Tour of Oman: Kristoff makes flying start

Sports Tuesday 14/February/2017 19:55 PM
By: Times News Service
Tour of Oman: Kristoff makes flying start

Muscat: A year after a first finish at Naseem Park, again, there was no stopping Alexander Kristoff. In an expected bunched sprint finish, the Norwegian beat Italians Kristian Sbaragli and Sonny Colbrelli to the line to take stage one honours of the 2017 Tour of Oman — his fifth stage success of the region’s most popular cycling race — on Tuesday.
A fine day for the Katusha squad that had worked hard to control the five escapees of the day, before their sprinter delivered the goods on the final straight. Kristoff becomes the first leader of this 8th edition of the race and will be wearing the Red Jersey during Wednesday’s second stage.
“My teammates did a huge effort to set me up for the sprint. It’s always nice to start with wins. We already managed to get one in Oman on the first day,” Kristoff tweeted.
“If we get any more it’ll be a bonus and it’ll be great. The last stage will be for me, but we have riders for the other stages. We are going to be doing some good training here in Oman and getting ourselves ready for the races to come,” he said.
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Pack took it easy
The sun came out just in time for the start of stage one of the Tour of Oman as the 143 riders gathered by the picturesque Sawadi Beach. On the menu: 176.5 kms of flat roads for a long loop before returning towards the coast and heading to Naseem Park, just west of Muscat. After only three kilometres of this 8th edition, five men managed to break away from the pack: Lawrence Warbasse (ABS), Aimé De Gendt (SVB), Alan Marangoni (NIP), Giuseppe Fonzi (WIL) and Christophe Masson (WVA).
Not too concerned by this early break, the pack took it easy and the gap grew to 3’30’’ at 20kms.
At the first intermediate sprint (km 81.5) claimed by De Gendt ahead of Fonzi and Warbasse, the pack had moved closer, still remaining 2’25 adrift. The second bonus sprint (km 49) was again won by De Gendt ahead of Fonzi while the pack was 1’20 behind.
Guaranteed to capture the most aggressive rider’s jersey at the end of the day, De Gendt decided to stop his effort at km 146. Fonzi also called it quits leaving three men in the lead with a 1’05” advantage and 25kms to go.
A crash and a drama
As the pack moved closer to the leaders, a crash occurred sending several riders to the ground including promising Frenchman Guillaume Martin (WGG). Thankfully they all managed to move back in the peloton. With 10kms to go, the front three only had a 10’’ advantage and were eventually caught minutes later.
While all the big sprinting teams moved towards the front of the pack, stage contender Sonny Colbrelli (TBM) suffered a puncture. It took the Italian and his Bahrain-Merida teammates a big effort to move back in the pack for the final bunched sprint.
On the final long straight, drama occurred as Tom Boonen (QST) was sent to the ground, thankfully not too badly hurt but bidding farewell to a possible win. Like a year ago at Naseem Park, there was no stopping Alexander Kristoff.
After winning a stage at L’Etoile de Bessèges this season, the Norwegian captured a second success this season beating Kristian Sbaragli (DDD) and Colbrelli to the line.
Thanks to his fifth victory in Oman, Kristoff conquers the overall leader’s Red Jersey. He leads the GC with a 4’’ advantage over Sbaragli and 6’’ over Colbrelli, and also claims the points classification leadership.
Despite being caught by the pack in the final moments of the day, Aimé De Gendt can be satisfied, not only with the Most Aggressive Rider’s jersey, but also with the lead of the best young rider’s standings.