Joaquin Rodriguez (KAT) put behind the worries of impending CAS decision on his team to win the Queen stage of 2013 Tour of Oman. Purito once again demonstrated his appetite for the steep stuff when he crossed the line ahead of Chris Froome (SKY). Birthday boy Cadel Evans (BMC) was also in the mix of things and took his first podium place of the season.

Froome now leads the general classification ahead of Evans +22s and Contador +25s. The race now looks all set for the Sky team leader to win.

Race Report

Just after noon, 142 riders took off from Al Saltiyah in Samail for a demanding 143km ride to Jabal Al Akhdhar, also known as the Green Mountain. Despite an extremely fast start, five men managed to break away at km 11: Bookwalter (BMC), Rast (RLT), Smukulis (KAT), Schillinger (TNE) and Friedemann (CSS). The leading five enjoyed a light tailwind and covered 44.6kms during the first hour. At km 46, the first intermediate sprint (km 46) was claimed by Schillinger ahead of Friedemann and Rast, while the pack led by riders from Saxo-Tinkoff, Sky and Astana remained 4’25 adrift.

The pack remained in shooting distance of the breakaway riders and the gap slowly dropped down. At the second bonus sprint just before the final climb (km 132), won by Friedemann in front of Rast and Smukulis, the pack remained 1’05 adrift. The leading five were finally caught at km 136.

It was always going to be the ending in the imposing Jebel Akhdar mountains which defined this race. With 5.8kms at an average gradient of 10.3%, this is an ultimate endurance challenge for these elite riders so early in the season. In the first moments of the climb up Jabal Al Akhdhar, the battle between the top guns started. While Red Jersey Peter Sagan and Bradley Wiggins (SKY) were rapidly dropped, Alberto Contador (TST) powered away. Maybe too early. He was eventually to be caught by team mate Hernandez, Nibali (AST), and Porte (SKY) with 4.5kms to go. In the final 3 kilometres, 8 men gathered together at the front: Froome (SKY), Evans (BMC), Contador, Nibali, Rodriguez (KAT), Elissonde, Jeannesson (both FDJ), Nocentini (ALM) and Tschopp (IAM). Just before the last kilometre, Rodriguez managed to take off. He was never to be caught and captured a fine win ahead of Froome by 4”, Evans by 22” and Contador by 27”.

Froome captures the overall leadership with a 24” advantage over Evans and 25” over Contador, and will therefore be wearing the Red Jersey on tomorrow’s 5th stage. Tomorrow’s stage will start at Al Alam Palace in the heart of Muscat and will revisit the impressive series of switch back climbs over the new Bousher-Alamrat road for three ascents. All coming in the final 50km of the race, two of them will offer points for the red and green jersey for the most aggressive rider, with the third climb counting as an intermediate sprint.

Race Results

Tour of Oman (2013) - Stage 4

Al Saltiyah in Samail to Jabal Al Akhdhar (153km)
14 Feb 2013
Stage 6  |  Stage 5  |  Stage 4  |  Stage 3  |  Stage 2  |  Stage 1


