Kristoff wins stage, takes lead

Al Khor Corniche - Norwegian Katusha rider Alexander Kristoff has won the second stage of the Tour of Qatar on Monday, and also took the gold jersey as race leader, after a 187.5km ride from Al Wakra to Al Khor Corniche.

The 27-year-old from Oslo won a bunch sprint, after a high-tempo stage, as he held off Italian Andrea Guardini of Astana and BMC rider Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium.

The victory for Kristoff, who won two stages on last year's Tour de France, gave him a one second lead over Belgian veteran Tom Boonen (Quick Step), in the overall standings, while Van Avermaet is three seconds adrift.

Tuesday will feature a 10.9km individual time-trial around the Lusail Circuit as the race follows a six stage route which finishes in Doha on Friday.

Results in the second stage of the Tour of Qatar, a 187.5km ride from Al Wakra to Al Khor Corniche, on Monday:

Stage
1. Alexander Kristoff (NOR) Katusha 3hr 49min 51sec, 2. Andrea Guardini (ITA) Astana same time, 3. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC s.t., 4. Peter Sagan (SVK) Tinkoff-Saxo s.t., 5. Tom Boonen (BEL) Etixx-Quick Step s.t., 6. Heinrich Haussler (AUS) IAM s.t., 7. Adam Blythe (GBR) Orica s.t., 8. Marcus Burghardt (GER) BMC s.t., 9. Jasper Stuyven (BEL) Trek s.t., 10. Ian Stannard (GBR) SKY s.t.

Overall standings
1. Alexander Kristoff (NOR) Katusha 7hr 39min 31sec, 2. Tom Boonen (BEL) Etixx-Quick Step at 1sec, 3. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC 3, 4. Andrea Guardini (ITA) Astana 4, 5. Niki Terpstra (NED) EQS 8, 6. Marcus Burghardt (GER) BMC 9, 7. Peter Sagan (SVK) Tinkoff-Saxo 10, 8. Heinrich Haussler (AUS) IAM 10, 9. Jasper Stuyven (BEL) Trek 10, 10. Maciej Bodnar (POL) Tinkoff Saxo 10