The final stage of the
Tour of Oman was fast and furious, but despite a flurry of attacks throughout the day it was the
UAE Team Emirates sprinter
Fernando Gaviria who took the win in a bunch sprint, with Jan Hirt safely making it over the line and solidifying the GC.
The break of the day settles with Johan Meens (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Victor Langelotti (Burgos-BH), Mohammed Al-Wahibi (Oman national team), Gerd de Keijzer (Team Novo Nordisk), Peio Goikoetxea (Euskaltel - Euskadi)Alexandre Vinokourov and Harold Martin Lopez (Astana Qazaqstan Development Team) made for a dangerous breakaway as the stage was short and explosive, however they struggled to get much of an advantage as Team BikeExchange - Jayco controlled the peloton.
Attacks came often in the peloton with DSM once again repeatedly trying to blow up the race, with 50 kilometers to go Kevin Vermaerke and Kevin Vauquelin atacked from the peloton, to be brough back later as Intermarché paced, and DSM themselves pushed on the main climb of the day with 31 kilometers to go trying to blow up the peloton again.
The race settled down afterwards as the groups reunited, the breakaway was reeled in and Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team seemed to be controlling the occasional moves from the peloton. In the final lap, on a small hilltop with 3 kilometers to go Vauquelin went on the attack again bringing the GC contenders alongside, with Søren Kragh Andersen attacking over the top but being reeled in just before the final sprint with BikeExchange leading things out.
Fernando Gaviria was the fastest in the final sprint as he went over
Kaden Groves to take his second win of the race, with
Amaury Capiot finishing third. In the final sprint there was a dispute as Max Richeze seemed to have blocked the way for
Mark Cavendish to pass, leaving the Briton visibly frustrated over the line.
Despite being attacked, Jan Hirt managed to respond to the moves put in the peloton and has sealed the overall win wrapping off a very successful week for
Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux, with
Fausto Masnada and
Rui Costa wrapping up the podium.