Germany’s Michael Schweizer celebrates after winning second stage of the Tour of Zubarah yesterday. (Left) Brit Jacob Tipper retains the yellow jersey. PICTURES: Jayaram.

By Yash Mudgal/Doha

German rider Michael Schweizer of Team Rose NRW clinched the second stage of the third Tour of Zubarah with a slick finish, yesterday at Dukhan.
Schweizer, who was piloted well by his team, clocked 3:15:01s to finish ahead of Italian Andrea Palini of Skydive Dubai for his best result in last two years.
“I am very pleased with the win. I came here with expecting nothing and going home with at least one victory,” Schweizer said.
His best finish was a stage win at the 24th Course Cycliste de Solidarnosc et des Champions Olympiques in 2013.
The German, who was riding for the first time in Qatar, was almost given an easy ride to the finish by his teammate Stefan Schneider, who gave a perfect lead-out from 1200m to only 200m and then he unleashed his sprint to win the stage.
The 32-year-old stage winner lauded the effort of Schneider.
“It was really a hard race as it was not as windy as yesterday. We were lucky to have a breakaway one kilometre before the finish and Schneider did a perfect lead out form me. He was in the breakaway all the day and still he has the good leg in the end… he did a superb job for me.”
British rider Jacob Tipper finished fifth in the bunch to retain his yellow jersey.
“It was a very tough race today… there was no wind today. There was a lot of pressure on me in the end. I was too tired for the last sprint,” Tipper, who has four second lead over Maher Hasnaoui, Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team, said.
“I somehow managed to retain the yellow jersey. We have last stage tomorrow and I am sure it’s going to be going to be tougher,” he said.
The first sprint was won by British rider Thomas Timothy of Achieve Northside Skinnergate, while Kazakhstan’s Artyom Zakharov of Team Track Astana won the second sprint.
Mahdi Rajabikaboodcheshme of Pishgaman Giant Team retained best young rider’s white jersey.
Andrea Palini was satisfied with his second spot and red jersey as he said: “My objective is not the yellow Jersey. My goal is the ranking in Asia. As a tour, for me it is ok if I take the second place. I would like to win a stage, but every team is fighting hard against me. I don’t have good guys to set me up for the sprint. I am pleased with my results today.”
“Tomorrow, we’ll try to make the race close with the Team Giant. I don’t know if it’s will be possible or not but we’ll see (what we can do in the final stage),” the Italian said.
The 119.8km third and final stage of the tour will be held from Simaisma Youth Center to Al Zubarah Fort today.