Feb 2, 2007 0
Tom Boonen is clearly a step ahead in the first face-off of the season winning four stages in the Tour of Qatar. Boonen took the bunch sprint over Petacchi three times and was able to get into a break and avoid cross winds for a fourth stage win. Boonen missed the podium only once when Greg Van Avermaet took the sprint win from a breakaway that managed to hold off the bunch gallop in stage five.
Jan 30, 2007 0
(pic from letour.fr)
The sprinters battle is leaning heavily to Tom Boonen as he took his second consecutive stage win ahead of arch-rival super sprinter Alessandro Petacchi. The sprint was almost an exact repeat of yesterday’s stage win minus the brutal crash by Tom Steels which resulted in a broken collarbone.
The two wins so early in the season don’t count for much except to help size up the competition as Boonen explains:
Jan 29, 2007 0
Boonen Congratulates Team: pic from letour.fr
The “battle of sprinters” is taking shape as Tom Boonen took the first round in the Tour of Qatar. Boonen took the overall lead after winning the stage beating Alessandro Petacchi in a mass gallup to the line.
Jan 26, 2007 0
The Tour of Qatar is the first showdown between Alessandro Petacchi and Tom Boonen. Last year the two had some head to head battles leading up to the first big classic of the year. Milan San-Remo was supposed to be a showdown of the two sprinters, but Boonen’s Quick-Step teammate spoiled the battle with a brilliant late attack to win the Italian Classic.
This year there is not as much fanfare between the two super sprinters. AleJet is coming back from injuries sustained in the Giro and then a broken finger that derailed his fall campaign. Tom Boonen is shaken up by the recent doping allegations against his team director Patrick Lefevre and the doping confession of Johan Museeuw. Tough times for Boonen and he does not even feel like racing as he starts the new season.
Feb 3, 2006 0
Tom Boonen won the final stage 4 of the Tour of Qatar in a dominating show of sprinting prowess. Boonen’s only loss came yesterday as he was beaten by both Bernhard Eisel and Erik Zabel.
Eisel was quick to point out that he only won because Boonen was having shifting issues.
Boonen commented on his current form by saying: “There is still plenty of time…My first objective is Milan San Remo and I am still coming into form”.
This is a quote that must put all those guys with fast twitch muscles on notice, since with Boonen and his tweeked out Treno Blu present there may not be much chance of winning a sprint this year for anyone else. This year, Quick-Step has made personel moves specifically to help Boonen win more sprints. Riders such as Stephen De Jongh of Rabobank, Guido Trenti and Matteo Tossato of Fassa Bortolo.
Petacchi’s current Milram Team was unable to get Tossato and Trenti signed, so now they bring their experience to work for the young Boonen.
The extensive experience certainly shows as Boonen has been unbeatable when there are no technical glitches to slow him down.
What remains to be seen is if this form and domination will carry over to the regular season. Once Milan San Remo rolls around, will Quick-Step still be clicking as they are now? There may be some other issues that breakup the Treno Blu, such as the ambitions of Quick-Step teammate Paolo Bettini.
Jan 26, 2006 0
Early season racing hits the Middle East with racing in Doha and the Tour of Qatar. The Doha International GP will take place on Jan 27th and will feature the debut of Erik “Zoom Zoom” Zabel with his new Milram team. Petacchi will not be present, so Zabel gets to test out the leadout train for himself.
Tom Boonen will lead his QuickStep Team and show off the new “Maglia Iridata”. Other teams include Davitamon-Lotto, Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim and Unibet.com, Rabobank, Skill-Shimano, Phonak, Team CSC, le Gerolsteiner, Team Wiesenhof-Akud, Cofidis, Française des Jeux, Agritubel, Team Milram, Ceramica Panaria-Navigare, Naturino-Sapore di Mare and Kazak team CT Capec.
Tour of Qatar Stages:
Friday, January, 27th – Doha International Grand Prix
Doha Al Corniche: 108 km
Monday, January, 30th – 1st stage
Khalifa Stadium – Al Khor Corniche: 131,5 km
Tuesday, January, 31st – 2nd stage
Camel Race Track – Al Khor Corniche: 138 km
Wednesday, February, 1st – 3rd stage
Sealine Beach Resort – Khalifa Stadium : 160 km
Thursday, February, 2nd – 4th stage
Al Zubarah – Qatar Olympic Committee: 144 km
Friday, February, 3rd – 5th stage
Al Thakhira – Doha Corniche: 151,5 km (11 laps on the finish line))
