In short
| Stage winner | Tom BOONEN |
 (maillot or) |
Leon VAN BON |
 (maillot argent) |
Leon VAN BON |
 (maillot bleu) |
Kenny LISABETH |
All classifications
| Stage |
|---|
 |
|
• Individual time • Individual points • Best young • Best team |
|
| Overall |
|
|
• Individual time • Individual points • Best young • Best team |
Stage by stage
| 1 | Sunday 28 January | 6 km |
| Corniche de Doha | team TT | |
| 2 | Monday 29 January | 135.5 km |
| Al Wakra > Qatar Olympic Committee | ||
| 3 | Tuesday 30 January | 140 km |
| Dohat Salwa > Khalifa Stadium | ||
| 4 | Wednesday 31 January | 139.5 km |
| Camel Race Track > Doha Golf Club | ||
| 5 | Thursday 1 February | 160.5 km |
| Al Zubarah > Mesaieed | ||
| 6 | Friday 2 February | 134 km |
| Sealine Beach Resort > Doha Corniche | ||
| Total | 715.5 km | |
The race
Monday 29 January 2007| stage 2 | Al Wakra > Qatar Olympic Committee - 135.5 km |
|---|
Boonen in command
As expected the first normal stage of the Tour of Qatar after yesterday’s team time-trial ended up in a bunched sprint. After 135.5km of riding, title holder Tom Boonen once again proved that Qatar was his winning territory as he claimed his first success of 2007. The Belgian also captures the overall leader’s golden jersey.
The film of the stage
Stage 2: Al Wakra – Qatar Olympic Committee,135.5 km
136 riders at the start, 17 teams
Perfect weather conditions: bright sunshine, windy
Under a bright sunshine and with a slightly stronger wind than on the previous day, the 136 riders of this 6th edition took off from Al Wakra by the sea heading west before returning to the state’s capital Doha. The action really started after 25 kilometres when two riders, Burghardt (TMO) quickly caught by De Haes (JAC) took advantage of a fall and a favourable wind to break away. They were soon to be caught as two other men broke away at km 29: Fischer (LIQ) and Pineau (BTL). The Brazilian and the French enjoyed a long moment in the race leadership with the gap growing to a maximum 2’35 at km 42. The pack led by the Quickstep and Milram teams then really started chasing and both men were caught at km 58.
The pack showed up bunched at the first intermediate sprint of the day (km 73) won by golden jersey De Jongh (QST) ahead of Steegmans (QST) and Clerc (BTL). After the pace slowed down, 5 riders managed to take off at km 76: Roesems (PRL), De Haes (JAC) and Rooijakkers (SKS) rapidly caught by Riblon (A2R) and Muravyev (AST). Their lead started gradually growing from 1’40 at km 82 to a maximum 4’15 at km 94. The sprinter’s teams then started their work with around forty kilometres to go.
At the second intermediate sprint won by De Haes ahead of Roesems and Muravyev, the front men’s advantage on the pack had dropped down to 2’05 and was then of only 35†with 10 kilometres to go. All five were to be caught in the final part of the stage. With the Milram, Rabobank and Quickstep teams taking control of the pack, a bunched sprint finish was bound to happen. After winning four of the five stages last year, Tom Boonen again outsprinted all his main rivals with Petacchi (MRM) clinching second spot and Nazon (A2R) finishing third. A major fall occurred in the final metres as Graeme Brown collided with Tom Steels (PRL) who hit the ground. The Australian was found guilty of his dangerous move, losing his initial third spot. Meanwhile, Boonen takes command of the overall classification with a 7†over De Jongh, and will therefore by wearing the golden jersey for tomorrow’s third stage.
LE MAGAZINE
Tom Boonen: ‘’Well satisfied with this win’’
It was a very strange day. I don’t recall witnessing such a bizarre wind here in Qatar. It made the stage very tricky and tense. Concerning the final sprint, I didn’t want my team mates to start their effort too early. I asked Tosatto and De Jongh to wait until the last moment to start their effort and launch me. I then did the necessary to capture the win. There really is a fierce competition on this Tour of Qatar. My goal isn’t to win all the stages. For the moment, I’m well satisfied with the race. I’m very happy to have won today. I would be happy with my race if it had to stop today.