Boonen ruled out for Tour of Qatar

Belgian champion Tom Boonen will not take part in the Tour of Qatar this year, his Omega Pharma-Quick Step team announced today. Boonen underwent surgery on Sunday to clean out an infection in his left elbow which had become septic. He is scheduled to leave the hospital in Herentals tomorrow, and according to his team his health has improved. He no longer has a fever or pain in his elbow.