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Tour of Qatar ready to roll

by Andrew Hood

• January 26, 2008
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By Andrew Hood

Defending champ Wilfried Cretzkens

Photo: Graham Watson

Lycra and burkhas are the unlikely companions this week as the seventh Tour of Qatar cranks up Sunday in this oil-rich state protruding into the Persian Gulf like a thumb.

There’s nary a mountain, but plenty of sand and wind in what’s become a popular season-starter for riders — 130 of them this year, representing 24 nations on 17 teams from the United States, Europe and Asia.

Known for its short, flat and fast stages that typically end in bunch sprints, as well as its post-race luxury digs, with riders decamped at the five-star Ritz-Carlton, the Qatar race has grown beyond just a publicity stunt.

“It’s a nice way for riders to start the season. The stages aren’t too long, the weather is good and there are no mountains,” said cycling legend Eddy Merckx, who’s been tapped by the local officials as a consultant. “You don’t need a race to be too difficult so early in the season. The riders like that.”

Merckx joins officials from the Tour de France organization to help the Qatari federation put on the race. Kinks from the first years of the event, when local traffic police were more used to handling camel races than high-speed pelotons, seemed to have been worked out. Officials are so pleased with the event they are considering adding a women’s race next year.

Despite a construction frenzy unparalleled in the world, with hundreds of luxury skyscrapers spiking up along Qatar’s otherwise-nondescript coastline, cycling is slowly taking root in this small nation rich in oil and natural gas.

The government underwrites the race, in part to support Qatar’s nascent Olympic movement and to promote the country’s profile among international governing bodies. The ultimate goal is becoming the first Arab nation to host the Olympic Games, and the Tour of Qatar is part of the roadmap to Olympic success.

“I am sure we will host an Olympics,” said Majid al Naimi, general director of the Tour of Qatar. “We’ve demonstrated with the Tour of Qatar and the (2006) Asian Games we are capable of hosting international events. This race helps Qatar show the world who we are.”

While officials promote the race at a marketing level, riders arrived in Qatar after long flights from Europe and the United States anxious to find their racing legs in time for Sunday’s start.

Slipstream-Chipotle — racing its first event of an ambitious 2008 program that it hopes will lead to a berth in the Tour de France in July — brings a solid team with sprinter Julian Dean and head-banger Magnus Backstedt expected to make the team’s presence felt.

The six-day route opens Sunday with a 6km team time trial along the Doha corniche and ends Friday after a string of out-and-back loops that splay across the wind-swept dunes of Qatar’s interior and along the northern and western coastlines.

Quick Step captain Tom Boonen is the pre-race favorite though defending champ and teammate Wilfried Cretzkens might have something to say about that.

Holding a record 11 stage-wins and the overall 2006 victory, Boonen will be looking to hone his form ahead of the spring classics in what is – just like everyone else here – his season debut.

Boonen will see competition from Danilo Napolitano (Lampre-Fondital), Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas), Luciano Pagliarini (Saunier Duval) and Christophe Engoulvent (Crédit Agricole).

BMC Racing brings Americans Tony Cruz, Mike Sayers and Taylor Tollison in what will be a key warm-up race for the ambitious U.S.-based team.

“This is a nice race for us to put some racing miles in our legs. We can fight in the sprints, but more importantly, we can get the race speed,” said sport director John Lelangue. “This will help us for the Tour of California, which is our first major goal of the season.”

A national Qatari and the Iranian national teams ensure a local flavor.

So far, the notorious winds of Qatar have remained still. That could change at any moment and throw dust in the eyes of any well-intentioned plan.

Teams for the seventh Tour of Qatar, Jan. 27-Feb. 1
BMC Racing, Slipstream-Chipotle (USA)
Lampre-Fondital, Liquigas (Ita)
Milram (Ger)
QuickStep, Silence-Lotto, TopSport-Vlaanderen (Bel)
Saunier Duval (Spa)
Drapac-Porsche (Aus)
Skil-Shimano (Ned)
Iran cycling federation
Doha Team (Qatar)
Tinkoff Credit Systems (Rus)
Crédit Agricole, Cofidis, Bouygues Telecom (Fra)

Stages
Stage 1, Jan. 27: Doha Corniche (TTT), 6km
Stage 2, Jan. 28: Al Zubarah to Doha Golf Club, 137.5km
Stage 3, Jan. 29: Camel Race Track to Qatar Foundation, 147.5km
Stage 4: Jan. 30: Khalifa Stadium to Al Khor Corniche, 131.5km
Stage 5, Jan. 31: Al Khor Academy to Al Khor Corniche, 170km