Dutch rider Niki Terpstra claimed Tuesday's Tour of Qatar third stage, a 10.9 kilometre race-against-the-clock, upstaging time-trial specialists Fabian Cancellara and Bradley Wiggins.
Terpstra covered the time trial at the Lusail motorsport circuit in 14min 3sec to beat Cancellara by eight seconds and world champion in the discipline Wiggins by 9sec.
Terpstra's reward was to inherit the leader's gold jersey in the race he is aiming to win for the second successive season.
He has an 11sec advantage over Poland's Maciej Bodnar.
"There were lots of specialists, a good peloton. And I beat them all, it's fantastic!" said Terpstra.
"I set off to put in a good time-trial for the overall standings...but winning the stage!" he said after another day's action in difficult conditions.
"The wind was stronger even than yesterday, I knew it was going to be hard," the 30-year-old added.
"It was important not to start too quickly, especially as the final two kilometres were into the wind."
Britain's Wiggins said: "This is the first time I've put on the rainbow jersey (as world champion) since September. It's always special, it's a big event."
Wednesday's fourth stage is a 165.5km ride between Al Thakhira to Mesaieed.
Source: AFP
GMT 11:35 2017 Monday ,25 December
Saudi Arabia hosts chess championshipGMT 19:08 2017 Sunday ,03 December
Egypt’s Cuper calls for calm after favorable World Cup drawGMT 18:54 2017 Sunday ,03 December
Saudi Arabia’s new coach Pizzi looking for team to make good start in RussiaGMT 15:09 2017 Monday ,27 November
Bottas holds off Hamilton in Abu Dhabi GPGMT 12:26 2017 Monday ,06 November
Omani yacht skipper charged with rape in FranceGMT 15:30 2017 Wednesday ,01 November
Newly-elected Kuwait football chief to push FIFA over banGMT 20:25 2017 Tuesday ,31 October
Bahrain One drag racing team shines in NHRA ChampionshipGMT 20:59 2017 Saturday ,28 October
CAF Champions League Final : Wydad Secures Draw in Tough Game Against Al AhlyMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor