Boonen takes another stage win and keeps his GC lead (Photo: Omega Pharma-Quickstep/TDWsport.com)
Devastating winds and the sheer power of Fabian Cancellara combined to make today’s stage in the Tour of Qatar an absolute bruiser, with Ireland’s David McCann and Matt Brammeier again being a little unlucky to lose time.
While Brammeier got caught out when the peloton split in the last 25km of the 144km stage, he at least had the consolation of earlier putting in some very good work for his Omega Pharma-Quickstep team leader Tom Boonen.
The Belgian was one of the very few able to contend with Cancellara when he put the afterburners on in the closing 10km; with Boonen taking the stage win and keeping the GC lead.
David McCann was to finish in the same group as Brammeier, 1:45 down on the victorious Boonen.
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McCann told stickybottle the stage was fast, relentless and at times a bit dangerous.
“Today wasn’t fun,” he said.
“I can generally get into the spirit of a bunch sprint where the adrenaline of the finish is there. But when it’s a full-on fight down a narrow bumpy road jumping over ramps at 60kph with possibly three hours of the same still to come, and all you want to do is not get hurt, it just isn’t a particularly nice feeling.”
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He said a lot of the riders felt the same way today.
“My legs were good today though, and I was in the second big group on the last finishing lap when a big spill of 20 or so guys split the group in two. I was in the second half and we just rolled to the finish relieved to have avoided the carnage.”
“I was particularly impressed with a Katusha rider trying to swap bikes with his team mate without actually stopping first. He threw his leg over the saddle to dismount at 40kph; nearly high kicking Jack Bauer in the process and getting a decent amount of abuse as the rest of the group were still passing on both sides. All the fun of the fair!”
Tomorrow is another 160km for the riders. With Mark Cavendish not making the winning move today and Tyler Farrar puncturing in the closing stages, Boonen now has a lead of 31 seconds over the next best man in GC, Farrar.
The race finishes on Friday and Boonen, it has to be said, is starting to look a bit like his old self.
Stage 4: 144 kilometres
1. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
2. Tom Veelers (Ned) Project 1t4i
3. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan
4. Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Sky Procycling
5. Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 0:00:04
6. Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 0:00:11
70. Matt Brammeier (Irl) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 1 minute, 45 seconds
87. David McCann (Irl) RTS Racing at same time
General Classification
1. Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) 9:50:50
2. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Barracuda) at 31 secs
3. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) at 34
4. Gert Steegmans (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) at 36
5. Bernhard Eisel (Sky) at 45
6. Tom Veelers (Project 1t4i) at 50
51. Matt Brammeier (Irl) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 3:43
87. David McCann (Irl) RTS Racing at 5:10
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