Australian cyclist Mark Renshaw won the Tour of Qatar for his first career road title on Friday.
Renshaw claimed the yellow jersey from countryman Heinrich Haussler by winning Thursday’s fourth stage, then shadowed Haussler to the end of the final 126.5km stage from Sealine Beach Resort into Doha.
Despite Renshaw placing 17th and Haussler ninth, they were credited with the same time as stage winner Andrea Guardini of Italy.
Photo: Reuters
In the end, Renshaw clocked 15 hours, 31 minutes, 4 seconds to win by eight seconds from Haussler, and 17 seconds ahead of third-placed Daniele Bennati of Italy.
“I didn’t think I would win here. I didn’t think that this week would be like this,” the HTC-Highroad rider said. “A lot less wind on the last two days, so that was good for me.”
“This is my first win in general classification, so I am obviously very proud of my week in Qatar. On the road, this is my biggest achievement for sure. I have been lucky enough to represent Australia in the track at the Olympic Games, but on the road this is the best success I have had,” he said.
Photo: AFP
Haussler led Garmin-Cervelo to the team title, but was disappointed to finish second overall after winning the second and third stages.
“I am happy with what I have achieved, but I could have done a little better,” Haussler said. “I was surprised with my form at the beginning as I was doing really well, but in the last two days, I was a bit disappointing. Mark is a top sprinter and he did well, [but] I had chances.”
Three-time winner Tom Boonen of Quick Step, winner of the first stage, was involved in a multi-rider crash before the start, but got up to catch the peloton.
Greg Van Avermaet of BMC and Gediminas Bagdonas of An Post broke away after 10km and led by as much as four minutes, but they were reeled in by the last lap with 6km to go. In the final sprint, Guardini, riding for Farnese Vini, found a gap off the barricades beside Theo Bos and edged Francesco Chicchi of Quick Step. Bos was third. The first 61 riders were timed at 2:44:06.
Many of the riders now move to neighboring Gulf state Oman for the second Tour of Oman, which starts on Tuesday.
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