Spain's Jesus Herrada prevailed in a sprint finish to Sunday's second stage to take the lead in the Tour of Oman.
This was the Cofidis rider's 19th career win, a haul that includes two stage successes on the Vuelta a Espana.
He proved strongest in the 2.5 kilometre uphill finish to Quarayyat, making his move around 300m from the line to beat Belgian Maxim Van Gils and Italy's Diego Ilissi.
In the general classification Herrada holds a 4sec cushion over Van Gils going into Monday's 152km ride from Al Khobar to Jabal Haat.