Today’s fifth stage of the Tour of Qatar ended with the same podium result as yesterday: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) won the photo finish ahead of Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Nikias Arndt (Giant-Alpecin). For the sprinters of BORA – ARGON 18, the hectic race day took its toll. Zak Dempster finished on rank 28 as the best-placed rider of the team. Right after the start the infamous echelons started due to the wind. BORA – ARGON 18 rode attentively and the team was well-placed in the lead group. Given the high speed in the first hour of the race some of the riders dropped out of the lead before they came back later in the race.

“Right from the start, we saw a real tough race today. Our guys did a very good job as we were part of the lead group with several guys. The lead rode with a very high speed, which caused that several riders got dropped and actually the whole peloton was completely split. But in the second part of the race most of it came back together. The wind wasn’t that strong anymore and a bunch sprint was coming up. We concentrated completely on Sam [Bennett] and we prepared the sprint with our lead-out train. But unfortunately the bad luck hit us again. With 2km to go Sam had a puncture – so again, no chance to sprint for us”, said Andre Schulze, Sport Director of BORA – ARGON 18.   

Tomorrow’s final day will be the shortest stage of the tour. Going from Sealine Beach Resort to Doha Corniche the peloton has to race for 124 kilometers before the sprinters will finally decide the race.