Katusha's Alexander Kristoff has taken the win on the fourth stage of the Tour Of Oman.
Stage four was a 118km stage from Yiti (Jebel Sifah) to Ministry of Tourism and had Ben Hermans of BMC still in the leader’s jersey.
Ten riders in Kangert, Domont, Küng, Ait El Abdia, Jungels, Denifl, Teunissen, Doubey and Eaton got away early and were 1.05 ahead when Bob Jungels took the first intermediate sprint and the first climb at Al Jissah.
Aqua Blue’s Stefan Denifl took the second climb as the gap to the peloton stood at 1.25 with sixty kilometres to go.
At an average speed of 42.2kmh for the first two hours, the front group reduced to six riders as Denifl took the next climb.
BMC started to lead the chase down and with twenty kilometres to go, the gap to the six out front was down to forty seconds.
That was not enough and the peloton brought them back with Bardet, Hermans, Aru, Fuglsang and Rui Costa forming a new breakaway group of fifteen riders which was controlling the race.
Jacob Fuglsang and Küng briefly led but it came down to a sprint which was won by Alexander Kristoff of Katusha in 2.50.29 ahead of Sonny Colbrelli and Greg Van Avermaet.
Ben Hermans take his race lead into the fifth stage.
Article by Kev Monks for Digital Sports Group
Source: DSG