Three years after laying the foundations for an overall win on the famed ascent, Robert Gesink (Belkin) returned to the Green Mountain in today's queen stage of the Tour of Oman. Despite not being able to repeat that win, the Dutchman did well to finish 5th and he was happy with the outcome against an elite field.
Robert Gesink finished Tour of Oman stage five with the Grand Tour pack today. Belkin Pro Cycling Team's GC captain, followed the moves of Chris Froome, Tejay van Garderen, Rigoberto Urán and Joaquím Rodríguez, and slotted in fifth place on Green Mountain. He now sits fifth overall, where he will likely finish when the race ends tomorrow.
"It was special to return here after winning the stage a few years ago," Gesink said. "I'm happy that I did well again, and if you look at the competition, I was there with the best in the world. If this was a Grand Tour, I'd be very happy with the result."
Gesink followed Sky's Sergio Henao in the final kilometres because he said that he wanted to make his move then. Henao's team-mate and Tour de France champion, Froome countered, rode free for the stage win and overall lead.
"I tried to follow but in the end, it was the moment where everything exploded," Gesink said. "Van Garderen was pacing it well, I was going well... We were all riding on our own for our own place."
Gesink placed 47 seconds behind Froome at the top.
Gesink arrived to Oman after placing sixth in the Tour Down Under but most of the team came from the Tour of Qatar. Sports Director Jan Boven said that his Qatar men gained fitness and used it to deliver Gesink well to the base of the mountain.
"They did a hell of a job to deliver Robert to the base of the Green Mountain climb," Boven explained.
Gesink added, "The whole team was doing a good job even if in the end, I had to do it on my own."
The Tour of Oman finishes with what Boven said, probably will be a sprint finish tomorrow. The team will protect Gesink, ensure he maintains his fifth overall and work for sprinter Barry Markus.
You can read our preview of the race here.
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