Tour of Oman 2015: Kristoff outsprints Guardini in stage 3

The Al Mussanah-Ak Mussanah stage is 158 flat kilometres long. Just like everyday Belgium Van Meirhaeghe is in the break, he is accompanied by his compatriot Van Hecke and Italian Tonelli. With 16 km's left the pack is back together again and it all boils down to a bunch sprint, with Alexander Kristoff besting Andrea Guardini. (Slideshow route/profile)

Tour of Oman 2015: Results 3rd stage

1. Alexander Kristoff (Nor)
2. Andrea Guardini (Ita) s.t.
3. Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) s.t.
4. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) s.t.
5. Danny van Poppel (Nld) s.t.
6. Sacha Modolo (Ita) s.t.
7. Matti Breschel (Den) s.t.
8. Ramon Sinkeldam (Nld) s.t.
9. Adam Blythe (GB) s.t.
10. Tom Boonen (Bel) s.t.

GC after stage 3
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi)
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) + 0.04
3. Patrick Konrad (Aut) + 0.05
4. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) + 0.06
5. Peter Sagan (Svk) + 0.10
6. Damiano Caruso (Ita) z.t.
7. Tejay van Garderen (USA) s.t.
8. Andrei Grivko (Ukr) s.t.
9. Rafael Valls (Spa) s.t.
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) s.t.

Race report
Jef Van Meirhaeghe gets off the front of the pack immediately, Preben Van Hecke and Alessandro Tonelli on his wheel. The trio races to a comfortable gap at the first intermediate sprint. With 34 km’s done the results of the sprint are 1 Van Meirhaeghe, 2. Van Hecke, 3 Tonelli.

The advantage for the break is 9’15” maximum and then it starts shrinking. At 53 km’s there is 6’25” left, and it keeps keeps coming down until it stabilizes at 3 minutes.

After winning the second intermediate sprint Van Meirhaeghe calls it a day. The remaining duo upfront is reeled in a little later.

It all boils down to a bunch sprint, with Alexander Kristoff outspeeding Andrea Guardini.

Tomorrow brings the (often) decisive mountain stage to Green Mountain.