Feb 20th: Dutch rider Robert Gesink won the Tour of Oman on Sunday after the sixth and final stage.
British star Mark Cavendish won the final stage, beating Russian Denis Galimzyanov and Andrea Guardini of Italy in a sprint finish.
This is the first win for the sprinter after an early season plagued by nasty spills. First in the Tour Down Under and then during the prologue at the Tour of Qatar.
An early break by Daniele Ratto, Pieter Serry, Dmytro Krivstov and Marcus Burghardt was out front for much of the day but was kept in close check through out the race, never gaining more than 3 minutes.
Once HTC-Highroad wound up the pace for Cavendish the break came back quickly and the Manxman won the sprint easily showing the same speed that has brought him so much success in July.
Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha) and young sprint sensation Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli) crossed the line in second and third.
Gesink's overall lead was never in doubt during a day dedicated to the sprinters.
2011 Tour of Oman Overall Results
1. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 20:24:36
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling 0:01:13
3 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli 0:01:19
4 Michael Albasini (Swi) HTC-Highroad 0:01:52
5 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:02:04
6 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Leopard Trek 0:02:11
7 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:02:13
8 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Leopard Trek 0:02:19
9 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli 0:02:51
10 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Procycling 0:03:03