Michael Hepburn wins stage three of the Tour of Qatar

Michael Hepburn wins the time trial as Niki Terpstra retains the lead

Michael Hepburn wins stage three of the 2014 Tour of Qatar
(Image credit: Watson)

Michael Hepburn has won stage three of the Tour of Qatar with Niki Terpstra retaining the overall lead after the 10.9km individual time trial.

Hepburn stopped the clock at the end of the Lusail Circuit in 13 minutes and 28.61 seconds for his second victory of the 2014 season following his win at January's Australian national time trial championships.

The 22 year old best Lars Boom (Belkin) and Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo) to take line honours at the end of the race riders contested on road bikes because of obvious logistical reasons. Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) finished fifth, behind Fabian Cancellara (Trek), to hold onto the gold leader's jersey. Britain's Ian Stannard (Sky) jumped from seventh to fifth overall with a solid performance whilst compatriot Andrew Fenn rounds out the top 10 of the general standings that includes five of his teammates.

Tour of Qatar 2014, stage three: Lusail Circuit, 10.9km

1. Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 13-38

2. Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin at 1 secs

3. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo at 6 secs

4. Fabian Cancellara (Sui) Trek

5. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 8 secs

6. Martin Elmiger (Sui) IAM at 10 secs

7. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 13 secs

8. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC at 15 secs

9. Jens Mouris (Ned) Orica-GreenEdge at 16 secs

10. Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 17 secs


Overall classification after stage three

1. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 6-57-06

2. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol at 21 secs

3. Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin at 24 secs

4. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 28 secs

5. Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky at 35 secs

6. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 45 secs

7. Michael Morkov (Den) Tinoff-Saxo at 49 secs

8. Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol

9. Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 58 secs

10. Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 1-06

Michael Hepburn wins stage three of the 2014 Tour of Qatar

Michael Hepburn wins stage three of the 2014 Tour of Qatar
(Image credit: Watson)

Tom Boonen wins Tour of Qatar stage two

Tour of Qatar 2014, stage two: Tom Boonen back to winning ways in the Tour of Qatar

Ian Stannard aims to capitalise on Tour of Qatar time trial

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