Tour of Qatar
The Tour of Qatar was due to return for its 16th edition in 2017, and for the first time with WorldTour status, but was cancelled in December 2016 citing lack of sponsorship.
Both the men's and the women's races will not run in 2017, with no indication about whether they will return in 2018 or the near future.
The Tour of Qatar was a firmly-established fixture of the early season, attracting attention as a meeting for the top sprinters, and an indication as to how the Classics riders were shaping up ahead of spring, specifically in the race’s inevitable crosswinds.
Those crosswinds over the five-stage race made for some fast and often entertaining racing as the powerful riders fought for splits in the bunch, with virtually no uphills along the route.
The roll-call of winners is a mixture of rouleurs and sprinters, with Britain's Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) the overall winner in what could be the final edition, in 2016. The GC often came down to the one individual time trial in the race, with the flat and fast roads favouring all out power over time trial riders that prefer technical or climbing courses.
Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) holds the record number of overall Tour of Qatar victories with seven, taking 22 stage victories along the way.
Since 2009 the organisers have also held the Ladies Tour of Qatar shortly before the men's race, with Dutch sprinter Kirsten Wild holding a record number of victories with four.
Tour of Qatar: Recent winners
2016: Mark Cavendish
2015: Niki Terpstra
2014: Niki Terpstra
2013: Mark Cavendish
2012: Tom Boonen
2011: Mark Renshaw
2010: Wouter Mol
2009: Tom Boonen
2008: Tom Boonen
2007: Wilfried Cretskens
2006: Tom Boonen
Website: Tour of Qatar official website
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The 2015 cycling season in review: February
February was a busy month in the 2015 season, with Chris Froome's first race of the year, the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race, a new world Hour Record, five-day races in the Middle East and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Bradley Wiggins third in Tour of Qatar time trial
World time trial champion Bradley Wiggins beaten by Niki Terpstra and Fabian Cancellara
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Michael Hepburn wins stage three of the Tour of Qatar
Michael Hepburn wins the time trial as Niki Terpstra retains the lead
By Cycling Weekly Published
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Sam Bennett wins Tour of Qatar final stage
Irish sprinter Sam Bennett takes final stage victory as Niki Terpstra seals overall win in 2015 Tour of Qatar. Photos by Graham Watson
By Stephen Puddicombe Published
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Luke Rowe races with the best in Qatar during one of his "hardest ever" days
The Welshman finishes in select group of 13 including Boonen, Sagan and Terpstra.
By Nick Bull Published
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Alexander Kristoff wins stage two of the Tour of Qatar
Crosswinds splinter the peloton as Alexander Kristoff and the classics men make their mark in the Tour of Qatar
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Mark Cavendish wins the 2016 Tour of Qatar
Alexander Kristoff wins the final stage in a photo-finish with Mark Cavendish, but Cavendish wins overall
By Owen Rogers Published
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Tom Boonen wins Tour of Qatar stage four
Tom Boonen takes his 22nd career stage win in the Tour of Qatar
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Bradley Wiggins's Paris-Roubaix support team taking shape
Team Sky starts to form the back-up team for Bradley Wiggins's tilt at Paris-Roubaix in April
By Gregor Brown Published
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Bradley Wiggins: I forgot about being World Time Trial Champion
The Team Sky rider will get to wear the rainbow jersey for the first time in next week's Tour of Qatar.
By Nick Bull Published
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Ian Stannard aims to capitalise on Tour of Qatar time trial
Team Sky's Ian Stannard looks to move up the Tour of Qatar standings at the stage three road bike time trial
By Richard Abraham Published
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Cancelled Tour of Qatar will 'return in 2018'
After the recent cancellation of the 2017 Tour of Qatar and Ladies Tour of Qatar, the organiser says that the races will return next season
By Gregor Brown Published
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Alexander Kristoff wins Tour of Qatar stage four
Adam Blythe places fourth in bunch sprint won by Alexander Kristoff, as Niki Terpstra maintains overall Tour of Qatar lead. Photos by Graham Watson
By Stephen Puddicombe Published
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Andy Fenn in Omega Pharma-Quickstep 'A-team' at the Tour of Qatar
Andy Fenn playing his part in the Omega Pharma-Quickstep powerhouse at the Tour of Qatar
By Richard Abraham Published
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'As long as we win it doesn’t matter': Mark Cavendish content with losing Qatar lead to Edvald Boasson Hagen
Mark Cavendish says that he knew his teammate would be favourite to take over the overall lead at the Tour of Qatar after the individual time trial
By Owen Rogers Published
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Bradley Wiggins is main Tour of Qatar threat, says Tom Boonen
Four-time overall winner believes the Team Sky rider could claim the overall title.
By Nick Bull Published
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Alexander Kristoff issues another warning shot to rivals with Qatar victory
Two stage victories in three days for the defending Milan-San Remo champion.
By Nick Bull Published
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Etixx-QuickStep's recipe for Tour of Qatar success: Be big and strong
With eight victories in 14 editions of the Tour of Qatar, how does the Etixx-QuickStep team do it?
By Gregor Brown Published
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Mark Cavendish to decide on Track World Championships participation during Tour of Qatar
With lofty aims for 2016, Mark Cavendish says the road to World Championships, Tour de France and Olympic glory is not yet set in stone
By Owen Rogers Published
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Edvald Boasson Hagen's Tour of Qatar hopes dashed by double puncture
Heartbreak for Edvald Boasson Hagen as double puncture ends hopes of overall win in Tour of Qatar
By Owen Rogers Published
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Five reasons why we miss the Tour of Qatar
This year's Tour of Qatar should have taken place this week, but was cancelled. Here are five reasons why it's left a hole in our lives
By Gregor Brown Published
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Tom Boonen happy despite 'chaotic' Tour of Qatar start
Four-time Tour of Qatar champion Tom Boonen pleased with his second place on stage one despite 'very chaotic' finish
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Niki Terpstra keeps lead in Qatar despite Tinkoff-Saxo pressure
Defending champion was briefly on the wrong side of a peloton split in the closing kilometres.
By Nick Bull Published
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Alexander Kristoff beats Mark Cavendish to win Tour of Qatar stage two
Norwegian Alexander Kristoff just pips Mark Cavendish in a sprint showdown in the Tour of Qatar
By Owen Rogers Published
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Crashes won't derail IAM Cycling at Tour of Qatar
IAM Cycling sprinter Heinrich Haussler says he's fit and ready for stage five, despite hitting the tarmac on stage four of the Tour of Qatar
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Adam Blythe still finding form despite strong Qatar start
New Orica-GreenEdge signing Adam Blythe placed seventh on stage two of the 2015 Tour of Qatar
By Nick Bull Published
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Etixx-Quick Step not invited to Tour of Qatar due to 'lack of respect'
President of the Qatar Cycling Federation says the Etixx-QuickStep team has a 'problem with discipline'
By Owen Rogers Published
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Niki Terpstra surprised at beating Bradley Wiggins in Qatar time trial
Niki Terpstra says he thought that Bradley Wiggins would 'beat everyone by 40 seconds' in the Tour of Qatar stage three time trial
By Gregor Brown Published
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Mark Cavendish back in Tour of Qatar lead after stage four
Late puncture sees Edvald Boasson Hagen drop out of race lead in Tour of Qatar as Alexander Kristoff wins stage four
By Owen Rogers Published