This year a fewer top riders were present in Qatar to prepare their spring. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) and others all rode in in the desert though and they do not regret their choice.

"Definitely the punch you get out of the Tour of Qatar is different to what you can get elsewhere," the Dimension Data sprinter explained to Velonews. "There were some of the top teams not here this year, but there was still really good racing this week. Every single rider whoís here got stuck in. Itís a race that Iíve missed since I was last here in 2013."

Greg van Avermaet, who finished 2nd overall, is convinced that the race is a good preparation. "I like this kind of racing, where there is always a big fight to be in position and at front. Itís really good preparation. I prefer to do my preparation here because itís kind of the same type of racing as Flanders and the other classics. You get a lot of speed here, but itís that positioning. You have to fight for your position and every corner you have to be there. Itís good to work together with the team on positioning, this race is preparation you donít find in another race."

Kristoff who won three stages, showed that he is ready for the classics. "I hope this becomes important for us and that they are worse off for missing it! It was great preparation for me because I gained a lot of confidence. It was perfect for my classics preparation to go deep some days with the crosswinds and to fight for position like you have in the classics."