Sagan wins second stage of the Tour of Oman

Peter Sagan (Team Cannondale) won the second stage of the Tour of Oman Tuesday. The 146-km route from Fanja in Bidbid to Al Bustan saw the race’s 142 riders roll under sunny skies.

The decisive move came on the second climb up Al Jissah. Spaniard Alberto Contador (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) and Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r-La Mondiale) attacked off the front. Conatdor’s teammate Jesus Hernandez (TST) was the first to the top in front of Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge) and Nocentini. On the final straightaway, three riders attacked with less than 1 km to go: Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling), Tony Gallopin (RadioShack Leopard) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). However, they were to be caught and dropped by Sagan. He won with a five second lead over Gallopin and Elmiger.

Sagan is now in the leader’s red jersey. Former race leader, Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano), who finished 121st more than five minutes back, remains the leader of the points’ classification. He’ll wear the green jersey on Wednesday.

FDJ’s Dominique Rollin finished 52nd, almost a minute behind Sagan. Rollin is now 47th in the general classification. Former SpiderTech powered by C10 racer and Sagan’s teammate Guillaume Boivin finished 113rd, which puts him 132rd in the GC.