Stage
Position Name Nationality Team Time
1 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin ESP KATUSHA 3:34:48
2 FROOME, Chris GBR SKY PROCYCLING 4
3 EVANS, Cadel AUS BMC RACING 22
4 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto ESP Saxo Tinkoff 27
5 NIBALI, Vincenzo ITA ASTANA 35
6 ELISSONDE, Kenny FRA FDJ-BIG MAT 43
7 TSCHOPP, Johann SUI IAM Cycling 52
8 NOCENTINI, Rinaldo ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE 57
9 JEANNESSON, Arnold FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +1:01
10 EIJSSEN, Yannick BEL BMC RACING +1:09
11 BOUET, Maxime FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
12 POZZOVIVO, Domenico ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE +1:12
13 CUMMINGS, Stephen GBR BMC RACING +1:18
14 VOSS, Paul GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +1:30
15 BUSCHE, Matthew USA Radioshack Leopard +1:40
16 IMPEY, Daryl RSA ORICA-GREENEDGE
17 SOUPE, Geoffrey FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +1:52
18 SCHÄR, Michael SUI BMC RACING +1:54
19 STYBAR, Zdenek CZE OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
20 ELMIGER, Martin SUI IAM Cycling
21 GRIVKO, Andriy UKR ASTANA +2:09
22 CANOLA, Marco ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +2:12
23 VELITS, Peter SVK OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +2:16
24 LAGUTIN, Sergey UZB VACANSOLEIL-DCM +2:18
25 GILBERT, Philippe BEL BMC RACING
26 FENG, Chun Kai TPE CHAMPION SYSTEM +2:41
27 CANCELLARA, Fabian SUI Radioshack Leopard +2:44
28 PASQUALON, Andrea ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +2:49
29 RUIJGH, Rob NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +2:53
30 FUMEAUX, Jonathan SUI IAM Cycling +2:59
31 GALLOPIN, Tony FRA Radioshack Leopard +3:11
32 ROULSTON, Hayden NZL Radioshack Leopard +3:26
33 BRUTT, Pavel RUS KATUSHA +3:42
34 NISHIZONO, Ryota JPN CHAMPION SYSTEM +3:48
35 NISHITANI, Taiji JPN JAPAN
36 PENGDA, Jiao CHN CHAMPION SYSTEM +4:14
37 VAN AVERMAET, Greg BEL BMC RACING +4:17
38 ROLLIN, Dominique CAN FDJ-BIG MAT
39 KUSCHYNSKI, Aliaksandr BLR KATUSHA +4:28
40 HOLLENSTEIN, Reto SUI IAM Cycling +4:47
41 CATALDO, Dario ITA SKY PROCYCLING +5:00
42 MARCATO, Marco ITA VACANSOLEIL-DCM
43 SANO, Junya JPN JAPAN
44 PORTE, Richie AUS SKY PROCYCLING +5:21
45 HERNANDEZ BLAZQUEZ, Jesus ESP Saxo Tinkoff
46 PHINNEY, Taylor USA BMC RACING
47 KEUKELEIRE, Jens BEL ORICA-GREENEDGE +5:24
48 SUZUKI, Yuzuru JPN JAPAN
49 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR Radioshack Leopard +5:29
50 BEPPU, Fumiyuki JPN ORICA-GREENEDGE +5:33
51 FISCHER, Murilo Antonio BRA FDJ-BIG MAT +5:34
52 GODDAERT, Kristof BEL IAM Cycling +5:56
53 BRESCHEL, Matti DEN Saxo Tinkoff +6:06
54 STAMSNIJDER, Tom NED ARG +6:07
55 IRIZAR ARANBURU, Markel ESP Radioshack Leopard +6:13
56 DOMBROWSKI, Joseph Lloyd USA SKY PROCYCLING +6:23
57 COLBRELLI, Sonny ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +6:30
58 BEWLEY, Sam NZL ORICA-GREENEDGE +6:34
59 VAN POPPEL, Boy NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
60 MURAVYEV, Dmitriy KAZ ASTANA +6:48
61 DE MARCHI, Alessandro ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling +6:52
62 VAN KEIRSBULCK, Guillaume BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +7:10
63 MEERSMAN, Gianni BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
64 LANCASTER, Brett AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +7:21
65 RATTO, Daniele ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling +7:33
66 WIGGINS, Bradley GBR SKY PROCYCLING
67 ROWSELL, Erick GBR TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
68 CURVERS, Roy NED ARG +7:51
69 HINAULT, Sébastien FRA IAM Cycling +7:54
70 BOUCHER, David FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
71 BOOKWALTER, Brent USA BMC RACING +7:59
