2013 Tour of Oman (11th-16th February), 2.HC

[Afrank]

2013 Tour of Oman (11th-16th February), 2.HC
Qatar was a snooze this year, now to move on to the good one.

Route map

Stage 1, Al Musannah -> Sultan Qaboos University, 162 km

Stage 2, Fanja in Bidbid -> Al Bustan, 146 km

Stage 3, Nakhal Fort -> Wadi Dayqah Dam, 190 km

Continued in next post...

 

[Afrank]

Stage 4, Al Saltivah in Samail -> Jabal Al Akhdhar (Green Mountain), 153 km

Stage 5, Al Alam Palace -> Ministry of Housing in Boshar, 144 km

Stage 6, Hawit Nagam Parck -> Matrah Corniche, 144 km

Thanks to Geraint Too Fast for the profile.

Statlist: http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjM3OTA=

Other info: http://www.tourofoman.om/index.html

Notable starters: Evans, Sagan, Rodriguez, Boonen, Goss, Cancellara, Dombrowski, Froome, Wiggins, Contador, Pozzovivo, Nibali, Gilbert, GVA, Kittel, Degenkolb.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Stage 6 profile - http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TOO/2013/600/PROFIL.jpg

 

[Afrank]

Stage 6 profile - http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TOO/2013/600/PROFIL.jpg

Edited it in, thanks.

 

[true legend]

Green mountain seem to be a bit boring this year

http://www.letour.fr/2013/TOO/LIVE/us/400/etape_par_etape.html

Check last km

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Shows us what you got, Dombrowski.

 

[Team Riis]

Green mountain seem to be a bit boring this year

http://www.letour.fr/2013/TOO/LIVE/us/400/etape_par_etape.html

Check last km

Here you can see the last 5 km.
But that can't be true?!

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Shows us what you got, Dombrowski.

Who even knows what he'll be asked to do with that ridiculous team selection Sky have here - They could have 6 or 7 of the first 20 on the climb, or they could ask Dombo to go pick up water bottles and pull the peloton.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Who even knows what he'll be asked to do with that ridiculous team selection Sky have here - They could have 6 or 7 of the first 20 on the climb, or they could ask Dombo to go pick up water bottles and pull the peloton.

yep and the free for all doesn't strike me as being an option for Sky. Team:

CATALDO Dario Italy
DOMBROWSKI Joseph Lloyd United States
FROOME Christopher United Kingdom
KENNAUGH Peter United Kingdom
KIRYIENKA Vasil Belarus
KNEES Christian Germany
PORTE Richie Australia
WIGGINS Bradley United Kingdom

Unlikely to get the jersey early with the above. Riding tempo anyway? Who knows.

 

[El Pistolero]

I wonder what role Boonen will play.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I wonder what role Boonen will play.

needs some race miles and intensity. Perhaps some pulls for Cav in specific stages. Could try and win stage 2.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I wonder what role Boonen will play.

Leadout stage 1 & 6, sprinter stage 2,3 & 5.

 

[El Pistolero]

Leadout stage 1 & 6, sprinter stage 2,3 & 5.

He can't fully stretch his elbow yet, so I'm not sure if he'll do much sprinting or leading out.

 

[Pentacycle]

He can't fully stretch his elbow yet, so I'm not sure if he'll do much sprinting or leading out.

He'll do a Schleck then? Just making sure to roll in safely every day, not forcing his elbow. If he's still having trouble with arm movement climbing and sprinting(or anything which involves pulling the handlebars), is very hard, and Oman's got plenty of hills. But ofc he needs to finish this race if he wants to win in April.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

He can't fully stretch his elbow yet, so I'm not sure if he'll do much sprinting or leading out.

He can practice his Hushovd impressions then, trundling around at the back.

 

[El Pistolero]

He'll do a Schleck then? Just making sure to roll in safely every day, not forcing his elbow. If he's still having trouble with arm movement climbing and sprinting(or anything which involves pulling the handlebars), is very hard, and Oman's got plenty of hills. But ofc he needs to finish this race if he wants to win in April.

He trained over 1000km in 6 days on Mallorca, so no, he ain't doing a Schleck.

 

[Afrank]

Who even knows what he'll be asked to do with that ridiculous team selection Sky have here - They could have 6 or 7 of the first 20 on the climb, or they could ask Dombo to go pick up water bottles and pull the peloton.

Dombro will probably be a domestique for the climbs, and they will support whoever has the best chance at victory.

Although I would love to see him riding partly for himself, especially on Green Mountain. I think he could do well there. And they do already have a number of guys for the climbs, so he might get a little more freedom.

 

[Telmisartan new]

So,stages 4 and 5 look like guaranteed fireworks but does anyone think the profile of stage 2 might be interesting,is it possible the two late climbs might catch out some riders? (excluding Guardini and Kittel)

Any ideas folks?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

So,stages 4 and 5 look like guaranteed fireworks but does anyone think the profile of stage 2 might be interesting,is it possible the two late climbs might catch out some riders? (excluding Guardini and Kittel)

Any ideas folks?

stage two is ideal for a flat stage. It will give somebody like Gilbert a chance to mix things up with the sprinters.

 

[MADRAZO]

On cyclingfever Cavendish is no longer in the Quick Step lineup and he is also not mentioned as a profile on the letour page anymore, so I doubt he will start.

 

[JRanton]

On cyclingfever Cavendish is no longer in the Quick Step lineup and he is also not mentioned as a profile on the letour page anymore, so I doubt he will start.

Seems like he'll be riding Algarve instead.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Seems like he'll be riding Algarve instead.

seems like QS is managing the Boonen/ Cav situation well.

So now who can win the flat stages?

 

[JRanton]

seems like QS is managing the Boonen/ Cav situation well.

So now who can win the flat stages?

I haven't seen a complete start list.

According to this article Froome will be Sky's leader in Oman with Wiggins in a support role: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/feb/08/bradley-wiggins-chris-froome-oman

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I haven't seen a complete start list.

According to this article Froome will be Sky's leader in Oman with Wiggins in a support role: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/feb/08/bradley-wiggins-chris-froome-oman

ok, British empire 2.0, who can win the flat stages?

 

[Miburo]

I wonder what role Boonen will play.

Does this matter? Contador starts after all lol

Really though i don't expect much from him. I wonder if he'll get enough shape for milan-sanremo.

I doubt he'll have it at the omloop already.