2012 Tour of Qatar: Stage 6 / Final Results

Today Tom Boonen won today the general classification in the Tour of Qatar. The rider from the Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team ranked 28’’ ahead of American Tyler Farrar and 33’’ in front of Spain’s Juan Antonio Flecha.

Boonen built his achievement thanks to two partial successes in the first and fourth stages, aided by some exceptional team work. Thus Tornado Tom conquered his 4th general classification in the Tour of Qatar after his reigns in 2006, 2008 and 2009, to which he can add 20 stage victories; all of which make Boonen the most victorious rider ever to have ridden in the “Sultans’ Race”.

“I’ve never been interested in records,” said Boonen. “However it’s nice to win this race for the fourth time. After the good test in Argentina I wanted to win in Qatar. There were a lot of competitors here but I was also lucky that the route was adapted to my skills. I built my victory in the first stage and in the fourth stage – both were very difficult – then I concentrated on defending myself in the other stages. Today I didn’t want to take any risks, so as not to blow a week’s worth of work. I’m satisfied; this is my first step back to high level cycling. Now it will be important to stay calm and concentrate on fine tuning this conditioning. In Oman I’m going to be racing in support of my teammates, who have been fantastic in this start of 2012. There’s a great atmosphere on the team, I thank all of them for the fantastic job they’ve done for me. It would be a dream to be able to help one of them clinch a personal success.”

“Today we implemented an effective strategy,” explained Sports Director Wilfried Peeters. “ We didn’t want to take any chances. A fall would have compromised the work of one week. The guys stayed close to Tom, who didn’t want to risk anything. A flat or a fall in the last kilometres would have been a problem. For us today it was important to maintain our leadership in the race. Overall in Qatar we saw a great Tom Boonen but in general a great team, able to also win the classification for teams and to place Steegmans in 4th place. Today Gert also tried to make up a few seconds in the intermediate sprint so he could get to the third step on the podium, but to no avail. The guys rode a tight race and the results have rewarded us. It’s been a phenomenal start of 2012 for our team. Now we have to try to maintain this form and this spirit for the races to come.”