After leaving the Exhibition Center the pack races the desert until they reach Bidbid, a town of 20,000 with a small castle. It’s there the riders turn around and head back to the coast to finish near Al Bustan Palace, a 5 Star Hotel in Muscat.
The first 120 kilometres are on rolling roads, the stage gets interesting when two nasty hurdles loom in the final 25 kilometres. The first one is Al Hamriyah, an 800 metres climb at 9.8%, while Al Jissah comes next – a 1.4 kilometres climb at 9%. After cresting Jissah it’s only 4 kilometres left to the finish line.
Two years ago, Chris Froome attacked on the Jissah-climb. He was accompanied by Cancellara, Stybar, Boom and Sagan, but in the descent things were brought back together and André Greipel outsprinted Peter Sagan and Nacer Bouhanni. No such thing in 2015 when Fabian Cancellara outsprinted Alejandro Valverde and Greg Van Avermaet after a break in the peloton. By the way, the arrival is a tricky false flat…
Time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds are to be gained at the finish line.
Race results/race report stage 1, 2016 Tour of Oman.
Tour of Oman 2016 stage 1: Route maps, and more
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