DOHA: British rookie Jacob Tipper yesterday won the 3.3km prologue at the third edition of Tour of Zubarah following a well-timed ride around iconic Aspire Academy.
Tipper, riding for Team Giant RBS, clocked a time of 4 minutes 18 seconds to grab the yellow jersey on the opening day of the four-day cycling extravaganza.
Hamid Beikkhormizi of Pishgaman Giant Team was 8 seconds adrift of Tipper as windy conditions tested the group of 68 riders.
Koos Jeroen Kers, riding for Wilton Cycling Team, finished in third spot after a photo-finish with Beikkhormizi.
Italian Andrea Palini, riding for Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team, impressed with his fourth-placed finish. Palini was 10 seconds slower than Tipper.
Charlie Tanfield (11 seconds), Abderrahmane Mansouri, (12 seconds), Eugen Wacker (12 seconds), Naser Rezavi (13 seconds), Mohamoud Rajabikaboodcheshmeh (14 seconds) and Meher Hasnaoui (16 seconds) completed the top 10.
“Yes, I am very surprised,” Tipper said yesterday.
“In theory this is a course that should suit me. Back in England, there are lots of races like this on such surfaces,” he added.
“A lot depends how you kick out of corners. This is a course a that should suited me and it did. But I didn’t expect this (the win) to happen,” Tipper said.
“There are lots of good riders here that Iranian chap and then the Skydive team is here. Really good teams here. I couldn’t have predicted but I am really happy that I won,” Tipper said.
“I am overwhelmed,” he said.
When asked about the strong winds causing problems to the riders, Tipper said: “I never knew what to expect. This is my time here. I am used to bad weather in England. As long as it is not raining, I am happy,” Tipper said with a smile.
“Everything from here on end is a bonus. We didn’t come here expecting to win the first day of racing. We are here to poach a few top-10s. I did good in Sharjah a few days ago.
“In terms of rest of the days, we will try to hold it (the yellow jersey) for as long as possible,” Tipper said.
“Ideally, we would like to keep it till the finish. Whatever we get, would be a bonus for us,” he said.
“If I get top-10s, that would be great. If not, then we’d ride for experience sake,” Tipper said.
“There are lots of good teams who would be looking to win. As a (member of a) small team, there’s no pressure on us. We will try to keep this,” Tipper said.
“I am in yellow. I will everything to keep it. I will die fighting,” Tipper said.
Palini, who clocked 4:10s to finish fourth, said: “I was hoping for a better result today. I have some problem at the start with my shoes, but overall it was a good outing for me.”
“I finished overall second in the Jelajah Malaysia tour last week and hoping to for a podium finish here also,” the 26-year-old, riding for the first time in Qatar, said.
Qatar’s Moosa Said finished in 29th spot, the fastest for his country. Said’s compatriots Abdelrahman Jarboua (54th), Khalil Abduljanan (59th) and Abdullah Afif (68) completed the 3.3km ride.
Today’s second stage will see riders starting at Al Thakira Youth Centre before winding down at Madinat Al Shamal in the north of the country. The second stage will have a total distance of 129,9kms.
The third stage will riders taking off from the Camel Race Track before closing out the stage at Dukhan beach front in the west of Qatar. The third stage will cover a distance of 119,8kms.
The fourth and final day of the event will see cyclists pedalling from starting point in Simaisma Youth Centre before they finish the Tour at Zubarah Fort. The last stage will cover a distance of 119,8kms.
National teams of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Kazakhstan have joined riders of Team Giant RBS, Pisghaman Giant Team, Wilton Cycling Team, Veloclub Sovac, Achieve Northside Skinnergate, Team NRW, Skydive Dubai and Sharjah Team at the four-day event.
The Peninsula
