2010 Tour of Qatar
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Tour of Qatar was the ninth edition of the Tour of Qatar
Tour of Qatar
The Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...

 cycling stage race. It was rated as a 2.1 event on the UCI Asia Tour, and was held from 7 February to 12 February 2010, in Qatar. The race was won by Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol is a professional road racing cyclist from the Netherlands riding for the UCI Professional Continental team .-Palmarès:20062007200820092010-External links:*...

 of .

Teams

Sixteen teams competed in the 2010 Tour of Qatar. These included ten UCI ProTour
UCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...

 teams, five UCI Professional Continental teams, and one Continental team. Each team entered a squad of eight riders, giving the Tour a peloton
Peloton
The peloton , field, bunch or pack is the large main group of riders in a road bicycle race. Riders in a group save energy by riding close near other riders...

 of 128 riders.

The teams participating in the race were:

  • Trek-Livestrong U23
    Team RadioShack
    Team RadioShack is a professional road bicycle racing team, with RadioShack as the title sponsor, the creation of which was announced on July 23, 2009. Lance Armstrong co-owns and leads the team, which plans to race in the Grand Tours and the UCI ProTour, as well as running and triathlon events...


The same sixteen teams contested the inaugural Tour of Oman
2010 Tour of Oman
The 2010 Tour of Oman was the first edition of the Tour of Oman cycling stage race. It was rated as a 2.1 event on the UCI Asia Tour, and held from 14 February to 19 February 2010, in Oman. The race was won by Fabian Cancellara of .-Teams:...

, which began on February 14. The teams' squads were expected to be similar for both events, with the individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...

 which closes out the Tour of Oman providing for the only minor changes.

Stage 1

7 February 2010 – West Bay Lagoon, 8.2 km (5.1 mi) (team time trial
Team time trial
A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart...

)

With time trial specialist Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Marc Wiggins, CBE is a British professional track and road bicycle racer, currently riding for Team Sky. Wiggins' career began on the track, where he specialised in the pursuit and madison disciplines....

 pulling them most of the way, won the opening stage team time trial with a time of 9' 41", and an average speed of over 50 km/h (31.1 mph), and over 70 km/h (43.5 mph) on the closing section which featured a pronounced tailwind. Edvald Boasson Hagen
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Edvald Boasson Hagen is a Norwegian professional road racing cyclist riding for the UCI ProTour team . He is the Norwegian Time Trial Champion and also considered as one of the biggest rising talents in the sport, being ranked as no...

 was the first member of the team to cross the line, giving him the golden jersey. Defending Tour champion Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...

's team was fifth, putting him 20 seconds off the race lead.

The second place team was , after the disqualification of . The TestTeam was penalized a minute due to Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler is an Australian road racing cyclist with German heritage. Haussler races for UCI ProTeam .-Early life:...

 pushing Gabriel Rasch
Gabriel Rasch
Ole Gabriel «Gabba» Rasch is a Norwegian road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . As a professional, Rasch has always been a teammate of countryman Thor Hushovd, and credits Hushovd with helping him break into the professional ranks....

 after taking a turn on the front. The team protested the penalty, denying that the push was meant to gain any competitive advantage, with Haussler saying that it instead was to help Rasch avoid crashing. The penalty was upheld, and pre-race contender Haussler was placed over a minute off the race lead. The team's sporting director considered withdrawing them from the race because of the penalty, but decided against it.
Stage 1 results
Team Time
1 9' 41"
2 + 8"
3 + 13"
4 + 18"
5 + 20"
6 + 21"
7 + 21"
8 + 21"
9 + 22"
10 + 25"
General Classification after Stage 1
Cyclist Team Time
1
9′ 41″
2 s.t.
3 s.t.
4 s.t.
5 s.t.
6 + 2″
7 + 8″
8 s.t.
9 s.t.
10 s.t.

Stage 2

8 February 2010 – Camel Race Track to Qatar Foundation, 147 km (91.3 mi)
Almost straight away, when racing got underway, a group of two, Geert Steurs
Geert Steurs
Geert Steurs is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who rides for .- Palmares :20042006* Cepa Tour - 1 stage & Overall2010- External links :**...

 and Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol is a professional road racing cyclist from the Netherlands riding for the UCI Professional Continental team .-Palmarès:20062007200820092010-External links:*...

 attacked and immediately got a few minutes over the peloton. As the race went on, they increased their advantage to well over 12 minutes.

