Former world time trial champion made the best of her power skills in a solo ride over the last 1500m to claim a fine victory, her second straight in a stage ending at Madinat Al Shamal.
Dutch rider Van Dijk receives flowers and trophy from Qatar Cycling Federation president Sheikh Khalid bin Ali al-Thani.
“It’s very special to win here again. It was a difficult stage and I had my solo two kilometer, but it is all worth it when you win,” Van Dijk said.
Stage one winner and four-time winner champion Kirsten Wild of Hitech Products bounced back from a disappointing second day to take second place ahead of Loretta Hanson of Australia in third.
Worrack, who had two Canyon-SRAM team-mates for company in the front group, has a 17-second lead over Van Dijk’s team-mate Romy Casper in the overall classification.
Overnight leader Katrin Garfoot of Orica-AIS slipped to fourth overall after she missed a crucial first selection.
The 2001 champion Van Dijk was part of a breakaway group that took off as soon as the first few kilometres on a windswept day, and she was never caught, emerging triumphantly at the finish line on her own.
Trixi Worrack of SRAM-Canyon Racing now leads the general classification.
“The first few kilometres were one big fight,” Van Dijk said about the early salvoes that ultimately decided the stage.
With the wind blowing hard from the north-west, action started at Al Zubarah Fort in the very first kilometre of racing. Two kilometres into the stage and 13 ladies powered away led by stage one winner Wild. Eager to hit back after suffering both a broken chain and a crash on Wednesday, Wild, wearing the silver jersey, made the best of the conditions, taking with her the likes of Van Dijk, Worrack, Casper of LPR, Gracie Elvin of OGE, Shelley Olds of CPC and best young rider Anouska Koster of RBW. Trapped behind, Garfoot, in golden jersey, reached the 5km mark with a 50” deficit.
The gap kept on increasing on the way to the circuit around Shamal and reached a maximum of 2’50” at 50km stage. Up ahead, the group had left behind French rider Jeuland.
At the first passage on the line, struggling against the strong headwind, the leaders saw their advantage drop down to 2’. The first intermediate sprint of the day, at the second passage on the line (at 72km) was claimed by Elvin ahead of Koster and Hanson, while the front group still had a 1’55’’ advantage.
The gap kept on dropping but the front ladies continued their strong efforts. At the fourth passage on the line (99-km), the leaders’ advantage had dropped to 55’’ as Hanson captured the second intermediate sprint ahead of Van Dijk and Wild.
Moments later, with just under a lap to go, Elvin took off on her own for a long courageous effort. The Australian reached the final 10-km mark with a slim 10’’ lead. She was eventually caught at 108km. It was still looking good for the front group, enjoying a 45’’ advantage with 2-km to go. Like a year ago, at almost the exact same place, Van Dijk powered away. The 2013 World time-trial champion managed to stay clear of her chasers and victoriously crossed the finish line with a 7’’ lead.
Dolmans team manager Danny Stam said: “Even yesterday we were in a breakaway, but then we could not finish it. The riders were motivated to do better today and Ellen did it for us.”
Today’s 73-km final stage will run from Aspire Zone to Doha Corniche.
STAGE RESULTS
1. Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 2:48:56
2. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Hitec Products 0:00:07
3. Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Australia
4. Anouska Koster (Ned) Raboliv Women Cycling Team
5. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon SRAM Racing 0:00:08
6. Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:00:11
7. Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon SRAM Racing 0:00:13
8. Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam0:00:19
9. Shelley Olds (USA) Cylance Pro Cycling 0:00:24
10. Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 0:00:45
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon SRAM Racing 8:15:28
2. Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 0:00:17
3. Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 0:00:31
4. Katrin Garfoot (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:00:34
5. Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:00:50
6. Amy Pieters (Ned) Wiggle High5 0:00:53
7. Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon SRAM Racing 0:00:56
8. Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Australia 0:01:32
9. Anouska Koster (Ned) Raboliv Women Cycling Team 0:01:34
10. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle High5 0:01:42
POINTS CLASSIFICATION
1. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Hitec Products 31 pts
2. Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 22
3. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon SRAM Racing 18
4. Katrin Garfoot (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge17
5. Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Australia 13
TEAM CLASSIFICATION
1. Canyon Sram Racing 24:49:14
2. Orica – AIS 0:01:22
3. Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 0:01:27
4. Wiggle High5 0:01:43
5. Raboliv Women Cycling Team 0:03:54
YOUTH CLASSIFICATION
1. Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Australia 8:17:00
2. Anouska Koster (Ned) Raboliv Women Cycling Team 0:00:02
3. Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Liv-Plantur 0:01:02
4. Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Raboliv Women Cycling Team 0:01:08
5. Annie Ewart (Can) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:03:09
