Team LottoNL-Jumbo switched plans from Moreno Hofland to Tom Van Asbroeck for the final stage of the Tour of Oman today. Hofland did not feel up to it, so he gave the job to Van Asbroeck, who placed fourth behind winner Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha). Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) won the general classification.

With 30 kilometres left in the final stage, Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s sprinter noticed that he wasn’t feeling strong enough to compete in the bunch sprint. He decided to take a step back in the team’s hierarchy for the day. “The riders changed the plans all by themselves,” sports director Jan Boven. “It ran quite smoothly.”

“I wasn’t really expecting this,” Van Asbroeck added. “Moreno came to me to say that it was my turn. He did his job to lead me out afterwards, which I’m very thankful for. The team kept calm and everyone took their place for the sprint lead-out.”

Van Asbroeck was satisfied with fourth. “It was the first time that I had to sprint for some time,” he said. “The first time’s always a bit rough. To switch from the penultimate man to the sprinter isn’t easy, but this 4th place isn’t bad either.”

Sports director Jan Boven looked back on the week in Oman with satisfaction. “We took some big steps in our sprint lead-out,” he added. “George Bennett did a good job as well. The most beautiful thing is that the team is developing. I notice that during the team meetings. Everyone is on the same level more and more.”