Two years ago a flat stage went to Quriyat and Alexander Kristoff took the win. Chances a sprinter will win this time are zero as the final 2.8 kilometres rise at 6.5%. The finish is just outside of the fisher’s village of Quriyat itself.
After starting at Omantel HQ, riders head in the direction of Masqat and soon thereafter the first climb looms. Bousher Al Amrat is 3.4 kilometres at 8.8 %. Since the climb is to be taken six times in stage 5 – three times from each side -, this could be seen as an exploration training. Upon cresting it’s still 125 kilometres left to the finish line, mostly on flat to rolling roads.
That is, until the final climb. At 2.8 kilometres the average grade may be 6.5%, the last 500 metres are much steeper…
Time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds lay waiting at the finish line.
Race results/race report stage 2, Tour of Oman 2016.
Tour of Oman 2016 stage 2: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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