Tour of Oman 2016: Boasson Hagen new leader after victory in stage 2, Nibali second

At 162 kilometres, stage 2 in the 2016 Tour of Oman leads to an uphill arrival after a 2.8 kilometres closing climb at 6.5%. Last week, Boasson Hagen showed great form in Qatar and now he is superior in Oman, winning the stage after an especially brutal final 500 metres. Nibali finishes second, Van Avermaet third. And that's exactly how the GC looks like after stage 2... (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage Tour of Oman

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor)
2. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.
3. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
4. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.
5. Davide Rebellin (ita) s.t.
6. Gianluca Brambilla (ita) s.t.
7. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
8. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
9. Rui Costa (por) s.t.
10. Serge Pauwels (bel) + 0.06

11. Tom Dumoulin (ned) s.t.
41. Daniel Martin (irl) + 1.41
69. Richie Porte (aus) + 3.03

GC after stage 2
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor)
2. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.04
3. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) + 0.06
4. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
5. Serge Pauwels (bel) + 0.08
6. Davide Rebellin (ita) + 0.10
7. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.
8. Rui Costa (por) s.t.
9. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
10. Tom Dumoulin (nld) s.t.

Race report
After around 10 kms Pfingsten, Perichon, Dehaes, Asselman, Steels and Kamp break clear. The time gap balloons to a maximum of 4’15” when Pfingsten goes solo in the drop of the first climb. A little later the escapees come together and for a long time the gap lingers at around 3 minutes.

With 104 kms done Jesper Asselman, Alexander Kamp and Luc Perichon jump off the front, but their bravery doesn’t lead to glory as they are caught with 20 km’s left to race.

Porte is not his best self as he is dropped on a fast descent. A little later the pack breaks with Daniel Martin in the second group. Approaching the closing climb he is 0’50” down and he can forget about the GC.

The last 500 metres of the closing climb are insanely steep and it’s there Boasson Hagen shows his super form. He outsprints Nibali and Van Avermaet with a royal margin and takes the leaders jersey as Bob Jungels was dropped early on the final slopes.