Tour of Oman 2016: Favourites

Tour of Oman is tailor made for climbers. Almost every stage features one or more hills while the Queen Stage up Green Mountain leads to a gruelling last two kilometres at an average grade of around 13%. Cyclingstage.com takes a look at the GC-contenders in the 2016 Tour of Oman. (Slideshow route/profile)

Usually the Tour of Oman is decided while climbing up Green Mountain. That's the way Chris Froome took the win twice, that's the way Rafael Valls did it last year. Consolidating in the stage over the steep Bousher Alamrat is next. If it all works out fine, victory is yours. It will be the recipe for success in 2016 also.

Given the fact they know how it is to win a one week stage race Richie Porte and Vincenzo Nibali are top favourites. That said, it all depends on the form this early in the season. Porte was strong in the Tour Down Under, while Nibali was a shadow of his best self in the Tour de San Luis.