BMC Racing Team's Greg Van Avermaet matched his best result of the season Wednesday with third place in the uphill finish of Stage 2 at the Tour of Oman.
 

Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) overtook Van Avermaet just before the finish line and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) edged him out for runner-up as a group of 19 riders came to the line together at the end of the 195.5-kilometer race.

The BMC Racing Team had three other riders besides Van Avermaet in the leading group: Damiano Caruso, Ben Hermans and Tejay van Garderen.

"We tried to do a good lead out for me," Van Avermaet said. "But maybe it was not fast enough. With 200 meters to go, Daniel Moreno (Team Katusha) passed me and I tried to catch his wheel. And then I started my sprint full gas with 200 meters to go. I thought at that moment I could win the stage. But in the last few meters, Fabian passed me. That is a big disappointment for me because I was thinking of the win and winning for the team."

Cancellara assumed the race lead while Van Avermaet is fourth, six seconds behind. Caruso is sixth, 10 seconds back, and van Garderen is ninth, also 10 seconds off the lead.

Sport Director Valerio Piva said it was encouraging to see so many BMC Racing Team riders figure in the final. Hermans and van Garderen each followed attacks on the last two climbs of the day while earlier Dylan Teuns helped with the chase of a three-man breakaway.

"I am happy with the performance of our team," Piva said. "We still have some days to try for the win again."

Van Avermaet, who was also third on Stage 2 last week at the Tour of Qatar, agreed.

"I think we did good work and everyone is in good shape," he said. "We will try to win a stage in the next few days."