BMC's Ben Hermans took the win on top of Green Mountain to cement his place in the lead of the Tour Of Oman with one stage to go.
Stage five, again had BMC’s Ben Hermans in the leader’s jersey and was over 152.5kms from Sama’il toJabal Al Akhdhar (Green Mountain).
There was an early split in the peloton with thirty seconds between the two groups after ten kilometres of racing.
There was a break from the front group and Mark Christian of Aqua Blie Sports, Diaz, Pardini, Clarke and Van Hecke sneaked away taking a lead of 1.45.
They had built up a lead of six minutes when Mark Christian crashed but was able to get up and get back on his way with the escapers who were 8.10 ahead after 81km thanks to a crash in the peloton.
Christian took the first sprint but the gap was falling thanks to some strong riding from Quick Step on the front and going into the final fifty kilometres, the gap was down to 5.45.
It was still at five minutes with twenty-five kilometres to go before Van Hecke beat Christian to the second intermediate sprint.
The climb up Green Mountain saw the break with a lead of 2.45 but Mark Christian suffered another crash and the break reduced to three riders with a lead of twenty seconds.
They were caught and the attacks came in. Lachlan Morton was one who tried and failed as the climb got steeper and eight riders joined him.
Dimension Data’s Merhewi Kudus led going into the final kilometre chased by the race leader Ben Hermans who got away to take victory ahead of Fabio Aru and Rui Costa and keep his lead in the race going into the final stage.
Article by Kev Monks for Digital Sports Group
Source: DSG
