Rui Costa on the move in the Tour of Oman

UAE Team Emirate’s Rui Costa ends fourth today in the Tour of Oman’s third stage, 192.5km with the Qurayyat uphill finish. The placing behind stage winner and new race leader Alexey Lutsenko (Team Astana) sees him move to fourth overall at 24 seconds.

Jesús Herrada (Cofidis) and Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team) placed second and third in the stage today just ahead of Costa.

Strong side-winds shaped the race again today. At 52km to race, the first winds hit and Kristoff, Bystrøm and Rui Costa were on alert at the front. At three kilometres out, the former world champion Costa went to work and remained with the front men on the final 2.8km climb, averaging 6.5%. Lutsenko got the jump to repeat yesterday’s win, but Costa held his ground in the thick of the action.

“The stage was very hard,” Costa said. “Besides the strong winds, the last climb was difficult to face after making sure the escape was contained in time. My team-mates worked hard for it, helping me be where I wanted to be. I feel good and the team is ready to give its best to pull off more good results in the coming stages.”

Kristoff could have his chance tomorrow for a result as a sprint finish is expected. The fourth stage climbs the switchbacks of Al-Jabal Street ahead of a final 27-kilometre flat run to the white finish line. Starting in Yiti and finishing at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Center, the stage covers 131km.

Stage 3 results:

1 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 4:035:48

2 Jesús Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Crédits +0:01

3 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) CCC Team s.t.

4 Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates s.t.

General classification after stage 3:

1 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 11:37:37

2 Jesús Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Crédits +0:18

3 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) CCC Team +0:20

4 Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates  +0:24