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.
Hagen takes Tour of Qatar lead from Mark Cavendish after time trial
Hagen takes Tour of Qatar lead from Mark Cavendish after time trial
Why 2026 could be Saudi Arabia’s most important sporting year yet
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia accelerates toward hosting some of the world’s biggest sporting events, the focus has shifted from spectacle to systems.
Under Vision 2030, building long-term capability in event-hosting has become as important as attracting the events themselves. And 2026 may be the year where that strategy is comprehensively tested more than ever.
The calendar alone hints at its significance. A mix of returning global fixtures and first-time arrivals will have Saudi Arabia host a near-continuous run of major events across multiple sports, creating an opportunity to refine and scale its hosting model.
The year begins with the Dakar Rally, which returns to Saudi Arabia for a seventh edition. More than 900 drivers will traverse over 7,000 km of desert terrain in one of the most logistically demanding events in world sport.
Shortly after, attention shifts to Al-Inma Stadium, with the Spanish Super Cup bringing Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid to Jeddah.
A new arrival will make its way to Saudi Arabia just a day prior: the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, a key tournament on the road to AFC Asian Cup 2027.
Sixteen nations will compete, offering a rehearsal not just for players, but also organizers and infrastructure ahead of the Kingdom’s first continental flagship event.
January 2026 also marks a milestone beyond the confines of traditional sport. The WWE Royal Rumble — part of the WWE’s “Big Four” Premium Live Events — will be staged outside of North America for the first time.
Riyadh is set to be the stage for the larger-than-life professional wrestling characters that have wowed Saudi fans on many an occasion in recent years.
The remainder of 2026 continues in similar fashion. Events confirmed include the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Formula E, AFC U-17 Asian Cup, eSports World Cup, WTA Finals, Gulf Cup and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
These events form a calendar that includes elite competition, youth development, mass participation and digital sport.
What makes 2026 particularly important — despite the presence of much larger events in the following years, such as the AFC Asian Cup, the Asian Games and the FIFA World Cup — is not the scale of individual events, but the volume and variety.
These events will allow Saudi Arabia to deepen its operational expertise and test its ability to deliver consistently across a range of disciplines. This approach aligns with the Kingdom’s broader national objectives.
According to the Vision 2030 website, adult participation in physical activity for at least 150 minutes a week reached 59.1 percent in 2025, breaking past the 2027 target.
Also, children’s participation has risen to 19 percent, speeding past the 2029 goal by four years. Major events, in this context, are not endpoints, but catalysts for the rapid growth on show.
That is why tournaments such as the AFC U-23 Asian Cup and AFC U-17 Asian Cup sit alongside the global spectacles on the 2026 calendar.
More than just a way of bringing as many events as possible to the Kingdom, they represent pathways for athletes, fans, volunteers and organizers to engage with sport at every level, while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s growing identity as a capable and credible host.
By the time the Kingdom turns its full attention to the AFC Asian Cup 2027 — just over 12 months from now — much of the groundwork will have already been laid.
In that sense, it is clear to see that 2026 will not just be about headlines, but also building the Kingdom’s readiness for the sheer variety of events to come.
