02.18 - Tour of Oman: Stage 4

Heinrich Haussler launches an attack in the opening kilometres - or is he practising for the Classics..?

GARMINOMAN

Russell Downing tries an attack with Simon Clarke...

SKYOMAN

Seven men have escaped successfully - they are led by Thomas Vaitkus after 40-kilometres of racing...

ASTANAOMAN

The Skil-Shimano team seem to have their own tactics at the back of the peloton...

SKILOMAN

The escape heads for the first sprint of the day with a three-minute advantage...

Katusha leads a peloton strung out in their wake...

PAOLINIOMAN

Even World Champions have to work today - Thor Hushovd collects water bottles...

GARMINOMAN

Mark Cavendiish is doing his share of work at the head of the chasing peloton...

HTCOMAN

Team Sky has gone berserk at the head of the peloton - because the wind has changed..!

ECHELONOMANSTANNARDSKY

Seven Sky riders have opened a gap on five Leopard-Trek riders with 30-kilometres to go..

ECHELONOMAN

A big group forms at the front, with Haymans, Sutton, O'Grady and Quinziato at the head...

ECHELONOMANHAYMAN

Taylor Phinney is in his element as he drives away in front of more experienced men...

BMCWINDOMAN

Garmin also has seven men up there - and they've help put Rodriguez, Pinotti and Mori out of contention...

ECHELONOMANVAN SUMMERENHAUSSLER

The story thus far - three groups have formed on the approach to the finish climb, with the front one driven by the sprinters for the climbers...

ECHELONOMAN

The leaders pass a preserved fort at Birkat al Mawz with 10-kilometres to go...

sceneryOMAN

Jacob Fuglsang starts the hostilities as the steep ascent begins - he has Gesink, Albasini, Boasson-Hagen and a few others for company...

LEOPARDOMAN

Joachin Rodriguez starts the ascent several minutes later - he missed the splits and has lost the race altogether...

KATUSHAOMAN

Vaitkus pulls one of his famous wheelie's as the climb begins - as you do...

ASTANAGAMESOMAN

Fuglsang is putting the pressure on again - the group has lost Vinokourov and Cancellara...

LEOPARDOMAN

Gesink attacks with less than three-kilometres to go - no one even tries to go with him...

RABOBANKOMAN

Dries Devenyns and Christian Vande Velde are the closest challengers to Gesink...

QUICKSTEPOMAN

Gesink has flown, but Cancellara is trying his hardest to stay in contact with the Boasson-Hagen/Fuglsang group...

LEOPARDOMAN

Cancellara is digging deep to have a chance of winning overall after tomorrow's TT...

LEOPARDOMAN

Flecha is pacing Boasson-Hagen in pursuit of Vande Velde, but Van Avermaet is still with them...

SKYOMAN

Gesink is forcing his way towards the finish, way out in front now...

RABOBANKOMAN

Robert Gesink wins stage four to Green Mountain - and takes the race-lead..!

RABOBANKOMAN

Boasson-Hagen takes 2nd place - he goes into tomorrow's TT 44-seconds behind Gesink...

SKYOMAN

The face says it all - that climb hurt Cancellara! And it may have destroyed his chances of winning overall - the Swiss rider is 1' 44" down on G.C...

LEOPARDOMAN

Abdujaparov in 1993

From By Request