MUSCAT: Vincenzo Nibali won the Tour of Oman for the Astana team on Sunday after Norwegian Alexander Kristoff took the sixth and final stage in a sprint finish.
The Italian, who took second place in Oman four years ago, held on to the overall leader’s red jersey 15 seconds ahead of Frenchman Romain Bardet with Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang 24 seconds back.
For Kristoff it was a second stage win of the tour as he edged home ahead of Zico Waeytens and Soren Kragh Andersen.
“I am a lot more experienced now and this time I cycled more intelligently,” Nibali said.
“On the most important climb, the Green Mountain, I was able to bide my time and attack at the end.
“We then only had to stay in control of the race over the last two days.”
Nibali has already made it clear that his main objective for the year remained the Giro d’Italia.
“The last two years, as I had the Tour at the back of my mind, I opted to keep things quiet early in the season, but it was difficult not being able to express myself completely.”
“Everything becomes simpler in organizing your season when get off to a good start.”
Valverde supreme
Veteran Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde claimed his fourth Tour of Andalusia victory by winning Sunday’s fifth and final stage to edge out American Tejay van Garderen.
Valverde was too strong on the category one climb to the end of the 171km stage from San Roque to Alto Penas Blancas to finish 25 seconds clear of Dutchman Bauke Mollema and 48 seconds ahead of Van Garderen in third.
Van Garderen had led Valverde by 22 seconds after winning the individual time trial on Saturday.
However, he couldn’t stay with the Movistar rider as he broke clear seven kilometers from the line.
Mollema’s surge was enough to earn him third place overall.
Results & standings on the sixth and final stage of the Tour of Oman:
1. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) the 130.5km in 3hrs 01min 18secs, 2. Zico Waeytens (BEL/GIA) same time, 3. Soren Kragh Andersen (DEN/GIA) same time, 4. Tom Van Asbroeck (BEL/LNL) same time, 5. Sam Bennett (IRL/BOA) same time.
Final standings after six stages
1. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) the 914km in 22hrs 25mins 25secs, 2. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) at 15secs, 3. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/AST) at 24secs, 4. Tom Dumoulin (NED/GIA) at 40secs, 5. Rui Costa (POR/LAM) at 54secs.
