Flat Tyre Ruins Cavendish's Chances

The chance of a third consecutive British stage winner of the Tour Of Qatar ended some 1400 metres from the finish of today's third stage in Doha when Team Colombia's Mark Cavendish picked up a puncture just as he was set to sprint for the line.


Mark Cavendish

Yesterday's stage winner, Cervélo TestTeam - Roger Hammond was also handily placed in a group of 26 riders but it was Tom Boonen who took victory to make it a good day after a Belgium court ruled that he would not face further charges for the positive control of cocaine.

Quick step rider Boonen won the 137.5km stage in a time of 2.34.53 and will have to face Cavendish and the rest of the fast men again tomorrow as the 141km stage is another for the sprinters.

British finishing positions were: Roger Hammond sixth, with Daniel Lloyd 13th, Mark Cavendish 26th, Ben Swift 69th and Bradley Wiggins 104th