DOHA, Qatar, Feb 12, 2010 (AFP) – Dutchman Wouter Mol won the Tour of Qatar cycling race on Friday after the sixth and final stage was claimed by Italian Francesco Chicchi.

Winning a second stage following his victory on Wednesday, Chicchi beat American Tyler Farrar into second place over the 123.5 kilometre stage with Argentina’s Juan Jose Haedo third.

Chicchi Wins Stage 6

A quartet made up of Dutch rider Niki Terpstra, American Ben King and Germans Patrick Gretsch and Martin Kohler opened up a lead of three minutes and 50 seconds from the rest of the field.

Tour of Qatar Stage 6

They were in the lead with just 45 kilometres of the stage remaining.

But the chasing pack caught up to force a sprint finish over the final six kilometres with Chicchi crossing the line first.

Overall winner Mol, 27, said he owed his victory to the hard work put in by his fellow Vacansoleil riders.

“When I took the leader’s jersey (on Monday), I didn’t think about the final standings. I preferred to take the race day by day.

“I started to believe (in winning) when I saw how hard my teammates were working.”

Mol had led the event since taking victory in the second stage on Monday.

The Tour of Qatar is the Dutchman’s first major title and will boost Vacansoleil’s chances of receiving an invitation to race in this summer’s Tour de France.

TSV’s Belgian rider Geert Steurs finished in second place ahead of last year’s winner and compatriot Tom Boonen. Quick Step cyclist Boonen finished 1 minute and 45 seconds behind Mol.

Tom Boonen opening up the legs

Most of the riders are set to compete in Tour of Oman, which begins on Sunday.

Livestrong team at tour of Qatar

Stage 6 Results:
1. Francesco Chicchi (ITA/LIQ) 123 kilometres in 2hours 42mins 49secs,
2. Tyler Farrar (USA/GRM) same time,
3. Juan Jose Haedo (ARG/SAX) s.t.,
4. Matthew Goss (AUS/THR) s.t.,
5. Jimmy Casper (FRA/SAU) s.t.,
6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) s.t.,
7. Tom Boonen (BEL/QST) s.t.,
8. Roger Kluge (GERT/MRM) s.t.,
9. Heinrich Haussler (GER/CTT) s.t.,
10. John Murphy (USA/BMC) s.t., 11.
Romain Feillu (FRA/VAC) s.t.
Selected: 20. Wouter Mol (NED/VAC) s.t.

Overall standings:
1. Wouter Mol (NED/VAC) 15hours 55mins 17secs,
2. Geert Steurs (BEL/TSV) at 00:35,
3. Tom Boonen (BEL/QST) at 1:45,
4. Roger Kluge (GER/MRM) at 1:59,
5. Marcus Burghardt (GER/BMC) at 2:05,
6. Danilo Napolitano (ITA/KAT) at 2:09,
7. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/OLO) at 2:17,
8. Francesco Chicchi (ITA/LIQ) at 2:28,
9. Heinrich Haussler (GER/CTT) at 2:37,
10. Stuart O’Grady (AUS/SAX) at 2:40.