Fernando Gaviria (open in new tab), who won the uphill sprint at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center on stage 1 of the Tour of Oman (open in new tab), finished fourth in the sprint on stage 2 on the beach at Suhar Corniche He finished.

On the first day, UAE Team Emirates sprinter Fernando Gaviria was the big winner for the duo with Max Richeze, who had long held the lead.

In a more straightforward-looking finish on Friday, Gaviria was surrounded near the barrier during the finish dash, finishing fourth behind eventual winner Mark Cavendish (open in new tab) (Quick Step - Alfa Vinyl).

Despite the loss, Gaviria was outwardly calm and even philosophical about missing the double-up in the second of only three sprint stages in the race.

"It was kind of weird at the end. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. [The team worked hard for me and that's my job. I guess we'll see in the next stage. I'm happy with my performance."

Gaviria sprinted against the barriers to avoid the wind blowing from the right side of the finish, but was surrounded by fastman Amaury Capio of Arcare Samsic, who took his first career win at GP La Marseillaise last month. He was surrounded by Amaury Capiot, the fastman of Arkea Samsic, who took his first career win at GP La Marseillaise last month.

Gaviria insisted that he did not lose the sprint because of his sprint tactics and praised his former teammate Cavendish for beating him that day.

"Nothing happened," he said of his sprint for position.

"Only one guy, Arkea Samsic, passed me near the barrier. I just had to brake a little bit and try not to crash. Nothing happened. It's cycling."

"Well, not so much braking, but ....... I was passed near the barrier by an ALCARE rider. Cavendish passed me fast. That's the truth."

Gaviria again praised Richese and his team for their leadout and work during the stage, but said he knew Cavendish was in good condition based on what happened on Thursday's opening stage.

"It's good to have the old Cavet in the peloton," he said, referring to Cavendish's return to his best form rather than his age.

"It's really important to have one player like him in the group because it's really important. It's most important when you win, and I'm really happy when that happens."

"Kav is in very good shape right now. He did a good move on the climb yesterday and his sprint today was very good.

With the first two sprint stages out of the way, all eyes will be on the GC men as they prepare for Saturday's uphill finish in Kurayat and the queen stage in Green Mountain.

For Gaviria and UAE Team Emirates, this weekend's work means replacing Rui Costa, the former world champion, with Fausto Masnada (Quick-Step Alphavinil), Elie Gesbert (Alcare-Samsic), and others. He will fight.

"We have the GC in our hands now. Tomorrow we'll see what happens with Louis. And then we'll decide [what to do]," Gaviria said.