Rohan Dennis secured the race lead after winning the individual time trial ©Getty Images

Australia’s Rohan Dennis claimed the Abu Dhabi Tour race lead after winning the individual time trial on stage four at Al Maryan Island.

The BMC Racing rider was among the favourites for the 12.6 kilometres stage, on the penultimate day of this International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race.

Dennis, a three-time Australian time trial champion, produced a strong ride to complete the distance in a time of 14min 12sec.

The 27-year-old was made to wait to see whether his time would prove quick enough, with world time trial champion Tom Dumoulin a threat.

Dumoulin, who rides for Team Sunweb, recorded the quickest time at the intermediate time check to appear on course for victory.

The Dutchman saw success snatched away by a mechanical, however, losing around half a minute, eventually finishing 12th.

Team Sky’s Spanish rider Jonathan Castroviejo and Dennis’ fellow Australian Miles Scotson completed the top three.

They ended 14 and 16 seconds adrift of the stage winner’s time, which is also their distance to Dennis in the general classification.

"We’ll put everything into keeping this red jersey," Dennis, having assumed the race lead, said 

"It’d be great for me to win the overall classification of a stage race outside of Australia or America.

"Obviously, Dumoulin is right up there, but Valverde is probably the most threatening rider.

"He was strong on the flat, he’ll be dangerous uphill too.

"Crashing out of the Giro wasn’t great last year, so I’ll have a second crack this year, I’ll just keep cracking away.

"Everything Dumoulin has done is a confidence booster in what’s possible for me."

The race is due to conclude tomorrow with a 199km stage, finishing with a steep climb up Jebel Hafeet.

Denmark's Michael Valgren attacked in the closing kilometres to win the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad ©Getty Images
Denmark's Michael Valgren attacked in the closing kilometres to win the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad ©Getty Images

The UCI WorldTour also continued with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the one-day Belgian race viewed by many as the start of the spring season.

A 12-rider group broke clear in the closing stages of the 196.2km cobbled classic, Astana boasting three members of the move.

They used their numerical advantage to good effect, setting up for Denmark’s Michael Valgren to break clear with two kilometres left to race.

Valgren stayed clear to win in a time of 4 hours 50min 14sec.

Poland’s Łukasz Wiśniowski finished 12 seconds behind the winner, leading home a group containing Belgium's Greg Van Avermaet.

Van Avermaet had been hoping to claim victory in the race for the third consecutive year but ultimately had to settle for third place.