Katusha's Alexander Kristoff maintained his good run of form with victory on the third stage of the Tour Of Oman.
With Fabian Cancellera in the leaders jersey, the riders set off on a third 158.5km stage that started and fnished in Al Mussanah Sports City, after a minute's silence for Claudy Criquielion who died on Wednesday.
Jef Van Meirhaeghe in the most combative jersey attacked as soon as the flag dropped with Preben van Hecke and Alessandro Tonelli and they were seven minutes clear after nineteen kilometres.
With a lead of 9.15, Van Meirhaeghe took the first sprint after thrity four kilometres and the three were still 3.25 clear when they reached the feedzone after 77kms.
In temperatures of 38 degrees, the peloton worked to further reduce the gap and at the second sprint which was taken by Van Meirhaeghe ahead of van Hecke, the gap was down to 1.20.
Van Meirhaeghe, the most combatitive rider of the day, decided he had done enough work for the day and with twenty kilometres to go, he dropped back, leaving van Hecke and Tonelli with a lead of just over forty seconds.
A crash involving Warren Barguil, Nikias Arndt and Matteo Trentin briefly slowed the peloton but they were able to catch the two escapers with sixteen kilometres to go.
Trentin was forced to abandon the race due to his injuries as the race down down to a bunch sprint which was won by Katusha's Alexander Kristoff, who won three stages in the Tour Of Dubai in 3.58.42, ahead of Astana's Andrea Guardini, IAM Cycling's Matteo Pelucchi, followed by Danny Van Poppel and Nacer Bouhani.
Fabian Cancellera continues to lead the race by four seconds from Allejandro Valverde, whilst Andrea Guardini leads the points competition with 47 points and Patrick Konrad the Young Riders classification.