Devenyns arrives at the finish with main group and sits in sixth place ahead of the queen-stage.
The fourth day of the Tour of Oman started from Yiti and took the peloton to the Ministry of Tourism, but despite being less than 120 kilometers in length, it was going to unquestionably create some gaps and blow up the bunch, thanks to the presence of the Al Jabal climb (4.9km, 7.6%), which the riders were to tackle on three occasions in the final 50 kilometers.
Rémi Cavagna was the first to attack, and was soon joined by Loic Chetout (Cofidis), Jon Irisarri (Caja Rural), Jacques Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data), Casper Pedersen (Aqua Blue Sport) and Pieter Weening (Roompot), the six of them carving out a 3:40 lead, which remained untouched until they entered on the first lap of the Al Jabal circuit. A strong presence in the break, the 22-year-old Frenchman scored points at the intermediate sprints and on the classified climbs, while continuing to put in some fierce turns at the front.
"It was a very fast start. First attacks were brought back, but then I went and noticed I opened a gap. Others were trying to bridge, so I waited for them and together we built a nice advantage on this undulating terrain. I even began to think we could make it, but with the chasers pushing hard behind and the headwind in the valley it became impossible", a tired Rémi said at the finish.
On the second to last ascent, the peloton turned on the gas and erased the deficit, making the catch inside the last 30 kilometers. Then, on the third climb, a few men tried to snap the elastic, but all that they did in the end was stir things up and force the bunch chase so hard that the pack fragmented before the top, dozens of riders getting dropped.
Quick-Step Floors was represented in the front by Dries Devenyns and Eros Capecchi, who finished 11th and 12th, respectively, on the stage won by Magnus Cort (Astana). In the general classification, things remained more or less the same, with Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) in the red jersey and Dries in sixth place, just a few seconds off the podium with the grueling Green Mountain climb looming on the horizon.
Photo: ©Tim De Waele/Getty Images
