Departure-place en arrival-place of stage 5 are the same as last year’s, but the route isn’t. The riders head southeast, to make a U-turn and race the same route back. Once in Al Zubara the first intermediate awaits them and then they head north along the coast. While arriving at a local in Madinat ash-Shamal the second intermediate sprint welcomes them. As with all intermediate sprints in Qatar there are 3, 2 and 1 second te be earned.
After two rounds in Madinat Al Shamal another run at bonus-seconds ushers in the stage-winner. He takes 10 seconds, number two 6 seconds and number three 4 seconds.
Al Zubara is a beautiful yet ruined and deserted town. Once it bustled with life in the merchant town at the Persian Gulf. After 1810 Al Zabura fell into decline only to be rediscovered in 1956 by Danish archaeologists. Since then excavation projects are uncovering a remarkably well preserved old city.
In Madinat ash-Shamal – a.k.a. ‘city of the north’ – the Al-Shamal Stadium is under construction. It is supposed to be one of the FIFA World Cup stadiums in 2022. With 45,330 seats the capacity will be five times the number Madinat ash-Shamal residents.
The finish is expected around 16:30 local time.
Tour of Qatar 2015 stage 5: Images and more
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