Chris Froome (SKY) pipped Alberto Contador (TST) on the finish line to win Stage 5 of 2013 Tour of Oman. After their gripping battle in 2012 Vuelta a Espana, it was once again intriguing to see Froome and Contador fighting it out for the victory. Today’s win should give Team Sky’s designated Tour leader much confidence boost as he also looks set to wrap up the general classification ahead of the likes of Cadel Evans (BMC) and Vincenzo Nibali (AST). Yesterday’s winner Joaquin Rodriguez (KAT) held onto the third place podium finish to complete a good day for his Katusha team.

Race Report

After possibly the greatest battle the Tour of Oman has ever witnessed, Red Jersey Christopher Froome captured his very first stage win, only just beating Contador to the line. After yesterday’s demanding stage up to the Green Mountain, it was an early start for the 141 remaining riders of the Tour of Oman for stage 5 of the event. While former race leader and two-time stage winner Peter Sagan was forced to quit, ill, the pack took off just after ten o’clock for a 144kms ride to Boshar and the Ministry of Housing.

After a very fast start, 9 men broke away after 11 kilometres: Stybar, Trentin (both OPQ), Van Avermaet (BMC), Irizar (RLT), Hernandez (TST), Grivko (AST), Kuchynski (KAT), Minard (ALM) and Schillinger (TNE). At km 20, they could enjoy a 1’35 lead that grew to 2’45 at the first intermediate sprint (km 60.4), won by Stybar ahead of Minard and Kuchynski.

First at the top of the first climb of the day at Boucher Alamrat (km 102) was Hernandez in front of Stybar and Schillinger while the pack remained 2’35 adrift. On the second climb of the hill, the real battle between the favourites started. Again Hernandez was first to the top (km 116.5) in front of Stybar and Van Avermaet with a slim 15” lead over Contador (TST) and 18” over Froome (SKY).

Chris Froome (SKY) takes the stage win as well as the red jersey for the overall competition and green jersey for points. All the breakaway riders were finally caught at km 120. On the third and final climb, Contador continued attacking, never quite getting rid of Froome, while Green Jersey Gallopin (RLT) and Wiggins (SKY) were dropped well behind. Three men managed to breakaway: Contador, Rodriguez and Froome reaching the top in that order. Their gap grew in their final descent heading back towards Muscat on a group of 7 men including Cadel Evans. With 3 kilometres left, the front three had a 20” lead over the Evans group. It finally came down to a three-man sprint won by Froome, in front of Contador and Rodriguez, Evans crossing the finish line just 4” adrift.

In the new overall standings, with one stage to go, Froome now has a 27” lead over Contador and 39” over Evans. Tomorrow’s sixth and final stage will will witness the race finale on the Matrah Corniche. Starting at Hawit Nagam Park in Quryat, at 1140 am the peleton will have one modest climb at Al Mishaf before heading back into town for a three lap circuit of the Corniche.

