Katusha's Alexander Kristoff has won the third stage of the Tour Of Oman.
Dimension Data's Edvald Boasson-Hagen was the leader going into this 176.5km long stage three from Al Sawadi Beach to Naseem Park which saw five riders in Slik, Kerby, Van Goethem, Van Rooy and Kenny Dehaes get away early.
As the tailwinds and then the rain got up, the five took their lead to 3.45 before Dehaes took the first sprint of the day.
After two hours of racing with an average speed of 43.7kmh, their lead was still 3.40. But then, Van Rooy punctured and he and Dehaes were dropped by the rest of the escapers.
There were thunderstrorms with forty kilometres left as Van Goetham took the second sprint and with less than twenty kilometres to go, he went on a solo raid which was ended with ten kilometres to go.
On flat roads, there was only going to be one outcome - a bunch sprint and there was Alexander Kristoff, the stage favourite to take the victory ahead of Moreno Hofland, Roy Jans, Teunissen and Drucker and say to reporters: "There will be many guys that can beat me in a sprint but here I'm the fastest"
Edvald Boasson-Hagen keep his lead in the race.