Despite its short history, the Tour of Oman, scheduled for February 16 to 21 this year, has become the scene of an early-season melee between pretenders to the crowns of the Grand Tours of cycling. The Green Mountain stage in particular will offer some clues about the shape of Richie Porte, Vincenzo Nibali and Romain Bardet. However, the event could also provide a springboard for riders such as Tom Dumoulin, Dan Martin, Rui Costa and JurgenVan Den Broeck.

The search for fair weather and the ideal place for training may be a handy excuse, but make no mistake: the big guns are coming to Oman with their eyes firmly set on the prize. While the highlights of the season are still some time away, the races leading up to them are a great opportunity to fill one's trophy room and make a strong impression.

The course of the seventh edition provides many opportunities for punchers and pure climbers alike to stage a coup. The real fireworks will come in stage 4 with the traditional summit finish on Green Mountain, an ascent that will be 1.8 km longer this year —time for mountain goats to come out and play.

Richie Porte, Vincenzo Nibali and Romain Bardet are among the favourites to win both the stage and the general classification. However, the climb is quite short (7.5 km) but with an interesting steep (10.7% gradient), leaving an opening for other riders. Tom Dumoulin's bold ride in the last Vuelta a España makes him a solid outsider. Other potential challengers include former world champion Rui Costa and Dan Martin, who left climbers such as Aru, Poels and L. L. Sánchez in the dust in the recent Tour of Valencia, as well as Jurgen Van Den Broeck, as long as his new Katusha colours help him find the form that propelled him to fourth place in the 2012 Tour de France.

18 teams, main contenders

Australia

Drapac Cycling: Koning (NED)

Belgium

Etixx–Quick-Step: D. Martin (IRL) and Jungels (LUX)

Wanty-Groupe Gobert: Gasparotto, Marcato and Napolitano (ITA)

Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise: Van Hecke and Declercq (BEL)

France

Ag2r–La Mondiale: Bardet, Gougeard (FRA) and Pozzovivo (ITA)

Fortuneo-Vital Concept: Sepúlveda (ARG), Tronet and Gérard (FRA)

Germany

Bora-Argon 18: S. Bennett (IRL) and Nerz (GER)

Team Giant–Alpecin: Dumoulin (NED) and Andersen (DEN)

Stölting Service Group: Ciolek and Gerdemann (GER)

Italy

Lampre-Merida: R. Costa (POR), Cimolai (ITA) and Arashiro (JPN)

Kazakhstan

Astana Pro Team: Nibali, Scarponi (ITA) and Fuglsang (DEN)

Netherlands

Team LottoNL–Jumbo: Hofland (NED)

Roompot Oranje Peloton: Weening and De Vries (NED)

Poland

CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice Rebellin (ITA)

Russia

Team Katusha: Kristoff, Byström (NOR) and Van den Broeck (BEL)

South Africa

Dimension Data: Boasson-Hagen (NOR), Teklehaimanot (ERI) and J. Janse van Rensburg (RSA)

United States

BMC Racing Team: Porte (AUS) and Van Avermaet (BEL)

United Healthcare: Brajkovič (SLO) and Busche (USA)