In short
| Stage winner | Tom BOONEN |
 (maillot or) |
Wilfried CRETSKENS |
 (maillot argent) |
Rick FLENS |
 (maillot bleu) |
Jean-Patrick NAZON |
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
Friday 2 February 2007| stage 6 | Sealine Beach Resort > Doha Corniche - 134 km |
|---|
Quickstep, masters of Qatar
For the 4th time in 6 days, Tom Boonen, once again, proved that he was the master of sprinting by claiming the final stage of the Tour of Qatar. His Quickstep team mate, Wilfried Cretskens, wins the overall classification of the event.
The film of the stage
Stage 6: Sealine Beach Resort – Doha Corniche, 124 km
126 riders at the start, 17 teams
Weather conditions: sunny and windy
After fast starts for the two previous stages, the 126 remaining riders of the Tour of Qatar faced strong winds for all the first part of this final stage. After average speeds of close to 60km/h for the first hour yesterday and on Wednesday, the pack only covered 37.100 km today for the initial 60’. Attempts still occurred in the race lead as 12 riders including the likes of Van Bon (RAB), Joachim (AST) and Pineau (BTL) managed to break away at km 4. Their lead however never exceeded 20†and the front group was caught at km 11. Four kilometres later, Glenn Bak (SKT) took off and was rapidly caught by two other riders: De Haes (JAC) and Berges (AGR). These three men were to enjoy an ever-increasing lead over the pack: 1’40 at km 21, 4’20 at km 28 and then a maximum 7’45 at the first intermediate sprint (km 42) won by Bak ahead of Berges and De Haes.
From then on and as the leading riders entered the circuit on the Doha Corniche for the first of 7 laps, the gap started dropping under the influence of the chasing sprinter’s teams. At km 70, it had gone down to 5’35. The second intermediate sprint (km 79) was won by De Haes ahead of Bak and Berges while the pack moved closer at 4’35.
While the Quickstep boys moved to the front of the pack to start chasing alongside the Milram, Saunier-Duval and Liquigas teams, the advantage of the front three dropped to 3’ at the fourth passage on the line (km 88) and then 1’10 at km 103. Bak was to be caught at km 105 followed by De Haes and Bergés at km 116, as the pack at high speed started preparing for the final bunched sprint. Like on three occasions already this week, Tom Boonen proved to be the fastest to the line claiming this final stage of the event ahead of Alessandro Petacchi (MRM) and Graeme Brown (RAB).
His Quickstep team mate Wilfried Cretskens wins this 2007 Tour du Qatar with an overall lead of 2’09 on Boonen and 2’44 on De Jongh (QST).
LE MAGAZINE
Tom Boonen: “A great week for us’’
A pretty good week is the least we can say concerning the performance of the Quickstep team. We almost managed a full house here, winning almost all there was to win. Toady, I again show that I am the best when it comes to sprints. I am also really happy for my team mate Wilfried Creskens, winner of the event. You know, he rides around 15 000 to 20 000 kms a year to prepare for my sprints so it’s a great reward for him to win a race like this one. He was also there to help me become World Champion in Madrid in 2005.