Nothing much to comment here. The stage is flat with two sprint points as the higlights of the day. Expect heavy winds and fast sprint finish, typical things for racing in this desert area
Here is our hero, ready to roll in his first race day of 20121 season.He seems determined, but it is the question if he will be able at least match his last year level of success, or even reach the new heights.
Team Liquigas - Cannonadale showing their colours and protecting their leader in the first kilometres of the stage.
The group of four riders was formed and here they are battling for the first sprint prime. Darren Lapthorne from Drapac is the winner and also only well known rider from the break. They had a maximum gap of 7 minutes.
But they were caught 15kms from the line and sprint preparations begun, pretty chaotic movement from all teams, our trio is on the right, with Hushovd and Bole on the wheel of Peter.
As you can see, the Liqui train loose some ground because of low fitness of our workhorse Oss. Orica and Rabobank trains are in much better position, leading out Breschel and Gossy.Hushovs again with clever positioning.
We are straight in the flamme rouge and Hushovd is going for it. Sagan used all his remaining power to catch his wheel and now he seems to loose the ground. Bole and surprisingly L.L. Sanchez were coming really fast.
And Hushovd is the clear winner, he was unbeatable. Bole and Goss completed the podium, while Peter Sagan finished sixth, not bad for the first stage, he just got empty when trying to hang on wheel of much more fresher Thor. Rabobank with two top 5 places, Renshaw and big surprise Lulu Sanchez.
The comment of Avin, the journalist noob
The first stage in Oman was a typical sandy stage of Arabic penninsula. The wind was blowing off the hats and chances for riders in bad condition. And there are many with bad condition in February. This was the case of Sagan also, so because of that his sixth place is not bad against some strong opposition, some of them in much better fitness. Lets see what he can do in stage 2, possibly finishing with his favourite uphill sprint.
Thanks dienblad, you are right with Thor, very clever movement.
Thanks also for the previous comments, sorry i kept you waiting for so long. I will update quite irregulary, as i play also all the other stages with Liquigas and i have many hobbies, but i want the story to live.
We jump already to the race and this was the days break, only three continental teams riders, exotic names like Grmay or Saeidi. They built a 5 minute gap quickly, but it never got bigger than that.
With 50 kilometres to go, Peter Sagan is safely surrounded by his teammates and he is feeling great. The break's lead is being brought down constantly.
Right before the 20kms to go banner, the break was almost caught and it was a signal for some gutsy moves, as Tjallingi and Van Impe attacked. They did not get anywhere though...
As the peloton was going near to the last demanding part leading to the finish, Liquigas formed again the sprint train for Sagan. Unfortunately it got completly broken in the difficult hilly part and lead-out was scattered everywhere, only Capecchi was going good with Peter.
The result of that was, that Peter was forced to lead the whole pack to the last 2kms, or it was a powerful attempt to broke them to pieces? We dont know yet, but it did not look like the best move.
And the move was really too bold and premature, as we can see Matthew Goss celebrating the win in front of Renshaw and his teammate Impey. Orica was super strong with Gerrans making it even better for them on fourth, followed by Peter Sagan.
The comment of Avin, the journalist noob
Being fifth is one place better than being sixth and that is what counts. Peter will be probably little disappointed with his lead-out blowing out completly, but they have more time to practice their cooperation till the more important races will come. It also seems that his powerful move to the front in the last two kilometres served as perfect lead-out for Goss and other opponents. Maybe Peter will try to sprint from the further back in the next stage.
I did not get the official stage results, so sorry for that, here are the results in the bit different graphics. Gossy is now the race leader in front of Thor, Peter is 7th.
Well, i have to disappoint you a bit Sutty, Peter was not fourth.
Tour of Oman , stage 3
Profile
The profile odf the third stage in Oman is downhill all the way to the finishing line, you can expect the sprint finish once again, with usual suspects in the leading role. Hopefully Peter will fight for podium this time, maybe different approach of the sprint train can help to achieve it.
Here is Terminator on the shot, he changed his slovakian NC jersey for the white jersey of best young rider for this stage.
The first 50 kilometres were pretty chaotic and early break was brought down by Orica-Greenedge, because it contained dangerous names like Wyss or Mortensen.
So the next move came from Adam Semple from the Australian Drapac outfit. It was a brave solo effort, that was brought down no sooner than 10 kilometres from the line.
Everything was ready for the sprint of the fast man and Peter Sagan was being brought up front by Fabio Sabatini. Everything looks good, apart from fantastic Rabo leadout for Renshaw. And then it got screwed up, Sagan was blocked completly behind Fabio and the other leadout men from different teams.
