Katusha’s Kristoff Triples in Stage 5
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Feb 12, 2015 – Norway’s Alexander Kristoff was on the mark for the third time in the Tour of Qatar, claiming Thursday’s fifth stage. The Katusha rider, already winner of stages two and four, prevailed in a sprint at the end of the 153 kilometer ride from Al Zubarah Fort and Madinat Al Shamal.
AFP/Yuzuru Sunada
Slovakia’s Peter Sagan crossed in second with Nikias Arndt of Germany third after another taxing day coping with a tricky cross wind. Dutch rider Niki Terpstra retained the overall lead, six seconds clear of Pole Maciej Bodnar and 11sec up on Kristoff. Kristoff said his success this week in Qatar had taken him by surprise.
“I turned up here without any real ambitions, but three stage wins is really great and well above my expectations,” he said.
He added: “My team put me in the perfect position, all I had to do was finish the job off. But I was extremely tired and could barely keep up the sprint to the line.”
Friday’s sixth and closing stage is a 113.5km ride between Sealine Beach Resort to 10 laps of Doha’s seafront.
Results Stage 5
1. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha @ 3:03:01
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo same time
3. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin s.t.
4. Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx – Quick-Step s.t.
5. Adam Blythe (GBr) Orica GreenEdge s.t.
6. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling s.t.
7. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar Team s.t.
8. Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr s.t.
9. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team s.t.
10. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits s.t.
General Classification
1. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Etixx – Quick-Step @ 15:12:45
2. Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo at 6sec
3. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha +11
4. Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky +12
5. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team +19
6. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo +31
7. Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky +33
8. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling +39
9. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team +41
10. Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx – Quick-Step +42
Click Here to read what Kristoff did and Stage 4, and Click Here to see the photos!