Geert Steurs (Topsport Vlaander) won the second stage in Qatar after the race exploded in the crosswinds that shape this race every year.
Steurs and Wouter Mol (Vacansoliel) made their move early on, before the bunch hit the winds and splintered in to small groups riding in echelons across the road.
The chasing group contained last year's winner Tom Boonen and Tyler Farrar who was the best placed of the sprinters to take over Boasson Hagen slender lead.
The chase went all the way to the line as Boonen's group continuously shed riders as Cervelo did their best to send riders up the road. The Swiss based team had Britons Roger Hammond and Jeremy Hunt along with Heinrich Haussler in the lead group, no doubt proving a point after given a penalty in yesterday's stage
In the end the chasing groups couldn't pull back the two riders, or stop Mol from taking the overall lead.
Team Sky were the big losers today. Ian Stannard was the best placed, finishing in what was the third main group on the road. Boasson Hagen was in the group behind him with only one team mate for company.
The British team, who won the team time trial yesterday, also lost Kurt Asle Arvesen after the Norwegian champion crashed and broke his collarbone.
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