Now there can be seen Sagan flying like a rocket in white, but it is too late, as tenth of metres ahead Mark Renshaw is celebrating his stage win with a style. Peter was clearly the fastest rider today, but the positioning and timing was horrible. In the end he was able to grab another top 10 and finished seventh.
The comment of Avin, the journalist noob
Well, what to say here, in the end you all saw it what happened. Everything looked fine, but in the few seconds position of our sprint duo became very bad and they got blocked.
But we have to see the positives and that was certainly an insane speed that Peter was able to produce on the last two,three hundred metres. Tommorow is the last chance for podium before the famous Green mountain stage.
Matthew Goss is still the race leader in front of Renshaw and Hushovd. Sagan lost the white jersey to Barry Markus.
Today 's stage is fairly flat, but spiced up with three difficult steep hills. Liquigas can only hope that these will tire the opposition somehow and Peter Sagan will come closer to the podium spot. Because tommorow the Green mountain will not favour him.
We start our coverage with look on the day's breakaway, namely Ahmadi and Green, so not much a threat to the peloton.
As the main field climb the first obstacle of the day, the gap was around 4 minutes and never gets bigger thanks to the work of Astana and Orica.
With 20kms to the line, the break was already caught and Liquigas riders King and Canuti were piling up the pressure, trying to drop some weaker riders.
The great work from the whole team brought the green sprint train Oss - Sabatini - Sagan into the great position going to last 3kms, but as you see, Peter lost the wheel of Sabatini in the worst possible moment and felt few places back quickly.
And here is the outcome, Thor winning again after the powerful sprint around fading Goss and Renshaw to beat Bole and Marcato on the line. Peter was completly empty at 6th place, he just did not have the legs today and lost the wheel badly.
The comment of Avin, the journalist noob
Well, this was not the best showing of Liquigas sprint train, as the workhorses Oss and Sabatini went too much full gas too much early, people even say that Sagan was yelling at them to slow down. Still fourth top 7 from four stages is not bad and also the other sprinters fighting here for the win has 6-10 more race days in the legs.
I again did not get the official stage results, i even do not expect them for the next stage, it seems something is wrong with web service of the race organisers. (i forgot to export again and again for stages 4,5,lol).
No big changes in GC (those from this picture are after stage 5,so ignore them please to evade spoilers).
Thanks Ian, i need to practice sprinting a bit more and Peter needs more fitness.Anyway here are some news from stage 5 and that is all for today, as i am totally overplayed.
I played also whole Algarve besides it and Liquigas was very successful there with two riders on the final GC podium. Any guesses who these two might have been?
Tour of Oman , stage 5
Profile
Stage 5 is very similar to the earlier stages, but only for 95% of it. The finish is much more difficult, as the last 7kms up the Green mountain are really steep and spectacular. Petr Sagan should not be the favourite today and Liquigas is expected to work for Eros Capecchi, much better climber. Watch out for climbing superstars today, likes of Evans and Kreuziger, Brajkovic.
The first kilometres of the most important stage in this year's Tour of Oman were very nervous and it took quite a while before group of 9 established themselves at the front of the pack. Here you can see four of them sprinting for the first points. Seeldraeyers and Pavarin were the most known names from the group.
As we look on the peloton, riders seem calm and determined, especially BMC and Liquigas, who were controlling the pace.
BMC continued with their work for Evans and as the riders were slowly approaching the Green mountain, both parts of the former breakaway were almost swallowed.
With last remnants of the break caught, lime green colours of Liquigas stormed the front of the pack with Sagan, Capecchi and their domestiques Oss and Canuti.
Here we are right with 2.5 kms to go in the stage and the lead group is much smaller now. Race favourites Hoogerland, Kreuziger and Evans are pushing the tempo. Capecchi is near the front and Sagan just droped after helping him nicely.
The final sprint started on the mark of 500metres to go and trio Kreuziger, Evans and Capecchi blasted to the line, pulling from the others. Can Capecchi come around for the win?
No, Eros tried and did all he can, but it was not enough against world top climbers Evans on 2nd place and stage winner and new leader's jersey holder Roman Kreuziger, the yet not fulfilled talent.
The next group came with +26seconds gap and than Peter Sagan on 13th place, great power stage for him so early in the season!
The comment of Avin, the journalist noob
I feel that this was the good stage for Liquigas colours and for Peter Sagan. He finished 13th and the same place he has in GC coming to the last stage. Maybe this is sign of things to come in the future, when he is able to stay in contact on such a climb? However Hushovd was even better in the second group and with 4th place in GC.
GC now copy the results of the 5th stage at first three places, great outlook for Liquigas and Eros Capecchi. (only picture again as i said in the last report, sorry).
Tour of Oman , stage 1 
