Tour of Oman 2014 Results 1st stage: Greipel takes sprint

164.5 flat kilometres led the riders from As Suwayq Castle to Naseem Garden. Bunch sprint was written all over this stage and we weren't let down with Greipel taking the honours as well as the first leader's jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Andre Greipel took the sprint win in the first stage of this years Tour of Oman. The Lotto Belisol train led him home after the pace had been picked up by Belkin in the final 2 kilometres. Greipel had earlier been caught out in a split in the peloton but his team worked hard in the crosswinds to bring him back to the bunch with 10 kilometres remaining.

The stage started with a breakaway of 4 escaping in the first kilometre. The gap never grew more than 2 minutes however with Omega Pharma, FDJ en Lotto Belisol keeping the pace in the peloton high to ensure Boonen, Bouhanni and Greipel could compete for the sprint.

At the slightly downhill finish, Greipel was powerful, beating Leigh Howard and Nicola Ruffoni to the line.

Tour of Oman 2014 results 1st stage

1. André Greipel (Germany)
2. Leigh Howard (New Zeeland) s.t.
3. Nicola Ruffoni (Italy) s.t.
4. Nacer Bouhanni (France) s.t.
5. Tom Boonen (Belgium) s.t.
6. Michael van Staeyen (Belgium) s.t.
7. Barry Markus (The Netherlands) s.t.
8. Steve Chainel (France) s.t.
9. Alexander Kristoff (Norway) s.t.
10.Borut Bozic (Slovenia) s.t.

GC after stage 1

1. André Greipel
2. Leigh Howard +0.04
3. Nicola Ruffoni +0.06
4. Preben van Hecke (Belgium) s.t.
5. Niki Terpstra (The Netherlands) + 0.07
6. Nicola Boem (Italy) s.t.
7. Stijn Devolder (Belgium) 0.09
8. Alessandro Bazzana (Italy) s.t.
9. Nacer Bouhanni + 0.10
10.Tom Boonen s.t.