2016 Tour of Oman (2.HC) February 16-21

[Ruudz0r]

The most versatile and fun race from the middle east! Again a good mix of stages and a pretty good field.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Teams and most important riders (provisional)
World Tour
Team Katusha (Kristoff, Van den Broeck)
Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka (Boasson Hagen, Kudus)
Team Giant Alpecin (Dumoulin, SK Andersen)
Etixx – Quick Step (Martin, Jungels, Meersman)
BMC Racing Team (Porte, van Avermaet)
Team LottoNL-Jumbo (Hofland)
Lampre – Merida (Costa, Modolo)
Astana Pro Team (Nibali, Fuglsang, Guardini)
AG2R La Mondiale (Bardet, Pozzovivo)

Pro Continental
Wanty Groupe Gobert (Gasparotto)
Roompot Oranje Peloton (Weening, Looij)
Fortuneo – Vital Concept (Sepulveda, Tronet)
Bora-Argon 18 (Bennett, Muhlberger)
Drapac Professional Cycling (Canty)
Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise (Capiot)
Stoltin Service Group (Guldhammer, Ciolek)
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (Brajkovic, Jaramillo)

 

[Singer01]

i'm guessing porte walks this, depending on what shape nibali turns up in. interesting route, are they going further up the mountain this year, don't remember it being that long in previous editions.

 

[dacooley]

nibs to boss it with 2 stage wins.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Kudus to show his talent and get close to the podium (4th or 5th!)

Porte to win it ahead of Sepulveda and Nibali

 

[Ricco']

Re:

i'm guessing porte walks this, depending on what shape nibali turns up in. interesting route, are they going further up the mountain this year, don't remember it being that long in previous editions.

Yes they go.

And I think they could go even further if they want. I think I saw in Mapmyride that they can do around 20/30km climbing in Green Mountain.

 

[Carols]

Nibali! He's had a better off season and should at least take the Green Mountain stage.

 

[May0maniac]

Pozzovivo will destroy everyone on Green Mountain

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Re: Re:

i'm guessing porte walks this, depending on what shape nibali turns up in. interesting route, are they going further up the mountain this year, don't remember it being that long in previous editions.

Yes they go.

And I think they could go even further if they want. I think I saw in Mapmyride that they can do around 20/30km climbing in Green Mountain.

In terms of actual climbing, they can do 18km up a suitable place for a race finish. However if the want to get to the top at Saiq Airport, then that is 37.8km long from the foot of the climb in Birkat Al Mouz.

 

[classicomano]

Ground control to Major Tom, commencing countdown engines on. We'll have liftoff on Jabal Al Ahkdhar.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Doesn't Nibali usually suck pretty hard this time of year? Porte should be the favorite here.

 

[classicomano]

Re:

Doesn't Nibali usually suck pretty hard this time of year? Porte should be the favorite here.

Is it May yet? Or July? Yes Nibali will suck.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Doesn't Nibali usually suck pretty hard this time of year? Porte should be the favorite here.

Is it May yet? Or July? Yes Nibali will suck.

Those naming him might be doing so because he wasn't TERRIBLE this year in San Luis.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

Doesn't Nibali usually suck pretty hard this time of year? Porte should be the favorite here.

He's on Teide now training, San Luis was positive for the preparation for his targets this year so he will suck a lot less than in the last 2 years. I would be surprised if he will outclimb Porte which I think is the favorite but Nibs should be top five material.

 

[SafeBet]

Nibali actually won on Green Mountain 4 years ago. Field was much weaker indeed, but it wasn't that long ago he could start a season in a very good shape.

 

[Scarponi]

Chance of an attack over that little hill in stage 1 or is it too easy?

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

Nibali actually won on Green Mountain 4 years ago. Field was much weaker indeed, but it wasn't that long ago he could start a season in a very good shape.

Nibali 4 years ago was Nibali that was good all year. That's a long time ago.

I wouldn't mind that Nibali again in combination with super peak form Nibali we have seen in 2014.

 

[Brullnux]

Chance of an attack over that little hill in stage 1 or is it too easy?

Yeah, there's chance for an attack. A couple of years ago it happened IIRC.

 

[Inquitus]

Porte
Astanas
Martin
Dumoulin

 

[DBotero]

It's Porte time to shine.I don't think Nibali can stop him.

 

[carolina]

costa for the win

 

[Pricey_sky]

Always liked this race as an early season test. Is stage 5 the same stage that Froome, Contador and Purito had a good fight over a couple of seasons ago?

 

[Ruudz0r]

Re:

Always liked this race as an early season test. Is stage 5 the same stage that Froome, Contador and Purito had a good fight over a couple of seasons ago?

Yes, though it is not an exact copy, the first part of the stage is a little harder this year in comparison to stage 5 in 2013. There is also 1K more flat to the finish after the last ascent of the Bouscher Al Amerat.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Always liked this race as an early season test. Is stage 5 the same stage that Froome, Contador and Purito had a good fight over a couple of seasons ago?

Yes, though it is not an exact copy, the first part of the stage is a little harder this year in comparison to stage 5 in 2013. There is also 1K more flat to the finish after the last ascent of the Bouscher Al Amerat.

Thanks,

Whilst there is again no live coverage its good to see that Eurosport are showing 30 minute highlights each day.

 

[wwabbit]

Hey, could someone post the Sky line up?








/duck

 

[DBotero]

Re:

Hey, could someone post the Sky line up?








/duck

Froome,Kennaugh,Intxausti,Henao,Landa,Konig,Viviani,Peters