Mol wraps up Qatar title as Chicchi takes another stage

Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas) scored his second win of the 2010 Tour of Qatar, outsprinting American Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) at the end of a 123.5km race from Al Wakra to Doha Corniche, the final stage of the six-day early season warm-up.

Dutchman Wouter Mol (Vacansoleil) finished in the main field, preserving his hold on the leader’s jersey that he captured on Monday, succeeding in a long two-man break with Geert Steurs (Topsport).

A four-man move went clear just a few kilometers into the stage. BMC’s Martin Kohler was joined by Trek-Livestrong’s Australian Ben King, HTC-Columbia’s Patrick Gretsch and Milram’s Niki Terpstra. None posed a serious threat to the overall, with Kohler the best-placed rider in 20th, 3:38 back on Mol.

Still, the sprinters’ teams weren’t about to miss an opportunity. And after Vacansoleil kept the breakaway’s leash to four minutes coming into the finishing circuits, Cervelo, Liquigas, AG2R and Katusha came to the front.

With downtown Doha as a backdrop, the race flew back and forth along each side of a waterside thoroughfare, the Al Corniche.

With Friday being the first day of the weekend for Qataris, the long and lush public park alongside Al Corniche — with free wifi throughout — was filled with picnicking families underneath the palm trees.

In the breakaway the four men were tiring as the peloton’s tractor beam became stronger.

“Gretsch was killing us,” King said of his breakaway companion’s hard pulls.

With 1.5 laps of the 6km circuit remaining, Garmin-Transitions amassed at the front in single file.

The break’s then-25-second gap plummeted.

Team Sky, looking to set up Edvald Boasson Hagen, marched past Garmin as the bell sounded for the final lap. Seconds later the break was swallowed, with Garmin’s train tucked behind Sky.

With 2km to go, Liquigas and France’s Saur-Sojasun team got in on the action.

Inside the final kilometer Garmin reestablished themselves at the front. Danny Pate did a hard turn to keep Tyler Farrar in position before swinging off at 300m to go.

Fabian Cancellara’s Swiss champion’s jersey was briefly seen at the front in service of Saxo Bank teammate JJ Haedo. And then the front of the field exploded as the sprinters took all manner of different lines on the wide road.

Chicchi commanded the win, with Farrar second and Haedo third.

“It was hard, with everyone going so many ways,” Chicchi said. “But a win is a win.”

For the overall podium, Mol’s breakaway companion Steurs was second, followed by Quick Step’s double stage winner Tom Boonen.

Gathered around the team vehicles, Garmin rehashed the finale.

“We just went a little too early,” Farrar said.

With the overall win sewn up, Mol was quick to thank his Dutch team.

“They were great; I didn’t have to do anything,” Mol said.

That wasn’t exactly true — there was the work of hoisting a trophy, pulling on the final jersey and shaking an endless stream of congratulatory hands.