(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Jacob Tipper admitted he surprised himself by winning the prologue in the third edition of the Tour of Zubarah at Aspire Zone yesterday.
Team Giant RBS rider Tipper, who entered the tour with his eyes on a top 10-finish rather than an outright victory, clocked 4:18.3s after starting third last in a 3.3km individual time trial to beat Iran's Hamid Beikhormizi (4:08s) of Pisghaman Giant Team.
The Netherlands Jeron Koss Kers (4.09s) of Wilton Cycling Team came third.
"It was definitely a pleasant surprise because it wasn't something that I was expecting. But I knew it was a good course for me -€ it's the kind of course that suits me and it's of course great to win," the 24-year-old British rider said after the podium ceremony.
"It is my first outing in Qatar and I was hoping to finish the tour among the top-10 as I knew the field will be very tough here. But with the yellow jersey on my back, now I am confident of some good results in the coming stages. In fact whatever we will get in the coming days will be a bonus for us," he said after winning the tour's first leader's jersey.
Tipper's finished overall sixth in the Sharjah International Cycling Tour last month, his best result recently.
"The conditions were really tough here. It was too much windy today and I guess it will remain same for couple of days to come," he said.
Talking about his team, he said: "We have a fairly new team and competing with some of the very good teams here, but now I having a yellow jersey in the team puts us in a good situation to defend it within the team for the coming days."
One of the event's favourites, Italian rider of Skydive Dubai team Andrea Palin, clocked 4:10s to finish fourth.
"I was hoping for a better result today. I have some problem at the start with my shoes, but overall it was a good outing for me," he said.
"I finished overall second in the Jelajah Malaysia tour last week and hoping to for a podium finish here also," the 26-year-old rider riding for the first time in Qatar, said.
Sharjah Team's Qatari rider Ahmed Bassam al-Bourdainy, the winner of the third stage of the Qatar leg of the 14th GCC Men's Cycling Championship last Saturday, came 22nd with a timing of 4:23s. Qatar National' Team's Moosa Said finished 29th.
The first stage of the tour will be held today - a 129.9km ride from Al Thakira to Madinat al-Shamal.
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