Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) won the second stage of the 2014 Tour of Qatar on Monday, bringing his total stage wins in the race to 21 - not including his four overall wins.
Boonen suffered during the 2013 season, first with a severe infection in his arm and then a fractured rib after crashing in the Tour of Flanders, which led to him missing Paris-Roubaix. His win shows that he is on track for 2014.
Just as in Sunday's opening stage, the high winds split the Tour of Qatar peloton to assist in the formation of an elite selection at the front of the race - including Boonen and his team-mate and overall race leader Niki Terpstra.
Michael Morkov (Tinkoff-Saxo) came home in second behind Boonen, with Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol) in third.
British riders Andy Fenn (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Ian Stannard (Sky) finished in the front group of eight riders, in fourth and sixth respectively. Fenn moves into the lead in the best young riders classification and is now sixth overall with Stannard seventh overall.
Terpstra finished in seventh place to maintain the overall lead going in to Tuesday's third stage: a 10.9km individual time trial around Lusail which should serve to shake up the general classification.
Results
Tour of Qatar 2014, stage two: Camel Race Track to Al Khor Corniche, 160.5km
1. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
2. Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
3. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol
4. Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
5. Matti Breschel (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
6. Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky
7. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
8. Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol all same time
9. Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin at 5 secs
10. Karsten Kroon (Ned) Tinkoff-Saxo at same time
Overall classification after stage two
1. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-QuickStep in 6-43-30
2. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol at 5 secs
3. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 14 secs
4. Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo at 20 secs
5. Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto-Belisol at 26 secs
6. Andy Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 26 secs
7. Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky at 26 secs
8. Matti Breschel (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo at 26 secs
9. Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin at 31 secs
10. Karsten Kroon (Ned) Tinkoff-Saxo at 31 secs
Related links
<a href="http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/tour-qatar-2014-preview-113986">Tour of Qatar 2014: Coverage and preview</a>
-
-
How one CW5000 rider took on an even bigger ride challenge
Through July Corrine Black took on a big challenge. Ride 100 miles a day every day. Here's how she got on.
By Simon Richardson •
-
Mathieu van der Poel focussed on Paris-Roubaix, but coach holds his World Championships place
The Dutchman returned to action last Sunday at Antwerp Port Epic and now faces a race against time to be fit for the Worlds and Paris-Roubaix
By Ryan Dabbs •
-
Tom Boonen narrowly escapes injury after high-speed racing car crash
'The car literally landed 10cm from my head' said Boonen
By Jonny Long •
-
Tom Boonen: 'I feel like cycling is already in the distant past'
Belgian former world champion and multiple Classics winner Tom Boonen retired from pro cycling in April, and says that he has already moved on
By Gregor Brown •
-
Tom Boonen starts racing again... this time in a car
The former world champ recently passed his race driving license and is hoping to get behind the wheel
By Craig Cunningham •
-
Can Tom Boonen win his final Paris-Roubaix?
As Tom Boonen prepares for his final race, Cycling Weekly talks to the man aiming to become the most successful Paris-Roubaix rider ever
By James Shrubsall •
-
Etixx boss calls rivals 'cowards' after disappointing E3 Harelbeke
Patrick Lefevere and star rider Tom Boonen criticise other teams for failing to respond to attack from Peter Sagan and eventual winner Michal Kwiatkowski
By Gregor Brown •
-
Tom Boonen: UCI Extreme Weather Protocol should have been used at Paris-Nice
The Etixx-Quick Step rider thinks the snowy conditions on stage one of Paris-Nice were enough to warrant an intervention based on the UCI's Extreme Weather Protocol
By Jack Elton-Walters •
-
Tom Boonen: No-one needs to tell me when to retire
Tom Boonen insists he will decide when to retire and will not be persuaded by the thoughts of anyone else
By Gregor Brown •
-
Tom Boonen reaches deal with prosecutors in Belgian tax fraud case
Tom Boonen and eight other suspects pay their taxes and a fine in order to escape prosecution in a fraud case dating back to 2013
By Stuart Clarke •
