Cavendish claims Qatar glory (From Hampshire Chronicle)
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Cavendish claims Qatar glory
3:00pm Friday 8th February 2013 in National Sport News © Press Association 2013
Mark Cavendish, pictured, finished 25 seconds ahead of Brent Bookwalter
Mark Cavendish sealed overall victory at the Tour of Qatar with a fourth win in a row.
The 27-year-old from the Isle of Man triumphed on the sixth and final stage, the 116-kilometre route from Sealine Beach Resort to Doha Corniche, to claim the race winner's golden jersey.
It was a fifth stage win of the season for Cavendish to fully justify his close-season move from Team Sky to Omega Pharma-QuickStep.
The 10-second bonus for the stage win saw Cavendish triumph by 25 seconds from American Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing).
"I'm over the moon," Cavendish said in an Omega Pharma-QuickStep media release.
"We come here every year almost guaranteed an overall victory with Tom Boonen, but he's recovering from an injury. So it put a little bit of pressure on me and I was a bit nervous.
"But I'm really happy to get the win. The guys worked incredible here. They really looked after me so, so well here and delivered every single day.
"I am so happy and proud I can bring it home again for the team.
"We've won the Tour of Qatar six times, and I don't know how many stages, so I am happy to be a part of that."
