February 1, 2004 – For the third year running, it will be in Qatar that the cycling season will kick off for fifteen of the best cycling teams in the world. Qatar with its sun, seaside, uncluttered roads and top quality hotel accommodation. As before, the expertise of the Tour de France (which received Qatar's leaders in 2003) and the reputation of Eddy Merckx in cycling will help to confirm the increasingly prominent position the Tour of Qatar is assuming in the cycling world : the selection of fifteen teams of eight racing cyclists is not that easy though! Here are some pictures of the cycling legend, Eddy Merckx courtesy of Cor Vos.