Germany's Andre Greipel took over the lead in the Tour of Oman after the Lotto rider claimed Thursday's third stage, a 145 kilometre ride from Muscat to Al Bustan.
Greipel got the better of Slovakia's Peter Sagan and Nacer Bouhanni of
France in a sprint finish.
Greipel, who also won Tuesday's openeing stage, prised the leader's red jersey from Australian GreenEDGE rider Leigh Howard who now trails the German by eight seconds.
Alexander Kristoff of Norway is third, a further two seconds adrift.
"It might have looked easy but today was far from that," Greipel said.
As has been the case on the first two days Thursday's action featured a long breakaway but the three riders were duly swept up by the peloton which included last year's winner, Britain's Tour de France winner Chris Froome.
Friday's fourth stage takes the riders on a 173km route from Wadi Al Abiyad to Muscat.
