Today’s 173 kilometre long fourth stage of Tour of Oman from Wadi Al Abiyad to the Ministry of Housing in Boshar was a hilly course and the heavier sprinters, André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) and Leigh Howard (Orica GreenEdge) were quickly left behind. It didn’t make any easier for the sprinters that Tinkoff-Saxo were pulling the bunch in order to catch the four escapees who stole the limelight most of the day.
 
But on the final climb of the day and after the break was neutralized, Rigoberto Uran (Sky), Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) managed to create the crucial gap and Sagan was not surprisingly the fastest rider in the trio and took the stage win.
 
Behind, Tinkoff-Saxo’s Roman Kreuziger was chasing and was seconds away from bridging the gap but was denied the comeback.
 
After the stage Lars Michaelsen said:
 
“The strategy was to tire out our opponents before the finale and we managed to significantly shave down the bunch. On the final climb, we still had Roman, Nicolas and Matti in the group of favorites but at the top of the slope, the fireworks began and a trio managed to slip away and took the win.”.
 
Tinkoff-Saxo’s Roman Kreuziger commented:
 
“The team rode very well and I think we can be proud about the way we handled things today. I would have liked to make a result but I simply couldn’t follow the trio on the descent. Tomorrow, there’s an uphill finish and a feel confident with the team and I’m ready to do my best.”