Tour de France winner Chris Froome starts season in Tour of Oman with Fabian Cancellara & Vincenzo Nibali
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The way cyclists prepare for a new season varies with time, their characteristics and their goals. A clear trend is emerging as taking part in the Tour of Oman becomes a must for the favourites to win the Tour de France — with the same rider prevailing in both races last year.
It was in Muscat that Chris Froome started to build up the momentum that would eventually propel him to the top of the 100th edition of the Tour. Hoping to repeat the feat, Team Sky’s leader is once again kicking off his season in the Sultanate, where the competition will be just as stiff as in 2013 as he tries to mount a successful title defence.
Froome will come up against all his predecessors in the race’s honour roll (Fabian Cancellara, Robert Gesink and Peter Velits), as well as Joaquim RodrÃguez, who escorted him on the Tour podium in July. The maglia rosa of last year’s Giro d’Italia, Vincenzo Nibali, will also be there as he shifts his focus to the Grande Boucle, as will Czech Roman Kreuziger (fifth in the 2013 Tour).
Although the main course of the Tour of Oman will be the clash of these titans, the six stages on the menu will also provide an opportunity for last year’s flops to make amends. Now free of his shackles as a domestique to Chris Froome, Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s Rigoberto Urán will seek to exact revenge on his former leader.
Tejay Van Garderen needs to get off to a flying start if he is to become the official boss of the BMC squad, while Jurgen Van den Broeck and Thibaut Pinot will try to shake off the memories of not finishing the Tour de France with a solid performance.
All eyes will be trained on Andy Schleck on the climb up Jebel Akhdar, as fans wonder whether the Luxembourger can return to his former glory. The Green Mountain could also be a launch pad for Romain Bardet (best French rider of the 2013 Tour), who is sharing leadership duties at Ag2r with Domenico Pozzovivo.
The star-studded field guarantees there will be no such thing as a boring day in the Tour of Oman, with stage hunters such as Peter Sagan, André Greipel, Tom Boonen, Nacer Bouhanni, Philippe Gilbert, Dani Moreno, Tony Gallopin, Lieuwe Westra, Christophe Riblon… Some will have to go home empty-handed!
18 teams: main contenders
ORICA GreenEDGE: Impey (RSA) and Albasini (SUI)
Lotto-Belisol: Van den Broeck (BEL), Gallopin (FRA) and Greipel (GER)
Omega Pharma-Quick Step Cycling Team: Boonen (BEL), Štybar (CZE) and Urán (COL)
Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise: Van Staeyen and Wallays (BEL)
Ag2r-La Mondiale: Pozzovivo (ITA), Bardet and Riblon (FRA)
FDJ.fr : Pinot, Elissonde and Bouhanni (FRA)
Team NetApp – Endura: König (CZE) and Bennett (IRL)
Team Sky: Froome (GBR), Henao (COL) and Nieve (ESP)
Cannondale: Sagan (SVK) and Moser (ITA)
Bardiani CSF: Canola and Battaglin (ITA)
Astana Pro Team: Nibali (ITA), Iglinskiy (KAZ) and Westra (NET)
Belkin Pro Cycling: Gesink, Boom and Tjallingii (NET)
Team Katusha: RodrÃguez, Moreno (ESP) and Kristoff (NOR)
Tinkoff-Saxo: Kreuziger (CZE) and Roche (IRL)
IAM Cycling: Tschopp, Elmiger (SUI) and Haussler (AUS)
BMC Racing Team (BMC): Gilbert (BEL), Van Garderen (USA) and Velits (SVK)
Trek Factory Racing: Cancellara (SUI), A. Schleck and F. Schleck (LUX)
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team: Förster (GER) and Maaskant (NED)
Stages
Stage 1, Tuesday, February 18: As Suwayq Castle – Naseem Garden (164.5 km)
Stage 2, Wednesday, February 19: Al Bustan – Qurayyat (139 km)
Stage 3, Thursday, February 20: Bank Muscat – Al Bustan (145 km)
Stage 4, Friday, February 21: Wadi Al Abiyad – Ministry of Housing (173 km)
Stage 5, Saturday, February 22: Bidbid – Jebel Akhdar / Green Mountain (147.5 km)
Stage 6, Sunday, February 23: As Sifah – Matrah Corniche (146.5 km)
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 10m TT
- TT Result: Gillingham & Dist Whs Hardriders
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 25m TT
- Startlist: Azets Spring Classic
- SUNDAY: CiCLE Classic (Women/Junior Men)
- The Pedal Club: March Report
- Sportive raising money for charity: Dartmoor Classic
- TT Result: Maidenhead & District CC 15m TT
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA Time Trial
- TT Result: Cardiff Ajax CC 10m TT
- TT Result: Yorkshire Cycling Federation 10m TT
- TT Result: Pendle Forest CC Hilly TT
- TT Result: Plomesgate CC 10m TT
- Crit Results: Exeter University Early Season Crits
- Crit Result: March Hare Classic
- Crit Result: Haus RT Darley Moor #3
- Crit Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races 1
- Crit Result: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- RR Result: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: LUCC Spring Crit Series 2
- Crit Result: Spokes RT Season Starter 2
- TT Result: Banbury Star CC Hardriders TT
- TT Result: Tavistock Whs Sporting TT
- TT Result: Maldon & District CC Hilly TT
- HC Result: Darlington CC Hill Climb
- TT Result: Barrow Central Wheelers 20.2m TT
- TT Result: GTR – Return To Life Two Up TT
- Crit Result: Brownlee Centre (Leeds)
- RR Result: The Peaks Two Day (Day 2)
- RR Result: The Peaks Two Day (Day 1)
- Classic News: 63rd Wally Gimber trophy
- Product News: Time Trial Tyre
- Crit Result: Westpoint Youth Stage Race
- Video Interviews 2023: Ollie Peckover
- British Road Championships at Redcar/Saltburn
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 21m TT
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: Full Gas Spring Rumble Series #2
- TT Result: City RC Hull 2-Up TTT
Other News on VeloUK
- Startlist: Azets Spring Classic
- SUNDAY: CiCLE Classic (Women/Junior Men)
- The Pedal Club: March Report
- Sportive raising money for charity: Dartmoor Classic
- Classic News: 63rd Wally Gimber trophy
- Product News: Time Trial Tyre
- British Road Championships at Redcar/Saltburn
- STARTLIST: Junior Men/Women’s CiCLE Classic
- Entry List: The Peaks 2 Day (18/19 March)
- News: Conti’s Strongest GP 5000 Tyre
- Startlist: Harold H Nelson Memorial Day of Racing
- Team News: Halesowen A & CC Academy 2023
- News: Saint Piran Women to go UCI
- NEWS: 2023/24 Cyclocross National Trophy/Champs
- Startlists: Proper North Road Race Series (Capenwray)
- 61st Eddie Soens – Rider List
- World Masters Track Championships 2023
- News: Contiki support women’s cycling initiative
- EVENTS: Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Centre
- News: Ribble Launch Collective to Ride As One
- Startlist: 39th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- News: 3 weeks to Women’s & Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- News: New Moda Bikes for Cycling Sheffield
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (February)
- News: Alice Towers Debuts for Canyon/SRAM
- Startlist: VC St Raphael Classic TT
- News: Trinity Announces 2023 Team
- News: Cycling Brands LTD to Launch Crowdfunding Campaign
- Q&A with young organiser James Hawkins
- Q&A: Erin Murphy (Alba Dev Road Team)
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds