Jakob Fuglsang went on the attack in the finale of stage 2 of the Tour of Oman but his four-rider group failed to stay away. However, the Dane finished with teammate Andriy Grivko in the front group while Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali lost 56 seconds.

"Four of us together broke away on the second-to-last climb, but we couldn't keep it going over the last one, and the group caught us before the finish," Fuglsang said.

Fuglsang and teammate Andrei Grivko finished in the first group on a very hot and long day. Sprinter Andrea Guardini rode with the main peloton through Muscat in the leader's red jersey and lost contact on a 9,8% climb after leaving the capital city.

Grivko and Fuglsang now level with 14 riders at 10 seconds behind new race leader and stage winner Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland.

Thursday's stage is another flat finish, and another opportunity for Guardini, while Friday's Green Mountain uphill finish will prove a decisive test for Astana's strong climbers.