Race Results

Tour of Oman (2013) - Stage 5

Al Alam Palace to Ministry of Housing in Boshar (144km)
15 Feb 2013


Stage
Position Name Nationality Team Time
1 FROOME, Chris GBR SKY PROCYCLING 3:29:19
2 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto ESP Saxo Tinkoff 0
3 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin ESP KATUSHA
4 IMPEY, Daryl RSA ORICA-GREENEDGE 4
5 STYBAR, Zdenek CZE OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
6 NOCENTINI, Rinaldo ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE
7 TSCHOPP, Johann SUI IAM Cycling
8 EVANS, Cadel AUS BMC RACING
9 HERNANDEZ BLAZQUEZ, Jesus ESP Saxo Tinkoff
10 POZZOVIVO, Domenico ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE 8
11 SOUPE, Geoffrey FRA FDJ-BIG MAT 34
12 BRESCHEL, Matti DEN Saxo Tinkoff
13 RATTO, Daniele ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling
14 GILBERT, Philippe BEL BMC RACING
15 EIJSSEN, Yannick BEL BMC RACING
16 MARCATO, Marco ITA VACANSOLEIL-DCM
17 VOSS, Paul GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
18 BOUET, Maxime FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
19 ELMIGER, Martin SUI IAM Cycling
20 VELITS, Peter SVK OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
21 ELISSONDE, Kenny FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
22 GALLOPIN, Tony FRA Radioshack Leopard
23 BUSCHE, Matthew USA Radioshack Leopard
24 TRENTIN, Matteo ITA OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
25 HOLLENSTEIN, Reto SUI IAM Cycling
26 BODNAR, Maciej POL Cannondale Pro Cycling
27 GRIVKO, Andriy UKR ASTANA
28 PORTE, Richie AUS SKY PROCYCLING
29 NIBALI, Vincenzo ITA ASTANA
30 CUMMINGS, Stephen GBR BMC RACING
31 DE MARCHI, Alessandro ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling
32 SCHÄR, Michael SUI BMC RACING
33 VAN AVERMAET, Greg BEL BMC RACING
34 VAN KEIRSBULCK, Guillaume BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +1:51
35 MEERSMAN, Gianni BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
36 PASQUALON, Andrea ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX
37 ARNDT, Nikias GER ARG
38 JEANNESSON, Arnold FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
39 SCHILLINGER, Andreas GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
40 VANDENBERGH, Stijn BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
41 CANOLA, Marco ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX
42 NISHITANI, Taiji JPN JAPAN
43 BANDIERA, Marco ITA IAM Cycling
44 BOOKWALTER, Brent USA BMC RACING
45 NISHIZONO, Ryota JPN CHAMPION SYSTEM
46 IRIZAR ARANBURU, Markel ESP Radioshack Leopard
47 FENG, Chun Kai TPE CHAMPION SYSTEM
48 KEUKELEIRE, Jens BEL ORICA-GREENEDGE
49 MEZGEC, Luka SLO ARG
50 BRUTT, Pavel RUS KATUSHA
51 RUIJGH, Rob NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
52 KENNAUGH, Peter GBR SKY PROCYCLING
53 CATALDO, Dario ITA SKY PROCYCLING
54 LAGUTIN, Sergey UZB VACANSOLEIL-DCM
55 COLBRELLI, Sonny ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +4:45
56 LANCASTER, Brett AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE
57 KOREN, Kristijan SLO Cannondale Pro Cycling
58 TERPSTRA, Niki NED OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
59 BOZIC, Borut SLO ASTANA
60 CURVERS, Roy NED ARG +8:07
61 DEGENKOLB, John GER ARG
62 VAN POPPEL, Boy NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
63 DOMBROWSKI, Joseph Lloyd USA SKY PROCYCLING
64 GODDAERT, Kristof BEL IAM Cycling
65 MINARD, Sébastien FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
66 HINAULT, Sébastien FRA IAM Cycling
67 RAST, Grégory SUI Radioshack Leopard
68 BEPPU, Fumiyuki JPN ORICA-GREENEDGE
69 ROULSTON, Hayden NZL Radioshack Leopard
