Mark Cavendish claims Tour of Qatar – but Alexander Kristoff takes three of the five stages

Mark Cavendish held off Alexander Kristoff to take the overall at the 2016 Tour of Qatar. However, the Norwegian did manage to take three stages during the race to the Briton’s one.

The BBC reports that this is Cavendish’s second overall victory in the race after he also took the 2013 title.

Edvald Boasson Hagen had been leading after a dominant display in the stage three time trial, but punctured twice in the closing kilometres of stage four, meaning his Dimension Data team-mate overhauled his advantage.

"Obviously it's nice to be wearing gold now, but I know I am only wearing it on behalf of Edvald," said Cavendish. "He only lost it because of bad luck. He should be the guy wearing this gold jersey but we are just super happy to keep it in Team Dimension Data."

After Cavendish won the first stage, Kristoff took stages two, four and five, edging out the Manxman in a photo finish for the third of those wins.

Last month Cavendish professed, “I could be flying, I could be catastrophic, I could be indifferent,” with regards to the impact training for the track might have on his performances on the road. With encouraging signs at the Dubai Tour and now the overall win in the Tour of Qatar, he will doubtless be feeling reassured ahead of a season in which he is chasing a stint in the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, an Olympic medal and the World Championships Road Race.