Photo gallery: 2016 Ladies Tour of Qatar
Two former winners returned to the Ladies Tour of Qatar this year. Ellen van Dijk took the GC in 2014, Kirsten Wild already has four wins of the Ladies Tour of Qatar to her name. Both Dutchwomen are looking for a chance at a World Championships title later this year and came to the desert for an early dress rehearsal. Wild also targets the Olympics in Rio on track, but added Qatar to her schedule to start in the race she loves so much.
When Wild took stage 1 in a bunch sprint, her 10th (!) stage win in Qatar in total, it looked like she would be completely dominating the race this year again. Everything got turned around though, when crosswinds made it possible for echelons to form in stage 2 and Wild both crashed and suffered a mechanical, losing the leader’s position by minutes.
Ellen van Dijk didn’t really have chances for a second overall win either, but both riders did come back from Qatar with a stage win, since Ellen van Dijk won stage 3 – the carbon copy of stage 2 last year, which she had won as well. Both women were able to add something to the single stage win: Ellen van Dijk moved up to third place in the GC after her stage win and was able to consolidate that position, Wild took home the silver points jersey.
Chloe Hosking provided us with a rider diary each day and it was hard to read her mood getting lower after each stage: missing out on the win in stage 1, dropping in the GC in stage 2 and losing hope of the GC podium for the entire Wiggle High5 team after the third. We were very happy that in her diary of stage 4, she was able to tell us about her win!
Relive the race through all four of Chloe’s rider diary’s and through the lens of Balint Hamvas and Sean Robinson of Vélofocus.
Stage 1 – Kirsten Wild takes her tenth stage win in the Ladies Tour of Qatar
Stage 2 – a solo win brings Katrin Garfoot the golden leader’s jersey
Stage 3 – Ellen van Dijk wins the exact same stage she won last year
Stage 4 – Chloe outsprints everyone in the stage; Trixi Worrack wins the GC
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- Cylance Pro Cycling showing off their new kit.
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- There’s little wind in stage 1 to shake up the race.
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- Rivals on the road but friends at sign in. Chantal Blaak (Boels-Dolmans) and Lisa Brennauer (Canyon-SRAM).
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- Lined up and ready to race in the Boels-Dolmans camp.
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- Chantal Blaak looks for Eileen Roe and Roxane Knetemann to take a pull.
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- Chloe Hosking made the 26 rider lead group in stage 2.
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- Second group on the road have missed out on the race defining move.
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- Boels-Dolmans try out a new ride for stage 3.
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- Chloe Hosking leads the Wiggle High5 team at Qatar.
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- The lead group was formed within one kilometer, early in the stage 3.
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- Through gritted teeth, Chloe Hosking (Wiggle High5) battles the wind.
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- Ellen van Dijk (Boels-Dolmans) wins in Madnat Al Shamal, just like last year.
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- Ellen van Dijk celebrates the stage win (somehow wearing Christine Majerus’ helmet?!) as the sun begins to set in Madnat Al Shamal.
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- Canyon-SRAM did really well in the 2016 Ladies Tour of Qatar, winning the team classification and their rider Trixi Worrack winning the GC.
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- Canyon//SRAM plot how they’re going to keep Trixi Worrack in the leader’s jersey for one more day.
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- Chloe Hosking wins the final stage of the Ladies Tour of Qatar 2016.
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- Chloe Hosking waits on stage for her stage win ceremony.
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- Top three at the Ladies Tour of Qatar 2016: Trixi Worrack, Romy Kasper and Ellen van Dijk.
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- Race winner Trixi Worrack greets the media for interviews post race.