72 DI CORRADO, Andrea ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +8:16
73 MOURIS, Jens NED ORICA-GREENEDGE +8:32
74 KOREN, Kristijan SLO Cannondale Pro Cycling +8:38
75 COOKE, Baden AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE
76 SINKELDAM, Ramon NED ARG
77 DEGENKOLB, John GER ARG
78 WETTERHALL, Alexander SWE TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
79 TRENTIN, Matteo ITA OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
80 IGLINSKIY, Valentin KAZ AG2R LA MONDIALE
81 DEMPSTER, Zakkari AUS TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
82 GRUZDEV, Dmitriy KAZ ASTANA
83 DOWNING, Russell GBR TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
84 CHAINEL, Steve FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
85 MINARD, Sébastien FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
86 KAMYSHEV, Arman KAZ ASTANA
87 KREDER, Wesley NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
88 KNEES, Christian GER SKY PROCYCLING +8:49
89 ISAICHEV, Vladimir RUS KATUSHA
90 KRISTOFF, Alexander NOR KATUSHA
91 GANG, Xu CHN CHAMPION SYSTEM +8:53
92 SCHILLINGER, Andreas GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +8:56
93 SMUKULIS, Gatis LAT KATUSHA
94 SABATINI, Fabio ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling
95 MOL, Wouter NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
96 SAGAN, Peter SVK Cannondale Pro Cycling
97 LANG, Pirmin SUI IAM Cycling
98 ARNDT, Nikias GER ARG +9:02
99 MEZGEC, Luka SLO ARG
100 BOZIC, Borut SLO ASTANA
101 BRAMMEIER, Matt IRL CHAMPION SYSTEM +9:08
102 KITTEL, Marcel GER ARG +9:09
103 RAST, Grégory SUI Radioshack Leopard +9:11
104 VANDENBERGH, Stijn BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +9:22
105 BOONEN, Tom BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
106 VIVIANI, Elia ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling
107 BODNAR, Maciej POL Cannondale Pro Cycling
108 TRAKSEL, Bobbie NED CHAMPION SYSTEM +9:32
109 BONNET, William FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +9:37
110 VAN POPPEL, Danny NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
111 VEELERS, Tom NED ARG +9:40
112 KENNAUGH, Peter GBR SKY PROCYCLING +9:53
113 BOIVIN, Guillaume CAN Cannondale Pro Cycling +10:23
114 EICHLER, Markus GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +10:25
115 DEVOLDER, Stijn BEL Radioshack Leopard
116 TOSATTO, Matteo ITA Saxo Tinkoff +11:12
117 BANDIERA, Marco ITA IAM Cycling
118 MORI, Kazuhiro JPN JAPAN
119 UCHIMA, Kohei JPN JAPAN
120 BAGDONAS, Gediminas LTU AG2R LA MONDIALE +11:36
121 TERPSTRA, Niki NED OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +11:57
122 VAN HUMMEL, Kenny Robert NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
123 GOSS, Matthew Harley AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +12:43
124 Jae JANG, Chan PRK CHAMPION SYSTEM
125 SELIG, Rudiger GER KATUSHA +13:07
126 COLEDAN, Marco ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +13:13
127 FORTIN, Filippo ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +13:15
128 APPOLLONIO, Davide ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE +13:19
129 KIRYIENKA, Vasili BLR SKY PROCYCLING +13:22
130 GUARNIERI, Jacopo ITA ASTANA +13:23
131 JÖRGENSEN, Jonas Aaen DEN Saxo Tinkoff +13:33
132 HUFFMAN, Evan USA ASTANA
133 DELLE STELLE, Christian ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX
134 HALLER, Marco AUT KATUSHA
135 JARC, Blaz SLO TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
136 LUND, Anders DEN Saxo Tinkoff
137 BENNATI, Daniele ITA Saxo Tinkoff
138 KUMP, Marko SLO Saxo Tinkoff
139 KINOSHITA, Tomohiro JPN JAPAN
140 HATANAKA, Yusuke JPN JAPAN
141 BOUHANNI, Nacer FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +14:22
142 FRIEDEMANN, Matthias GER CHAMPION SYSTEM +15:10

