Watson Gallery: 2013 Tour of Oman, Stage 1

The peloton wound its way along mostly flat roads on Monday before Marcel Kittel stamped his name on the race. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

World champion Philippe Gilbert will look for a stage win when the road tilts up later in the week. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

The local fans came out on Monday for the Tour of Oman opener west of Muskat. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Kohei Uchima and Bobbie Traksel made a long escape on day 1. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

American Joe Dombrowski made his pro debut with Sky on Monday. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Tom Boonen flew his Belgian champion's kit for the first time in 2013 after an elbow injury forced him to miss the Tour of Qatar. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Alberto Contador rode comfortably through the stage with his eyes on the climbing stages later in the week. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Orica-GreenEdge chipped in on the chase with Fumiyuki Beppu. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Bradley Wiggins was delayed behind a late crash and lost more than a minute. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Tom Stamsnijder's efforts chasing for Argos-Shimano would ultimately bare fruit with Marcel Kittel's stage win. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Marcel Kittel racked Argos-Shimano's first win of 2013 on Monday in stage 1 of the Tour of Oman. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Marcel Kittel pulled on the first leader's jersey of the tour. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com