Intro:

Alexander Kristoff nicks narrow win in stage five of the Tour of Qatar on Thursday - but Niki Terpstra retains the overall lead.

Script:

A bunched sprint at the end of the 153-kilometre stage five of the Tour of Qatar didn't topple Niki Terpstra from top of the standings.

Terpstra retained his six second lead ahead of Tinkoff-Saxo's Maciej Bodnar.

A breakaway group - including Ben Hermans of BMC, Marco Haller of Katusha and Mathew Hayman of Orica Greenedge - led but as the final stages grew closer the peloton caught up.

With 16 kilometres to go, the riders started to configurate themselves for a bunch sprint.

Italy's Jacopo Guardnieri led out team-mate Alexander Kristoff in the final 500 metres.

Kristoff, who won Wednesday's Stage four of the tour, managed to hang-on for the win but was put under immense pressure by Peter Sagan.

Sagan's second place finish in the stage saw him rise to the top of the young rider standings.

The win for Kristoff meant he went up to third place in the general classifications, whilst Terpstra is still the gold jersey holder, despite finishing in 16th place.

Maciej Bodnar finished 15th and remains in second place overall.