Stage 1 opens with a sprinters party in Al Wutayya. It will de busy upfront, as the list of parcticipants is filled with names like Alexander Kristoff, Arnaud Démare, Nacer Bouhanni, Tom Boonen, Theo Bos…
The 2nd stage takes the riders to Al Bustan on a hilly route. Nevertheless it was André Greipel taking the stage in Al Bustan last year. Normally the route should suit men like Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Rui Costa and Fabian Cancellara.
Both start and finish of stage 3 are in Al Mussanah Sports City. Since this is a coastal town echelons and cross-winds could be on the menu today. Especially when you consider that the city is popular among sailors …
Since Jabal Al Akhdhar, or Green Mountain, is a prominent closing-climb in the Tour of Oman. It is featured in stage 4. Robert Gesink, Vincenzo Nibali, Joachim Rodríguez and Christopher Froome were the victors after a slog up the 5.7 kilometres at 5%.
The steep Bousher Alamrat climb detonated the fireworks last year. Breakaway-boy Greg Van Avermaet was reeled in, Froome attacked with Sagan, Nibali and Uran counter-attacking and the first of these three taking the stage. After the aforementioned stage 5 finishes at the Ministry of Housing and the usuals suspects are: Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet, Rui Costa and Fabian Cancellara. And… did Edvald Boasson Hagen reinvent him after his transfer to MTN Qhubeka …?
With stage 6 the Tour of Oman 2015 closes the way it opened – with a sprinters party.
Tour of Oman 2015: Images and more
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