Arnaud Demare of Team FDJ-BigMat claimed his first professional victory at the sixth stage of the Tour of Qatar 2012
Arnaud Demare of Team FDJ-BigMat claimed the final stage of the Tour of Qatar to secure his first win of the season.
He overcame Denis Galimzyanov, Mark Renshaw, Roger Kluge and Alexander Kristoff during the 120 kilometre stage 6 of the race.
It was also the first professional victory for the cyclist, who has just started his career with the French team.
Demare is a promising young prospect and the stage victory will definitely help his confidence for the season ahead.
The 20-year-old was thrilled about the victory. "I was placed in ideal conditions in the last couple of kilometres with the help of my teammates,” he said.
“It's an amazing feeling. Tom Boonen and Tyler Farrar came to congratulate me. I have admired them in front of my TV for so long,” Demare concluded.
Arnaud started riding with the Amateur side, Team Wasquehal in 2008 and stayed with the team until 2009.
The cyclist represented Team CC Nogent-sur-Oise from 2010-2011 before joining Team FDJ (stagiaire).
His previous wins at the amateur level of cycling include 1st place finishes at the GP de Perenchies 2010 and the La Cote Picarde 2011.Arnaud won the Under 23 UCI Road World Championships 2011 as well.
Demare also bagged some stage victories, including the stage 4 win at the Coupe des Nations Ville Saguenay 2010 and stage 1 success at the 2011 edition of the race.
Moreover, he was the best young rider during the final day at the Tour of Qatar 2012, Denis Galimzyanov and Alexander Kristoff claimed the second and the third positions, respectively.
Team FDJ's rider finished the race at the 29th position after the final general classifications. He was 2 minutes and 58 seconds behind the race leader.
Tom Boonen won the final general classifications to claim his first overall win of the season. He also secured the point’s classifications, stage 1 and stage 4 victories at the race.
He said, “All four wins here have been hard, if you win four times its 24 days of hard labour. But this was nice because there were a lot of good riders here”.
Tyler Farrar of Team Garmin-Barracuda, Juan Antonio Flecha of Team Sky Procycling and Gert Steegmans of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step achieved the next four spots after the final general classifications.
Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step was the best team of the race. It managed the top spot after the stage six team’s classifications.
Team Sky Procycling and Team Garmin-Cervelo claimed the second and the third positions in the respective order.
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