Tour of Oman Stage 4: Al Saltiyah in Samail - Jabal Al Akhdhar (Green Mountain) 152.5 km

This is already looking like a better day than yesterday's long and slow stage...

Matthias Friedemann leads the day's tactical escape...

Sky has already sent Christian Knees to do the chasing...

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Astana has sent Evan Huffman to do their share of the chasing...

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The peloton passes a mosque somewhere in the Omani desert...

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Andreas Schillinger leads the escape, but their lead won't go above five minutes...

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john Degenkolb needs a bike change, but it takes his mechanic and team manager to achieve it...

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Degenkolb gets going again - there's an air of intention in the race today...

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Rinaldo Nocentini has crashed with Alexander Wetterhall, but both men are unhurt...

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Joe Dombrowski is learning quickly - if you draw No.13, do what everyone else has done in the past...

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Fabian Cancellara does a quick stretch while his mechanic changes the rear wheel...

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The peloton passes a stunning lunar landscape on the back roads of Oman...

When a World Champion has to fetch bottles, you know this is a very serious stage...

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Philippe Gilbert has got five bottles inside his precious arc-en-ciel jersey...

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Gilbert gives one bottle to Taylor Phinney...

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Cadel Evans also gets a bottle from Gilbert - and this is no birthday present..!

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All the stars are working today - Marcel Kittel collects water bottles for his Argos teamates...

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The escape passes a fort at Belkat Al Mouz at the foot of the final climb...

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Richie Porte looks as if he's escaping with Albert Contador - in fact he's stalling while Chris Froome finds his climbing legs...

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Contador has attacked before Froome gets across - he's chased by Nibali with three-kilometres to go...

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A stall in the racing allows Kenny Elissonde to emerge at the front, Froome having now got on-board...

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Contador attacks again with two-kilometres to go...

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Contador has Rodriguez and Evans with him...

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Rodriguez attacks now - the others are looking at Contador, who refuses to chase his compatriot...

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Froome is doing all the work in pursuit - but he'll jump away from Contador and Nibali before the finish...

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Joachin Rodriguez wins stage four after three years of trying on the Green Mountain..!

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Evans takes 3rd-place, having also dropped Contador and Nibali...

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Chris Froome becomes the new race-leader..!