Another one for Tudor! Muscat Classic sees dramatic finale and sprint win for Rick Pluimers

The Muscat Classic gave continuation to the racing calendar in the Middle East and this Friday it was Tudor Pro Cycling Team coming out with another victory, as Rick Pluimers sprinted to victory after a very attacked finale with several groups threatening the victory.

The 'desert classic' featured quite a few short and sharp climbs, and it wasn't a race where everyone left it to the end. Early in the day as Rasmus Bogg Wallin and Adne van Engelen at first formed the day's breakaway, but more riders would come across later on. Outside the final 40 kilometers both would be caught and another head of the race opened up with Max Kanter, Xabier Mikel Azparren and Rayan Boulahoite.

Lorenzo Germani would soon attack from the peloton as those riders were caught, and then the Groupama - FDJ rider himself was joined by Chris Harper, Jay Vine and Pepijn Reinderink. The quarter was going to be quite dangerous as the peloton couldn't catch them into the final 1-kilometer long ascent. As the final climb started Damien Howson launched an attack in the peloton, with a few more moves coming off the front but none exploding the peloton to bits. 

Harper and Vine went over the summit, joined by Ruben Guerreiro who bridged across from behind, and a small peloton chasing closely. It was almost a perfect attack, but there were enough sprint interests behind to chase down the move already inside the final kilometer and see a small group sprint. It was Rick Pluimers who won this unusual sprint, bringing in another victory for the Swiss team, with Jenthe Biermans and Henok Mulubrhan completing the podium.