Tom Boonen will lead his Quick Step team at the Tour of Qatar which starts this Sunday. The pan flat roads and strong winds will break up the peloton which plays strongly into Boonen's strengths.
Boonen has won the Tour of Qatar four times with 15 stage victories, and team director Wilfried Peeters acknowledges that improving on that record will be hard to do.
“We’ve won this race in the last four years, so it’s really hard to do any better than we have,” said Peeters.
“The initial goal is to win at least one stage and to try to be major players every day. Furthermore this year we will participate in the Tour of Oman as well, immediately after Qatar. These two races will represent a good preparation as we look forward to the first weekend of races in Belgium at the end of February (Omloop Het Nieuwsblad/Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne).” continues Peeters.
The only rider change-up in the squad will be Kevin Van Impe who will be replaced by Jurgen Van De Walle at the Tour of Oman.
Quick Step team for Tour of Qatar Feb 7-12:
Riders: Tom Boonen, Kevin De Weert, Kevin Huslmans, Andreas Stauff, Matteo Tosatto, Kevin Van Impe, Marco Velo, Maarten Wynants
D.S.: Wilfried Peeters
Quick Step team for the Tour of Oman Feb 14-19:
Riders: Tom Boonen, Kevin De Weert, Kevin Hulsmans, Andreas Stauff, Matteo Tosatto, Jurgen Van De Walle, Marco Velo, Maarten Wynants
D.S.: Wilfried Peeters