Four stages into the Tour of Qatar, Team Slipstream/Chipotle H3O continues to grow stronger in the face of the high speeds and brutal crosswinds of the early season race.

“Team wise, today was the best day we’ve had so far,” said Director Sportif Johnny Weltz. “With 50 kilometers to go, we attacked into a crosswind and had seven guys in the break. Today we were as strong as Quick Step.”

With a lead-out from Backstedt, Sutton finished sixth in the final sprint. Though Sutton moved up in overall classification to 4th place, his nemesis Greg Van Avermaet (Lotto) still gained three seconds on him in the overall and the Best Young Rider classifications through the intermediate sprint time bonuses.

Though Team Slipstream will rest up for tomorrow’s 170-kilometer stage tonight, first they will celebrate Magnus Backstedt’s birthday.