70 CANCELLARA, Fabian SUI Radioshack Leopard
71 KUSCHYNSKI, Aliaksandr BLR KATUSHA
72 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR Radioshack Leopard
73 LUND, Anders DEN Saxo Tinkoff
74 TOSATTO, Matteo ITA Saxo Tinkoff
75 WIGGINS, Bradley GBR SKY PROCYCLING
76 FUMEAUX, Jonathan SUI IAM Cycling
77 PHINNEY, Taylor USA BMC RACING +12:48
78 SMUKULIS, Gatis LAT KATUSHA
79 SINKELDAM, Ramon NED ARG
80 VEELERS, Tom NED ARG
81 BOUCHER, David FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
82 GRUZDEV, Dmitriy KAZ ASTANA
83 BEWLEY, Sam NZL ORICA-GREENEDGE
84 CHAINEL, Steve FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
85 BONNET, William FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
86 BOUHANNI, Nacer FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
87 VIVIANI, Elia ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling
88 SABATINI, Fabio ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling
89 FISCHER, Murilo Antonio BRA FDJ-BIG MAT
90 GUARNIERI, Jacopo ITA ASTANA
91 HUFFMAN, Evan USA ASTANA
92 KUMP, Marko SLO Saxo Tinkoff
93 KAMYSHEV, Arman KAZ ASTANA
94 KNEES, Christian GER SKY PROCYCLING
95 KITTEL, Marcel GER ARG
96 WETTERHALL, Alexander SWE TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
97 STAMSNIJDER, Tom NED ARG
98 MOL, Wouter NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
99 IGLINSKIY, Valentin KAZ AG2R LA MONDIALE
100 COOKE, Baden AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE
101 DEVOLDER, Stijn BEL Radioshack Leopard
102 KIRYIENKA, Vasili BLR SKY PROCYCLING
103 MURAVYEV, Dmitriy KAZ ASTANA
104 SUZUKI, Yuzuru JPN JAPAN
105 DI CORRADO, Andrea ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX
106 COLEDAN, Marco ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX
107 DELLE STELLE, Christian ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX
108 BRAMMEIER, Matt IRL CHAMPION SYSTEM
109 BAGDONAS, Gediminas LTU AG2R LA MONDIALE
110 BOONEN, Tom BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
111 GOSS, Matthew Harley AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE
112 JARC, Blaz SLO TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
113 KRISTOFF, Alexander NOR KATUSHA
114 UCHIMA, Kohei JPN JAPAN
115 LANG, Pirmin SUI IAM Cycling
116 ROWSELL, Erick GBR TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
117 MOURIS, Jens NED ORICA-GREENEDGE
118 KREDER, Wesley NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
119 DEMPSTER, Zakkari AUS TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
120 DOWNING, Russell GBR TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
121 BENNATI, Daniele ITA Saxo Tinkoff
122 FORTIN, Filippo ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX
123 FRIEDEMANN, Matthias GER CHAMPION SYSTEM +13:23
124 SELIG, Rudiger GER KATUSHA
125 VAN HUMMEL, Kenny Robert NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
126 ISAICHEV, Vladimir RUS KATUSHA
127 HALLER, Marco AUT KATUSHA
128 Jae JANG, Chan PRK CHAMPION SYSTEM
129 GANG, Xu CHN CHAMPION SYSTEM
130 TRAKSEL, Bobbie NED CHAMPION SYSTEM
131 EICHLER, Markus GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
132 VAN POPPEL, Danny NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
133 JÖRGENSEN, Jonas Aaen DEN Saxo Tinkoff
134 MORI, Kazuhiro JPN JAPAN
135 KINOSHITA, Tomohiro JPN JAPAN
136 SANO, Junya JPN JAPAN
137 APPOLLONIO, Davide ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE
138 PENGDA, Jiao CHN CHAMPION SYSTEM +19:06
139 HATANAKA, Yusuke JPN JAPAN +20:55
140 BOIVIN, Guillaume CAN Cannondale Pro Cycling DNF
141 ROLLIN, Dominique CAN FDJ-BIG MAT DNF
142 SAGAN, Peter SVK Cannondale Pro Cycling DNF

