Tour of Qatar 2015: Stage 6 - Bennett stage win, Terpstra takes GC

Is Niki Tersptra capable of winning his second Tour of Qatar in a row? Yes, he is. After a thrilling race Kristoff is 9 seconds down on the Dutchman en if he wins the final sprint the overall is his. But he doesn't. Sam Bennett takes the stage, Terpstra takes the overall. (Slideshow route/profile)

Tour of Qatar 2015: Results 6th stage

1. Sam Bennett (Irl)
2. Andrea Guardini (Ita) s.t.
3. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) s.t.
4. Peter Sagan (Svk) s.t.
5. Youcef Greguigui (Alg) s.t.
6. Adam Blythe (GB) s.t.
7. Matteo Trentin (Ita) s.t.
8. Tom Boonen (Bel) s.t.
9. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) s.t.
10. José Joaquin Rojas (Spa) s.t.

GC after stage 6
1. Niki Terpstra (Nld)
2. Macej Bodnar (Pol) + 0.06
3. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) + 0.09
4. Ian Stannard (GB) + 0.12
5. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) + 0.19
6. Peter Sagan (Svk) + 0.31
7. Luke Row (GB) + 0.33
8. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) + 0.39
9. Tom Boonen (Bel) s.t.
10. Andrei Grivko (Ukr) + 0.42

Race report
The escapees are Preben Van Hecke, Stefano Pirazzi, Nicola Boem and Marcus Burghardt. Obviously Etixx/Terpstra are all in favour of the break. The four can take bonus-seconds along the way, minimising Alexander Kristoff’s chances to threaten Terpstra in the overall. The Norwegian is 11 seconds down in the GC while at the finish line only 10 seconds are to be gained.

The four race to a maximum gap of 2 minutes and then Katusha/Kristoff takes control. They reel in the escapees with 5 kilometres left to the first intermediate sprint. Boonen takes the win in favour of his teammate Tersptra, while Kristoff is second and takes 2 bonus-seconds.

Next is an escape by Iljo Keisse (Etixx) and Gijs Van Hoecke (Topsport Vlaanderen). New tactics by Etixx to hinder Kristoff in the second intermediate sprint. It proofs successful and Tim de Clercq takes third. They are caught and now it all boils down to the last sprint with Kristoff 9 seconds down on Terpstra. The winner takes 10 bonus-seconds.

Belgium-born Irishman Sam Bennett powers to the win with Alexander Kristoff finishing 19th, so Terpstra takes the GC in Qatar.