Circuit Race
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TT Result: Sussex CA 25m TT
- TT Result: Coalville Wheelers 19.8m TT
- Crit Result: Cliff Pratt Deca Community Crits 9
- Youth Result: Scottish National Youth Circuit Series 4
Other News on VeloUK
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TOM PIDCOCK CONFIRMED FOR LLOYDS BANK TOUR OF BRITAIN MEN
- Startlist: 42nd Junior Tour of Wales
- Startlist: 360 North West Youth Tour
- Tour of Britain: Evenepoel/Alaphilippe To Race National Tour
- GB Juniors for Track Worlds in China
- THIS WEEKEND: CYCLOCROSS (Leicestershire)
- Startlist: Men’s National B (Worcestershire)
- Startlists: Fenwicks Tour of Mendip 2024
- Startlists: 19th Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix Road Races
- Men’s Tour of Britain News: Teams for 2024 Race
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Revealed (Stages 5 & 6)
- NEWS: Women’s UCI Drops Team to Close
- Startlist: Youth and Junior Track Championships 2024
- Startlist: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Women/JuniorsYouth)
- Startlists: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Men)
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024
- Ribble Redefines Road with launch of Allroad
- BMCR: National Road Bike Time Trial Championship
- SUNDAY: Bath Road Club Junior National Series Road Race
- TLI CYCLING FEATURE: SUPER4SERIES
- NATIONAL CIRCUIT SERIES UPDATE 2024
- News: Josh Tarling Extends Contract at Ineos
- Tour of Britain for Men 2024
- News: Connor Swift Extends Contract with Ineos
- Updated GB Olympic Team News
- Sunday: 2024 Youth Circuit Race Championships (Cyclopark)
- ROBBED BY THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY – National Highways
- Startlist: BMCR National Road Championships E/F/G/H
- OLYMPIC NEWS – Team GB Announces First Riders for Olympics
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- New Releases from Shutt Velo Rapide
- STARTLIST: Men’s British Road Race Championships