General Classification
Position Name Nationality Team Time
1 FROOME, Chris GBR SKY PROCYCLING 16:35:05
2 EVANS, Cadel AUS BMC RACING 24
3 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto ESP Saxo Tinkoff 25
4 NIBALI, Vincenzo ITA ASTANA 34
5 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin ESP KATUSHA 45
6 ELISSONDE, Kenny FRA FDJ-BIG MAT 49
7 NOCENTINI, Rinaldo ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE 58
8 TSCHOPP, Johann SUI IAM Cycling
9 BOUET, Maxime FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE +1:15
10 JEANNESSON, Arnold FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +1:23
11 EIJSSEN, Yannick BEL BMC RACING +1:24
12 POZZOVIVO, Domenico ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE +1:25
13 VOSS, Paul GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +1:36
14 IMPEY, Daryl RSA ORICA-GREENEDGE +1:46
15 ELMIGER, Martin SUI IAM Cycling +1:50
16 CUMMINGS, Stephen GBR BMC RACING +1:54
17 STYBAR, Zdenek CZE OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +1:56
18 BUSCHE, Matthew USA Radioshack Leopard +2:02
19 SOUPE, Geoffrey FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +2:07
20 GRIVKO, Andriy UKR ASTANA +2:15
21 VELITS, Peter SVK OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +2:17
22 CANOLA, Marco ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +2:18
23 GILBERT, Philippe BEL BMC RACING +2:19
24 LAGUTIN, Sergey UZB VACANSOLEIL-DCM +2:33
25 CANCELLARA, Fabian SUI Radioshack Leopard +2:50
26 PASQUALON, Andrea ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX
27 GALLOPIN, Tony FRA Radioshack Leopard +2:53
28 FUMEAUX, Jonathan SUI IAM Cycling +3:05
29 RUIJGH, Rob NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +3:08
30 SCHÄR, Michael SUI BMC RACING +3:18
31 BRUTT, Pavel RUS KATUSHA +3:57
32 FENG, Chun Kai TPE CHAMPION SYSTEM +4:06
33 VAN AVERMAET, Greg BEL BMC RACING +4:09
34 NISHITANI, Taiji JPN JAPAN +4:18
35 MARCATO, Marco ITA VACANSOLEIL-DCM +4:58
36 NISHIZONO, Ryota JPN CHAMPION SYSTEM +5:53
37 ROLLIN, Dominique CAN FDJ-BIG MAT +5:55
38 BRESCHEL, Matti DEN Saxo Tinkoff +6:12
39 HOLLENSTEIN, Reto SUI IAM Cycling +6:26
40 PHINNEY, Taylor USA BMC RACING +6:35
41 ROULSTON, Hayden NZL Radioshack Leopard +6:37
42 SANO, Junya JPN JAPAN +6:56
43 PENGDA, Jiao CHN CHAMPION SYSTEM +7:09
44 MEERSMAN, Gianni BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +7:16
45 SUZUKI, Yuzuru JPN JAPAN +7:21
46 HERNANDEZ BLAZQUEZ, Jesus ESP Saxo Tinkoff +7:31
47 BEPPU, Fumiyuki JPN ORICA-GREENEDGE +7:45
48 KEUKELEIRE, Jens BEL ORICA-GREENEDGE +7:55
49 KUSCHYNSKI, Aliaksandr BLR KATUSHA +8:02
50 DOMBROWSKI, Joseph Lloyd USA SKY PROCYCLING +8:09
51 CATALDO, Dario ITA SKY PROCYCLING +8:15
52 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR Radioshack Leopard +8:16
53 COLBRELLI, Sonny ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +8:20
54 SAGAN, Peter SVK Cannondale Pro Cycling +8:22
55 GODDAERT, Kristof BEL IAM Cycling +8:27
56 PORTE, Richie AUS SKY PROCYCLING +8:29
57 VAN POPPEL, Boy NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +8:55
58 DEMPSTER, Zakkari AUS TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +9:08
59 IRIZAR ARANBURU, Markel ESP Radioshack Leopard +9:24
60 VANDENBERGH, Stijn BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +9:52
61 HINAULT, Sébastien FRA IAM Cycling +10:00
62 BOOKWALTER, Brent USA BMC RACING +10:11
63 WIGGINS, Bradley GBR SKY PROCYCLING +10:28
64 BOZIC, Borut SLO ASTANA +11:01
65 RATTO, Daniele ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling
66 DI CORRADO, Andrea ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +11:04
67 TRENTIN, Matteo ITA OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +11:09
68 CHAINEL, Steve FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
69 DEGENKOLB, John GER ARG +11:10
70 SCHILLINGER, Andreas GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +11:12
71 MINARD, Sébastien FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE +11:14
