Oman: Rui Costa in the top 5 in stage 4

After the second place he had obtained yesterday, Rui Costa impressed again in the Tour of Oman.
Portuguese rider was 5th in the 4thstage,Yiti-Ministry of Tourism (117,5 km), with three passages on the hill of Al Jabal Street, last one at 13,5 km to go.

Rui Costa (photo Bettini) was good enough for pedalling in the restricted from group which was selected during the second passage on the hill and later he performed a pretty fast sprint, obtaining the 5th place, just behind the winner Cort Nielsen , Visconti (2nd), Bettiol (3rd) and Van Avermaet (4th).

In the GC, UAE Team Emirates’ Portuguese athlete is 14th, + 51″ to Van Avermaet.

Rui Costa said: “I’m satisfied since I was again in the head positions and this result reflects the good feelings I’m having.
Unfprtunately, I faced flat tyre twice, last one at 20 km to go, however the team reacted properly in supporting me.
Tomorrow summit arrival at Jabal Al Akhdahr will be a main goal for many riders, so it won’t be easy to achieve a top result, especially because there are some climbers who are in a very good condition”.

Stage 4 results
1 Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana) 2h57’36”
2 Giovanni Visconti (Bahrain-Merida) s.t.
3 Alberto Bettiol (BMC) s.t.
5 Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.

General classification after stage 4
1 Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) 15h54’20”
2 Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) 9″
3 Nathan Haas (Katusha-Alpecin) 13″
14 Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) 51″