Rafael Valls (Lampre-Merida) has won the Tour Of Oman.
With the fifth stage neutralised due to high winds and very warm temperatures, the race came down to a final stage of 138.5kms from Oman Air to Muttrah Promenade with Rafael Valls of Lampre-Merida in the race lead.
After 8.5kms, the first break of the day was started by Jef Van Meirhaeghe, Iljo Keisse, Matthias Brandle and Danny Pate with Jelle Wallays trying to close.
The Topsport Vlanderen rider gave up with his bid after the quartet upped the pace and got ninety seconds away from him with the peloton another forty seconds down the road and Wallays was caught by the peloton after the 22km mark.
The front four continued to increased their lead and were nine minutes ahead with seventy kilometres remaining.
Jef Van Meirhaeghe took the first KOM at Al Jissah after taking the first sprint with the quartet now having a lead of 5.10 going into the final twenty three kilometres of the race.
That was down to 3.30 at the first crossing of the finishing line and it was now out of the quartet as to who was going to win the stage with the peloton clearly having given up.
Former World Time Trial champion Mathias Brandle of IAM Cycling made his move and powered away to take the stage victory in 3.02.31, four seconds ahead of Etixx Quick Step's Iljo Keisse and thirteen seconds of Jef Van Meirhaeghe who was third.
Peter Sagan of Tinkoff Saxo led the peloton home 1.16 down and with Rafael Valls finishing 29th, it was the Lampre-Merida rider who won the Tour Of Oman.
Andrea Guardini of Astana won the Points Jersey, Louis Meintjes of MTN Qhubeka won the Young Riders, with BMC winning the Team Classification.
General Classification
1. Rafael Valls 21.09.31
2. Tejay Van garderen +09"
3. Alejandro Valverde +19"
Source: DSG
