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Van Avermaet wins stage as lead changes hands in Qatar

by VeloNews.com

• February 01, 2007
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By Agence France Presse

Van Avermaet takes his first win as a pro

Photo: Graham Watson

Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet (Predictor-Lotto) won the fifth and penultimate stage of the Tour of Qatar on Thursday.

Van Avermaet beat home German Marcel Sieberg and Frenchman Stephane Poulhies in a sprint finish to the 156km stage between Al-Zubarah and Mesaieed.

Fellow Belgian Wilfried Cretskens (Quick Step), who was part of the race-deciding 10-man breakaway, took the race leader’s jersey from teammate and compatriot Tom Boonen, who finished 20th, more than two minutes down, along with the main chasing pack.

Boonen deals with a balky bike

Photo: Graham Watson

Tour rookie Van Avermaet was overjoyed with his stage win.

“It’s my first season and already my first success amid the professionals,” said the 21-year-old Belgian.

“I know I’m quick – that was my strength in the amateur ranks – but against my new breakaway companions, I really lacked any markers and I had no idea of my level compared to them.”

He added, jokingly, “Now I’ve got them.”

Ho, hum – you race by one desert fortress, you’ve raced by them all

Photo: Graham Watson

Cretskens, meanwhile, said he had heeded the advice and race tactics of his roommate – none other than Boonen himself.

“Today was my day,” he said. “Tom had told us to go with the breakaways. That appealed to me, even if for a moment I thought the peloton was going to catch us up.”

Friday’s sixth and final stage sees riders tackling a 134km course between Sealine Beach and Doha.

Top 10
1. Greg Van Avermaet (B), Predictor-Lotto, 156.5km in 3:26:13
2. Marcel Sieberg (G), Milram, same time
3. Stephane Poulhies (F), Ag2r, s.t.
4. Erki Putsep (Est), Bouygues Telecom, s.t.
5. Wilfried Cretskens (B), Quick Step, s.t.
6. Mauro Da Dalto (I), Liquigas, s.t.
7. Kim Kirchen (Lux), T-Mobile, s.t.
8. Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr), Liquigas, s.t.
9. Sven Krauss (G), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
10. Maarten Tjallingii (Ned), Skil-Shimano, s.t.

Overall
1. Wilfried Cretskens (B), Quick Step, 12:54:41
2. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step, at 2:19
3. Steven De Jongh (Ned), Quick Step, at 2:44
4. Bernhard Eisel (G), T-Mobile, at 2:52
5. Gregory Henderson (NZ), T-Mobile, at 3:01
6. Andreas Klier (G), T-Mobile, at 3:08
7. Leif Hoste (B), Predictor-Lotto, at 3:09
8. Alexandre Pichot (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 3:11
9. Matthew Hayman (Aus), Rabobank, at 3:30
10. Servais Knaven (Ned), T-=Mobile, at 3:44

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