02.17 - Tour of Oman: Stage 3

Bye, bye Muscat - we're off to Sur, 300-kilometres down the Omani coastline...

Things are a bit behind schedule - riders like Christian Vande Velde are getitng changed on the speeding boat as it nears Sur...

GARMINOMAN

The cyclists disembark from the high-speed boat less than one hour before the start...

TRANSPORTOMAN

Joost Posthuma dresses and packs his bag on someone's terrrace in Sur...

LEOPARDOMAN

Alexandre Vinokurov gets a quick massage on the terrace of a coffee-shop...

ASTANAMASSAGEOMAN

Some Sky riders use the coffeee-shop terrace to get ready, despite the less than ideal setting...

SKYOMAN

Stage three sets off from the new bridge over the river at Sur...

SCENERYOMAN

Five escapers are led away by Marcus Burghardt - they face a long day out in the desert..!

BMCOMAN

Men like Cameron Meyer have no interest chasing the escape - tomorrow's a much more important day with its uphill finish...

GARMINOMAN

Edvals Boasson-Hagen chats with fellow Norwegian, Thor Hushovd - reigning World Champion with a future World Champion..?

FRIENDSOMAN

Hayden Roulston and Matt Goss are interested in chasing, but not for another 50-kilometres or so...

HTCOMAN

The five escapers are deep in desert country - and it's getting rather hot..!

BMCOMAN

Lars Bak propels HTC along at the head of the peloton - the chase has officially started now...

HTCCHASEOMAN

The peloton takes in the delights of Ras Riways, 62-kilometres into the stage...

SCENERYOMAN

A curious observer in a military helicopter gets a bit too close to the peloton, blowing sand all over the place...

SCENERYOMANHELICOPTER

Tom Boonen has plenty of time to chat with his team doctor behind the peloton - let HTC, Sky and Garmin do all the chasing..!

QUICKSTEPVAN MOLOMAN

MARK CAVENDISH AND ROGER HAMMOND ON STAGE THREE OF THE 2011 TOUR OF OMAN

GARMINOMAN

Leopard-Trek is chasing too - with Joost Posthuma tapping away at the front...

LEOPARDOMAN

Great sand dunes create a unique horizon for the Tour of Oman peloton...

SCENERYOMAN

Sand is the only thing to be seen as the peloton turns to start the second half of the stage back to Sur...

SCENERYOMAN

Taylor Phinney grabs some food - the young American looks fully at home in his first 'pro race...

BMCEATINGOMAN

Stuart O'Grady gets called back to his team car to study the race manual, under the guidance of Kim Andersen...

LEOPARDANDERSENOMAN

Kurt Asle Arvesen leads the chase for team Sky - they are within a few minutes of the escape now...

SKYOMAN

Mark Gumpo is driving the escape long with a tailwind - by the time they are caught the escape will have lasted a massive 205-kilometres..!

Russell Downing has a plastic bag tangled in his rear gear - Sky's mechanic goes to work...

SKYMECHANICOMAN

The bag is too tangled up - Downing and his mechanic stop to cut it loose with scissors...

Theo Bos wins stage three into Sur from daniele Bennati - Matt Goss retains his overall lead by taking 3rd today...

RABOBANKOMAN