(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Experienced Spanish cyclist Jose Joaquin Rojas yesterday drew first blood at the Tour of Qatar opener, edging former champion Tom Boonen in a tight-bunched sprint near the Sealine Beach Resort.
The 29-year-old Movistar rider let out a scream of joy when he beat 34-year-old Boonen to the finish line of the first stage that started in Dukhan.
Boonen, riding for Ettix Quick Step, failed to find that extra burst of energy and finished in second spot, a notch ahead of Frenchman Arnaud Demare of FDJ.
Acclaimed British cycling giant Bradley Wiggins (Sky) and Marcel Kittel (Giant-Alpecin) were among the riders who lost contact with the 51-man leading group on the run-in to the finish.
Rojas clocked a time of 3 hours 49 minutes and 50 seconds as heavy crosswinds fractured the group of 141 riders into two close to the finish line.
"I jumped after many riders, on the side of the fence," Rojas said. "I could see there was a window for me to move on," he added.
"I will enjoy this victory. I did not expect this win," Rojas said. "We will see what happens tomorrow. It was a nervous day. When the riders accelerated, I had to focus on the strong winds as well," the Spaniard said.
"There was an opportunity to win the stage and I took it," Rojas said.
"We always expect that it will be windy. That's how it is in Qatar," Rojas said when asked about strong crosswinds. "We knew that. We came with that idea (to battle winds)," he added.
"I am in very good shape. I am not afraid about the big names," Rojas said. "Yes, I can build on the lead tomorrow but we will have to wait and see."
Two days after the final stage of the women's Tour of Qatar, the wind had picked up but was this time blowing from the south-east.
As expected it was a tough day for the men who gathered at Dukhan for the start of their edition of the Tour. Facing the wind for most of the day, the 141 riders took off at 1.23pm for the 136km stage.
After just a kilometre of racing, two riders managed to break away: Jarl Salomein (TSV) and Luca Sterbini (BAR). Their lead rapidly grew and went from 2'50 at the 8km mark to a maximum 10'40 at the 22km mark, while Matti Breschel (TCS) and Mark Vandenberghe (EQS), on a counter-attack, were 7'15 adrift.
While the counter attackers were caught at the 32km mark, the front two reached the first intermediate sprint (38km mark), won by Salomein, with a 5'05 lead.
The two riders were eventually caught at the 65km mark. Shortly after, the battle between favourites kicked off. Indeed, as the Trek and Etixx Quickstep teams picked up the pace at the front, the pack broke up into several groups. A total of 46 men were present in a front group.
The only favourites or big names failing to make it to the front were Alejandro Valverde (MOV), Nacer Bouhanni (COF), Lars Boom (AST) and Wiggins.
After enjoying a 25" advantage, the leaders' group was eventually caught at the 81km mark. As the bunched pack headed towards the second bonus sprint, Boonen and Peter Sagan (TCS) were caught in a crash.
Moments later, the sprint was then claimed by Nikias Arndt (TGA) ahead of Niki Terpstra (EQS) and Roberto Ferrari (LAM).
After having tried his luck a first time, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) gave it a second go at the 95km mark. After enjoying a 25" lead, the Belgian was rapidly caught back.
At the 107km mark, three other riders took off on a breakaway: Breschel (TCS), Boom and Westra (AST). Their lead reached an interesting one minute some five kilometres later. But as the pack chased harder and broke up into several groups, there wasn't much the escapees could do.
They were caught at the 125km mark as just over 50 riders were leading the race.
The big names not present at the front were Marcel Kittel (TGA), Boasson Hagen (MTN), Wiggins (SKY) and Filippo Pozzato (LAM). With 10 kilometres to go, the leaders had a 45" advantage.
That gap dropped down to 11" with 3km to go. But there was no catching the front group. In a final bunched sprint, Rojas surprised the field as he took off early.
The Spaniard managed to keep his impressive pace all the way to the line, beating Boonen and Démare to conquer his first ever success in Qatar.
Thanks to his victory, the Spaniard captured the overall leader's Golden Jersey that he will be wearing today from Al Wakra to Al Khor.
Rojas also leads the points classification while Démare conquered the Pearl White Jersey for the best young rider.
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