February 13, 2013 (Wadi Dayqah Dam, Oman) – A beautiful blue sky, around 25’C and quite a scenery was on the menu for the start of stage 3 at the Tour of Oman, just in front of the splendid Nakhal Fort. The 142 riders took off at 11:16 for the longest stage of the event: 190kms of rifding all the way to the Wadi Dayqah Dam.

After just a kilometre, three men managed to breakaway: Delle Stelle (BAR), Jang (CSS) and Hatanaka (JPN). They were soon to be caught by a fourth rider: the holder of the most aggressive rider jersey, Bobbie Traksel (CSS), already in breakaways on the first two days. Their lead grew from 1′ at km 5 to a maximum 9’10 at the first intermediate sprint (km 37) won by Traksel ahead of Delle Stelle and Jang.

From then on, the Cannondale team of Red Jersey Peter Sagan (CAN) took on the chase. After covering 44.6kms during the first hour of racing, the gap dropped down to 7’30 at km 50. Going up the first climb of the day, at Boucher Alamrat, Delle Stelle took off on his own. The Italian reached the top with a 1’10 lead over Traksel, Jang and Hatanaka, and 2’25 over the pack. On the descent Traksel stopped his effort and was caught by the pack at km 100. Shortly later, Delle Stelle was again joined by his former companions as three men led the stage. At km 109, the leading trio could enjoy a 4’10 advantage.

The second bonus sprint (at km 143.5) was claimed by Delle Stelle ahead of Jang and Hatanaka. Shortly after, Jang was forced to stop with cramps. The Korean was eventually caught by the pack at km 149, leaving two men in the lead. After enjoying a 1’55 lead at km 150, Delle Stelle was the first to be caught by the pack at kilometre 172. It was then Hatanaka’s turn to be gobbled up by the hungry peloton at km 172.

The pack remained bunched for the final showdown. With just 7 kms to go, Lancaster (OGE) tried his luck but after enjoying an 8″ lead was caught back by a pack led by teams SKY and Cannondale. Heading up to the finish on the last 800m, Sagan took off. He hung on to the lead all the way to the line, beating Van Avermaet (BMC), Gallopin (RLT) and Contador (TST) by one second.

Sagan keeps his overall leader’s Red Jersey with a 16″ lead over Gallopin and 26″ over Van Avermaet. He also remains the best young rider and now also leads the points’ classification. Traksel keeps the Most Aggressive rider’s jersey.

Results

Stage 1 – Feb. 11 – Al Musannah to Sultan Qaboos University – 162km
1.  Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano  4:04:59
2.  Davide Appollonio (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
3.  Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ
4.  Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha
5.  Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
6.  Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team
7.  Filippo Fortin (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox
8.  Kristof Goddaert (Bel) IAM Cycling
9.  Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
10.  Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana Pro Team

34.  Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJ
107.  Guillaume Boivin (Can) Cannondale Pro Cycling

Stage 2 – Feb. 12 – Fanja in Bidbid to Al Bustan – 146km
1.  Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling  3:48:36
2.  Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack Leopard  0:00:05
3.  Martin Elmiger (Sui) IAM Cycling
4.  Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team
5.  Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  0:00:07
6.  Christopher Froome (Gbr) Sky Procycling
7.  Marco Bandiera (Ita) IAM Cycling  0:00:11
8.  Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
9.  Daryl Impey (Rsa) Orica-GreenEdge
10.  Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ

52. Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJ
113.  Guillaume Boivin (Can) Cannondale Pro Cycling  0:05:33

Stage 3 – Feb. 13 – Nakhal Fort to Wadi Dayqah Dam – 190km
1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling 5:06:28
2. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:00:01
3. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack Leopard
4. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
5. Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
6. Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 0:00:04
7. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
8. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
9. Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
10. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ

67. Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJ
132. Guillaume Boivin (Can) Cannondale Pro Cycling

