Tour of Qatar 2015: Stage 5 - Kristoff takes third

Crosswinds once again! Straight from the start the pack is torn apart and the pace is high. Eventually it's business as usual for Kristoff when the Norwegian takes his third, outsprinting Sagan on the line. Niki Terpstra is GC leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Tour of Qatar 2015: Results 5th stage

1. Alexander Kristoff (Nor)
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) s.t.
3. Nikias Arndt (Ger) s.t.
4. Tom Boonen (Bel) s.t.
5. Adam Blythe (GB) s.t.
6. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) s.t.
7. José Joaquin Rojas (Spa) s.t.
8. Arnaud Demaré (Fra) s.t.
9. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) s.t.
10. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) s.t.

GC after stage 5
1. Niki Terpstra (Nld)
2. Maciel Bodnar (Pol) + 0.06
3. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) + 0.11
4. Ian Stannard (GB) + 0.12
5. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) + 0.19
6. Peter Sagan (Svk) + 0.31
7. Luke Rowe (GB) + 0.33
8. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) + 0.39
9. Andrei Grivko (Ukr) + 0.41
10. Tom Boonen (Bel) + 0.42

Race report
With Trek setting the pace the peloton breaks in three large chunks. Wiggins, Gilbert and Bouhanni are amongst the victims. Bodnar is another notable absentee. The Pole is second in the overall, 6 seconds behind leader Terpstra.

The pace is high and both in the first and in the second group riders are dropped. It’s only after 63 kilometres of toiling Bodnar et al get back to the front.

It doesn’t take long for Hayman, Wallays, Groezdev, Haller and Hermans to try their luck. They accelerate and race to a 2’35” gain, meaning Matthew Hayman is virtual the new leader. He is 1’19” down on Terpstra.

But it’s not his lucky day for the 36-year old Australian when Etixx steps on the gas. With around 10 kilometres left the pack is together.

The bunch sprint is won by Alexander Kristoff. His third in Qatar 2015.