72 KRISTOFF, Alexander NOR KATUSHA +11:20
73 DE MARCHI, Alessandro ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling +11:24
74 GANG, Xu CHN CHAMPION SYSTEM
75 MEZGEC, Luka SLO ARG +11:25
76 LANG, Pirmin SUI IAM Cycling +11:32
77 KOREN, Kristijan SLO Cannondale Pro Cycling +11:38
78 BOUCHER, David FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +11:41
79 LANCASTER, Brett AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +11:43
80 SMUKULIS, Gatis LAT KATUSHA +11:50
81 BANDIERA, Marco ITA IAM Cycling +12:00
82 SABATINI, Fabio ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling +12:02
83 ISAICHEV, Vladimir RUS KATUSHA +12:10
84 FISCHER, Murilo Antonio BRA FDJ-BIG MAT +12:30
85 WETTERHALL, Alexander SWE TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +12:33
86 BONNET, William FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +12:47
87 TERPSTRA, Niki NED OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +12:52
88 CURVERS, Roy NED ARG +12:59
89 VAN KEIRSBULCK, Guillaume BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +13:02
90 BOONEN, Tom BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +13:18
91 BODNAR, Maciej POL Cannondale Pro Cycling +13:22
92 BEWLEY, Sam NZL ORICA-GREENEDGE +13:50
93 EICHLER, Markus GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +13:59
94 SINKELDAM, Ramon NED ARG +14:06
95 BOUHANNI, Nacer FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +14:19
96 DOWNING, Russell GBR TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
97 BAGDONAS, Gediminas LTU AG2R LA MONDIALE +14:23
98 DEVOLDER, Stijn BEL Radioshack Leopard +14:45
99 GRUZDEV, Dmitriy KAZ ASTANA +14:52
100 MURAVYEV, Dmitriy KAZ ASTANA +15:08
101 ROWSELL, Erick GBR TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +15:10
102 KAMYSHEV, Arman KAZ ASTANA +15:19
103 APPOLLONIO, Davide ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE +15:30
104 KNEES, Christian GER SKY PROCYCLING +15:33
105 RAST, Grégory SUI Radioshack Leopard +15:41
106 VIVIANI, Elia ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling +15:42
107 VAN POPPEL, Danny NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +15:54
108 KREDER, Wesley NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +15:58
109 SELIG, Rudiger GER KATUSHA +16:02
110 ARNDT, Nikias GER ARG +16:44
111 KENNAUGH, Peter GBR SKY PROCYCLING +17:00
112 JARC, Blaz SLO TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +17:07
113 MOL, Wouter NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +17:10
114 COOKE, Baden AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +17:12
115 BENNATI, Daniele ITA Saxo Tinkoff +17:29
116 HUFFMAN, Evan USA ASTANA
117 STAMSNIJDER, Tom NED ARG +17:55
118 BRAMMEIER, Matt IRL CHAMPION SYSTEM +18:26
119 TOSATTO, Matteo ITA Saxo Tinkoff +19:18
120 MOURIS, Jens NED ORICA-GREENEDGE +19:24
121 KUMP, Marko SLO Saxo Tinkoff +19:50
122 MORI, Kazuhiro JPN JAPAN +19:54
123 GOSS, Matthew Harley AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +20:29
124 HALLER, Marco AUT KATUSHA +20:36
125 IGLINSKIY, Valentin KAZ AG2R LA MONDIALE +20:38
126 KITTEL, Marcel GER ARG +20:56
127 FRIEDEMANN, Matthias GER CHAMPION SYSTEM +21:08
128 VEELERS, Tom NED ARG +21:40
129 JÖRGENSEN, Jonas Aaen DEN Saxo Tinkoff +21:47
130 Jae JANG, Chan PRK CHAMPION SYSTEM +22:08
131 LUND, Anders DEN Saxo Tinkoff +22:12
132 GUARNIERI, Jacopo ITA ASTANA +22:13
133 UCHIMA, Kohei JPN JAPAN +22:22
134 BOIVIN, Guillaume CAN Cannondale Pro Cycling +22:23
135 DELLE STELLE, Christian ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +22:46
136 COLEDAN, Marco ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +22:48
137 FORTIN, Filippo ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +22:50
138 KIRYIENKA, Vasili BLR SKY PROCYCLING +23:47
139 VAN HUMMEL, Kenny Robert NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +23:57
140 HATANAKA, Yusuke JPN JAPAN +27:11
141 KINOSHITA, Tomohiro JPN JAPAN +27:36
142 TRAKSEL, Bobbie NED CHAMPION SYSTEM +28:56