Terpstra nets double victory in Tour of Qatar time trial

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Niki Terpstra (Etixx-Quick-Step) combined his excellent early-season form and time trial skills to convincingly beat bigger-name favourites Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) and Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) in the 10.9km individual time trial at the Tour of Qatar.

Terpstra set a time of 14:03 on the out and back course near the Lusail racing circuit, beating Cancellara by eight seconds and Wiggins by nine seconds. Maciej Bodnar (Tinkoff-Saxo) finished fourth and Ian Stannard (Team Sky) was fifth, both in a time of 14:13, ten seconds slower.

Thanks to also finishing in the front group on the opening two road stages, Terpstra took the race lead and pulled on the gold-coloured leader's jersey. Bodnar is second overall at 11 seconds, with Stannard third at 12 seconds. Terpstra won the Tour of Qatar in 2014 and looks to continue the Belgian team's domination of the early-season race.

Britain's Luke Rowe (Team Sky) is fifth overall and wears the best young rider's white jersey after another excellent performance. He fought to finish in the front group in the two road race stages and was 15th in the time trial.

Stage two winner Alexandre Kristoff (Katusha) and previous race leader was off the pace in the time trial and set a time of 14:47, slipping to sixth overall at 36 seconds and virtually ending his hopes of overall victory. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) also finished outside of the top 20, with a time of 14:49 and is now tenth overall at 48 seconds. Tom Boonen (Etixx-Quick-Step) set a time of 14:52. He is now seventh overall at 42 seconds and will surely play supporting role and help Terpstra defend his lead.

“It was a really good time trial. I didn't go full gas but saved some energy for when we turned into the head wind,” Terpstra said after pulling on the gold leader's jersey. “It's good to be back in the leader's jersey. Hopefully, we can fight for the jersey in the next few days.”

Photo: ASO

Wiggins and Cancellara beaten in the wind

Wiggins and Cancellara were expected to fight for the stage victory, especially after they failed to finish in the front group during the opening wind-affected two stages. Wiggins carefully warmed up for his first ride in his world time trial champion's rainbow jersey and had a special edition Pinarello F8 road bike but neither proved to give him a winning edge. He set off fast and was the fastest rider when the stopped the clock in a time of 14:03. However soon after Cancellara beat him by a second to claim the fastest time.

Cancellara was wearing the red Swiss time trial champion's jersey and used his power to punch through the headwind on the return leg. He looked set to win but then news of Terpstra fast intermediate time indicated that the Dutchman was flying. When he stopped the clock in 14:03, some eight seconds faster, it was clear Terpstra was the rider to beat, with few time trial specialists left on the start list with the speed to do it.

The Tour of Qatar continues on Wednesday, with a 165.5km stage from Al Thakhira to Mesaieed.

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