General Classification
Position Name Nationality Team Time
1 FROOME, Chris GBR SKY PROCYCLING 20:04:13
2 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto ESP Saxo Tinkoff 27
3 EVANS, Cadel AUS BMC RACING 39
4 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin ESP KATUSHA 50
5 NOCENTINI, Rinaldo ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE +1:13
6 TSCHOPP, Johann SUI IAM Cycling
7 NIBALI, Vincenzo ITA ASTANA +1:19
8 ELISSONDE, Kenny FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +1:34
9 POZZOVIVO, Domenico ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE +1:44
10 BOUET, Maxime FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE +2:00
11 IMPEY, Daryl RSA ORICA-GREENEDGE +2:01
12 STYBAR, Zdenek CZE OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +2:08
13 EIJSSEN, Yannick BEL BMC RACING +2:09
14 VOSS, Paul GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +2:21
15 ELMIGER, Martin SUI IAM Cycling +2:35
16 CUMMINGS, Stephen GBR BMC RACING +2:39
17 BUSCHE, Matthew USA Radioshack Leopard +2:47
18 SOUPE, Geoffrey FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +2:52
19 GRIVKO, Andriy UKR ASTANA +3:00
20 VELITS, Peter SVK OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +3:02
21 GILBERT, Philippe BEL BMC RACING +3:04
22 JEANNESSON, Arnold FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +3:25
23 GALLOPIN, Tony FRA Radioshack Leopard +3:38
24 SCHÄR, Michael SUI BMC RACING +4:03
25 CANOLA, Marco ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +4:20
26 LAGUTIN, Sergey UZB VACANSOLEIL-DCM +4:35
27 PASQUALON, Andrea ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +4:52
28 VAN AVERMAET, Greg BEL BMC RACING +4:54
29 RUIJGH, Rob NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +5:10
30 MARCATO, Marco ITA VACANSOLEIL-DCM +5:43
31 BRUTT, Pavel RUS KATUSHA +5:59
32 FENG, Chun Kai TPE CHAMPION SYSTEM +6:08
33 NISHITANI, Taiji JPN JAPAN +6:20
34 BRESCHEL, Matti DEN Saxo Tinkoff +6:57
35 HOLLENSTEIN, Reto SUI IAM Cycling +7:11
36 HERNANDEZ BLAZQUEZ, Jesus ESP Saxo Tinkoff +7:46
37 NISHIZONO, Ryota JPN CHAMPION SYSTEM +7:55
38 PORTE, Richie AUS SKY PROCYCLING +9:14
39 MEERSMAN, Gianni BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +9:18
40 KEUKELEIRE, Jens BEL ORICA-GREENEDGE +9:57
41 CATALDO, Dario ITA SKY PROCYCLING +10:17
42 CANCELLARA, Fabian SUI Radioshack Leopard +11:08
43 FUMEAUX, Jonathan SUI IAM Cycling +11:23
44 IRIZAR ARANBURU, Markel ESP Radioshack Leopard +11:26
45 RATTO, Daniele ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling +11:46
46 VANDENBERGH, Stijn BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +11:54
47 TRENTIN, Matteo ITA OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
48 DE MARCHI, Alessandro ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling +12:09
49 BOOKWALTER, Brent USA BMC RACING +12:13
50 SCHILLINGER, Andreas GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +13:14
51 COLBRELLI, Sonny ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +13:16
52 MEZGEC, Luka SLO ARG +13:27
53 BANDIERA, Marco ITA IAM Cycling +14:02
54 BODNAR, Maciej POL Cannondale Pro Cycling +14:07
55 ROULSTON, Hayden NZL Radioshack Leopard +14:55
56 VAN KEIRSBULCK, Guillaume BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +15:04
57 BOZIC, Borut SLO ASTANA +15:57
58 BEPPU, Fumiyuki JPN ORICA-GREENEDGE +16:03
59 KUSCHYNSKI, Aliaksandr BLR KATUSHA +16:19
60 DOMBROWSKI, Joseph Lloyd USA SKY PROCYCLING +16:27
61 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR Radioshack Leopard +16:34
62 KOREN, Kristijan SLO Cannondale Pro Cycling
63 LANCASTER, Brett AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +16:39
64 GODDAERT, Kristof BEL IAM Cycling +16:45
65 VAN POPPEL, Boy NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +17:13
66 TERPSTRA, Niki NED OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +17:48
67 HINAULT, Sébastien FRA IAM Cycling +18:18
