The queen stage of the Tour of Oman had a surprise ending.  After 5.7 kilometers of climbing at a 10.5% gradient, it was Rafael Valls (Lampre-Merida) who came away with the victory. Though there was a lot of firepower behind him like Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde, Tejay Van Garderen as well as Rafael Majka, no one was able to deny the 27 year old Spaniard the first major victory of his career. His exploits have also earned him the red leader’s jersey.

IAM Cycling’s main goal of the day was to arrive at the summit with Dries Devenyns, who is well placed in the overall, as close to the leaders as possible. The plan was to allow him to take advantage of the work Mathias Frank could do for him, while Frank is building his form in preparation for the Tour de France, which is his main objective.  Starting the new day which again featured extremely hot temperatures, flirting even with the 40 degrees at times, the riders on the Swiss professional team gave their all.

Eddy Seigneur, the directeur sportif for the team, was quick to confirm that. 

“Since Dries Devenyns was only 10 seconds behind in the overall, we planned to surround him and help him as much as possible.  Mathias Frank also had his role to play on this final ascent.  Both riders did what they were supposed to, considering how demanding this climb is, which includes some pitches of 13% in the last 2 kilometers to the finish. After four days where the temperatures did not drop below 40°, the bodies are suffering.  Dries and Mathias remained for a long time with the best riders, but you have to have the legs to finish it off.”

Before beginning the 240 kilometer drive back to the hotel, Dries Devenyns lucidly analyzed his performance. 

“In view of the health problems I experienced in Qatar, I’m pretty happy with my ride.  The team worked hard to put me in a good position at the foot of the climb, and then I just gave it everything I could.  My legs were blocked early on, and I even told Mathias to go for it on his own.  But then I started feeling better and was able to come back up to him. 

"To complete the second part of the climb, we rode together and we were at the maximum of our capabilities.  I think because of that, it will be a little tight for me to be at my best already next week for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.  That doesn’t mean I won’t try something there, though, since you never can predict how that kind of race will play out.  But it will probably take me until Paris-Nice before I am on top of my game again.”