Tour of Qatar (final report)
Movistar Team leaves Qatar as Rojas takes 10th in Doha Corniche's final sprint; Spaniard makes Blues shine with his early stage triumph, GC lead
Dutchman Niki Terpstra (EQS) conquered back-to-back GC victories in the Tour of Qatar after covering Friday's final stage -113km from Sealine Beach Resort to the Doha Corniche- with no incidents. Irish sprinter Sam Bennett (BOA) took the race's last bunch kick as Kristoff (KAT) came short to take back the bonus seconds needed to earn the gold jersey back, the same colour one of the Movistar Team riders, José Joaquín Rojas, wore a tthe end of stage one.
Rojas's 10th spot in today's closer wrapped up a satisfactory debut for the riders directed by Chente García Acosta. The Cieza-based rider took the relay on Fran Ventoso as latest (and only) Spanish winner in the Gulf with his brilliant sprint in Sealine Beach, spending 24 hours in the lead as a result. The whole Blue roster taking part in Qatar -with Valverde, Sütterlin, Lastras, Ventoso, Sanz, Erviti and Amador- will now head to Oman to take part in the country's stagerace, from Tuesday 17 to Sunday 22.