Casper pips Boasson Hagen

France's Jimmy Casper edged out Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen to win the first-ever stage of the Tour of Oman.

Team Sky's Boasson Hagen a close-up second

France's Jimmy Casper (Saur-Sojasun) edged out Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) to win the first-ever stage of the Tour of Oman. The inaugural Tour of Oman was launched with an evening race over 61km on the Muscat Corniche, with the riders taking in 16 laps of a 3.8km route. It was always likely to finish in a bunch sprint and so it proved as Casper just got the better of the in-form Boasson Hagen. Boasson Hagen was extending a fine run of form which has seen the young Norwegian wear the leader's golden jersey after Team Sky's win in the team time trial at the Tour of Qatar before finishing third and sixth respectively in the final two stages of that race. Belgium's Kenny Dehaes (Omega Pharma-Lotto) filled the final podium position in Oman and the second stage on Monday covers 148.5km from Nizwa to Samail.

Winning chance

Team Sky's Sports Director Steven de Jongh said: "It was a really good start here. We had a meeting beforehand about what plan we were going to use and the boys did an excellent job. "They really worked as a team, communication was clear and Edvald took second place - you win some, you lose some. "It's the first time these boys have all ridden together in a race so if we can continue working like this then there's an opportunity of a win pretty soon I think." Stage one result: 1 - Jimmy Casper - (FRA) - Saur-Sojasun - ( 1:22:22)
2 - Edvald Boasson Hagen - (NOR) - Team Sky - (same time)
3 - Kenny Dehaes - (BEL) - Omega Pharma-Lotto - (same time)
4 - Tyler Farrar - (USA) - Garmin - (same time)
5 - Francesco Chicchi - (ITA) - Liquigas - (same time)
6 - Michael Van Staeyen - (BEL) - Topsport Vlaanderen - (same time)
7 - Danilo Napolitano - (ITA) - Katyusha - (same time)
8 - Bernhard Eisel - (AUT) - HTC-Columbia - (same time)
9 - Andreas Stauff - (GER) - Quick-Step - (same time)
10 - Sebastián Haedo - (ARG) - Saxo Bank - (same time)
Overall standings after stage one: 1 - Jimmy Casper - (FRA) - Saur-Sojasun - ( 1:22:12)
2 - Edvald Boasson Hagen - (NOR) - Team Sky - (+4)
3 - Kenny Dehaes - (BEL) - Omega Pharma-Lotto - (+6)
4 - Tyler Farrar - (USA) - Garmin - (+10)
5 - Francesco Chicchi - (ITA) - Liquigas - (+10)
6 - Michael Van Staeyen - (BEL) - Topsport Vlaanderen - (+10)
7 - Danilo Napolitano - (ITA) - Katyusha - (+10)
8 - Bernhard Eisel - (AUT) - HTC-Columbia - (+10)
9 - Andreas Stauff - (GER) - Quick-Step - (+10)
10 - Sebastián Haedo - (ARG) - Saxo Bank - (+10)