Magnus Cort wins stage 4 as Van Avermaet retains lead

Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana) outsprinted Visconti, Bettiol and Van Avermaet to win stage 4

The shortest stage was 117.5 kilometres long over a rolling route between the Jebel Sifah Resort and the Ministry of Tourism and featured 3 ascents of the Al Jabal climb in the last 40 kms.

In the breakaway were Jacques Janse Van Renseburg (Dimension Data), Loïc Chetout (Cofidis), Rémi Cavagna (Quick-Step Floors), Casper Pedersen (Aqua Blue Sport), Pieter Weening (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij) and Jon Irisarri (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA). 

The breakway was whittled down as the succesive climbs took their toll, being swept up with 18 kilometres to go. The last climb of Al Jabal left a select group of just 20 riders.

Cort Nielsen claimed the victory ahead of Giovanni Visconti (Bahrain-Merida) and Alberto Bettiol (BMC) in second and third place. BMC Racing's Greg Van Avermaet was fourth and this was enough for him to keep the lead in the General Classification.

VIDEO: 2018 Tour of Oman Stage 4 Final Sprint

2018 Tour of Oman Stage 4 Top 10

1 Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Astana Pro Team 2:57:36 
2 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Bahrain-Merida   
3 Alberto Bettiol (Ita) BMC Racing Team   
4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team   
5 Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (Por) UAE-Team Emirates   
6 Nathan Haas (Aus) Katusha-Alpecin   
7 Mark Christian (GBr) Aqua Blue Sport   
8 Merhawi Kudus (Eri) Dimension Data   
9 Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) Wanty-Groupe Gobert   
10 Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 

2018 Tour of Oman GC after Stage 4

1 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 15:54:20 
2 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 0:00:09 
3 Nathan Haas (Aus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:00:13 
4 Gorka Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team 0:00:16 
5 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team 0:00:24 
6 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:25 
7 Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) Wanty-Groupe Gobert   
8 Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits   
9 Daniel Navarro (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Crédits   
10 Merhawi Kudus (Eri) Dimension Data 0:00:33