Cycling: Adam Yates winner of the Tour of Oman and the final stage

A double blow, at the best time: the Briton Adam Yates (UAE) won the Tour of Oman on Wednesday, winning the 5th and final stage, at the top of Jabal Al Akhdhar which served as justice of the peace for the 'test. Third in the last Tour de France, Yates, 31, won his first victory in this competition at the start of the season, succeeding the American Matteo Jorgenson on the list of winners.

As part of a group of escapees, he showed himself to be the strongest during the final ascent of this stage shortened to 72 km, swallowing the last 5.7, at 10.5%, at a pace of hell. In the wheel of the Czech Jan Hirt (Soudal Quick-Step), who gave the accelerator in the last two kilometers to catch up with the Dutchman Huub Artz (Intermarché-Wanty) who left alone, Yates made the difference in the last hectometers, crossing the line with a comfortable lead over his two rivals of the day.

Overall, the Briton is ahead of Hirt by 19 seconds and the New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black (UAE), still leader the day before, by 39 seconds. Note on the French side, the final 6th place of Warren Barguil (Team DSM-Firmenich Postnl), relegated to 1 min 15 sec, after finishing in 7th position at the top of the mountain range which crosses the north of the Sultanate.

The ranking of the fifth and final stage:

1 Adam Yates (GBR/UAE), under 72 km in 1h49:37

2 Jan Hirt (CZE/Soudal Quick-Step) at 0.11

3 Huub Artz (NED/Intermarché-Wanty) at 0.29

4 Cristian Rodriguez Martin (ESP/Arkea-B

5 Diego Ulissi (ITA/UAE) at 0.40

6 Finn Lachlan Fox Fisher (NZL/UAE) at 0.44

7 Warren Barguil (FRA/Team DSM-Firmenich Postnl) at 1.01

The final general classification:

1 Adam Yates (GBR/UAE), down 603.9 km in 14h12:30

2 Jan Hirt (CZE/Soudal Quick-Step) at 0.19

3 Finn Lachlan Fox Fisher (NZL/UAE) at 0.39

4 Diego Ulissi (ITA/UAE) at 0.44

5 Cristian Rodriguez Martin (ESP/Arkea-B

6 Warren Barguil (FRA/Team DSM-Firmenich Postnl) at 1.15