Norway's Kurt-Asle Arvesen has won stages in the three Grand Tours

Team Sky rider Kurt-Asle Arvesen is out of the Tour of Qatar after breaking his collarbone on Monday.

The 34-year-old, who helped his team to win the time trial on Sunday, fell off his bike before the neutralised zone for the start of the second stage.

"It was really an absurd kind of accident because it happened before the race proper had started," said Arvesen.

Belgium's Geert Steurs won the stage while the Netherlands' Wouter Mol claimed the yellow jersey.

The Vacansoleil rider overhauled stage one leader Edvald Boasson Hagen after the Team Sky rider suffered a puncture with more than 40 kilometres to the finish line, eventually crossing in a disappointing 61st place.

Alongside Vlaanderen's Steurs, Mol had broken away from the peloton to lead by more than 12 minutes at one point in the stage.

The two riders eventually finished on the same time, one minute, 51 seconds ahead of the other riders, but Mol had 11 seconds in hand of Steurs after the opening team time trial.

Roger Kluge took third on the day, just ahead of Heinrich Haussler.

606: DEBATE It looked a shambles today, punctures all over the place, riding through sand, very bizarre SeanF81

However, Arvesen, who made his debut in Sunday's time trial victory for Team Sky, faces up to six weeks on the sidelines in recovery.

"We were getting ready to start racing when I let a guy go past me, but it got a bit narrow and I lost control of the bike and crashed," said the Norwegian.

Arvesen was forced out of the 2009 Tour de France with a similar injury after 10 stages.

"The only good thing about this is that it is on the other side and hopefully the healing process will be as smooth as last time," said the reigning Norwegian road race champion.

"It is really unfortunate to break your collarbone at any time but especially now as I was just getting ready to start my year."

Briton Roger Hammond, riding for Swiss-based team Cervelo, finished in sixth place.

Compatriot and Team Sky rider Bradley Wiggins endured a hard day, finishing 11 minutes off the leaders in 84th place.

Stage two results

1. Geert Steurs (Bel/Tsv) 3 hours, 31 minutes 00sec
2. Wouter Mol (Ned/Vac) same time
3. Roger Kluge (Ger/Mrm) at 1 min 51secs
4. Heinrich Haussler (Ger/Ctt) 1:54
5. Philippe Gilbert (Bel/Clo) 1:55
6. Roger Hammond (Gbr/Ctt) 1:55
7. Tom Boonen (Bel/Qst) 1:55
8. Jeremy Hunt (Gbr/Ctt) 1:55
9. Danilo Napolitano (Ita/Kat) 1:55
10. Marcus Burghardt (Ger/Bmc) 1:55
Selected others:
84: Bradley Wiggins (Gbr/Sky) 11:00

Overall standings:

1. Wouter Mol (Ned/Vac) 3 hours 40 minutes 51 seconds
2. Geert Steurs (Bel/Tsv) at nine secs
3. Roger Kluge (Ger/Mrm) at 2:02
4. Tom Boonen (Bel/Qst) 2:05
5. Marcus Burghardt (Ger/Bmc) 2:06
6. Philippe Gilbert (Bel/Olo) 2:18
7. Danilo Napolitano (Ita/Kat) 2:18
8. Stuart O'Grady (Aus/Sax) 2:40
9. Tyler Farrar (Usa/Grm) 2:41
10. Marco Velo (Ita/Qst) 2:47
Selected others:
14. Roger Hammond (Olo/Gbr) 2:53
15. Jeremy Hunt (Gbr/Olo) 2:53
84. Bradley Wiggins (Gbr/Sky), 11:00

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