Qatar: Sonic Boom!

Cancellara stunned in prologue. I think just about everybody had Lars Boom in their top 10 prediction...but I don't think anybody had him at number 1.

Boom stunned World TT champion Fabian Cancellara as well as young phenoms Alex Dowsett and Jack Bobridge to grab the first prize of this year's Tour of Qatar and also a 4 second lead.

It was a very short (2.5 km) but rigorous course that featured lots of curves and cobblestones and that may have better suited Boom, who is an ace in those situations.
Not that Cancellara's ride wasn't impressive, though. He sits 4 seconds back in 2nd place and well within striking distance of the GC. Skil Shimano's Tom Veelers clocked in 3rd at 5 seconds back along with Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha who was one of the first riders on the course.

British phenom time trialist Alex Dowsett took 5th and also grabbed control of the young rider competition at the Tour.

But what about Tom Boonen?

Well, the "King of Qatar" (that's not actually his nickname but probably should be) clocked in a solid 7th place ride and sits just 6 seconds back.
Waiting in the wings...

Super-Aussie Jack Bobridge also put in a good ride of 13th place and trails by 10 seconds after day 1.

Most other significant contenders fell within about 18 seconds and just about everyone else was within 25 seconds.

Well, actually not everyone...

Mark Cavendish's horrible luck season continued when he took a nasty spill similar to the one he suffered back at the Tour Down Under a few weeks ago.
He was able to at least finish the race, but lost well over a minute and his GC hopes are finished.

The question now will be whether or not he will even start tomorrow. Teammate and usual leadout man Mark Renshaw tweeted that Cav was ok but feeling a bit sore. He also said that he should be good to go tomorrow.

But if so, only for stage wins...

Just about everyone else has their eyes on Mr Boom, as they hope to overthrow him in the standings throughout the next few days.
Stage Results/GC
1. Lars Boom
2. Fabian Cancellara -4
3. Tom Veelers -5
4. Juan Antonio Flecha -5
5. Alex Dowsett -6
6. Gert Steegmans -6
7. Tom Boonen -6
8. Maarten Wynants -8
9. Tomas Vaitkus -8
10. Matthew Brammeier -9
12. Mark Renshaw -9
13. Jack Bobrige -10
21. Grega Bole -12
29. Bradley Wiggins -13
37. Heinrich Haussler -14
53. Stuart O'Grady -16
79. Sandy Casar -19
84. Filippo Pozzato -20
107. Marcus Burghardt -24
115. Wesley Sulzberger -25
125. Graeme Brown -42
126. Mark Cavendish -1:13
Points
Lars Boom (15)
Young Rider
Alex Dowsett
Team Standings
Rabobank