Tour of Oman

[theyoungest]

Oman startlist is wrong because Sutton won't be riding!

Does the term "provisional" mean anything to you?

 

[ingsve]

Oman startlist is wrong because Sutton won't be riding!

You mean because of injury? He's scheduled to ride according to Sky homepage.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Does the term "provisional" mean anything to you?

Well the "provisional start list" was posted today!!!! The incident with Sutton happened on the 19th of Jan!

The guy has a hole in his knee.

 

[Jamsque]

I had been ignoring the buld-up to this race but holy crapola that climb is astonishing for a race in February. I may have to revise my opinion on Arab sultanates purchasing sports events if they are going to do this kind of thing.

 

[ttrider]

Looking forward to this, its kind of like a xoret del cati on steroids mountain finish, Gradient is deceiving, if the climb started @ 4.5km to go it would probably average more than Zoncolan! Despite being short.....
The TT is hilly by the looks of things so with time bonuses as well you have to say J Rodriguez will be the favorite

 

[euanli]

I don't know. Menchov is looking good.

 

[janraaskalt]

Well the "provisional start list" was posted today!!!! The incident with Sutton happened on the 19th of Jan!

So, you are unfamiliar with provisional start lists. They are composed from the official information provided by the teams, according to the UCI rules.

 

[Ferminal]

I don't know. Menchov is looking good.

Menchov is way too unpredictable at this time of the season

But I guess the same can be said about most at this time.

From that list I'd say Vino or Gesink would be my favourites. But if none of the real good climbers are in reasonable form there is a chance for someone else in form to give it a real shot (thinking Sinkewitz, Pinotti). Fuglsang might want to get off to a good start, don't think we should expect much from Spartacus though.

Of course all we care about these days is our CQ teams, so show them how it's done, Marc de Maar!

That TT looks good too.

 

[euanli]

Of which there will be a named reserve rider no?

I can imagine that will be for visa issues in trying to get another rider added quickly .

 

[sublimit]

Seems like several teams are sending some good climbers there for the overall and MTF.

Fuglsang
Cancellara
Cam Meyer
Joaquin Rodrigues
Blanco
Menchov
Vinokourov
Gesink
Siutsou
Casar

We will see if Cameron Meyer can climb now after he claimed he was a climber and not a tester like I and most other people originally thought .

 

[Ferminal]

We will see if Cameron Meyer can climb now after he claimed he was a climber and not a tester like I and most other people originally thought .

Mate, he conquered a stage which included the mighty Checker Hill, this should be a walk in the park.

 

[whittashau]

And here's the climb itself

Geez, that ain't no willunga hill.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

That TT is more than just a little bit lumpy as well. Assuming the profile here is accurate, it rises 200m in c3km (6.5% +), descends 227m in 3.1km (7.3%), and then after a false flat looks to climb 200m in about 1.5km: 13% or more.

Is this really TT bike territory?

Is this really TT specialist territory?

 

[theyoungest]

That TT is more than just a little bit lumpy as well. Assuming the profile here is accurate, it rises 200m in c3km (6.5% +), descends 227m in 3.1km (7.3%), and then after a false flat looks to climb 200m in about 1.5km: 13% or more.

Is this really TT bike territory?

Is this really TT specialist territory?

That same hill was in last year's TT as well, and there EBH, Cancellara, and Meyer filled the podium. Although this year they climb it, and then turn back and climb it again. But the course certainly seems to be good news for the guy who is likely to be in yellow after the Green Mountain, mr. Purito.

 

[ingsve]

That TT is more than just a little bit lumpy as well. Assuming the profile here is accurate, it rises 200m in c3km (6.5% +), descends 227m in 3.1km (7.3%), and then after a false flat looks to climb 200m in about 1.5km: 13% or more.

Is this really TT bike territory?

Is this really TT specialist territory?

Last year they banned TT bikes because of logistics so they'll probably just TT on road bikes this year as well.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

It is genuinely hilarious that they've put a proper MtF into a stage race this early in the European season. It will be interesting to see who has the form to make a go of it - presumably some of the big name climbers will just be there for the ride, as some of the sprinting big guns were in the TDU.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Also nice to the An Post Sean Kelly team at both Oman and Qatar. As far as I can see they're the only Conti team at either race. It seems that Kelly's name still opens some doors.

It will be interesting to see if they can make themselves visible in this sort of company, and they have some useful looking young riders along. In fact there's 20 years age gap between the youngest and oldest members of their Oman and Qatar squad.

 

[Not Riding Enough]

And here's the climb itself

Lat year on this forum I wished that they would include this climb. I'm very happy about this but also sad I'm now not not able to go and see the stage.

There is a check point at the bottom of the climb that is supposed to stop all 2wds going up. It is over kill for a tar road but it is pretty steep and if they finiish the race before the lower gradients at the top, as it seems, then it will be great.

It is a cool place (even in summer as 10 deg colder), I love the Juniper trees up there. There is a great little village that has a majalis right at the top of a wadi with an amazing view. It was very memorable to invited to have dates and coffee there by the locals.

 

[Ryaguas]

Seems like several teams are sending some good climbers there for the overall and MTF

I'll put my money on Vino and Casar... those guys knows only one word... and is Attack!

 

[Jamsque]

Vino is one of those guys who seems to carry a good base level of form all year round so I would not be at all surprised to see him up at the front on the Akhdhar.

 

[will10]

It is genuinely hilarious that they've put a proper MtF into a stage race this early in the European season. It will be interesting to see who has the form to make a go of it - presumably some of the big name climbers will just be there for the ride, as some of the sprinting big guns were in the TDU.

I find it genuinely hilarious that you think Oman is in Europe...

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I find it genuinely hilarious that you think Oman is in Europe...

I find it more saddening that amusing that while you evidently have aspirations to be an obnoxious pedant you are still incapable of a careful reading of a not very complex sentence. Did you really think that this kind of cretinous behaviour would add something to the thread? Are you this unpleasant when you are talking to someone face to face, or only when you are esconced behind a computer screen, your misshapen member in one hand, your other on a keyboard, rubbing your groin while you try to overbearingly correct someone else?

Oman and Qatar are part of the European peloton's season. Every single team at both races is a team which spends the bulk of its season in Europe and their place in the cycling world is as an early season opener for riders who ride the European circuit. This is distinct from the Tour de San Luis, which always has serious climbs at an even earlier point in the year but which is not primarily a part of the European season.

Being a part of the European season does not mean that your race is in Europe, but that it is predominantly raced by European based pros.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

And on a less confrontational note, here' s a short video from the An Post - Sean Kelly team about the first few races of their season:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHEiOWJ9Kwk&feature=player_embedded

 

[will10]

Hook, line and sinker....

By your logic the Tour Down Under is part of the european season too...

 

[theyoungest]

Hook, line and sinker....

By your logic the Tour Down Under is part of the european season too...

No, because the TDU has actual Australians participating. Qatar and Oman are just races for Europeans, conveniently located in filthy rich sultanates under the sunshine. Would you consider those races to be part of the Arab racing season?