10th February 2010 - Tour of Qatar Stage 4 (Khalifa Stadium-Al Khor Corniche)
Another win for Boasson Hagen
The question on everyone's lips after stage 4: Can anyone stop Edvald Boasson Hagen? The Norwegian Sky rider made it 3 victories from 3 sprint finishes, continuing Team Sky's domination in the results table. But this was the closest finish so far, with the final member of the 9 man breakaway being caught inside the final kilometre.
On a day of little wind, only 7km/h and clear skies, this was a day that would be much easier for the peleton and the break. The group of 9 riders got a maximum of 8'13" over the peleton, but with 65km to go, it looked as if it would never be caught. First Team Sky and then HTC-Columbia worked hard to get the break pulled back, and as the gap fell so did the distance to the finish and it looked like the break wouldn't get caught.
But as the sprint finish behind began to organise, the break fragmented through countless attacks and one by one the riders dropped back to the peleton. As the pack hit the flamme rouge, the final rider was caught, and Boasson Hagen was able to take the victory ahead of ISD CT's Flahaut for the 3 stage running, and the OmegaPharma pairing of De Haes and Van Avermaet.
11th February 2010 - Tour of Qatar Stage 5 (Al Khor Academy - Al Khor Corniche)
Stage 5, just like the others on the Tour of Qatar, is pan flat across the desert. This stage has the riders going from Al Khor Academy to the Al Khor Corniche, which is the same finish as yesterday.
Weather forecasts suggest that it is going to be different conditions to yesterday, which strong winds set to affect the peleton once more.
Riders to Watch: E. Boasson Hagen, J.J. Rojas, M. Goss, D. Flahaut My tip for the Stage: E. Boasson Hagen. Can there be anyone else for the stage? He has won 3 out of 3 in sprint finishes, and tobe honest, I think he will make it 4 out of 4 today.
11th February 2010 - Tour of Qatar Stage 5 (Al Khor Academy-Al Khor Corniche)
It's Boasson Hagen first to the line again
Edvald Boasson Hagen win his 4th stage of the Tour of Qatar, almost guaranteeing the overall victory in the meantime. Only a crash or a breakaway with over 1'30" gap can prevent Boasson Hagen winning the Overall Classification Jersey.
Much of the credit needs to go to his team-mates again, who worked endlessly throughout the stage to ensure Boasson Hagen had the opportunity to win stage number 4.
With crosswinds of over 65km/h on the course, the peleton had to work hard to pull back the 6 man breakway which formed just after the 15km mark. They were caught with 9km to go, and in a repeat of stages 2, 3 and 4, Team Sky was able to control the lead-out to prefection, putting Boasson Hagen in the correct place to comfortably take the win.
Behind it was a scrappy finish for the remaining places, with OmegaPharma rider Kenny De Haes and J.J. Rojas of Caisse d'Epargne coming in in the other podium positions.
Boasson Hagen seems invincible as he takes another win
12th February 2010 - Tour of Qatar Stage 6 (Al Wakra-Doha Corniche)
The final stage of the Tour of Qatar is a 4-lap circuit from Al Wakra to the Doha Corniche.
This will be a day for Team Sky to control the peleton and any breakaways, in order to keep Edvald Boasson Hagen in the Leaders Jersey and take the Overall Classification for this year.
Riders to Watch: E. Boasson Hagen, J.J. Rojas, K. De Haes, D. Flahaut My tip for the Stage: D. Flahaut. The Frenchman has not had much luck in the sprints with three 2nd places and another Top 10, but I think this will change today on the final stage, ending Boasson Hagen's run at the same time.
12th February 2010 - Tour of Qatar Stage 6 (Al Wakra-Doha Corniche)
Fernández victory finally stops Sky domination
Euskatel's Koldo Fernández won the final stage of the Tour of Qatar, finally showing that Edvald Boasson Hagen is beatable in the process. Starting his sprint earlier than Boasson Hagen, the Spaniard surprised the young Norwegian, who was unable to close the gap with his final kick. ISD CT's Denis Flahaut came in third behind Fernández and Boasson Hagen.
This was a stage of little activity, with no real breakaway getting more than a minute on the peleton. Team Sky controlled the pace from the start, and they were eager not to let anyone get away.
As the stage finish approached, the lead-out trains set themselves, with Team Sky and HTC-Columbia battling for the front. As the peleton hit the 3km mark, Team Sky's Geraint Thomas got himself badly positioned, and the lead-out train slowed too much for Boasson Hagen. This was Fernández's chance to go, and with a long sprint over his rivals, he was able to pull out a small gap and hold on to the finish.
The Classification Standings at the finish are dominated by Boasson Hagen and Team Sky, with Boasson Hagen winning the Overall Classification, the Points Classification and the Young Rider's Classification, and thanks to the winning TTT stage in Doha on day 1, Team Sky took the Team Classification as well.
Koldo Fernández shows the others how to beat Boasson Hagen with victory
Final Standings:
1
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
2h35'57
2
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Denis Flahaut
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
4
Marcel Sieberg
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
5
Marko Kump
Adria Mobil
s.t.
...
8
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
12
Kurt-Asle Arvesen
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Geraint Thomas
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
15
Russell Downing
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
19
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
25
Ian Stannard
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
56
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
Overall Classification Standings:
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Professional Cycling Team
15h10'24
2
Matthew Goss
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 1'22
3
Geraint Thomas
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 1'26
4
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
...
6
Russell Downing
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Ian Stannard
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
14
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 1'29
23
Kurt-Asle Arvesen
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 1'35
Points Classification Standings:
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Professional Cycling Team
120
2
Denis Flahaut
ISD Continental Team
80
3
Kenny De Haes
Omega Pharma - Lotto
57
4
Jacopo Guarnieri
Liquigas - Doimo
46
5
Greg Van Avermaet
Omega Pharma - Lotto
36
...
18
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky Professional Cycling Team
16
20
Geraint Thomas
Sky Professional Cycling Team
14
28
Kurt-Asle Arvesen
Sky Professional Cycling Team
7
Young Riders Classification Standings:
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Professional Cycling Team
15h10'24
2
Matthew Goss
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 1'22
3
Geraint Thomas
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 1'26
4
Ian Stannard
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Jan Ghyselinck
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 1'30
Team Classification Standings:
1
Sky Professional Cycling Team
45h13'28
2
Quick·Step
+ 2
3
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 5
4
Rabobank
+ 14
5
Caisse d'Epargne
+ 15
Team Reaction to the Race:
What an outstanding result. We showed what we can do in the sprints, and it was a much needed test, as this is close to our top lead-out sprint train. We dominated in the stages and the classments, with competitive finishes throughout. As a similar team is heading to the Tour of Oman in 2 days, lets hope we can continue this form, and see if Edvald can take the overall victory there as well.
the_hoyle wrote:
Now that I have completed the Tour of Qatar, I have a question for my readers of the story...
Do you think I should choose a different view when it comes to the screenshot, or is the view I currently use ok?
With the way that report and results are given, I am looking at a newspaper/website style of layout, so would a different screenshot improve it.
I want to ask before I continue to the Tour of Oman so a quick reply would be much apprieciated
Some variation with the angles would be nice.
thanks for the reply. I going to try and do some 'newspaper' style ones, with like a front view of the rider coming across the line, so side view if it is close sprint etc
I am enjoying your reporting so far, at the moment the race in Qatar don't really lend themselves to many creative reports.
I think with sprints whats always interesting is how you use your sprint train - unfortunately early races like Australia, Oman and Qatar are so flat it is all a bit predictable.
But looking forward to Qatar, Boessen Hagan surely will win that.
Smowz wrote:
I am enjoying your reporting so far, at the moment the race in Qatar don't really lend themselves to many creative reports.
I think with sprints whats always interesting is how you use your sprint train - unfortunately early races like Australia, Oman and Qatar are so flat it is all a bit predictable.
But looking forward to Qatar, Boessen Hagan surely will win that.
Following the success of the Tour of Qatar over the past couple of years, A.S.O, the organisers behind the Tour de France as well as many other events, decided to take the cycling world to the Middle Eastern country of Oman.
