Tour of Oman Stage 4: Bidbid > Al Wadi Al Kabir, 142.5kms

The locals are out in force at the start - Mark Cavendish obliges an Omani man and his son with a photo...

skyomanfans

Frederik Willems has how own admirers in Bidbid...

fansoman

It's a massively fast start from the dropping of the flag - don't you just love a tailwind..?!

The RTS team is in trouble at such a speed...

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Jacob Fuglsang has been caught up in a mini-crash...

shackoman

Luca Ascani was in the crash too - he's already squirting water over his knee wound...

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Klaas Lodewijk and Stijn Vandebergh have ridden away into what is now a strong headwind - they quickly gain over seven minutes...

It's a different stage, but the highway is the same as used on stage three - and with great scenery too..!

sceneryoman

Joost Posthuma doesn't believe in bad luck, does he now..?

Vandenbergh and Lodewijk are climbing the unclassified 'wall' of Buscher Alamat...

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The peloton is climbing the hill very steadily with such a tough finale to come...

sceneryoman

Andy Schleck and Jacob Fuglsang are near the front - and looking good on this hilly stage...

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The sprinters are having their own race near the back - but Cavendish and Tyler Farrar are fighting back..!

skyoman

Bernhard Eisel shows his enviable descending skills on the way down the other side...

skyoman

Cavendish is descending in Eisel's wake, making sure both men get back to the peloton quickly...

skyoman

Lodewijk and Vandenbergh approach the final, hilly, circuits with less than two minutes in-hand...

The peloton has shattered on a steep hill in Muscat, but another regroupment is on the cards with 60-kilometres still to go...

sceneryoman

The compact peloton tackles a series of bends, descents, and climbs in a unique lunar-like landscape...

sceneryoman

Vandenbergh has gone away alone with 25-kilometres to go - and he still has almost two minutes to play with...

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The peloton passes a well-known landmark on the outskirts of Muscat...

sceneryoman

Stuart O'Grady and Allan Davis start to wind up the pace for Green Edge on the first of two finishing laps...

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Andre Greipel has coped exceedingly well with the hills today, he's not far back from O'Grady's pace...

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Matt Goss lends his strength to the Green Edge cause by chasing Vandenbergh down with eight-kilometres to go...

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Marco Pinotti has attacked now - ruining Green Edge's plans..!

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Danilo Oss attacks, splitting the small peloton with six-kilometres to go...

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Sylvain Chavanel has a go now - and he's opened a gap...

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Peter Sagan swoops down to catch Chavanel with five-kilometres to go...

liquigasoman

Sagan and Chavanel enjoy a brief partnership before the chasers close in on them...

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Sagan still has enough power left to lead out the final sprint against Greipel...

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The decision is close - Sagan or Greipel..?

1t4ioman

Andre Greipel wins stage four, and extends his race-lead before tomorrow's steep uphill finish...

1t4ioman