Kristoff wins Stage 1 Bunch Sprint

Alexander Kristoff, from Katusha won final sprint ahead of Kristian Sbaragli and Sonny Colbrelli on Stage 1 of the Tour of Oman

Five men formed the breakaway of the containing De Gendt, Marangoni, Masson, Warbasse and Fonzi.

On returning to the coast, with 25 km to go they had just over a 1 minute 5 seconds.

Fonzi was dropped as the Peloton started the chase in earnest.

The breakaway was caught with 10 km to go.

In the bunch sprint, Tom Boonen crashed with 700km to go and Kristoff took the Sprint.

Amazingly Sonny Colbrelli punctured in te last 10kms and got back on to sprint to 3rd place

Tom Boonen Crashes In Oman Opener

A messy final disrupted the sprint of the peloton, and the Quick-Step Floors rider was among those to hit the ground.

Stage 1 of the Tour of Oman included a short categorized climb and a long descent, so everyone was expecting a bunch sprint to kick-off the eighth edition of the Middle East. A five-man escape snapped the elastic early and managed to build a four-minute advantage, which began to drop once Quick-Step Floors and Katusha hit the front of the peloton.

The catch was made inside the final 10 kilometers, but due to the strong headwind and the jostling for position, a crash occurred, and Tom Boonen hit the deck, with 700 meters to go, just as he was preparing for the sprint. Fortunately, the seven-time Monument winner remounted and crossed the finish line, before traveling to the hotel with the team. Despite some bruises and abrasions, Boonen – a stage winner this season at the Vuelta a San Juan – will start stage 2 of the Tour of Oman, which is set to conclude in Al Bustan.

You can watch the Tour of Oman live on Gran Fondo Guide on our 2017 Tour of Oman LIVE STREAMING race dashboard.

2017 Tour of Oman Stage 1 Results Top 20

1 KRISTOFF Alexander, Team Katusha - Alpecin 3:46:29
2 SBARAGLI Kristian, Dimension Data
3 COLBRELLI Sonny, Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team
4 HANSEN Lasse Norman, Aqua Blue Sport
5 HAEDOLucas Sebastian, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
6 MARECZKO Jakub, Wilier Triestina
7 JANS Roy, WB Veran classic Aqua Protect
8 GIRAUD Benjamin, Delko Marseille Provence KTM 1,,
9 MODOLO Sacha, UAE Abu Dhabi
10 BELLETTI Manuel, Wilier Triestina
11 KUMP Marko, UAE Abu Dhabi
12 GROSU Eduard Michael, Nippo - Vini Fantini
13 VAN LERBERGHE Bert, Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise
14 LUTSENKO Alexey, Astana Pro Team
15 BLYTHE Adam, Aqua Blue Sport
16 ZEITS Andrey, Astana Pro Team
17 NAPOLITANO Danilo, Wanty - Groupe Gobert
18 TERPSTRA Niki, Quick-Step Floors
19 WALSCHEID Max, Team Sunweb

VIDEO: 2017 Tour of Oman Final Sprint

Kristoff wins Stage 1 Bunch Sprint

Stage 1: LIVE NOW - Please refresh for latest updates.

10:55 GMT: LIVESTREAM: Kristoff wins ahead of Walscheid!

10:55 GMT: LIVESTREAM: 5 KM to go, bush sprint coming up!

10:52 GMT: LIVESTREAM: It's all back together at #TOO2017. Bunch sprint coming up!

Its all back together at #TOO2017. Bunch sprint coming up!

10:48 GMT: LIVESTREAM: Who's gonna get the sprint? Kristoff, Drucker or Boonen?

10:46 GMT: LIVESTREAM: With only 0'35" over the pack and 12 km to go, the breakaway is about to be caught.

With only 35" over the pack and 12 km to go, the breakaway is about to be caught.

10:42 GMT: LIVESTREAM: 20km to go, just 3 riders left in the break... but they only have 50". sprint finish today. The chase is on!

20km to go, just 3 riders left in the break... but they only have 50". sprint finish today.

10:40 GMT: LIVESTREAM: Break is being reeled in, only 1 minute, a bunch sprint looks likely

Break is being reeled in, only 1 minute, a bunch sprint looks likely

10:37 GMT: LIVESTREAM: Marangoni, Masson, Warbasse have 1'05" on the peloton with 24km to go - can they stay away? Tailwind!

10:34 GMT; LIVESTREAM: De Gendt & Fonzi are dropped from the front with 25 km to go. The breakaway has 1'05" over the pack

10:30 GMT: LIVESTREAM: It's downhill all the way to the finish, the breakaway have a tail wind

10:20 GMT: LIVESTREAM: heading back to the coast with a light tailwind. Time gap for breakaway - 1'05"

10:26 GMT: LIVESTREAM: 5 riders in the break, De Gendt, Marangoni, Masson, Warbasse and Fonzi

5 riders in the break, De Gendt, Marangoni, Masson, Warbasse and Fonzi

10:20 GMT: LIVESTREAM: Average speed after 2 hours: 46.733km/h

Average speed after 2 hours: 46.733km/h

10:18 GMT: LIVESTREAM: Sorry no live video, but live updates now and video highlights after stage.

10:14 GMT: LIVESTREAM: We are in the last 50 kms of the stage, Giuseppe Fonzi and his companions still have 1'25" on the peloton

10:10 GMT LIVESTREAM: Inside the final 50km and the peloton is closing in on the breakaway. The gap is at 1'20".

09:55 GMT LIVESTREAM: Mountains ahead but flat day today! Pack heads back towards coast. Gap is 2'20"

Mountains ahead but flat day today! Pack heads back towards coast.

09:00 GMT LIVESTREAM: 49 km covered in the 1st hour of racing

#TOO2017 LIVESTREAM: Beautiful weather and lightening fast bunch https://t.co/BWEzK1AnMr pic.twitter.com/l818Sej7Ik
— GranFondoGuide (@GranFondoGuide) February 14, 2017