Lotto Belisol's Andre Greipel won the opening stage of the fifth Tour Of Oman.
This Asia Tour - 2.HC race started in Al Suwayq Castle on a 164.5km stage to Naseem Garden and attracted plenty of big names including Tour De France 2013 winner Chris Froome as well as the likes of Joaquim Rodriquez of Katusha, Vincenzo Nibali, Fabian Cancellera, Peter Sagan, Phillipe Gilbert, Tom Boonen, Andre Greipel, Nicholas Roche and Robert Gesink.
Preben Van Hecke, Jelle Wallays (both Topsport), Nicola Boem (Bardiani and Alessandro Bazzana (United HealthCare).were the first to attack taking a 2.15 lead on a day where temperatures were around the 27 degrees mark.
They covered 38.5kms in the opening hour before Van Hecke took the full quota of points on the only climb of the day at Al Rustaq after 56.5kms.
The first sprint of the race came after 78kms and Boem was first to the maximum points.
Work on the front of the peloton by Lotto Belisol and FDJ brought the gap to the escapers down and with fifty kilometres of racing left, their lead was down to 2.05.