Cycling News: The Irish Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn/M Donnelly Sean Kelly squad began what is arguably their biggest race to date when they took part yesterday in the opening team time-trial in the Tour of Qatar.

The line-up for the squad at the 2.1-ranked event includes the Irishmen Páidí O'Brien, Stephen Gallagher, Paul Healion and Mark Cassidy.

All bar Cassidy finished 36 seconds behind the victorious Quick.Step team in the six- kilometre test.

They were 15th of the squads in the race.

Steven de Jongh was first Quick.Step rider across the line and he consequently leads the race heading into today's second stage, a 135.5-kilometre stage from Al Wakra to the Qatar Olympic Committee HQ.