Tour of Qatar (st. 3)
Movistar Team leader 19th in Lusail TT, keeps gaining racing form in Tour of Qatar as Terpstra (EQS) takes lead with three days to go
Alejandro Valverde and the whole Movistar Team keep adding race days to their spring campaign's warm-up in the Tour of Qatar, which Niki Terpstra (EQS) has taken a strong step forward in to secure back-to-back GC wins by becoming the race leader after the 10.9km ITT around the Lusail Circuit. The Dutchman beat Fabian Cancellara (TFR) by eight seconds, with world time trial champion Bradley Wiggins (SKY) in 3rd, 9" back.
Valverde (19th) and Sütterlin -1'08" adrift- were the top performers from Chente García Acosta's group, avoiding any troubles over their road race bikes -the race rules prohibited any TT equipment- before three final stages where they'll try to increase their already brilliant account, with one stage win and one day in the lead. Stage four tomorrow will take the peloton from Al Thakhira to Mesaieed, over 165km.