Tour of Oman 2015 Stage 1: Andrea Guardini outsprints pack

Stage 1 of the Tour of Oman 2015 is leading in 161 flat kilometres from Bayt Al Naman Castle to Al Wutayyah. A break of four gets clear, but one of them is strongest and for a while South-African Johann Van Zyl solos upfront. With 35 km's to go he is reeled in and the only likely outcome now is a bunch sprint. Andrea Guardini outsprints Tom Boonen, while the sprint-king of Qatar, Alexander Kristoff, finishes fourth. (Slideshow route/profile)

Tour of Oman 2015: Results 1st stage

1. Andrea Guardini (Ita)
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) s.t.
3. Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) s.t.
4. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) s.t.
5. Ramon Sinkeldam (Nld) s.t.
6. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) s.t.
7. Peter Sagan (Svk) s.t.
8. Sam Bennett (Irl) s.t.
9. Sacha Modolo (Ita) s.t.
10. Arnaud Demaré (Fra) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Andrea Guardini (Ita)
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) + 0.04
3. Patrick Konrad (Aut) + 0.05
4. Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) + 0.06
5. Johann Van Zyl (Bel) + 0.07
6. Simone Andreetta (Ita) + 0.09
7. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) + 0.10
8. Ramon Sinkeldam (Nld) s.t.
9. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) s.t.
10. Peter Sagan (Svk) s.t.

Race report
Straight from the start Jef Van Meiraeghe, Patrick Konrad, Johann Van Zyl and Simone Andreetta escape. The four race to a 5 minutes gain en then it stabilizes.

The first intermediate sprint is with 47.5 km’s done: 1. Konrad, 2. Van Meiraeghe, 3. Andreetta.

Johann van Zyl decides to go solo as the break away crosses the feeding zone. His gain grows to 35 seconds. The pack is at 4 minutes.

At 88 km’s the second intermediate sprint brings: 1. Johann Van Zyl, 2. Patrick Konrad, 3. Jef van Meiraeghe. A little later Konrad punctures and the three give up the chase and are reeled in by the pack.

With 35 km’s left Van Zyl’s party is over.

The pack storms to the line with Andrea Guardini outsprinting Tom Boonen, Matteo Pelucchi and Alexander Kristoff. The Italian wears the leaders jersey tomorrow.