2014 Tour of Oman, Feb. 18-22 (2.HC)

[JRanton]

Richard Simpson ‏@RichardSimpson1 · 8h
Still waiting for official GC timings from #TourofOman but sounds like Froomey's put a good chunk of time into everyone.

Sky website guy.

 

[Bakhjulet]

So did Froome win with quiet a big margin? Amazing how long we have to wait for top 10 stage result and GC.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

1 Froome
2 Van Garderen
3 Uran
.
5 Gesink

Richard Plugge ‏@RichardPlugge 2m
Fifth spot for @RGUpdate in Oman behind Froome, good performance. @TeamBelkin

 

[EnacheV]

http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,30203_9178798,00.html

Lots of words

Overall Rankings after Stage 5 : 1- @chrisfroome 2- Tejay Van Garderen 3 -@UranRigoberto 4- @PuritoRodriguez 5- @RGUpdate #TourofOman

 

[Bakhjulet]

In Dawg's own words:

“It feels absolutely fantastic getting that win today, especially with it being my first race of the season. Coming into the race I wasn’t sure exactly where my form was but this has proved I’m where I need to be right now.

“I know I say it a lot but the team were phenomenal today. Danny [Pate] and Ben [Swift] set a really good pace up to the base of the climb, and then once we hit it, we set up the train to perfection.

"David [Lopez] did a massive pull on the first really steep section which did a lot of damage, and when he pulled over Mikel [Nieve] carried on where he’d left off.

“That set Sergio [Henao] up for a pre-planned attack with about 2km to go when the climb ramped up again, and that meant I could sit on the wheels and conserve my energy.

"Robert Gesink and Tejay [van Garderen] were forced to go after him, and the second they’d made the catch, I made my move with about 1.5km to go.

“I could see Rigo chasing me for a while, and obviously Tejay again, and they both deserve respect for that, but I was pleased with the amount of time I was able to put into them.

“I’m really, really happy to be back in the leader’s jersey. We came into this race with much less stress than previously, and no massive expectations, but to be able to do what we’ve done here today is fantastic and it all bodes well for the season to come.”

Read more at http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,30203_9178798,00.html#qm16IgQGIHfFg7uU.99

 

[Wallenquist]

Froome after the stage:

He told us: “It feels absolutely fantastic getting that win today, especially with it being my first race of the season. Coming into the race I wasn’t sure exactly where my form was but this has proved I’m where I need to be right now.

“I know I say it a lot but the team were phenomenal today. Danny [Pate] and Ben [Swift] set a really good pace up to the base of the climb, and then once we hit it, we set up the train to perfection.

"David [Lopez] did a massive pull on the first really steep section which did a lot of damage, and when he pulled over Mikel [Nieve] carried on where he’d left off.

“That set Sergio [Henao] up for a pre-planned attack with about 2km to go when the climb ramped up again, and that meant I could sit on the wheels and conserve my energy.

"Robert Gesink and Tejay [van Garderen] were forced to go after him, and the second they’d made the catch, I made my move with about 1.5km to go.

“I could see Rigo chasing me for a while, and obviously Tejay again, and they both deserve respect for that, but I was pleased with the amount of time I was able to put into them.

“I’m really, really happy to be back in the leader’s jersey. We came into this race with much less stress than previously, and no massive expectations, but to be able to do what we’ve done here today is fantastic and it all bodes well for the season to come.”


Read more at http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,30203_9178798,00.html#uDApZlXmwikBoHmy.99

 

[Arredondo]

Purito 4th and Gesink 5th

 

[JRanton]

From there it was all about Team Sky and after the stage a happy Froome talked us through the victory and praised the support he received from his team-mates.


He told us: “It feels absolutely fantastic getting that win today, especially with it being my first race of the season. Coming into the race I wasn’t sure exactly where my form was but this has proved I’m where I need to be right now.


“I know I say it a lot but the team were phenomenal today. Danny [Pate] and Ben [Swift] set a really good pace up to the base of the climb, and then once we hit it, we set up the train to perfection.


"David [Lopez] did a massive pull on the first really steep section which did a lot of damage, and when he pulled over Mikel [Nieve] carried on where he’d left off.


“That set Sergio [Henao] up for a pre-planned attack with about 2km to go when the climb ramped up again, and that meant I could sit on the wheels and conserve my energy.


"Robert Gesink and Tejay [van Garderen] were forced to go after him, and the second they’d made the catch, I made my move with about 1.5km to go.


“I could see Rigo chasing me for a while, and obviously Tejay again, and they both deserve respect for that, but I was pleased with the amount of time I was able to put into them.


“I’m really, really happy to be back in the leader’s jersey. We came into this race with much less stress than previously, and no massive expectations, but to be able to do what we’ve done here today is fantastic and it all bodes well for the season to come.”

Read more at http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,30203_9178798,00.html#9Yg47TXqv10rzSCS.99

 

[LaFlorecita]

Will he ever stop being ridiculous?

 

[Arredondo]

Where is the great Nibbles?

 

[JRanton]

So Sky manage to get a press release out with extensive quotes from the race winner before the organiser has been able to state the time gaps.

 

[Wallenquist]

Great to read that Heano attacked with 2km to go instead of setting pace absurdly. They should've done the same yesterday with Thomas and Porte in Andalucia.

 

[Rollthedice]

So, Froome decimates the field in February. No suprise. Same pattern as last year.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

i find it very hard to believe that Uran can snatch any bonus seconds on those flat sprints. But hope makes for more exciting expectations

uran has nealry won massprints in the past so yeah he can if his team help him properly

 

[Bakhjulet]

Kreuziger 10th.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

So, Froome decimates the field in February. No suprise. Same pattern as last year.

4 seconds?

 

[roundabout]

So Sky manage to get a press release out with extensive quotes from the race winner before the organiser has been able to state the time gaps.

Maybe the had it prewritten and just needed to insert the names.

 

[Wallenquist]

4 seconds is really decimating

Looks like it was much more and Uran is currently third in GC.

 

[LaFlorecita]

4 seconds is really decimating

The gap is much bigger apparently.

 

[Marco Pantani]

So Sky manage to get a press release out with extensive quotes from the race winner before the organiser has been able to state the time gaps.

Good one.

But they're safe until they mistakenly post it an hour before.

 

[Rollthedice]

So Sky manage to get a press release out with extensive quotes from the race winner before the organiser has been able to state the time gaps.

He was giving the interview through radio when he was soloing to victory.

 

[Bakhjulet]

Apparently Uran is only 3rd in GC. Must have been a bit behind TJVG then.

 

[JRanton]

Maybe the had it prewritten and just needed to insert the names.

Good one.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Apparently Uran is only 3rd in GC. Must have been a bit behind TJVG then.

Wow, so Uran couldn't hold TJVG's wheel?

 

[Wallenquist]

Wow, so Uran couldn't hold TJVG's wheel?

Uran is still impressive at this point of the year, he's usually building up slowly. And BMC started with a bang this year, but real season starts next week so let's wait and see how it goes.