Tour of Oman - Stage 3

The third stage of the Tour of Oman today and we start to make movement towards the green mountain. We have a short but a though climb halfway through the stage and some bumps towards the finish.



After a few tries we got a solid breakaway including old KOM leader Moreno (CSS) and breakaway specialist Marc de Maar (UHC). They are joined by Pietropolli ( LAM), Orbe (EUS), Rutkiewicz (CCC) and Russom (MTN)


a scary looking breakaway

The intermediate sprints were surprisingly close every time. At the first intermediate sprint Pietropolli just managed to edge out De Maar and Moreno and at the intermediate climb De Maar beat Moreno for maximum points. The breakaway has a 6 minute lead at the moment.


some close sprinting in the intermediate points

Unlike the previous intermediate sprints the last one isn’t as close. Rutkiewicz dominated the sprint leaving Russom and Moreno with 2nd and 3rd. The gap has meanwhile shrunk to 2’45� with 45.2 k to go. Are BMC and FDJ able to bring it back completely?



While the break has 20 seconds advantage the teams have started to lead out their sprinters. Hanzen (BMC) has a good train of Felline and Dillier, Degenkolb (AST) with Bozic and Ponzi, Demare (FDJ) with Fédrigo and Soupe. Leigh (DPC), Martinez (CJR) and Viviani (BAR) are also in front of the peloton. Contador takes no risk and is near the front as well procected by Jorgensen (TTS)



The trains catch the breakaway while Jorgensen and Fédrigo have dropped off



The breakaway broke up the trains and only Astana is left with somewhat of a train. Ponzi-Bozic-Degenkolb. The Hanzen train has dropped back a lot and won’t be likely contest for the stage today. Demare is still in front but without any teammates around. Contador is content with his position and drops back a bit. Dumoulin (ALM), Ferrari (LAM), Kakhi (CSS) and Viviani have appeared at the front thanks to the breakaway getting in the way.



Soupe (FDJ) has put in a massive effort to give Demare a leadout. However his plan likely backfired as he pulled Felline and Hanzen back to the front and Demare is at the other side of the Astana train. Porsev also appeared at the front of the peloton.



Hanzen took full advantage of Soupe mistake and is still with his leadout Felline while Demare, Ferrari, Martinez Machado and Dumoulin are forced to go early. Degenkolb and Bozic are behind while Kakhi, Viviani, Porsev and Leigh



Martinez Machado has taken the lead while Hanzen has responded to Martinez to pass Felline. Demare and Dumoulin are starting to fade away. Degenkolb still hasn’t passed his leadout yet while Kakhi is still new to Bozic.


Viviani out of the view again

Hanzen has gone past Martinez and is looking to win the stage. Further back Degenkolb is blocked by Kakhi, Ferrari and Demare.



Hanzen is winning today. The gap he has isn’t going to be closed and might be given a time gap as well. Degenkolb has managed to slip past Ferrari and is looking to challenge Martinez for 2nd place.


Hanzen out of the view put in a good way

Like said before Hanzen comfortable stage win. Degenkolb is set to take second place while Martinez, Demare, Ferrari and Alarcon (CJR) are fighting it out for 3rd.



Martinez Machado takes 3rd place beating Ferrari and Demare. Kakhi will have to settle with 6th. Alarcon surprises with 7th. Bozic and Roy add some extra for their teams while we see Contador in the top 10 for the first time this stage race. Look out for him tomorrow.



Hanzen isn’t award with a time gap so he’ll only take 2nd place in the GC currently. Bonifazio dropped out of the peloton and the GC. Degenkolb keeps leading the GC, Points and Youth classifications. Moreno takes the KOM jersey back from Fédrigo. Drapac is given the lead of the team classification.

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Adrien Hanzen	BMC Racing Team	4h18'43
2	John Degenkolb	Astana Pro Team	s.t.
3	Ricardo Martinez Machado	Caja Rural - Seguros RGA	s.t.
4	Roberto Ferrari	Lampre - Merida	s.t.
5	Arnaud Demare	FDJ.fr	s.t.
6	Rajesh Kakhi	Team Champion System	s.t.
7	Jose Alarcon	Caja Rural - Seguros RGA	s.t.
8	Borut Božic	Astana Pro Team	s.t.
9	Jérémy Roy	FDJ.fr	s.t.
10	Alberto Contador	Team Tinkoff - Saxo	s.t.

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	John Degenkolb	Astana Pro Team	10h48'40
2	Adrien Hanzen	BMC Racing Team	+ 18
3	Ricardo Martinez Machado	Caja Rural - Seguros RGA	s.t.
4	Gerald Ciolek	MTN - Qhubeka	+ 26
5	Arnaud Demare	FDJ.fr	+ 28

Rank	Name	Team	General
1	John Degenkolb	Astana Pro Team	63
2	Adrien Hanzen	BMC Racing Team	53
3	Ricardo Martinez Machado	Caja Rural - Seguros RGA	44
4	Arnaud Demare	FDJ.fr	39
5	Niccolo Bonifazio	Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox	31

Rank	Name	Team	General
1	Francisco Javier Moreno	Team Champion System	9
2	Pierrick Fédrigo	FDJ.fr	6
3	Filippo Baggio	Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox	6
4	Marc De Maar	UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team	6
5	Enrico Gasparotto	Astana Pro Team	4

Rank	Team	Time	General Time
10	Drapac Cycling	s.t.	32h27'54 (1)
12	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.	+ 0 (2)
9	Katusha Team	s.t.	+ 0 (3)
6	Team Tinkoff - Saxo	s.t.	+ 0 (4)
4	BMC Racing Team	s.t.	+ 0 (5)

1	Adrien Hanzen	BMC Racing Team	+ 18 (2)
2	John Degenkolb	Astana Pro Team	10h48'40 (1)
3	Ricardo Martinez Machado	Caja Rural - Seguros RGA	+ 18 (3)
4	Arnaud Demare	FDJ.fr	+ 28 (4)