Peter Sagan (Cannondale) took his first victory of the 2014 season on Friday, winning stage four of the Tour of Oman from a late escape that also featured Grand Tour contenders Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-QuickStep).
Defending Oman champion Chris Froome (Sky) had attacked with Uran over the top of the last of four ascents of Bousher Alamrat, but was reeled in by the whittled-down peloton numbering around 40 riders.
Nibali and Sagan then joined Uran in another attack on the run-in to the finish, building up a lead of around 20 seconds on the chasers but were reeled in to only two seconds by the line.
Out of the three, it was always going to be Sagan in a sprint - and the Slovak lived up to the expectation. Uran came second, with Nibali in third.
"I was in a bit of difficulty on the last climb but fortunately it was a headwind and the riders up the road came back," said Sagan. "I tried to attack in the descent and Nibali and Uran were with me.
"I’m very glad to get my first victory. I tried yesterday but it worked out better today and its very important for me and my team, it’s a good start."
Sagan's win puts him at the top of the overall classification, 10 seconds ahead of Uran and 14 seconds in front of Nibali.
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On Saturday, the penultimate stage of the race features a mountain-top finish on Green Mountain - which will no doubt serve to shape the final general classification.
Results Tour of Oman 2014, stage four: Wadi Al Abiyad to Ministry of Housing, 173km
1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale
2. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana at 2 secs
4. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge
5. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Belisol
6. Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha
7. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana
8. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
9. Thomas Lovkvist (Swe) IAM Cycling
10. Moreno Moser (Ita) Cannondale at same time
Other
11. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky at same time
Overall classification after stage four
1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale
2. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 10 secs
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana at 14 secs
4. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Belisol at 17 secs
5. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge at 18 secs
6. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana at 18 secs
7. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo at 18 secs
8. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky at 18 secs
9. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing at 18 secs
10. Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin at 18 secs
Peter Sagan wins stage four of the 2014 Tour of Oman
