Tour of Oman 2017 – Overall Preview

By David Hunter

After the sprinters had their fun in the Dubai Tour, it’s the turn of the climbers and classics specialists in Oman. Vincenzo Nibali won in 2016, but he’s not back to defend his title. With no Chris Froome either, it looks like we’ll get a new winner of the trophy.

Route

Stage 1

The race begins with a sprint stage, the sprinters will want to take advantage of this opportunity as there isn’t another sprint until the final stage. Alexander Kristoff won this stage in 2016.

Stage 2

The second stage is where the GC battle begins. I love that the organisers have placed the second sprint just 9km from the end of the stage, that should spice things up a little! This stage is harder than it was in 2016, thanks to the climb of Bousher al Amerat, with around 50km remaining. That will end the hopes of many riders, before we reach the closing climbs. The final climb is hard enough to seriously slim the group down, which allowed Bob Jungels to solo away to victory in 2016. With only a handful of riders left, it’s very hard to control.

Stage 3

The third stage ends with the climb to Quriyat, 2.8km at 6.5%. This was a stage that was introduced last year, with Edvald Boasson Hagen able to hang tough on the climb and sprint to victory. The puncheurs will hope to beat the climbers.

Stage 4

The fourth stage is the popular route that features multiple ascents of the Bousher al Amerat climb. This is another day for the puncheurs.

Stage 5

The Green mountain! After lengthening the climb in 2016, the organisers have gone back to the old finish. That means we finish with 5.7km at 10.5%. Such a demanding climb for the peloton. It’s always an entertaining finish to watch.

Stage 6

The race ends with a sprint stage finishing on Matrah Corniche. The little bump before the end does line things out and creates panic in the bunch. Alexander Kristoff won this stage in 2016.

Contenders

 To win this race, you need to cope with the Green Mountain. That means you have to be a top climber, although, picking up bonus seconds in the other stages would help.

Fabio Aru – after winning the Vuelta in 2015, everyone expected a big season from Aru. Unfortunately, 2016 will go down as a very poor year. A breakaway win in the Dauphine was the only high point, with many low points. He was 14th in Catalunya, DNF in Pais Vasco, DNF in Amstel, 45th in the Dauphine and 13th in the Tour. I’m sure we all remember how spectacularly he blew in the final mountain stage to Morzine, while sitting 6th on GC. With no Nibali, all the GC pressure from Astana is now on Aru. His bosses have a reputation for lacking patience, they will not tolerate another poor season. With the Giro as his big target, I would expect him to hit the season running.

Jakob Fuglsang – 3rd here in 2016, the Dane returns for another shot at the title. He has already shown good form in 2017, finishing 6th in Valenciana. This will be one of the few races he and Aru do together this year, as Fuglsang will be riding the Tour de France as team leader. Having two options in this race is a bonus, especially on the punchy stages. Astana will expect to leave this race as the winners.

Romain Bardet – another who enjoyed this race in 2016, finishing in second place. Unlike Aru, the French rider have a wonderful season. Not only was he 2nd in the Tour, but he was also 2nd in the Dauphine. He seems to ride without fear, which excites fans. He is always prepared to attack and is not scared to lose races. Fans love this about him. He is the strongest climber in this race and starts as the favourite.

Rui Costa – the former world champion is now riding for the UAE Abu Dhabi team. He has started the season in fine form, winning the Queen stage in Vuelta San Juan. Races in this part of the world are very important for his new team, so expect Costa to be riding at a high level. He certainly has a good chance of winning a stage and finishing high on GC.

Bob Jungels – the GC surprise of 2016. His 6th place in the Giro was once of the breakthrough results of the season. Still just 24 years old, the future is very bright for the Luxembourg rider. As he starts to focus on being a GC rider, he’ll have his ups and downs, but I hope to see him doing well here. He was a brilliant teammate in Dubai, working very well to set up the sprints. Now it’s his turn to impress.

Merhawi Kudus – second place in the Valenciana Queen stage was a sensational result for Kudus. We all know what a huge talent he is and that was a clear sign that 2017 could be his year. At 23 years old, it would be a good time to step up a level. Dimension Data have carefully been managing his progression, it looks like they’ve been doing a good job. He should do very well on the Green Mountain.

Janier Acevedo – if there was ever a rider that didn’t suit the World Tour, it’s this man from Colombia. His two seasons with Garmin and Cannondale were a disaster, such a shame as it should have been when he was in his prime. Now 31, he has another chance to do well in big races with UnitedHealthcare. He has started well in Australia, finishing 19th in the Cadel race and 12th in the Sun Tour. I really hope we see this small climber back to his very best, I have a huge soft spot for him!

Video preview

Prediction Time

Looks like being Bardet v Astana. Given his superior climbing skills, I would expect Romain Bardet to start the season with a win. The Green Mountain stage will be crucial.

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