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Dirk Demol discusses tactics with Roger, the Trek team's chief mechanic in Qatar before the start - it's going to be windy out there..!
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BMC seem to be putting on an air of lethargy, but they too have plans in the wind...
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The race starts, the wind is blowing, the daily scramble to survive has begun..!
Wind has split the peloton in the opening kilometres, there are four distinct groups forming...
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Jens Mouris has punctured while in the front group and re-starts in the third group - that's life..!
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TT winner, Michael Hepburn, leads the front group - his legs are still alive..!
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Only strong men like Maarten Tjallingii can collect water bottles today...
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Niki Terpstra changes a wheel , hoping no-one has noticed he's missing from the front..!
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A hefty push gets Terpstra back on his way...
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Terpstra is flying through the strung-out peloton, but it's hurting him..!
BMC attacks at the front, hurting Terpstra a bit more but staying just within the rules of the peloton...
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Philippe Gilbert attacks as the peloton slows down - he has Jarl Salomein with him...
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Robert Wagner leads the front group that has caught Gilbert and Salomein - and he's loving every moment of it..!
The power of Omega is felt as Terpstra and Boonen accelerate hard with 40-kilometres left...
Gedminas Bagdonas leads a chasing group at twenty-seconds - they'll catch the leaders with 20-kilometres to go...
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Tom Boonen wins after beating Andre Griepel on a stage that has averaged almost 57-kilometres-per-hour..!