For the first time ever, the final stage of the Tour of Oman didn't finish with a bunch sprint. A breakaway of four riders managed to stay clear and this allowed former Hour Record Matthias Brändle (IAM) to take a solo win. Arnaud Démare finished eleventh in the stage.

"The squad gave them too much leeway, said FDJ sports director Martial Gayant. "They were up against for riders: Van Meirhaege (Topsport Vlaanderen), Keisse (Etixx-Quick Step), Pate (Team Sky) and Brändle. The gap stabilized at 4 minutes but entering the final circuit it was still 3'20 ". At that point, only 14 kilometres remained."

The winner of the stage made the difference on the last climb and won four seconds ahead of Keisse. 1.16 later Peter Sagan led the peloton across the line. Arnaud Démare took an insignificant eleventh place.

For the first time in several years, FDJ team return from the Persian Gulf empty-handed but with lots of interesting lessons. The classics team will be ready for the first big one-day race, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad next week in Belgium.

Thibaut Pinot was fifth on the Green Mountain Friday and knows his is on track for Tirreno-Adriatico which is his primary objective.