68 WIGGINS, Bradley GBR SKY PROCYCLING +18:46
69 ARNDT, Nikias GER ARG
70 KENNAUGH, Peter GBR SKY PROCYCLING +19:02
71 DEGENKOLB, John GER ARG +19:28
72 MINARD, Sébastien FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE +19:30
73 PHINNEY, Taylor USA BMC RACING +19:34
74 SUZUKI, Yuzuru JPN JAPAN +20:20
75 SANO, Junya JPN JAPAN +20:30
76 CURVERS, Roy NED ARG +21:17
77 DEMPSTER, Zakkari AUS TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +22:07
78 RAST, Grégory SUI Radioshack Leopard +23:59
79 DI CORRADO, Andrea ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +24:03
80 CHAINEL, Steve FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE +24:08
81 KRISTOFF, Alexander NOR KATUSHA +24:19
82 LANG, Pirmin SUI IAM Cycling +24:31
83 BOUCHER, David FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +24:40
84 SMUKULIS, Gatis LAT KATUSHA +24:49
85 GANG, Xu CHN CHAMPION SYSTEM +24:58
86 SABATINI, Fabio ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling +25:01
87 FISCHER, Murilo Antonio BRA FDJ-BIG MAT +25:29
88 WETTERHALL, Alexander SWE TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +25:32
89 ISAICHEV, Vladimir RUS KATUSHA +25:44
90 BONNET, William FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +25:46
91 BOONEN, Tom BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +26:17
92 PENGDA, Jiao CHN CHAMPION SYSTEM +26:26
93 BEWLEY, Sam NZL ORICA-GREENEDGE +26:49
94 SINKELDAM, Ramon NED ARG +27:05
95 BOUHANNI, Nacer FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +27:18
96 DOWNING, Russell GBR TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
97 BAGDONAS, Gediminas LTU AG2R LA MONDIALE +27:22
98 EICHLER, Markus GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +27:33
99 TOSATTO, Matteo ITA Saxo Tinkoff +27:36
100 DEVOLDER, Stijn BEL Radioshack Leopard +27:44
101 GRUZDEV, Dmitriy KAZ ASTANA +27:51
102 MURAVYEV, Dmitriy KAZ ASTANA +28:07
103 ROWSELL, Erick GBR TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +28:09
104 KAMYSHEV, Arman KAZ ASTANA +28:18
105 KNEES, Christian GER SKY PROCYCLING +28:32
106 VIVIANI, Elia ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling +28:41
107 KREDER, Wesley NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +28:57
108 APPOLLONIO, Davide ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE +29:04
109 VAN POPPEL, Danny NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +29:28
110 SELIG, Rudiger GER KATUSHA +29:36
111 JARC, Blaz SLO TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +30:06
112 MOL, Wouter NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +30:09
113 COOKE, Baden AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +30:11
114 BENNATI, Daniele ITA Saxo Tinkoff +30:28
115 HUFFMAN, Evan USA ASTANA
116 LUND, Anders DEN Saxo Tinkoff +30:30
117 STAMSNIJDER, Tom NED ARG +30:54
118 BRAMMEIER, Matt IRL CHAMPION SYSTEM +31:25
119 MOURIS, Jens NED ORICA-GREENEDGE +32:23
120 KUMP, Marko SLO Saxo Tinkoff +32:49
121 GOSS, Matthew Harley AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +33:28
122 MORI, Kazuhiro JPN JAPAN
123 IGLINSKIY, Valentin KAZ AG2R LA MONDIALE +33:37
124 KITTEL, Marcel GER ARG +33:55
125 HALLER, Marco AUT KATUSHA +34:10
126 VEELERS, Tom NED ARG +34:39
127 FRIEDEMANN, Matthias GER CHAMPION SYSTEM +34:42
128 GUARNIERI, Jacopo ITA ASTANA +35:12
129 JÖRGENSEN, Jonas Aaen DEN Saxo Tinkoff +35:21
130 UCHIMA, Kohei JPN JAPAN
131 Jae JANG, Chan PRK CHAMPION SYSTEM +35:42
132 DELLE STELLE, Christian ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +35:45
133 COLEDAN, Marco ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +35:47
134 FORTIN, Filippo ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX +35:49
135 KIRYIENKA, Vasili BLR SKY PROCYCLING +36:46
136 VAN HUMMEL, Kenny Robert NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +37:31
137 KINOSHITA, Tomohiro JPN JAPAN +41:10
138 TRAKSEL, Bobbie NED CHAMPION SYSTEM +42:30
139 HATANAKA, Yusuke JPN JAPAN +48:17