Tour of Qatar

06-02-2009 15:11:03

Sprinter Rober Förster finished off the eighth edition of the Tour of Qatar (February 1-6/UCI 2.1) with a second place.  After the 121 kilometers from Sealine Beach Resort to Doha Corniche, he was beaten in the mass sprint only by Mark Cavendish of Team Columbia.  Third was Cervelo's Heinrich Haussler.  Belgian Tom Boonen (Quick Step) took the overall title despite finishing tenth on the day.

„We wanted to control the race today from the beginning,“ said Christian Henn, Team Milram's Directeur Sportif.  „We had planned to be in an escape group and to ride for Robert Förster in the finale.  We accomplished that well.  The whole team got together with about 20 kilometers to go, stayed together and prepared the finish well.  We can be very satisfied today.“

The last stage through the desert land went just as Team Milram had planned it.  Servais Knaven was in the first serious escape group, which dominated much of the race.  The sextet around the Dutch Milram rider built up a lead of up to 5:15 mintues, before the peloton reacted on the closing lap in Doha.  They were caught with 15 kilometers to go.

From there, the sprinters' teams took charge.  Team Milram was always near the front, bringing sprinter Robert Förster into an outstanding position for the finale.  In the end he had to look at the rear wheel of Mark Cavendish and prove his strong early form with his second-place finish.