Hagen takes Tour of Qatar lead from Mark Cavendish after time trial

LUSAIL, Qatar: Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen of the Dimension Data team took the leader’s golden jersey after winning the Tour of Qatar’s third stage on Wednesday.
Boasson Hagen won the time-trial around the Lusail circuit in 13min 26sec, finishing 25sec ahead of Dutch rider Jos Van Emden, with Italian Manuel Quinziato in third, a further 4sec adrift.
Cavendish could only finish seventh, at 44sec, and now sits 26sec behind his teammate in the overall standings.
Hagen, 28, said: “I feel stronger than last year and with luck I am. I succeeded in winning today, now I’ll try to keep hold of the golden jersey.”
Thursday’s fourth stage is a 189km ride from Al Zubarah Fort to Madinat Al Shamal.
The third stage of the race was held over a flat 11.4 km circuit consisting of eight tight turns linked by long straights. Lieuwe Westra (Astana), former Dutch time trial champion, set an early benchmark, before being eclipsed by compatriot Jos van Emden, who set a time 13 minutes 51 seconds.
That time stood until Boasson Hagen, who began the day 18 seconds behind Cavendish, set a time of 13-26, enough to lift him from fifth to first place.
Heading off last, Cavendish had his work cut out retaining the race lead but shouldn’t be too disappointed with his ride. The Manxman lost the lead to his teammate rather than a rival, and finished in a strong seventh position – which points to good form at the start of a season where he has set himself some ambitious goals.
Cavendish still leads the points classification and sits second on GC. The likelihood of cross winds on tomorrow’s 189km stage between Al Zubarah Fort and Madinat Al Shamal means the general classification is far from decided, though Dimension Data are certainly in a strong position.
In Colorado Springs, Olympic silver medalist Sarah Hammer will go for her third world title in the omnium while anchoring the US women’s pursuit team at the track cycling world championships.
Hammer was part of a nine-member team announced Tuesday that will compete in London from March 2-6.
She’ll be joined by Chloe Dygert, Kelly Catlin, Jennifer Valente and Ruth Winder in the team pursuit. Catlin and Valente will also compete in the individual pursuit, with Valente taking a shot at the scratch race. Kim Geist will compete in the women’s points race.
Absent from the men’s squad is Bobby Lea, an automatic nominee for the scratch race who is barred from competing due to a doping violation. Lea is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Jake Duehring will race the men’s omnium and scratch race with Matt Baranoski competing in the keirin and Ian Holt in the points race.

Results of the Tour of Qatar third stage:

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/DDD) 13min 26sec, 2. Jos Van Emden (NED/LNL) at 25sec, 3. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/BMC) 29, 4. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 32, 5. Dmitriy Gruzdev (KAZ/AST) 40, 6. Lieuwe Westra (NED/AST) 43, 7. Mark Cavendish (GBR/DDD) 44, 8. Jordan Kerby (AUS/DPC) 44, 9. Soren Kragh Andersen (DEN/GIA) 45, 10. Daniel Oss (ITA/BMC) 47

Overall standings (after three of five stages)
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/DDD) 6hr 53min 35sec, 2. Mark Cavendish (GBR/DDD) at 26sec, 3. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/BMC) 32, 4. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 34, 5. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) 45, 6. Soren Kragh Andersen (DEN/GIA) 45, 7. Sven Erik Bystrom (NOR/KAT) 1:02, 8. Sam Bennett (IRL/BOA) 1:07, 9. Viacheslav Kuznetsov (RUS/KAT) 1:10, 10. Michael Schar (SUI/BMC) 1:15.