Belgian outfit Quick Step shrugged off this week's doping allegations to take the honours in the Tour of Qatar's opening team time trial here on Sunday.
Dutchman Steven De Jongh crossed the line first after the six kilometre race against the clock to be the first to take charge of the leader's gold jersey.
Quick Step, with former world champion Tom Boonen in their midst, covered the circuit in a time of six minutes 33 seconds. They were followed in by Milram, four seconds adrift, with Liguigas the same margin away back in third.
"It was very tough," said Boonen, second in the overall standings.
"It's not easy for a team to manage such a course over a small distance.
"You have to get off very quickly, don't slow down and stay very organised. We were tough today."
Quick Step actually made a small mistake with 1km to go when the team briefly split up but they got away with it, regrouped and stormed to the finish line.
Boonen was hoping to let Davide Vigano, whose father died last week, cross the line first to take the gold jersey but the young Italian didn't have any strength left to carry himself to the head of the team.
"It's a shame but the team won and in the end, that's what matters," added Boonen.
It had been a difficult week for Quick Step whose general manager Patrick Lefevere was accused of doping violations by a Belgian newspaper.
Monday's second stage is 135 kilometres between Al-Wakra and Doha.