The sixth Tour of Qatar, which will take place from the 28th January to the 2nd February 2007, will begin with an innovation. The first stage, a team time trial of six kilometres in Doha, promises to be an intense induction session for the champions who have chosen the Qatar as their first race of the cycling season. Over the next five days, the going will be tough. On the flat and straight routes of Qatar, team tactics will already be in operation. If he is true to his traditional start of season, Tom Boonen, perhaps accompanied by his new power rider Gert Steegmans, could embark upon a new series of victories. But there is also every chance that the ex-Belgian world champion will face fierce opposition from the Italian rider Alessandro Petacchi, eager to test his finish in the Middle East after a season disrupted by injuries in 2006.

A starting block to the cycling season for some, the Tour of Qatar represents for others one of the landmark events of the year. Hence the Iranian cyclists, who hold the first three places in the Asia Tour continental ranking, are invited to form a team to challenge Europe’s elite. Similarly, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates will make up a mixed team determined to follow the pace set by the top professionals.

The programme

Stage 1, Sunday 28th January: Corniche Doha (team time trial, 6 km)
Stage 2, Monday 29th January: Al Wakra – Qatar Olympic Committee (135,5 km)
Stage 3, Tuesday 30th January: Dohat Salwa – Khalifa Stadium (140 km)
Stage 4, Wednesday 31st January: Camel Race Track – Doha Golf Club (139,5 km)
Stage 5, Thursday 1st February: Al Zubarah – Mesaieed (160,5 km)
Stage 6, Friday 2nd February: Sealine Beach Resort – Doha Corniche (134 km)

On the occasion of the Asian Games, that currently bring together over 12,000 athletes in Doha, the organisers of the Tour of Qatar that will see its sixth edition be held from the 28^th of January to the 2^nd of February 2007, will officially present the course during a press conference. Eddy Merckx, Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France and Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani, president of the Qatar cycling federation will welcome the journalists on the 5^th of December in conference room number 1 of the Asian Games' press centre, located behind the shopping mall, at 7:00 PM.

The information concerning the 2007 Tour of Qatar will also be available as of the 5^th of December on the official internet website of the event at www.letour.fr.