Froome leads Tour of Oman, Contador 3rd

MUSCAT, Oman (AP) - Tour de France runner-up Christopher Froome has taken the overall lead in the Tour of Oman, after finishing second in the fourth stage on Thursday.

Froome, a Team Sky rider who was 13th overall after the third day, finished 4 seconds behind stage winner Oliver Joaquim Rodriguez of Katusha who won the 90-mile ride from Samail to Jabal Al Akhdhar in 3 1/2 hours. Two Tour de France winners followed; Cadel Evans of BMC finished 22 seconds back in third while Alberto Contador of Team Saxo came in 27 seconds back in fourth.

With two stages remaining, Froome leads Evans by 24 seconds for the overall lead with Contador another second back.