Kristoff trebles up in Qatar

Madinat Al-Shamal - 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 kilometre ride from Al Zubarah Fort and Madinat Al Shamal.

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 from the Tour of Qatar fifth stage, a 153 kilometre ride from Al Zubarah Fort to Madinat Al Shamal on Friday:

1. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) 3hr 03min 01sec, 2. Peter Sagan (SVK/TCS) s.t., 3. Nikias Arndt (GER/TGA) s.t., 4. Tom Boonen (BEL/EQS) s.t., 5. Adam Blythe (GBR/OGE) s.t., 6. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/IAM) s.t., 7. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP/MOV) s.t., 8. Arnaud Dmare (FRA/FDJ) s.t., 9. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) s.t., 10. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/COF) s.t.

Overall

1. Niki Terpstra (NED/EQS) 15hr 12min 45sec, 2. Maciej Bodnar (POL/TCS) at 06s, 3. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) 11, 4. Ian Stannard (GBR/SKY) 12, 5. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 19, 6. Peter Sagan (SVK/TCS) 31, 7. Luke Rowe (GBR/SKY) 33, 8. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/IAM) 39, 9. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 41,

10. Tom Boonen (BEL/EQS) 42