Team Katusha’s Alexander Kristoff is so far one of the most successful riders of the year. In Al Mussanah Sports City the Norvegian rider took already his fourth victory of the young 2015 season.
In Stage 3 of the Tour of Oman Kristoff was the fastest rider of the peloton beating in a mass sprint Andrea Guardini (Astana) and Matteo Pelucchi (IAM Cycling). Danny van Poppel (Trek) was fourth, Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) fifth. The sprint win was again a result of nice team work.
- The team protected me so well. Gatis Smukulis and Jacopo Guarnieri were the last guys to give me some shelter against the strong head wind. I was in a comfortable position in the last kilometer. Orica-GreenEdge started the sprint, Trek took over. I was in the wheel of Danny van Poppel with 300 meters to go but I waited till the last 100 meters to go full gas. It was a perfect sprint. The lead out was like it has to be. We made a nice progress compared to the past. Every race is one step up. I am so happy with my lead out train, - said Alexander Kristoff.
- It is a pleasure to guide this team here. The riders did exactly what we discussed before the stage. They did a smart race and came to the front exactly at the right moment. We knew that there was a strong head wind the last kilometers. The guys protected Kristoff, but Alex did a super effort himself too. Also for him it must have been hard against that wind. He is a strong guy, - added Team Director Torsten Schmidt.
Stage 3 of the Tour of Oman with start and finish in Al Mussanah Sports City (158,5 km) had a predictable scenario. A break of three riders was neutralized and no other rider was able to get away from the peloton heading to the finish with an extremely high pace. In the end the mass sprint was inevitable, with Katusha’s Alexander Kristoff as best sprinter.
Tomorrow’s stage 4 is the Tour of Oman’s queen’s stage with mountaintop finish in Jabar al Akhdhar, on the famous Green Mountain.
Photo credit: (c) Tim De Waele
