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- Note:  High resolution versions of all photos can be viewed by clicking the "high resolution" link under each photo.

Race organizer Eddy Merckx goes for a spin.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

More photos below

Not a typical location for pre-race preparation.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Bianchi bikes
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Pinarello bikes
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

BMC riders prepare for the day's stage.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Sky's Sir Bradley Wiggins
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Race leader Chris Froome (Sky Procycling)
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff)
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Contador spots the photographer framing him through the spokes of a bike wheel.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Chris Froome awaits the stage start.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

The stage is underway in the neutral zone.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

It will be another day for beautiful cycling landscapes.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Three riders, two of them looking back, have jumped away from the peloton.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

The peloton
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

  Spectators, right, have a front row balcony view of the peloton as it rides along the sea in pursuit of a breakaway.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

The Sky team rides in support of race leader Chris Froome.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Bradley Wiggins with Chris Froome right behind him
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

The breakaway pushes on.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Sky lead the chase.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

The breakaway
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

An elite group of contenders for stage glory has formed in the finale.  Froome, Contador, Rodriguez, Nocentini and Evans are among the riders in the group.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Wiggo's work for the day in support of Froome is over.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Contador and Froome battle side by side.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Froome beats Contador and Rodriguez, making a statement in the process.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Froome raises an arm in victory.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Alberto Contador crosses the finish line.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Christopher Froome raises his arms on the victory podium.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

Froome gets another leader jersey.
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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality

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photo Lloyd Images/Muscat Municipality