Mark Cavendish was beaten to the line by Alexander Kristoff in stage two of the Tour of Qatar - but the Manxman retains the leader's gold jersey.

Dimension Data's Cavendish, who has a property in Ongar and won yesterday's first stage, finished second at Qatar University as Kristoff (Katusha) prevailed in a stage that served as a test event for October's World Championships in Doha.

As the race neared its conclusion, a big crash in the peloton held up much of the field but Cavendish, the 2011 world champion, was safely ahead of the carnage, on the wheel of Kristoff.

But the Norwegian held off Cavendish in their sprint to the line, clinging on by centimetres to claim victory.

Belgium's Roy Jans, riding for Wanty-Groupe Gobert, was third.

Cavendish leads the standings by five seconds from Kristoff ahead of tomorrow's third stage, an 11km individual time trial in Lusail.