Tour of Oman (2.HC) 17th Feb - 22nd Feb

MPFG

Might as well do a thread for this race as well...

Most of the top GC guys not in Spain are in Oman including Nibali, Valverde, Purito, TJ V Garderen, Pinot , Rui Costa ,Rafa Majka , (Kreuziger is here too but his picture is listed very far back int he TCS team photo ...as if he is hiding) ...Konig is down as leader for SKY but their website lists Poels as co leader..(interesting to see how these 2 do)

Of course the only real stage for climber is the Green Mountain stage on Friday 20th Feb and it will be interesting ot see how the top guys do on this climb and their times (I beleive Chris Foome hold the record for fastest time on this climb)




However there are lots of stages for sprinters and it will be very interesting to see how Sam Bennett does here ..Main competition are the usual suspects Kristoff, Sagan, Bouhanni, Blythe, Modolo,Goss ( whole of MTN ?), Boonen & Tepestra (must be windy).>>I think he will do very well indeed

Can't see thisi race listed on eurosport ...so I guess the usual channels if one wants any live coverage otherwise have to wait for highlights


(PS Tour of Algarve is on this week as well and includes as main GC contenders Richie Porte,Michal Kwiatkowski & Rober Gesink )

Jude13

The tour of Oman is starting on Tuesday, Stage 1 finishes where my office is and stage 2 passes The Wave where I live so I will try and get some pics up.

Anyone tipped to win?

Jude13

http://www.letour.fr/tour-of-oman/

Beasty

Threads merged

MPFG

Jude13 wrote: »

The tour of Oman is starting on Tuesday, Stage 1 finishes where my office is and stage 2 passes The Wave where I live so I will try and get some pics up.

Anyone tipped to win?

I quite fancy TJV Garderen but then again Valverde is usually very strong at start of the year

Jude13

On the way to work today I seen a few (incredibly skinny) guys cycling all wearing red and black kit sitting at a junction. The screech of tyres and manic driving was showing on their face.

Could have been a tour group or people doing a recki for the team. There are some seriously steep climbs here.

MPFG

Jude13 wrote: »

On the way to work today I seen a few (incredibly skinny) guys cycling all wearing red and black kit sitting at a junction. The screech of tyres and manic driving was showing on their face.

Could have been a tour group or people doing a recki for the team. There are some seriously steep climbs here.

Have a wave at Philip Deignan who I fogot is riding for SKY

Also Rigaberto Uran will probably podium in this race again

dastardly00

The official Twitter account of the Tour of Oman tweeted this yesterday

MPFG

No live coverage is ridiculous......who is the race for as there are usually no spectators either

I mean as Nicole Kidman said in that movie...."what's the point of doing anything if no one is watching "

Oh yeah...Uran isn't there

dastardly00

Stage 1 result:

1. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro Team
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx-QuickStep
3. Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) IAM Cycling
4. Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Giant-Alpecin
5. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha
6. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis
7. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo
8. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18
9. Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida
10. Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ

Good result from Sam considering the opposition!

Philip Deignan came in 40th, in the same bunch as the winner.

Darkglasses

Someone on twitter said that the organizers announced a 25 minute highlight show, but where it will be broadcasted is still unknown.

Darkglasses

Found this link on Reddit, explaining the situation with TV rights - http://inrng.com/2014/02/oman-tv-production-costs-rights/

Jude13

The Omani national TV have outside broadcasting units, they were at the Wave for the end of the Muscat festival at the weekend. A helicopter could not, as far as I am aware having been years working at the airport, have been used for this race anyway as only military or the Sultans helicopters can be used in Muscat.

MPFG

There are highlights (which use a chopper) but not posted yet

Here is what has been posted for stage 1 ...

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=791743200916010&set=vb.398107966946204&type=2&theater

Jude13

Strange they got the okay for that.

death1234567

Stage 2:

4:36:46
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory Racing
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team
3 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
4 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Lampre - Merida
5 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo
6 Julian Arredondo Moreno (Col) Trek Factory Racing
7 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo
8 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Team Katusha
9 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team
10 Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica GreenEdge

+1:15
48 Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky

+14:46
141 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon

dastardly00

Just in reference to yesterday's stage (Thursday, Stage #3), Sam had a pretty bad day. It was a flat stage, it should have suited him down to the ground. But while the rest of the sprinters battled it out for the win (with Alexander Kristoff taking the honours), Sam finished in 116th place. I don't know if he was wrecked from the day before or what.

dastardly00

Stage 4 (the queen stage) result:

1. Rafael Valls (Esp) Lampre-Merida 5:46:48
2. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing 0:00:05
3. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar 0:00:19
4. Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:22
5. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:00:35
6. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre - Merida 0:00:49
7. Jacques Janse Van Resnburg (RSA) NTN-Qhuebeka 0:00:54
8. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Mtn-Qhubeka 0:00:58
9. Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing 0:01:00
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana "

23. Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky 0:02:37

138 (and last). Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 0:23:39

MPFG

Brian Canty I think says Sam is ill

dastardly00

The record for ascending Green Mountain was broken today by both Rafa Valls and Tejay Van Garderen. From the short video clips I've seen online, it appears that the riders had a strong tailwind.

Jude13

The wind here this weekend has been hectic and there is a very fine sand storm.

It is getting through the AC in the office and the car so can't be nice to cycle in. It will also affect grip.

The tour is meant to pass the office today so I will try and get some snaps.

dastardly00

Jude13 wrote: »

The wind here this weekend has been hectic and there is a very fine sand storm.

It is getting through the AC in the office and the car so can't be nice to cycle in. It will also affect grip.

The tour is meant to pass the office today so I will try and get some snaps.

Wow that is absolutely nuts that the sand is getting in the through the AC into buildings and cars.

Very scary to hear that before yesterday's stage was cancelled, there were a good few reports of tyres exploding in the peloton :eek:

dastardly00

Stage 6 (final stage) result:

A four man breakaway battled for the stage win with former hour record holder Matthias Brändle taking the honours. Sagan won the the bunch sprint, with Sam Bennett finishing five places behind Sagan. Rafael Valls has won the GC. Philip Deignan finished 23rd overall.