Doha - Belgian Tom Boonen, riding for the Quick Step team, won the first stage of the Tour of Qatar on Monday, heading home a sprint finish ahead of Australian duo Heinrich Haussler and Mark Renshaw.
Boonen takes the race leader's golden jersey from Dutch rider Lars Boom, who won Sunday's opening prologue but who suffered during the first stage with stomach problems.
Tour of Qatar first stage results:
Stage
1. Tom Boonen (BEL/Quick Step) 2hr 59min 29sec, 2. Heinrich Haussler (AUS) same time, 3. Mark Renshaw (AUS) s.t., 4. Daniele Bennati (ITA) s.t., 5. Graeme Brown (AUS) s.t., 6. Juan Antonia Flecha (ESP) s.t., 7. Dominique Rollin (CAN) s.t., 8. Roger Hammond (GBR) s.t., 9. Andreas Klier (GER) s.t., 10. Stuart O'Grady (AUS) s.t.
Selected: 13. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) s.t., 40. Lars Boom (NED) at 5:01.
Overall standings
1. Tom Boonen (BEL/Quick Step) 3hr 02min 32sec, 2. Mark Renshaw (AUS) at 4sec, 3. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) 8, 4. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP) 9, 5. Heinrich Haussler (AUS) 11, 6. Daniele Bennati (ITA) 16, 7. Andreas Klier (GER) 16, 8. Gert Steegmans (BEL) 17, 9. Jeremy Hunt (GBR) 19, 10. Dominique Rollin (CAN) 19
Selected: 19. Lars Boom (NED) 5:03