Qatar. Spell it O.P.Q.S
Who put the Q in Qatar? Why Quickstep, of course. Who else? When Belgians plan a holiday in the sun, it must be to Tom Boonen’s favourite Arab state that they head, eager to sample the climate that brings out the best in their favourite son and his team-mates. Rumours that Tomeke has been granted the freedom of Doha had not been confirmed as we went to press, but the Qatari authorities are unlikely to find so fervent an admirer of the emirate’s particular charms as the boy from Mol.
Boonen may have finished the job on stage two, but it is the dominance of his team-mates that will have been most dispiriting to the opposition. Few teams place an entire line-up in a leading group, even in races so notoriously susceptible to crosswinds as the Tour of Qatar, but OPQS achieved this feat today. And by ending the stage with riders first and third on GC, with four riders in the top 10 on the stage, and custody of two leaders’ jerseys, it’s hard to see how things could get any better for Patrick Lefevre’s men.
