Cycling: Boasson Haagen keeps Sky high in Qatar

Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen claimed third spot on the fifth stage of the Tour of Qatar yesterday as Quickstep's Tom Boonen prevailed in a tight finish into Madinat Al Shamal.

Boonen, third in the general classification behind Wouter Mol of the Netherlands and his fellow Belgian Geert Steurs, saved his energy for the finale and was able to outpace his breakaway rivals to secure his second stage triumph in three days.

Norwegian Boasson Hagen finished quickly but failed to overhaul Boonen and the second-placed Italian Danilo Napolitano (Katusha) by a matter of inches. Team Sky's senior sports director, Scott Sunderland, said: "The boys did a really good job and their form is coming along all the time.

"They did exactly what they had to do and then Edvald almost had the legs to pull it off, so it was a fantastic effort." Roger Hammond was the highest-placed Briton in 15th, with his Cervelo TestTeam colleague Jeremy Hunt 25th.