GC after Stage 3
1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling 12:59:43
2. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack Leopard 0:00:16
3. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:00:26
4. Martin Elmiger (Sui) IAM Cycling 0:00:30
5. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ 0:00:31
6. Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:00:32
7. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
8. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:33
9. Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 0:00:35
10. Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox
11. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
12. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
13. Christopher Froome (Gbr) Sky Procycling 0:00:36
14. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
15. Paul Voss (Ger) Team NetApp-Endura 0:00:40
16. Daryl Impey (Rsa) Orica-GreenEdge
17. Marco Canola (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox
18. Fabian Cancellara (Sui) RadioShack Leopard
19. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team
20. Johann Tschopp (Sui) IAM Cycling
21. Jonathan Fumeaux (Sui) IAM Cycling
22. Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
23. Gianni Meersman (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
24. Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ
25. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
26. Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
27. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:47
28. Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:00:49
29. Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
30. Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ
31. Pavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha
32. Yannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing Team
33. Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ 0:00:56
34. Matthew Busche (USA) RadioShack Leopard
35. Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 0:01:04
36. Taiji Nishitani (Jpn) Japan
37. Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Team NetApp-Endura
38. Stephen Cummings (Gbr) BMC Racing Team 0:01:10
39. Marco Bandiera (Ita) IAM Cycling 0:01:22
40. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 0:01:29
41. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Esp) Katusha
42. Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:01:48
43. Michael Schär (Sui) BMC Racing Team 0:01:58
44. Feng Chun Kai (Tpe) Champion System Pro Cycling Team 0:01:59
45. Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJ 0:02:12
46. Reto Hollenstein (Sui) IAM Cycling 0:02:13
47. Joseph Lloyd Dombrowski (USA) Sky Procycling 0:02:20
48. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 0:02:24
49. Junya Sano (Jpn) Japan 0:02:30
50. Yuzuru Suzuki (Jpn) Japan 0:02:31
51. Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team 0:02:33
52. Ryota Nishizono (Jpn) Champion System Pro Cycling Team 0:02:39
53. Sébastien Hinault (Fra) IAM Cycling 0:02:40
54. Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Esp) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:02:44
55. Davide Appollonio (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:45
56. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:02:46
57. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Orica-GreenEdge
58. Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team NetApp-Endura 0:02:53
59. Boy van Poppel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:02:55
60. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team Argos-Shimano 0:02:57
61. Kristof Goddaert (Bel) IAM Cycling 0:03:05
62. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha
63. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
64. Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-GreenEdge
65. Steve Chainel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
66. Xu Gang (Chn) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
67. John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano 0:03:06
68. Pirmin Lang (Sui) IAM Cycling 0:03:10
69. Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
70. Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:21
71. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) RadioShack Leopard
72. Andrea Di Corrado (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 0:03:22
73. Rudiger Selig (Ger) Katusha 0:03:29
74. Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha
75. Jiao Pengda (Chn) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
76. Bradley Wiggins (Gbr) Sky Procycling
77. Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:03:34
78. Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:03:40
79. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling 0:03:42
80. William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ 0:03:44
81. Markel Irizar Aranburu (Esp) RadioShack Leopard 0:03:45
82. Hayden Roulston (Nzl) RadioShack Leopard
83. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Sky Procycling 0:03:49
84. Vladimir Isaichev (Rus) Katusha 0:03:55
85. Daniele Ratto (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:04:02
86. Blaz Jarc (Slo) Team NetApp-Endura 0:04:08
87. Markus Eichler (Ger) Team NetApp-Endura
88. Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Katusha
89. David Boucher (Fra) FDJ 0:04:21
90. Alexander Wetterhall (Swe) Team NetApp-Endura 0:04:29
91. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 0:04:30
92. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
93. Evan Huffman (USA) Astana Pro Team
94. Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:04:34
95. Stijn Devolder (Bel) RadioShack Leopard 0:04:54
96. Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:04:56
97. Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:05:06
98. Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano 0:05:42
99. Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano 0:06:02
100. Russell Downing (Gbr) Team NetApp-Endura 0:06:15
101. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 0:06:26
102. Matthias Friedemann (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling Team 0:06:37
103. Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 0:06:48
104. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:06:51
105. Marko Kump (Slo) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
106. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:06:54
107. Grégory Rast (Sui) RadioShack Leopard 0:07:07
108. Arman Kamyshev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 0:07:15
109. Christian Knees (Ger) Sky Procycling 0:07:18
110. Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) FDJ 0:07:30
111. Marco Haller (Aut) Katusha 0:07:37
112. Peter Kennaugh (Gbr) Sky Procycling 0:07:41
113. Sam Bewley (Nzl) Orica-GreenEdge 0:07:50
114. Wesley Kreder (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:07:54
115. Erick Rowsell (Gbr) Team NetApp-Endura 0:08:11
116. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano 0:08:16
117. Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:08:20
118. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:08:40
119. Wouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:08:48
120. Jonas Aaen Jörgensen (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
121. Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 0:08:54
122. Baden Cooke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:09:08
123. Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:09:13
124. Kazuhiro Mori (Jpn) Japan 0:09:16
125. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:09:24
126. Christian Delle Stelle (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 0:09:47
127. Matt Brammeier (Irl) Champion System Pro Cycling Team 0:09:52
128. Jang Chan Jae (Kor) Champion System Pro Cycling Team 0:09:59
129. Filippo Fortin (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 0:10:09
130. Marco Coledan (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox
131. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Sky Procycling 0:10:59
132. Jens Mouris (Ned) Orica-GreenEdge 0:11:26
133. Kohei Uchima (Jpn) Japan 0:11:44
134. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano 0:12:21
135. Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano 0:12:22
136. Kenny Robert van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:12:34
137. Tom Veelers (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano
138. Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) AG2R La Mondiale
139. Guillaume Boivin (Can) Cannondale Pro Cycling
140. Yusuke Hatanaka (Jpn) Japan 0:14:12
141. Tomohiro Kinoshita (Jpn) Japan 0:14:37
142. Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Champion System Pro Cycling Team 0:19:58