Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg sprinted to a 12th place finish in the third stage of the Tour of Oman. The stage saw a long breakaway which was reeled in to allow the expected mass sprint.
It was a burning-hot day, and with the Green Mountain stage coming up today, the peloton let three riders get away almost from the start of the 158.5 km with start and finish at the Al Mussanah Sport City. IAM Cycling and Trek Factory Racing were at the head of the chase, and the three were caught with only 16 km to go, after having had a lead of over nine minutes.
Astana and Tinkoff-Saxo worked hard to set up their sprinters, but in the end it was Alexander Kristoff of Katusha who proved to have the fastest legs. Reinardt was the team’s top finisher, at 12th, with the rest of the squad also coming in the same time.
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg moved up to 12th overall, only 10 seconds behind race leader Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing). Louis Meintjes is 18th, and Edvald Boasson Hagen is currently 22d, at 0:56, but can expect to move up on Friday’s mountain stage.
Jens Zemke – Sports Director
