DOHA – Belgian Tom Boonen, riding for the Quick Step team, won the first stage of the Tour of Qatar on Monday, heading home a sprint finish ahead of Australian duo Heinrich Haussler and Mark Renshaw.

“This victory is my reward for all the hard work I’ve put in to returning to top form since my injury last year,” explains Boonen. “It was probably the hardest moment in my career, but now I’m happy. From the very first kilometres the heat was on. My ciclocomputer gave readings as high as 75 kilometres an hour in the first phase of competition! The pack broke up almost immediately and only a few of us made it into the lead break. On the lead group there was great collaboration and we managed to repel a bridging of the gap by riders who were left in the second group. My success was just the best part of a very special day.”

With today’s success, Boonen is now wearing the leader’s jersey, with a 4” lead on Mark Renshaw.

“Right now I’m concentrating on the rankings. I want to race day by day and simply give it my best, then we’ll see. For now let me enjoy this success that is so important to my morale as well as that of the team.”

Boonen takes the race leader’s golden jersey from Dutch rider Lars Boom, who won Sunday’s opening prologue but who suffered during the first stage with stomach problems.

Stage
1. Tom Boonen (BEL/Quick Step) 2hr 59min 29sec,
2. Heinrich Haussler (AUS) same time,
3. Mark Renshaw (AUS) s.t.,
4. Daniele Bennati (ITA) s.t.,
5. Graeme Brown (AUS) s.t.,
6. Juan Antonia Flecha (ESP) s.t.,
7. Dominique Rollin (CAN) s.t.,
8. Roger Hammond (GBR) s.t.,
9. Andreas Klier (GER) s.t.,
10. Stuart O’Grady (AUS) s.t.
Selected: 13. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) s.t., 40. Lars Boom (NED) at 5:01.

Overall standings
1. Tom Boonen (BEL/Quick Step) 3hr 02min 32sec,
2. Mark Renshaw (AUS) at 4sec,
3. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) 8,
4. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP) 9,
5. Heinrich Haussler (AUS) 11,
6. Daniele Bennati (ITA) 16,
7. Andreas Klier (GER) 16,
8. Gert Steegmans (BEL) 17,
9. Jeremy Hunt (GBR) 19,
10. Dominique Rollin (CAN) 19
Selected: 19. Lars Boom (NED) 5:03