However the peloton was not content to this breakaway. As a result a group of favourites, which featured Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...

 from , Tyler Farrar
Tyler Farrar
Tyler Farrar is an American professional road racing cyclist since 2003.-Cycling career:Farrar started racing at 13, and rode for in 2003, in 2004, and in 2006 and 2007. In April 2006 he crashed near the finish of the Circuit de la Sarthe and broke his collarbone and missed most of the season...

 from , 's fast man Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler is an Australian road racing cyclist with German heritage. Haussler races for UCI ProTeam .-Early life:...

 were among about fifteen more riders, that were up the front when the split happened and formed a small chasing group. Golden jersey holder Edvald Boasson Hagen
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Edvald Boasson Hagen is a Norwegian professional road racing cyclist riding for the UCI ProTour team . He is the Norwegian Time Trial Champion and also considered as one of the biggest rising talents in the sport, being ranked as no...

 missed out on the breakaways and with approximately 40 km to go suffered a punctured tire which put him 11 minutes behind the lead group of riders.

Heading into the final kilometer, the lead group held 2 and a half minute advantage and it was Steurs who won the stage, but with Mol becoming the overall leader.
Stage 2 results
Cyclist Team Time
1 3h 31' 00"
2 s.t.
3 + 1' 51"
4 + 1' 54"
5 + 1' 55"
6 + 1' 55"
7 + 1' 55"
8 + 1' 55"
9 + 1' 55"
10 + 1' 55"
General Classification after Stage 2
Cyclist Team Time
1
3h 40′ 51″
2
+ 9"
3
+ 2' 02"
4 + 2' 05"
5 + 2' 06"
6 + 2' 18″
7 + 2' 18″
8 + 2' 40"
9 + 2' 41"
10 + 2' 47"

Stage 3

9 February 2010 – Dukhan to Mesaieed, 136.5 km (84.8 mi)

Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...

 won his 16th career stage at the Tour of Qatar
Tour of Qatar
The Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...

. The two time defending champion began his sprint with 200 m (656.2 ft) to go from the finish line and with the help of teammate Andreas Stauff
Andreas Stauff
Andreas Stauff is a German professional road bicycle racer. He rides for UCI ProTeam .-External links:*...

 and was clocked at going 72.8 km/h (45.2 mph) at the finish line to outsprint 's Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler is an Australian road racing cyclist with German heritage. Haussler races for UCI ProTeam .-Early life:...

.

It was the first time in the Tour of Qatar's history where a stage started from the city of Dukhan in the west of the country. Unlike the previous days, the wind dropped and was favourable for almost the whole course.

Like the previous day, within 2 km (1.2 mi) a breakaway occurred. The biggest lead they had over the peloton was 55 seconds, and they were caught a mere 23 km (14.3 mi) from the start.

At the 60 km (37.3 mi) mark, another group of riders broke away and they managed to get a 2:30 lead on the peloton. At that point, and took the role of reeling the breakaway group back in, which they caught at the 107 km (66.5 mi) mark.
Stage 3 results
Cyclist Team Time
1 3h 01' 39"
2 s.t.
3 s.t.
4 s.t.
5 s.t.
6 s.t.
7 Trek Livestrong U23
Team RadioShack
Team RadioShack is a professional road bicycle racing team, with RadioShack as the title sponsor, the creation of which was announced on July 23, 2009. Lance Armstrong co-owns and leads the team, which plans to race in the Grand Tours and the UCI ProTour, as well as running and triathlon events...

s.t.
8 s.t.
9 s.t.
10 s.t.
General Classification after Stage 3
Cyclist Team Time
1
6h 42′ 30″
2 + 9"
3 + 1' 55"
4
+ 1' 59"
5 + 2' 05"
6 + 2' 15″
7 + 2' 17″
8 + 2' 40"
9 + 2' 41"
10
+ 2' 43"

Stage 4

10 February 2010 – The Pearl to Al Khor Corniche
Al Khor
Al Khor is a coastal city in northern Qatar, located 50 kilometers north of the capital, Doha. The name of the city means creek in Arabic as the town is located on a creek...

, 146.5 km (91 mi)

It was Italian Francesco Chicchi
Francesco Chicchi
Francesco Chicchi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Pro Tour team .- Major results :200220052006...

 claiming a final sprint to the line with Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler is an Australian road racing cyclist with German heritage. Haussler races for UCI ProTeam .-Early life:...

 coming in second, and Juan José Haedo
Juan José Haedo
Juan José Haedo is an Argentine professional road racing cyclist and former track cyclist on . He is the brother of Lucas Sebastian Haedo...

 arriving third.

Like the previous stages, breakaways occurred and most were quickly reeled in. Sep Vanmarcke
Sep Vanmarcke
Sep Vanmarcke is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who rides for UCI ProTeam .-Palmares:20102011-References:...

 from made a break from the peloton and was away for much of the stage. At the 40 km (24.9 mi) to go mark, the gap was just below two minutes as was contributing the majority of the pace setting preserving the leader’s golden jersey for Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol is a professional road racing cyclist from the Netherlands riding for the UCI Professional Continental team .-Palmarès:20062007200820092010-External links:*...

