Tour of Oman Stage 5: Al Alam Palace - Ministry of Housing in Boshar 144 km

Listen up guys..! Wilfried Peeters tells his Omega troops how to play the day...

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Young Joe Dombrowski has the attention of Dave Brailsford before the start...

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Astana and Vincenzo NIbali huddle around to hear Jan Kirsippu give his tactical speech...

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Brett Lancaster takes the time to stretch a little...

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Fumiyuki Beppu does a little sretching of his own...

Arnold Jeanneson stretches his legs with the encouragement of William Bonnet...

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The peloton speeds away from Muscat, already in pursuit of an escape...

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The peloton speeds past the new Parliament buildings in Al Bustan...

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A nine-man escape is led by Greg Van Avermaet and Andre Grivko on a climb away from the capital city...

"They went that way", Baden Cooke seems to be saying..!

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Team Sky chase is led by Christian Knees, barely 20-kilometres into the stage...

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Jesus Hernandez and Zdenek Stybar drive the escape along, but their gain is only about three minutes...

Joe Dombrowski is now chasing, he has the peloton strung out for 300-metres in his wake..!

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Markel Irizar leads the escape towards the feed-zone, their lead has grown to four minutes...

All eight Sky riders are leading the peloton on a lonely highway towards the main climb...

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Taylor Phinney leads a BMC train up the peloton, they have Cadel Evans to consider in the finale...

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Cooke is bringing Daryl Impey up to the front on the first of three ascents...

Chris Froome descends after the first climb, he's having a last chew before the rough stuff begins...

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Saxo Bank suddenly rushes in front of Sky on the second ascent...

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Alberto Contador moves to the front, while Sky's Peter Kennaugh moves up to challenge him..

Matthew Busche chases over the top of the climb, he has little Kenny Elissonde with him...

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Sebastian Minard leads Pozzovivo in a group that's merged with the nine-man escape - Ag2R is trying to put time into Elissonde...

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Cancellara is doing his best to bring Tony Gallopin back to the front, but they'll never regain contact on the last climb...

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Hernandez leads Contador and Evans as a split occurs with Froome behind...

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Contador attacks with two-kilomeres of climbing left - he's blown the race apart..!

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The Contador of old is not there any more, today's Contador is suffering to stay away..!

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Contador has been caught by Froome and Rodriguez, and the race-leader is making the others hurt..!

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It's a close finish between Froome and Contador, ahead of Rodriguez and with Impey coming up fast behind...

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Chris Froome has won stage five to increase his lead a little over Contador and Evans...

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