Alexander Kristoff sprints to final stage victory at Tour of Oman as Lutsenko secures overall victory
Norwegian sprinter claims first win of season in Middle East
For the third consecutive year Alexander Kristoff won the final stage at Tour of Oman on Sunday, in so doing taking his first victory since joining UAE Team Emirates this season.
The Norwegian sprinted to victory on the Matrah Corniche, beating stage one victor Brian Coquard (Vital Concept) and Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo).
For a few moments a bunch sprint appeared in doubt when a breakaway survived until the final lap of the finishing circuit on the Corniche on the outskirts of the capital city, Muscat. Remi Cavagna (Quick-Step Floors) had been the last of a five-man group to be taken back with less than five kilometres to ride.
Finishing safely in the bunch, Kazakh Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) won the general classification.
How it happened
As with the previous stages this week, on the wide dual carriageways bypassing Muscat a breakaway formed soon after kilometre zero. Frenchman Cavagna, Xandro Farazijn (Sport Vlaanderen), Xandro Meurisse (Wanty-Groupe Gobert, Pim Ligthart (Roompot-Nederlandse Lotterij) and Fabricio Ferrari (Caja Rural), all veterans of previous breakaways this week, quickly built a lead of 4.50.
Behind, with a bunch finish likely, and Meurisse 9-29 down, the closest on general classification, the Astana team of race leader Lutsenko left the chase to the sprinter’s teams.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The day’s two classified climbs at 83 and 100km and, on the approach to those and the finishing laps on the Corniche beyond them, the peloton began closing in on the five escapees.
Buy the time the leaders crossed the line for the first of three times,with 22km remaining, the gap was down to 1.15, the bunch toying with the remaining escapees, Cavagna and Ligthart.
In the final kilometres Cavagna went solo, crossing the finish line for the penultimate time with just 30 seconds advantage but with the bunch behind the sprint final became inevitable.
As has been the case in each edition since its introduction in 2010, the overall was won on Green Mountain on Satruday’s queen stage. Lutsenko finishing second there behind team-mate Miguel Angel Lopez, himself taking second on the general classification, winning the young rider’s competition.
Kristoff’s sprint success takes to eight the number of stages the Norwegian has won in Oman, a record for the event.
Top placed British rider was Aqua Blue’s Mark Christian in 35th place, with Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) five places further down.
Former British champion Adam Blythe, who was targeting the stage, was disqualified for taking an irregular bike change late in the 135.5km sage between Al Mouj and Matrah Corniche.
Results
Tour of Oman 2018, stage six: Al Mouj Muscat to Matrah Corniche, 135.5km
1. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates, in 3-11-29
2. Bryan Coquard (Fra) Vital Concept Cycling Club
3. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
4. Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Astana
5. Nathan Haas (Aus) Katusha-Alpecin
6. Davide Martinelli (Ita) Quick-Step Floors
7. Amaury Capiot (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
8. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
9. Benjamin Declercq (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
10. Floris Gerts (Ned) Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij, all at same time
Final general classification
1. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana, in 22-49-50 22:49:50
2. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana, at 11 secs
3. Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Bahrain-Merida, at 28 secs
4. Jesus Herrada (Esp) Cofidis, at 30 secs
5. Nathan Haas (Aus) Katusha-Alpecin, at 32 secs
6. Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Floors, at 1-05
7. Daniel Navarro Garcia (Esp) Cofidis, at 1-14
8. Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) Wanty-Groupe Gobert, at 1-24
9. Merhawi Kudus (Eri) Dimension Data, at 1-29
10. Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates, at 1-37
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Owen Rogers is an experienced journalist, covering professional cycling and specialising in women's road racing. He has followed races such as the Women's Tour and Giro d'Italia Donne, live-tweeting from Women's WorldTour events as well as providing race reports, interviews, analysis and news stories. He has also worked for race teams, to provide post race reports and communications.
-
'The bike’s been the biggest therapeutic element for me': Former pro and DS Allan Peiper's battle against prostate cancer
Allan Peiper has won stages and Grand Tours, both as a rider and a DS. Since 2014, though, his biggest challenge has been a recurring battle with prostate cancer. He talks candidly to Chris Marshall-Bell about the ups and downs of his struggle
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Our 'van life' dream failed, so we tried to make surfing and cycle touring compatible — this is what happened
If cycle touring teaches anything, it is that life rarely goes according to plan, as Isobel Duxfield found out when riding what soon become a pedal-propelled sail around the Pacific Coast
By Isobel Duxfield Published
-
Seven things we learned from racing in Oman, Provence, and Spain
Smaller teams are on fire; Lutsenko is good on gravel; never give up on your dream of winning
By Adam Becket Published
-
Check out Alexander Kristoff’s €5,000 sunglasses from Tour de France podium
Performance cycling kit can be expensive, but Alexander Kristoff’s Tour de France sunglasses might just raise the bar.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Alexander Kristoff: 'I'm 33 and have four kids but still managed to win'
The Norwegian says he'll enjoy his day in yellow after a surprise stage victory
By Jonny Long Published
-
Alexander Kristoff fights to huge sprint victory after nightmare stage one of Tour de France 2020
Alexander Kristoff fought hard to a huge sprint victory on stage one of the Tour de France 2020, after a nightmare day for the peloton.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Tour of Oman could be rescheduled for beginning of March
The February race was cancelled after the death of the country's leader Sultan Qaboos
By Jonny Long Published
-
Organisers confirm Tour of Oman 2020 has been cancelled
Organisers of the Tour of Oman have confirmed that the 2020 event has been cancelled.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Alexander Kristoff sprints to victory at Ghent-Wevelgem 2019
John Degenkolb takes second behind Kristoff in reduced sprint finish
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Alexander Kristoff snaps seatstay clean in half during Hatta Dam sprint
The Norwegian was forced to push his way to the line of the brutal climb
By Alex Ballinger Published