Giant Shimano's Marcel Kittel won his second successive stage of the Tour Of Dubai with victory on stage three.
The longest stage of this four stage race at 162km from Dubai to Hatta saw six riders in Huffman, Pliuschin, Nunes, Pereira, Karimov and Smit take a six minute lead before the likes of BMC riding for Taylor Phinney and Steve Cummings pulled them back.
Their lead of 2.46 with 45kms to go was enough for American Evan Huffman of Astana to be the virtual leader on the road.
With 41.2kms remaining, Willie Smit fractured the group of escapers when he took the second intermediate sprint to give him another eight points which was enough to put him well clear of Taylor Phinney in the points competition.
Five kilometres later, only Huffman, Pliuschin and Smit were out in front with a lead of 2.38 on a day where temperatures were around 22 degrees.
Huffman dropped back to the Blue Jersey group leaving the South African Smit of the Vini Fantini-Nippo team and Alexandra Pliuschin of the third division continental team SkyDive Dubai to press onwards.
Two riders from BMC and one from Trek Factory were tying to close down the front two, who were separated when Pliuschin, who was only 1.05 down on the race leader surged away with 23.2kms remaining.
Max Sciandri was bawling out instructions from his BMC team car for his riders to close down the Moldovan, who had 1.40 lead on the peloton with 12.2kms to go.
With ten kilometres to go, the road started to go up hill to the first of two climbs in quick succession. This meant that Pliuschin's lead had dropped to a minute as Alex Dowsett of Movistar took the front.
Pliuschin was grimacing as his gap was cut steadily to thirty seconds with eight kilometres left and four hundred metres later, Pliuschin's time at the front was over for the day.
Cannodale with Caruzo and Marcato, got men to the front just ahead of Valverde, Phinney and Cummings.
Over the first climb, it was Peter Sagan in the red jersey, on the front for the start of the second climb which had a 10% gradient before Movistar's Alejandro Valverde attacked.
Sagan and Tony Martin of Omega Pharma Quick Step lead a group of about 25-30 riders before race leader Taylor Phinney took a turn on the front for a part of the final five kilometres.
With three to go, World Champion Rui Costa attacked and built a couple of seconds lead.
Costa was first under the Flam Rouge with Steve Cummings in his wheel but slotted back in as Cummings took the lead before Tony Martin took over.
The sprint started and Marcel Kittel, who won the second stage, came up un-noticed on the right to take his second successive win in 3.47.52 ahead of Lobato, Sagan, Baarle and Van Rensburg.
Kittel said to Eurosport about his win: "it was really hard. I had just enough power to pass everyone. "A kilometre more and I would have been passed so I have happy to have won and it was very tough. "Everyone had to go on the last climb for themselves and although it was difficult without a leadout train, I was glad to take it."
Taylor Phinney, who kept his fifteen second lead ahead of Steve Cummings, said to Eurosport: " My team did a great job with no help. "We were three against six in the breakaway but i was feeling good and I am super motivated to keep this leader's jersey and want to win the competition."