Masnada breaks away to claim Stage 4

MUSCAT: Talented Fausto Masnada of QuickStep-AlphaVinyl took command of the Tour of Oman 2022 after a dominating performance in the Stage 4 here on Sunday.

The Italian completed the 119.5km Stage 4 from Al Sifah to Royal Opera House in Muscat in 03:01:53 to climb up the overall standings with two stages left.

Quickstep dominated the stage with Masnada winning it solo by over a minute to earn a comfortable advantage in the overall standings.

Masnada’s partner Mauro Schmid finished second 1.07 minute behind the teammate.

French rider Kevin Vaquelin of Arkea-Samsic claimed the third position.

Stage 3 winner and former red jersey holder Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) stayed in the hunt by finishing sixth after Portuguese rider Rui Costa of UAE Team Emirates and Team DSM's Kevin Vermaerke.

Charmig is now 55 seconds behind Masnada in the overall standings.

Czech cyclist Jan Hirt of Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux is third at 58 seconds and Schmid fourth at 1:08.

Climbing specialist Masnada, fourth red jersey holder after four stages, is expected to do well in the Monday's crucial summit finish on Jabal Al Akhdhar (Green Mountain) ahead of the flat final stage on Tuesday.

There was an early breakaway - Samuele Zoccarato (Bardiani-CSF), Julen Irizar (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Michael Kukrle (Gazprom-RusVelo) - but it didn't last long as the race exploded on the early climbs of Al Jissah and Al Wadi Al Kabir.

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team's rider Fausto Masnada poses on the podium after winning the fourth stage of the Oman Tour between al-Sifah and Royal Opera House Muscat, in Muscat on February 13, 2022. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team's rider Fausto Masnada reacts as he wins the fourth stage of the Oman Tour between al-Sifah and Royal Opera House Muscat, in Muscat on February 13, 2022. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)

Stage 4 Tour1

Masnada Stage 4

Stage 4 Tour

Masnada's final push

A small group got back together behind Schmid as they headed for the final ascent of Al Jabal Street (Bausher Al Amerat), to be summited with 15km to go. Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-Samsic) set off in pursuit of Schmid and goes over the top with a 10 second gap to a 7-man group.

Masnada broke away despite Charmig's efforts to catch up and Vauquelin was caught with 12km to go. Masnada went solo to victory with a 1 minute 7 seconds gap on the line.

Mark Cavendish leads the points classification with 30 points ahead of teammate Masnada with 24 points and Fernando Gaviria of UAE Team Emirates with 22 points.

TOUR OF OMAN STAGE 4 RESULTS

Read as position, rider, team, timing

1. Fausto Masnada (Ita) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 03:01:53

2. Mauro Schmid (Swi) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 00:01:07

3. Kevin Vaquelin (Fra) Arkea-Samsic

4. Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates

5. Kevin Vermaerke (USA) Team DSM

6. Anthon Charmig (Den) Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

7. Jan Hirt (Cze) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux

8. Henri Vandenabeele (Bel) Team DSM

9. Sander Armee (Bel) Cofidis 00:01:18

10. Jonas Hvideberg (Nor) Team DSM 00:01:23

General classification after stage 4

1. Fausto Masnada (Ita) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 14:49:00

2. Anthon Charmig (Den) Uno-X Pro Cycling Team 00:00:55

3. Jan Hirt (Cze) Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux 00:00:58

4. Mauro Schmid (Swi) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 00:01:06

5. Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates 00:01:07

6. Elie Gesbert (Fra) Arkea-Samsic 00:01:22

7. Kevin Vermaerke (USA) Team DSM

8. Henri Vandenabeele (Bel) Team DSM 00:01:23

9. Rein Taaramae (Est) Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux 00:01:28

10. Denis Nekrasov (Rus) Gazprom-RusVelo 00:01:31