Officially categorized as a flat stage, stage two of the Tour of Oman has a short but significant climb only a few kilometers from the finish in Al Bustan. A category 3 KoM-point, it it could be an opportunity for the punchier riders to snatch a win.
48 km to go
For a long time, nothing happened. Maybe a few riders got a little less attentive after a while, and they payed for it: 12 riders went down in a crash, most prominently the Alexander Kristoff and 10th overall Sonny Colbrelli. They wouldn't make it back to the peloton and eventually lose more than 3 minutes.
20 km to go
Meanwhile, Cesare Benedetti was once again present in the group of the day, and on the first of the two hills, he shook his fellow escapees loose and took the full 6 points. At this point, he still had a 1'36 lead on the pack.
6 km to go
Benedetti was caught just as the final climb began. I was again in charge of protecting Rafal Majka, but I have to admit I didn't do a very good job keeping him in position. We startet the ascent quite a bit behind.
Lucky for us: No one took the opportunity to attack, and we all crossed the summit together. With Sam Bennett still in the group and reasonably fit, we were hoping for a decent finish.
We're in for one more flat stage until we finally hit steeper roads tomorrow. There are a few hills here and there, one small ramp a few kilometers before the finish, but nothing that would warrant a late attack. It's sprinter's terrain again.
6 km to go
Since Cesare Benedetti took a break from being in the break and it was Jan Barta's time to look out for Rafal Majka, there's not a single of thing of interest to report until we hit the final six kilometers. With the break still a little bit in front, I'm asked to put the hammer down on said ramp. The escapees didn't stand a chance!
3 km to go
Again, our sprint setup was good. But my acceleration had obviously cost Bennett more than anyone would have liked, he wasn't looking too good. And not just him, I noticed the same with a few other sprinters as well.
Loving the Graphics, if you can keep those details and efforts up for a long lasting story than a huge chapeau from me! An outstanding outlook for Emu...
Loving the Graphics, if you can keep those details and efforts up for a long lasting story than a huge chapeau from me! An outstanding outlook for Emu...
Stage 4/6: Samail - Jabal Al Akhdhar (Green Mountain)
The queen stage is here! Finally, we're getting into some mountains - well, one to be precise: The Green Mountain, traditionally where this Tour is won. We have a very clear objective today, and that's to get Rafal as high up in the GC as possible. I share the lieutnant role with Patrick Konrad, so as I've said in the preview for this race, we'll just have to see what's in it for me personally.
70 km to go
At the halfway point of the race, everything's going very smoothly. Nine men are up front, but none of them poses a serious threat and they're being kept on a short leash of maximum 2'30 anyway. At this point, I have Pascal Ackermann on my side to keep me fresh for the climb - my personal domestique, for the first time this year!
7 km to go
Heading into the final ascent, it is once again my job to get our team into a good position. And this time, I'm doing well! Protected by Cesare Benedetti in the polkadots - what a great race he's riding! -, I have Patrick and Rafal right at my wheel.
The breakaway is getting caught on the other side of the road while we keep pushing. As I look around, I notice Tejay Van Garderen right behind Rafal, but Froome and Nibali seem to be a bit further behind.
Under the 5km kite, Cesare has to let go. We're still in prime position, but 5 kilometers can be long!
2,5 km to go
Suddenly, he's there, and he attacks: Chris Froome shoots past us. I drop to the side to let Patrick take over.
Froome's attack was empty-handed, but under the Flamme Rouge, it's Ben Hermans and Wilco Kelderman who've taken the lead. Majka is doing somewhat well on the right hand side, while I'm doing my best to hold on!
0 km to go
Hermans was unbeatable today, but with a great last ditch effort, Majka reaches the first group behind him and comes in fifth.
I recover really well, too, and finish 8th, right next to Patrick, and just behind Bob Jungels, my big rival for the white jersey!
I'm very happy with my performance. I paced for the entire first half of the climb, and still was able to finish inside the Top 10. Majka's 5th place is not ideal, maybe if we hadn't been at the front from the very beginning, more could have been possible. But that was the DS's decision.
The penultimate stage in and around Maskat provides probably the last chance for anyone who wants to move up in the GC. The three hills towards the end aren't the most demanding, but they have some steep slopes and in combination, they may cause some serious selection in the peloton.
For us, the goals today are twofold: Firstly, we want Cesare Benedetti to reclaim his mountain jersey, so he's going to go on the attack again. Secondly, both Rafal and me want to move up in the GC.
14 km to go
The first part of our mission went as planned: Unfortunately not captured by the cameras, Cesare was the first across the sole KoM point today. Going into the final climb, he was still in front of the pack, the last surviving escapee.
Meanwhile, the main peloton had shrunk considerably. Only around 40 riders were left in it, amongst them myself, Rafal, and Patrick. I was protecting Rafal, who was doing well, while I was hurting already.
12 km to go
Just as Cesare got caught, and just as I hit the wall, Rafal decided it was time to try something! Just unter the final summit, he attacked!
7 km to go
And he was getting away! At the foot of the following descent, he held on to almost 30 seconds of advantage. However, there were still 7 flat kilometers to go, and some strong rouleurs in the group behind him,
Quite a few hundred meters further behind, I was kissing my Top 10 good bye. Paying the price for protecting Rafal as long as I did, I had to let go of the second main group on the road.
A little later, Rafal had to give up as well. With riders like Gilbert, Jungels and Alaphilippe behind him, there was no way of holding his advantage. With both Kelderman and Van Garderen missing from this group, a podium place was in reach, though!
0 km to go
But his efforts weren't rewarded. After Bob Jungels celebrated his stage win, the race directors made the very controversial decision to give both this and the chasing group the same time! With the three bonus seconds from the last intermediate sprint, Rafal overtakes Van Garderen, but is still only 4th overall. On the flipside, Patrick gets to keep his Top 10.
I finish a beat 28th, more than two and a half minutes behind. Today I suffered the fate of a domestique, sacrificing my own ambition for the leader - which makes the decision to give both groups the same time even more heartbreaking for me. I'm also a little disappointed in myself, I think on a better day I could've kept up after Rafal's attack, and that should be my aspiration as well.
Very nice reports with stunning layout and beautiful graphic
Emanuel Buchmann has been filling out his task as domestic and even getting some personal success at stage Stage 4.
Love it.
Very nice reports with stunning layout and beautiful graphic
Emanuel Buchmann has been filling out his task as domestic and even getting some personal success at stage Stage 4.
Love it.
Tour of Oman
Arnaud Démare
Philippe Gilbert
Sergio Luis Henao
Vincenzo Nibali
Chris Froome
Bob Jungels
Tejay Van Garderen
Greg Henderson
Tom Stamsnijder
Ion Izagirre
Petr Vakoc
