Share

Cavendish wins Tour of Qatar opener

Doha - Britain's Mark Cavendish won the first stage of the Tour of Qatar on Monday ahead of Italian pair Sacha Modolo and Andrea Guardini.

The former world road race champion covered the 175 kilometres from Dukhan to the Al Khor corniche in 3hrs 28.31secs, eight seconds in front of Modolo and 11 seconds ahead of Guardini.

It was a first stage win of the season for Cavendish, and a first win also for his new South African Dimension Data team.

"It is the first stage win for Dimension Data on the World Tour and was the result of a great team performance," he said.

"You can't win in Qatar without a good team, it just isn't possible. I am so happy to have won this stage."

Tuesday's 135 kilometre second stage around the campus of the University of Qatar will see the peloton tackle the course prepared for the world road race championships in October.

The tour comprises five stages and will cover a total distance of 626.4 kilometres.

Cavendish is seeking a second win in the Tour of Qatar, having been victorious in 2013.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1473 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE