Review: Tour of Qatar- Stage 5

The Manx Missile fires again, taking his third win at the Tour of Qatar in as many stages, extending his lead in the overall and points competition. The win virtually assures Mark Cavendish the Gold jersey on arrival at Doha Corniche in the final stage at Qatar, with a 15second lead over BMC’s Brent Bookwalter. Yauheni Hutarovich (AG2R) took second today, Aidis Kruopis (Orica-Greenedge) continued his strong form in the tour finishing third, and Brits filled the final top five places with Adam Blythe (BMC) and Luke Rowe (Sky) in fourth and fifth respectively.

Cavendish had already extended his lead, taking maximum bonus points in the second intermediate sprint, ahead of ex-wingman and friend Bernie Eisel (Sky). Eisel then went on the attack with Taylor Phinney (BMC) in a bid to hold off the peloton and take valuable seconds back on Cavendish. Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider Nikki Terpstra joined the breakaway, keeping an eye on the pair challenging the overall classification. Phinney, eight seconds back on Cavendish at the start of Stage 5 posed the biggest threat, with a stage win and 10 bonus seconds likely to take the lead.

OPQS with the imminent threat, set about their role of defending their Gold jersey and drove the peloton forward. With 10kms to race, the breakaway was reeled in and again the sprinters team began organising themselves for a bunch sprint. High tempo riding from OPQS, into a headwind at 55kph, kept any last minute attacks from taking the stage and for the first time at the tour, gave Cav a substantial lead out. Terpstra was the final lead out man, Cavendish sticking close till late in the sprint, before kicking for the line and holding off a late charge from Hutarovich who came within a wheel length of the win.

If Cavendish can avoid any mishaps in tomorrow’s 116km stage from Sealine Beach Resort to Doha Corniche, it is hard to see the OPQS rider not wining the overall classification, which would be six out of the last eight for OPQS. Tom Boonen OPQS, recovering from an elbow operation, missed this years race and the chance to defend his 2012 title, but will be happy to see the title remain within the team.