Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Rigoberto Uran took his chances late in the 4th stage of Tour of Oman.
The action for Uran and others began after the 4th and final KOM of the stage, the Climb of Bousher Alamrat. All four of those climbs were back-to-back late in the race.
Together with Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Uran attacked and opened up a gap of 15 seconds. The three leaders worked well together and the chasers couldn't close the gap in the remaining kilometers. Sagan took the stage win and is the new overall leader. Uran finished 2nd.
OPQS looks next to perhaps the most important stage for GC riders, 147.5km Stage 5 on Saturday. The finish is on Green Mountain — the highest point of Oman — and has previously been the difference in the overall in past editions.
"Sagan attacked on top of the last climb," Uran said. "I chased on the downhill and I caught him, and Nibali followed me. I knew probably I would be beaten by Sagan, but the goal was to try and gain a few seconds on the GC guys. Because today I saw we had 20 to 25 strong riders on the climb, so I tried to gain some time on them. We really collaborated well on the downhill and then the flat part to the finish, but there was a roundabout at 2km to go, and we took the wrong way, all three of us. Then we lost a few seconds, so we arrived with only a few seconds advantage over the rest of the guys. But OK, Sagan won and I am second. I think we did a good race. It's a shame we didn't gain a few seconds more, but that's racing. In any case I am happy and feeling good. I was there on the climbs and even followed a few attacks. The team was very good and we will see what will happen tomorrow in the queen stage. It will be a difficult with a lot of strong riders at the same level of fitness, so we will see what can happen."
