By Yash Mudgal/Doha

Australia’s Michael Hepburn stopped the clock at the end of the circuit in 13 minutes and 28.61 seconds, just one second faster than runner-up Lars Boom of Belki, to win Stage 3’s individual time trial at the Tour of Qatar yesterday.
Niki Terpstra of Omega Pharma-Quick Step finished fifth to retain his overall lead.
This is Hepburn’s second victory of the new season following his win at January’s Australian national time trial championships.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Hepburn. “Right from the start, it was a really proud moment to ride in the national colours for the first time. I rode early in the race, so I had to wait awhile to see what my time would get me. Towards the end, when I realised that maybe I would win, the nerves really started to pick up,” the 22-year-old Queenslander added.
Daniele Bennati of Tinkoff-Saxo was six seconds back in third, with four-time world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara of Trek Factory Racing finishing on the same time in fourth spot.
Britain’s Ian Stannard (Sky) jumped from seventh to fifth overall with a solid performance whilst compatriot Andrew Fenn completed the top 10 of the general standings that includes five of his teammates.
For only the second time in the race’s history, the Tour of Qatar included a time trial as the riders were tested on a 10.9km flat course on the Lusail Motor Circuit. The stage was much longer than the prologue that opened the race three years ago and was expected to have a major role on the final general classification.
The wind-swept, snake-shaped course featured several different changes in direction. The riders started with a crosswind, finished with a headwind and had a cross-tailwind between the two.
Stefano Locatelli of Bardiani was the first rider to start the stage but it was Alessandro De Marchi of Cannondale who set the first serious mark. But he couldn’t enjoy his efforts in the hot seat for long as Hepburn was the 12th of 151 riders to start his time trial and lowered the mark by a massive 39 seconds.
Having lost plenty of time in the crosswinds on the opening days, Hepburn was an early starter and faced a long wait in the hot seat. Hepburn had gauged his effort perfectly and had been far off the mark at the intermediate check.
In the final headwind section, however, he had put down the hammer and was by far the fastest rider in the second half.
This also gave him a few scares as he could see a number of riders set much faster times at the midpoint. Daniele Bennati of Tinkoff-Saxo was one of those but the Italian sprinter was six seconds slower at the finish and could only manage fourth position.
The big favourite to win the stage, Fabian Cancellara, appeared to be on his way to another superb effort when he set the best time at the split. But he lost a massive 15 seconds in the second half and he crossed the line six seconds off Hepburn’s mark.
Lars Boom, the only rider to have won a time trial in the race’s history, set a time at the split that was four seconds faster than Cancellara’s. Like all other riders the Dutchman lost plenty of time in the final section and crossed the line 0.41 seconds off the lead.
Terpstra led the general classification by five seconds going into the stage and stretched that to 21 seconds by finishing eight seconds adrift of Hepburn in fifth, but well ahead of his nearest rival overall, Jurgen Roelandts of Lotto Belisol. Tom Boonen of Omega Pharma-Quick Step finished fourth at 28 seconds.
“Time trials always hurt because you’re fighting time and pain. It’s never easy but I felt I could put some power on the pedals,” Terpstra said after the stage.
“You never know how you’ve done till the result. I’m still the leader and now we’ll see what happens in the other stages. The wind is the biggest problem. I have to stay awake all day with my teammates, so as not to miss a group. I have to stay in the front group and always defend the jersey,” the 29-year-old added.
Terpstra also leads the points’ classification, while his teammate Guillaume Van Keirsbulck has the best young rider’s White Pearl Jersey.
Things could change again today when riders face another windy day on the 135km fourth stage between Dukhan and Mesaieed.