MUSCAT: Britain’s Chris Froome laid down an early marker for the season as he beat all the major Tour de France contenders to win the Tour of Oman in style yesterday.
Team Sky’s Froome, second overall in last year’s Tour behind team mate and compatriot Bradley Wiggins, won the fifth stage ahead of double Tour champion Alberto Contador, who took second place overall.
Yesterday’s sixth and final stage was won by French champion Nacer Bouhanni as Froome secured his first major stage race victory.
“At the beginning of the week I was thinking top five was a decent objective,” Froome told reporters.
“It’s important that I win my first stage race, it’s a good start to the season. And I win ahead of those who will be my rivals on the Tour.”
Australian Cadel Evans took third place overall ahead of Spain’s Joaquim Rodriguez, winner of stage four.
“Third isn’t bad,” Evans was quoted as saying in a team statement. AFP
