Oman's beauty awaits Haute Route cycling participants

Sports Wednesday 23/May/2018 21:23 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman's beauty awaits Haute Route cycling participants

Muscat: Entry registration is now open for the new and challenging Haute Route Oman road cycling event, which is already being hailed as a ‘must-do’ experience.
With pre-interest high for the March 1-3, 2019 event, the race is now on to secure a place in the peloton for what is going to be one of the most challenging tests for amateur road racers in one of the most unique settings on the entire Haute Route calendar.
The world renowned Haute Route events offer a ‘professional’ road cycling experience for keen amateur cyclists of all abilities, providing high-end hospitality, rider services and expert event management in a setting that exactly mirrors the culture of the professional road racing circuit.
“True to its DNA, Haute Route Oman will definitively be one of the most challenging, but the views are worth every single minute of effort,” said Ade Hill of Alpcycles, an Haute Route regular who took part in the Oman test event in March.
“This is the best cycling I have done in a very long time. Having the opportunity to escape the winter to ride my bike in such incredible scenery is a truly amazing experience.”
Designed to highlight Oman’s natural beauty, Haute Route Oman will take riders approximately 370kms with over 6,500 metres of vertical gain on a course that will test stamina and skill with long, high-altitude mountain climbs and sweeping descents. The event will include two classic mass start stages and an individual time trial.
The centrepiece of the Haute Route Oman experience is the magnificent Al Hajar mountain range and the iconic Jabal Akhdar (the Green Mountain), one of the country’s most spectacular locations.
The Hajar mountains offer severe and scenic climbs which are every bit the equal of anything in the Alps, Pyrenees, Rockies or Dolomites. Conditions in March will offer ideal mid to low 20°C temperatures.
Oman has been described as a beacon of tranquillity and was ranked the fourth safest country in the world by the World Economic Forum in 2017 with the country and its capital Muscat named ‘must-see’ destinations by both National Geographic and Lonely Planet. The country is renowned for its soaring mountains, shimmering deserts, crystal clear waters, atmospheric souqs and a welcoming doorway to an authentic Arabian experience.
“Our objective is to deliver a unique experience for amateur cyclists, with Oman’s stunning environment and welcoming culture, we know Haute Route Oman will be another must-do event for riders coming from all continents,” said Remi Duchemin, Haute Route CEO.
The event is managed by world-class event organiser, Oman Sail.
CEO David Graham said: “Sports tourism is growing extremely rapidly in the Sultanate of Oman and we are delighted to welcome and host this Haute Route event. With a fantastic winter climate and challenging climbs in an iconic setting, Oman offers the perfect cycling destination.”
He added: “Haute Route Oman will deliver legendary mountain ascents, some of which will join the group of ‘the world’s most renowned, mythical and tough climbs’. This is an opportunity to be among the first to tackle them in this inaugural event.”
Haute Route Oman is sure to appeal to both regionally-based amateur cyclists keen to immerse themselves in the Haute Route professional experience, and international riders seeking a new challenge amid the natural wonders of Oman. With limited entries, it is expected that the event will be quickly oversubscribed!
For registration and other details visit www.hauteroute.org