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
Latest
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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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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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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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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
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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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Edvald Boasson Hagen takes Tour of Qatar lead from Mark Cavendish after time trial
Dimension Data hang on to the Tour of Qatar leader's jersey as Edvald Boasson Hagen wins the stage three time trial
By Richard Windsor • 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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Mark Cavendish wins Tour of Qatar opening stage
Manxman Mark Cavendish takes his first win of 2016 for Dimension Data to lead the Tour of Qatar
By Owen Rogers • 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