BOSHAR, Oman, Feb 15, 2013 (AFP) - Chris Froome of Britain won the fifth stage of the Tour of Oman on Friday to retain the overall leader's red jersey.
At the end of the 144km stage from Al Alam Palace in Muscat to Boshar, Sky rider Froome crossed the line half a wheel's length ahead of Spain's Alberto Contador, with another Spaniard, Joaquim Rodriguez, close behind.
In the overall standings, with one stage to go, Froome is 27 seconds ahead of Contador and 39 seconds clear of Evans, who drops back to third. Rodriguez, winner of the fourth stage, is fourth, 50 seconds off the pace.
The stage included three climbs of the Bousher Almarat in succession, and Contador and Evans had both broken away from Froome on the final ascent. However, Froome and Rodriguez eventually caught up with Contador, as Evans trailed away, and the British rider edged across the line first after a sprint finish into the wind.
Belgian Philippe Gilbert, the world champion, and last year's Tour of Oman winner, Peter Velits of Slovakia, both came home in a group 34 seconds behind, but the stage turned out to be another struggle for Bradley Wiggins.
Froome's Sky teammate was more than eight minutes off the pace, as was Swiss star Fabian Cancellara.
3. Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP) s.t.
6. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) s.t.
7. Johann Tschopp (SUI) s.t.
8. Cadel Evans (AUS) s.t.
9. Jesus Hernandez (ESP) s.t.
20. Peter Velits (SVK) s.t.
29. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) s.t.
75. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) s.t.
110. Tom Boonen (BEL) s.t.
6. Johann Tschopp (SUI) s.t.