As boring as they might be for our team, another flat stage.



Breakaways are finding it hard to get away.



Steven Cozza is up for the challenge.



And he is joined by two more, and they get away.



Back in the peloton Pichot and Phinney are caught out on a split.



By the final sprint point the breakaway is starting to realize today just isn't their day. The peloton is closing their 4 minute gap quickly.



However even during their fast chase
the peloton is able to come back together.



It's now starting to rain. Just what the riders wanted.



The break is caught and we will head to another bunch sprint.



Pichot, Phinney and Keough line-up for the EA-Sony train.



And they are able to grab Pettachi's wheel.



Under the banner we start to lose contact to Ale-Jet.



Heado is going strong on the right, Keough just doesn't have the speed today.



Filippo Pozzato comes from behind to take Pettachi and Heado.
Back to back stage wins for him.

Stage

GC

Contador, Evans, and Scarponi lead the headlines for today's stage. While Filippo Pozzato and Katusha will try and hang on to the leader's jersey.



A large breakaway is able to get away today,
however Richard Ackerman is unable to get a EA-Sony man in the group.



The headcount in this group is up to 14, but their gap is just 2 minutes.



Katusha is doing alot of the work,
do they really think Pozzato can keep up on the climb?



Twist of events! As the breakaway is pulled back Pozzato attacks,
15kms from the start of the climb.



But the peloton drags him back 5kms later,
a gutsy move by Filippo that doesn't succeed.



With no control over the pace, our man Steven Cozza tries the same move.
But gets the same result, the peloton is going to hit the climb together.



The Irishman Philip Deignan, who lost over 2 minutes on stage 2,
gets things started.



But Katusha is still keeping the pace high and he is unable to breakout.



After a few kms René Mandri (Endura Racing) is the only man to create a gap.



Until a major split opens with 1,500 meters to go,
Deignan is caught out. Katusha is in full control.



At the line Katusha goes 1-2-3, with the red jersey. More surprising no sight of Contador or Scarponi, and Evans just made no real attack.
Deignan is the best EA-Sony rider in 27th.

Stage

GC

Filippo Pozzato just needs to hang on for one last ITT and stay on his bike on a flat stage 6 to win the Tour of Oman, after a dominating performance by Team Katusha. Favourites for today are Spanish and Austrialian ITT champs Contador and Porte from Saxo Bank.



Early mark to beat is set by our man Steven Cozza at 31'03''.



But just a few riders later Víctor Hugo Peña goes 7 seconds faster.



But it doesn't take long for EA-Sony to grab the lead back when American Taylor Phinney sets a great time at 30'24''.



Deignan is able to set the new 1st checkpoint record as he flys up the hill, but struggles to the finish 50 seconds behind Phinney.



And here come the big boys, Sastre isn't even close. +28'' to Taylor.



How about Artem Ovechkin ... nope 4 seconds to slow. Phinney has really set a great time!



Surely the favourite Richie Porte can beat it.
Not so fast, he is 2 seconds short.



Phinney is feeling really good now! Until fellow American George Hincapie breaks his time by 2 seconds.



Then Contador follows that up going 8 seconds faster. Phinney is now in 3rd.




Scarponi and Evans both go through but can't crack the top 3.



Then a major surprise, Rory Sutherland beats
Contador time to take the lead by 9 seconds!



Then how about this Iván Gutiérrez goes 5 seconds faster than that,
to take the lead.



Then finally we get to Filippo Pozzato, he was a nice ride for 3rd, 13 seconds behind Gutiérrez and keeps his overall lead. Taylor Phinney has to settle for 6th place after setting the mark to beat for most of the stage.

Stage

GC

After a Katusha dominated Oman, there is one last stage for this crazy tour.



Phinney isn't going to let down his American fans here today and starts the morning breakaway with Andrey Solomennikov.



At today's only sprint point they have broken free with a 4 minute gap.



Working together they get the gap to max out at 9 minutes, but as they reach the start of the circuit it is cut back to 6 minutes.



40kms to go, 4 minutes.



25kms to go, 2 minutes. Phinney attacks.



The pace is crazy high, causing a split in the peloton. 5th overall Daniel Moreno and Richie Porte are caught out.



It was only a matter on time, the breakaway is pulled back.



Here goes the bunch sprint. Pozzato has another great leadout, with Ale-Jet on his wheel. With Francisco José Ventoso fighting for position.



Ventoso starts the sprint early with great speed, Pettachi doesn't want to get out of Pozzato's slipstream.



Movistar should be happy with that win.
Pozzato and Pettachi just waited to long.

Stage

GC