The Arab Tour kicks off with a pan flat stage just short of 150 km in length with one single bump that is a category 3 KOM. First of three chances for the sprinters.
Here we go. The first attempt at a breakaway comes from Skala and Menicucci.
The duo were holding off counter attacks for a while until eventually being brought back. The next try is Gonzales and Hugentobler and guess what? We're only 2 km out from the intermediate sprint so Howard is taking a chance to tag along for the sprint.
The Aussie easily leaves the other two in the dust when it comes to the sprint. But when the sprint is done he sits up and waits for the peloton. Pretty shrewd move!
Richardson bridges up to the two escapees. More riders are trying the same in the back and we'll see if any manage to join him.
Gonzales was dropped for a moment, but he regrouped with Reynders in time for the final intermediate sprint. Hugentobler wins it though as these four have a 2'24'' advantage over the peloton.
Hugentobler is also by far the best puncheur here. He scores 6 KOM points and he will be wearing polka dots tomorrow. 60 km to go.
Minions, Indosat and Voyagin are the main chasing teams.
And they finish their work early. The breakaway is caught with 12 km left.
This is weird. We're in the final 3 km and there is zero organization. Rosas and Bjerg are doing their own thing, but even with the other teams the sprinters aren't near enough the front.
Don't mind the 5 km sign, we're almost into the final kilometer. The closest sprinter is Bewley on the right followed by Bertilsson. Suryadi is also there, but he's waiting for Howard to come up. Very weird situation.
Bewley is in the front position with 500 m to go. Gani is Indosat's best option right now with Bertilsson next to him. A further back we have Oka, Suryadi, Kragh Andersen and the Minions internal sprint competition?!
And that's how this anticlimactic and weird sprint finishes. Sam Bewley wins it ahead of Gani and Bertilsson. Hopefully we see better action tomorrow.
Bewley leads GC and points. Hugentobler is the KOM leader. Gonzales will be in white.
Arab Tour - Stage 1 
