Austria's Bernhard Eisel finally ended the winning streak of world champion Tom Boonen when he sprinted to victory in the fourth stage of the Tour of Qatar on Thursday.

Once again the bunch breaks up

Photo: Graham Watson

The Francaise des Jeux rider nicked Germany's Erik Zabel (Milram) and Belgian Boonen (Quick Step) at the line after the 145km run from Al Zubarah to Doha, scoring his first win of the season.

Boonen, winner of the first three stages, has been unbeaten since he won his world title in September. He holds the overall race lead going into Friday's 151km final stage between Al Thakira and here with a seven-second advantage on Zabel.

Cruising on a Thursday afternoon

Photo: Graham Watson

Once again, the pack quickly split into thirds — this time, after just 2km. Eight kilometers later, however, a number of punctures forced a regrouping.

Zabel took the first intermediate sprint at Madinat al Shamal, 21.5km into the day's racing, ahead of Aart Vierhouten (Skil-Shimano) and Aurélien Clerc (Phonak); Vierhouten was later unclassified for an irregular sprint.

Veneberg and Fischer were active, too

Photo: Graham Watson

All subsequent escape attempts were foiled until a move from CSC at the 47th kilometer briefly set a group of 24 riders free. The break — which included seven CSC men and the three leading jerseys — held an 18-second lead until being retrieved some 7km later.

Gert Steegmans (Davitamon-Lotto) was next to have a go, at 61km, taking with him Murilo Fischer (Naturino-Sapore Di Mare), Alonso Aitor Galdos (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare), Nico Eeckhout (Chocolade Jacques-T Interim) and Thorwald Veneberg (Rabobank). The five built a maximum gap of more than seven minutes by the feed zone at 80km, before Phonak riders took control of the chase.

Neither was Phonak, which bunched at the front of the pursuit

Photo: Graham Watson

Fischer took the second intermediate sprint in Umm Suwaiya, ahead of Galdos and Eeckhout, as the leaders’ gap began dropping. With 20km remaining, the leaders had 3:40 on the pack, led by Quick Step. Fischer and Eeckhout attacked the lead group, but with 5km to go the five were together again and the pack was just 35 seconds behind, ensuring another bunch sprint.

This time, however, the outcome would be different. Despite getting a good sendoff from his Quick Step teammates, Boonen was pipped at the line by both Eisel and Zabel.

But Cancellara, riding next to Boonen, told Eisel the leader was not bulletproof

Photo: Graham Watson

"It's an unbelievable feeling. Just this morning I was saying to Fabian Cancellara (CSC) that Boonen was unbeatable," said Eisel. "Fabian persuaded me that it wasn't the case and that I could beat him. He was right."

Eisel, 25, explained that he had been down the field in 50th position about 2kmfrom the line.

Horner in the bunch, inching up on GC

Photo: Graham Watson

"I managed to fight back and I noticed during the sprint that Boonen had a problem with his gears. Maybe that explains my win."

As for Boonen, he said: "You can't win everything. Eisel had a great sprint."

Results
Stage
1. Bernhard Eisel (A), Francaise des Jeux, 145km in 3:23:46
2. Erik Zabel (G), Milram, same time
3. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step, s.t.
4. Fabrizio Guidi (I), Phonak, s.t.
5. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), CSC, s.t.
6. Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned), Skil-Shimano, s.t.
7. Sergio Marinangeli (I), Naturino-Sapore Di Mare, s.t.
8. Graeme Brown (Aus), Rabobank, s.t.
9. Christophe Detilloux (B), Francaise des Jeux s.t.
10. Hans Dekkers (Ned), Agriitubel, s.t.

Overall (after four stages)
1. Tom Boonen (B) Quick Step, 13:25:42
2. Erik Zabel (G), Milram, at 0:07
3. Aurelien Clerc (Swi), Phonak, at 0:20
4. Robert Hunter (RSA), Phonak, at 0:30
5. Matti Breschel (Den), CSC, at 0:31
6. Steven de Jongh (Ned), Quick Step, same time
7. Nicolas Jalabert (F), Phonak, at 0:33
8. Fabrizio Guidi (I), Phonak, at 0:34
9. Nick Ingels (B), Davitamon-Lotto, s.t.
10. Aart Vierhouten (Ned), Skil-Shimano, s.t.

Complete results