Tour of Oman - Muscat Classic 2023 , February 10-15

[Lequack]

This is a race of two parts. First part is the Muscat Classic, a one day race on February 10, followed by 5 stages of Tour of Oman. Startlist should be the same for both races.

It's like UAE Tour, but with actual hills and mountains instead of a flat desert. Should make for a better viewing.
A lot of riders will rider both this race and UAE Tour afterwards.

Notable riders: Merlier, Mentjes, Ulissi, Herrada, GvA, Hirt, Cavendish, Lutsenko, Sosa, Ackermann, Masnada, Vansevenent, Formolo, Buchmann

Overview

www.procyclingstats.com

Official website of Tour of Oman

Official site of the Tour of Oman. Includes route, riders, and teams.

www.tour-of-oman.com

Live video stream available on Eurosport/GCN (only highlights).

Also live broadcast here:

https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1djGXlZDnYkGZ

or

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umB5pYa1FUM

Full startlist:

Startlist

www.procyclingstats.com

 

[Lequack]

2023»Muscat Classic(1.1)
One day race»Al Mouj Muscat›Al Bustan(173.7km)

2023»Tour of Oman(2.Pro)
Stage 1»Al Rustaq Fort›Muscat (Oman Convention & Exhibition Center)(147.4km)

Stage 2»Muscat (Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex)›Qurayyat(174km)

Stage 3»Al Khobar›Jabal Hatt(151.8km)

Stage 4»Izki›Yitti Hills(204.9km)

Stage 5 (Final)»Samail›Jabal Al Akhdhar(152.2km)

 

[Lequack]

Sprinters are going to have a bad time when they look at these profiles.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

GCN only shows highlights as far as I know, but perhaps we'll be able to get a dodgy Omani stream like last year.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

You can't just create a one day race and call it a Classic. Don't work like that.

 

[Lequack]

You can't just create a one day race and call it a Classic. Don't work like that.

Any yet they did it

From the website:
"A new race is born in the Sultanate, the Muscat Classic, on the eve of the 12th edition of the Tour of Oman, featuring 5 stages from 11 to 15 February.
For the first time in the history of the event, the final stage leads the riders to Jabal Al Akhdhar, on the slopes of the iconic “Green Mountain”, after an ascent of nearly 6km at more than 10%.
Nine UCI WorldTeams have confirmed their participation and the national team of Oman is making its comeback after a successful first in 2022. "

Make it two races

The best habits can always benefit from exciting novelties. Thirteen years after the birth of the Tour of Oman, the Sultanate welcomes a new professional road r

www.tour-of-oman.com

 

[Lequack]

GCN only shows highlights as far as I know, but perhaps we'll be able to get a dodgy Omani stream like last year.

Interesting. The website says this:

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Interesting. The website says this:

It's what they've said on twitter

https://twitter.com/x/status/1623001673005207557

View: https://twitter.com/GcnRacing/status/1623001673005207557

 

[Lequack]

Well that's annoying. The profiles are much better than UAE Tour. Hopefully we can get that dodgy Omani stream at least.

 

[Samamba]

I'll post it here too then.

I don't speak Arabic, but I'm assuming this tweet means it will be broadcasted again on Oman Sports TV, just like last year. Don't expect a perfect broadcast, it was pretty bad last year.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1623335861348696064

View: https://twitter.com/OmanSportsTV/status/1623335861348696064

 

[Lequack]

I actually like the enthusiasm of Arabic broadcasters, they are usually so hyped up when commentating. You don't even need to know what they're saying, just go by the volume.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I would like to congratulate Javier Guillén on his being appointed as race director.

 

[limak_]

I actually like the enthusiasm of Arabic broadcasters, they are usually so hyped up when commentating. You don't even need to know what they're saying, just go by the volume.

Exactly! I watch UAE Tour on abudhabi sport (or something like that) every season. The style of their commentary, like they don't make any pauses between words or sentences and the hype and excitement is unique.

 

[Samamba]

Some serious wind expected on friday (Muscat), and it's a full on headwind on the last climb. Will be hard to make the difference on it. Bigger chance now that it will be decided in a reduced bunch sprint. Zingle (favorite for me), Gibbons, Ulissi, Vendrame are guys to look out for. Maybe even guys like Kanter or David Dekker survive because of the headwind and if it isn't made too hard before the last climb.

Also some parts with crosswind earlier in the race, but wind might not be strong enough to really cause carnage.

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1623589855383920641

View: https://twitter.com/TeamEmiratesUAE/status/1623589855383920641

 

[Salvarani]

You can't just create a one day race and call it a Classic. Don't work like that.

Instant classic is a thing tbf.

 

[RedheadDane]

You can't just create a one day race and call it a Classic. Don't work like that.

Instant classic is a thing tbf.

I suppose "Muscat Still a Completely New Race, but We Hope it Will Be a Classic Some Day, One Day Race" was considered too long a name.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Notable riders: Merlier, Mentjes, Ulissi, Herrada, GvA, Hirt, Cavendish, Lutsenko, Sosa, Ackermann

How is Ackermenn a notable rider but Fausto Masnada, Vansevenent, Formolo and Buchmann aren't?

 

[Lequack]

How is Ackermenn a notable rider but Fausto Masnada, Vansevenent, Formolo and Buchmann aren't?

He has more points
But yes, I will add those riders too.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1623644387799343104

View: https://twitter.com/OmanObserver/status/1623644387799343104?s=20&t=26zl4M1qY4ZymS8YUYiKYQ

 

[Potomac]

These look like they could be decent races to follow, if only we could.

 

[Lequack]

These look like they could be decent races to follow, if only we could.

I'm sure there will be an Arabic stream to follow.

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1623709811614285825

View: https://twitter.com/tourofoman/status/1623709811614285825

https://twitter.com/x/status/1623704671725420544

View: https://twitter.com/tourofoman/status/1623704671725420544

https://twitter.com/x/status/1623692839224807428

View: https://twitter.com/tourofoman/status/1623692839224807428

https://twitter.com/x/status/1623668761776787457

View: https://twitter.com/tourofoman/status/1623668761776787457

 

[SHAD0W93]

Sprinters are going to have a bad time when they look at these profiles.

I was hoping Cav could pick up his first win but seeing these profiles looks like it’ll have to wait. Gives the team time to ride together and practice on the intermediate sprint points.

 

[Berflamand]

I was hoping Cav could pick up his first win but seeing these profiles looks like it’ll have to wait. Gives the team time to ride together and practice on the intermediate sprint points.

It would be quite funny if they would set up a full lead out train at every intermediate sprint but I'm all for it!

 

[Mayomaniac]

It would be quite funny if they would set up a full lead out train at every intermediate sprint but I'm all for it!

With no stages for the sprinters that would actually be a good way to work things out with your new sprinttrain. Talk with the other guys who have a new train (Merlier and Dekker) and you have a nice training at every intermediate sprint.