Lars Boom will not finish the Tour of Qatar. The Astana rider finished the fifth stage, but will not start in the sixth and final leg. The organizers have announced that he has been disqualified for drafting behind a car.

The Dutchman was frustrated. "It's shit. I am still sick and without strength in my legs," he told Biciciclismo just after crossing the finish line on a day when he had suffered in the echelons. "I started in the first group and then immediately droppedl to the second and third. Then we all got back together and reached the closing laps. I feel really bad because I can not do anything for the team. Gruzdev was in the break again. He is very strong, it's amazing." The worst news would come later: the commissaires decided to disqualify him and his efforts to reach the finish were wasted.

Boom has done three races: Tour Down Under, Dubai Tour and Tour of Qatar. After a strong start, however, he has been far off the pace in Qatar and was only 14th in the time trial after being second the previous year. The results clearly indicate that his health has prevented him from reaching his best level.

Strade Bianche, Paris-Nice, Milan-San Remo, Dwars door Vlaanderen, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix will be his next races.

Theo Bos (MTN-Qhubeka), Simone Sterbini (Bardiani-CSF), Dries Devenyns (IAM),Gert Steegmans (Trek) and Leigh Howard (Orica-GreenEdge) all abandoned the race yesterday.