Situated on the west of Africa, Oman will throw up similar riding conditions to the Tour of Qatar, which is held just a few days earlier. The stages look set to end in mass sprints, and the race ends with a short Individual Time Trial for stage 6.
Many of the teams that went to the Tour of Qatar are expected to bring the same riders to the Tour of Oman, so expect fireworks with big attacks from breakaways and fast sprint finishes.
14th February 2010 - Tour of Oman Stage 1 (Muscat Corniche)
The first ever stage of the Tour of Oman is a 3-lap circuit based around the capital Muscat. With buildings in the capital, the riders should get some protection from the possible strong winds, but as the pack heads out into the surroundings desert, expect there to be some problems for the peleton.
Riders to Watch: E. Boasson Hagen, K. Van Hummel, A. Usov, G. Van Avermaet My tip for the Stage: E. Boasson Hagen. He has the form after the 4 victories and the Overall Classification in Qatar just 2 days ago, and I expect him to carry on where he left off in Muscat.
the_hoyle wrote:
Now that I have completed the Tour of Qatar, I have a question for my readers of the story...
Do you think I should choose a different view when it comes to the screenshot, or is the view I currently use ok?
With the way that report and results are given, I am looking at a newspaper/website style of layout, so would a different screenshot improve it.
I want to ask before I continue to the Tour of Oman so a quick reply would be much apprieciated
it's all good but maybe you could include some more pictures other then just the winner crossong the line. maybe get a picture of the break, major attacks, any major falls or just some nice pictures of the bunch.
the_hoyle wrote:
Now that I have completed the Tour of Qatar, I have a question for my readers of the story...
Do you think I should choose a different view when it comes to the screenshot, or is the view I currently use ok?
With the way that report and results are given, I am looking at a newspaper/website style of layout, so would a different screenshot improve it.
I want to ask before I continue to the Tour of Oman so a quick reply would be much apprieciated
I am going to be doing that for more major races and my objectives it is something I plan on doing definately. thanks for the comments though.
it's all good but maybe you could include some more pictures other then just the winner crossong the line. maybe get a picture of the break, major attacks, any major falls or just some nice pictures of the bunch.
14th February 2010 - Tour of Qatar Stage 1 (Muscat Corniche)
Breakaway succeeds in Muscat for Commeyne victory
Davy Commeyne won the first ever stage of the Tour of Oman, after a long breakaway in the desert finished in success.
The Landbouwkdiet rider hung on at the end with the peleton baring down his neck, along with fellow escapee Antonio Cabello of AndalucÃa - Cajasur who came in second, in front of Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen in third.
The breakaway formed after only 15km of the stage, and through great teamwork between the 9 riders, they soon opened up a large gap on the peleton.
The peleton severely underestimated the break, only reacting to chase them back with 64km to go, but with the gap at 8'46", and it was only Team Sky who reacted. Eventually, with 15km left, and the gap still at 2'36", the other sprinter's team joined in the chase, but was this too little too late.
Up the road, the organisation in the break was slowly disappearing, and with a few attacks and digs from the riders, it soon began to splinter and split up. With 5km left and 36" lead, only 5 riders remained from the original breakaway, and with a sprint trains beginning to form, it was going to be a tight finish. And it definitely proved to be that.
At the flamme rouge, the sprint was bearing down on Commeyne and Cabello, but they just did enough to hang on, and start the Tour of Oman with a very exciting finish, and becomes the first ever wearer of the Oman Leader's Red Jersey.
Commeyne goes into the history books with the first ever Tour of Oman victory
15th February 2010 - Tour of Oman Stage 2 (Nizwa–Samail)
Stage 2 of the Tour of Qatar is another flat stage from Nizwa, in the North of Oman to Samail, which is situated on the Northern Coastline.
Like the stage one, the peleton biggest worry will the be weather conditions, which can change in a moment, and can make or break a team's tactics at the start.
Riders to Watch: E. Boasson Hagen, K. Van Hummel, L. Paolini, O. Gatto My tip for the Stage: O. Gatto. The Italian looked strong at the finish with a late surge into Muscat, finishing 7th, and I expect him to look strong again today.