. For the next 15 km (9.3 mi), the gap hovered around the 1 minute and 45 second mark with the sprinters teams holding back on making a move until later in the stage.

The catch occurred with about 6 km (3.7 mi) to go, with doing the pacing. and moved to the front with 2 km (1.2 mi) to go. In the final kilometer the peloton was strung out in a long line and the pace was that high that a small split occurred.

With 400 m (1,312.3 ft) to go it was Theo Bos
Theo Bos
Theo Bos is a Dutch road cyclist and track cyclist, Olympic silver medalist and five-time world champion. He lives in Alkmaar, Netherlands. Theo Bos is the brother of Olympic medalist in speed skating Jan Bos. Bos rides for UCI ProTeam .-Early life:Theo Bos was born on 22 August 1983 in Hierden,...

 leading out the sprint to the line, trying to deliver Haussler first. Haussler had missed Bos' wheel, though, and with their teammate Roger Hammond directing Bos to continue his leadout, Haussler's chance at victory was quickly gone. Chicchi made his winning move peeling out and got into the clear. No one could match his blistering pace and he crossed the line three bike lengths ahead of Haussler in second.
Stage 4 results
Cyclist Team Time
1 3h 16' 58"
2 s.t.
3 s.t.
4 s.t.
5 s.t.
6 s.t.
7 s.t.
8 Trek Livestrong U23
Team RadioShack
Team RadioShack is a professional road bicycle racing team, with RadioShack as the title sponsor, the creation of which was announced on July 23, 2009. Lance Armstrong co-owns and leads the team, which plans to race in the Grand Tours and the UCI ProTour, as well as running and triathlon events...

s.t.
9 s.t.
10 s.t.
General Classification after Stage 4
Cyclist Team Time
1
9h 59′ 28″
2 + 9"
3 + 1' 55"
4
+ 1' 59"
5 + 2' 05"
6 + 2' 15″
7 + 2' 17″
8
+ 2' 37"
9 + 2' 38"
10 + 2' 40"

Stage 5

11 February 2010 – Lusail to Madinat Al Shamal, 142 km (88.2 mi)

Stage 5 came down to a sprint and for the second time in the Tour it was Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...

 claiming victory at the finish line. It was his 17th career stage win at the Tour of Qatar
Tour of Qatar
The Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...

. While the victory gave him ten bonus seconds, the Belgian speedster still stood almost two minutes behind race leader Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol is a professional road racing cyclist from the Netherlands riding for the UCI Professional Continental team .-Palmarès:20062007200820092010-External links:*...

 at day's end.

Again, a breakaway occurred which consisted of six riders and but they were captured with 27 km (16.8 mi) to go. A group of notables got away from the main peloton in a counter attack – this group consisted of the overall leader, Mol, the youth leader, Roger Kluge
Roger Kluge
Roger Kluge is a German professional racing cyclist for UCI Professional Continental team .-Career highlights:2003...

, Fabian Cancellara
Fabian Cancellara
Fabian Cancellara is a Swiss professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . A time trial specialist, he is a four-time World Time Trial Champion and is the current Olympic gold medalist...

, and sprinters Boonen, Tyler Farrar
Tyler Farrar
Tyler Farrar is an American professional road racing cyclist since 2003.-Cycling career:Farrar started racing at 13, and rode for in 2003, in 2004, and in 2006 and 2007. In April 2006 he crashed near the finish of the Circuit de la Sarthe and broke his collarbone and missed most of the season...

, Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler is an Australian road racing cyclist with German heritage. Haussler races for UCI ProTeam .-Early life:...

, Juan José Haedo
Juan José Haedo
Juan José Haedo is an Argentine professional road racing cyclist and former track cyclist on . He is the brother of Lucas Sebastian Haedo...

, and Daniele Bennati
Daniele Bennati
Daniele Bennati is an Italian road racing cyclist specializing in fast sprint finishes. He currently rides for UCI ProTeam . He turned professional in 2002, when he joined the team and wore zebra stripes as part of Mario Cipollini’s leadout train...

. The peloton never allowed them to get too far ahead and were eventually reeled in.

The stage victory for Boonen put him within 8 points of Haussler for the points classification silver jersey.
Stage 5 results
Cyclist Team Time
1 3h 13' 00"
2 s.t.
3 s.t.
4 s.t.
5 s.t.
6 s.t.
7 s.t.
8 s.t.
9 s.t.
10 s.t.
General Classification after Stage 5
Cyclist Team Time
1
13h 12′ 28″
2 + 9"
3 + 1' 45"
4
+ 1' 59"
5 + 2' 05"
6 + 2' 09″
7 + 2' 17″
8
+ 2' 37"
9 + 2' 38"
10 + 2' 40"

Stage 6

12 February 2010 – Al Wakra to Doha
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...

 Corniche, 123.5 km (76.7 mi)
Stage 6 results
Cyclist Team Time
1 2h 42' 49"
2 s.t.
3 s.t.
4 s.t.
5 s.t.
6 s.t.
7 s.t.
8 s.t.
9 s.t.
10 s.t.
Final General Classification
Cyclist Team Time
1
15h 55′ 17″
2 + 37"
3 + 1' 45"
4
+ 1' 59"
5 + 2' 05"
6 + 2' 09″
7 + 2' 17″
8 + 2' 28"
9
+ 2' 37"
10 + 2' 40"

Classification leadership

In the 2010 Tour of Qatar, three different jerseys are awarded. For the general classification
General Classification
The general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...

, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers on each stage and in intermediate sprints, the leader receives a golden jersey. This classification is considered the most important of the Tour of Qatar, and the winner is considered the winner of the Tour.

Additionally, there is a points classification
Points classification
The points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...

, which awards a silver jersey. In the points classification, cyclists get points for finishing in the top three in an intermediate sprint or the top twenty of a stage. The first in an intermediate sprint gets 3 points, second 2, and third a single point. The stage win affords 30 points, second is worth 27 points, 25 for third, 23 for fourth, 21 for fifth, 19 for sixth, 17 for seventh, 15 for eighth, 13 for ninth, 11 for tenth, and one point less per place down the line, to a single point for twentieth.

There is also a youth classification, which awards a blue jersey. This classification is calculated the same as the general classification, but only riders born on or after January 1, 1985 are eligible.

The race also awards a teams classification, which is not represented by a jersey. The teams classification is calculated by adding the times of each team's best three riders per stage per day.
Stage Winner General Classification
Points Classification
Young Rider Classification
Teams Classification
1 Edvald Boasson Hagen
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Edvald Boasson Hagen is a Norwegian professional road racing cyclist riding for the UCI ProTour team . He is the Norwegian Time Trial Champion and also considered as one of the biggest rising talents in the sport, being ranked as no...

not awarded Edvald Boasson Hagen
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Edvald Boasson Hagen is a Norwegian professional road racing cyclist riding for the UCI ProTour team . He is the Norwegian Time Trial Champion and also considered as one of the biggest rising talents in the sport, being ranked as no...

Team Sky
Team Sky
Team Sky is a British professional road bicycle racing team that competes in international road bicycle races. The creation of the team was announced on 26 February 2009 and the team began competition in January 2010....

2 Geert Steurs
Geert Steurs
Geert Steurs is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who rides for .- Palmares :20042006* Cepa Tour - 1 stage & Overall2010- External links :**...

Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol is a professional road racing cyclist from the Netherlands riding for the UCI Professional Continental team .-Palmarès:20062007200820092010-External links:*...

Geert Steurs
Geert Steurs
Geert Steurs is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who rides for .- Palmares :20042006* Cepa Tour - 1 stage & Overall2010- External links :**...

Roger Kluge
Roger Kluge
Roger Kluge is a German professional racing cyclist for UCI Professional Continental team .-Career highlights:2003...

Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
3 Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...

Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler is an Australian road racing cyclist with German heritage. Haussler races for UCI ProTeam .-Early life:...

4 Francesco Chicchi
Francesco Chicchi
Francesco Chicchi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Pro Tour team .- Major results :200220052006...

5 Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...

6 Francesco Chicchi
Francesco Chicchi
Francesco Chicchi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Pro Tour team .- Major results :200220052006...

Final Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol
Wouter Mol is a professional road racing cyclist from the Netherlands riding for the UCI Professional Continental team .-Palmarès:20062007200820092010-External links:*...

Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich Haussler is an Australian road racing cyclist with German heritage. Haussler races for UCI ProTeam .-Early life:...

Roger Kluge
Roger Kluge
Roger Kluge is a German professional racing cyclist for UCI Professional Continental team .-Career highlights:2003...


General classification

Rider Team Time
1 '
15h 55′ 17″
2 + 35"
3 + 1' 45"
4
+ 1' 59"
5 + 2' 05"
6 + 2' 09″
7 + 2' 17″
8 + 2' 28"
9
+ 2' 37"
10 + 2' 40"

Points classification

Rider Team Points
1 '
108
2 104
3 82
4 80
5 65
6
62
7 52
8 51
9 48
10 46

Young riders' classification

Rider Team Points
1 '
15h 57' 16"
2 + 1' 01"
3 + 1' 57"
4 + 2' 20"
5 + 3' 40"
6 + 4' 33"
7 + 5' 11"
8 + 5' 39"
9 + 5' 55"
10 + 7' 30"

Team classification

Pos. Team Time
1 47h 32′ 51″
2 + 17″
3 + 1′ 26″
4 + 1′ 34″
5 + 2′ 04″
6 + 2′ 15″
7 + 4′ 34″
8 + 7′ 50″
9 + 8′ 52″
10 + 9′ 14″

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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