Tour of Oman Stage 1: Bayt Al Naman Castle > Al Wutayyah, 161kms

Al Naman castle is the reason stage one of the Tour of Oman is starting here...

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Danny Pate and Jens Mouris are hiding in the shade and entertaining a local from the village...

skypatemouris

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One of several new arrivals for Oman is Jacques Jense Van Rensburg - new, champion of South Africa

mtn

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Another South African, Johann Van Zyl, leads the morning escape away...

mtn

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The photographers view of the peloton also shows mountains on the horizon today...

peloton

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Vincenzo Nibali is the biggest 'star on show in Oman, he's in deep conversation with Fabian Cancellara, a bit of a 'star himself...

astana

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Tom Boonen is another big 'star in Oman, but his luck ran out after just a few kilometres...

etixxmechanic

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Simone Andreetta leads the escape into the desert, they have a four-minute lead...

bardiani

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Katusha chases now, and in fact for the rest of the day - they really believe in Alexander Kristoff today...

katusha

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With Katusha closing in, Van Zyl has taken off alone - he might make it as far as the 'live' TV broadcast too...

mtn

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Dario Cataldo has flown in to Oman to support Nibali, but he's doing domestique duties today...

astana

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Roman Kreuziger has flown in to help Peter Sagan and Rafal Majka...

tinkoff

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The peloton emerges on to some older roads in Oman about halfway through the stage...

sceneryoman

Van Zyl is just one minute ahead with 75-kilometres to go...

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New Oman - the peloton races towards Muscat with stopped traffic allowing them free reign on a brand new highway...

scenery

With 25-kilometres to go, it would appear that Cofidis has yet to organise its train for sprinter Nacer Bouhanni...

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All eight Katusha riders are leading the race into the last 10-kilometres...

katusha

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Kristoff (left) is already out of it as the sprint comes down to Guardini, Boonen and three or four others...

sprintboonen

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Andrea Guardini wins stage one from Tom Boonen and Matteo Pelucchi..!

astana