It was a day of mixed feeling for the Schleck brothers when the Tour of Oman hit the first serious climbs yesterday. While Frank stayed with the best over the Bousher Alamrat climb, Andy lost most than 17 minutes.

The Tour of Oman had its first big taste of climbing, and with it came the first shuffle in the overall classification. On the final time up the tough Bousher Alamrat climb three riders - Peter Sagan (Cannondale), Rigoberto Urán (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) - attacked over the top, gaining a maximum of 17 seconds, and just held off a hard chasing group to contest the stage victory.  Sagan grabbed his first win of the season, easily outsprinting Urán and Nibali, as behind the chasers came in on their heels, only two seconds back.  Sagan became the new leader of the race, with Uran and Nibali also assuming second and third overall.

The 173-kilometer stage was not without the expected breakaway, and four riders went clear around the 20-kilometer mark that inlcuded Trek Factory Racing’s Yarolsav Popovych. The quartet built a lead of eight and half minutes by the 50-kilometer mark, but the wind and the four climbs took its toll, and they were eventually absorbed.

“It was a good group, we all pulled together,” said Popovych. “I already saw yesterday that I did not feel so good in the climbs, so for this I was thinking that today it’s better I go in a break or I am dropped already in the first climb. I knew when we went through this village at 20K that the breakaway could go. So many wanted to be in a breakaway today, and when a large group came back, just before the village, I attacked and then we had a group of four and we went. It was hard with just four because of the head and crosswind. After, when we were caught, I had nothing left.”

“It was the first real race day today, and it started fast with lots of attacks,” agreed director Kim Andersen. “It was not planned to have Popo [Popovych] in the break, but it was nice, he did a really good job. They had a big gap, over eight minutes, and you never know what can happen.”

Today was the first real test of the GC contenders, and Fränk Schleck was happy with how he finished since the climb took its victims early - and often - as a rapid pace was pushed each time on the unforgiving incline.  The lead group was whittled smaller each time up, as the peloton made a U-turn at the bottom to ascend the same Bousher Alamrat climb, but from the backside for two out of the four times. On the final time to the top Chris Froome (Team Sky) played his card, attacking hard, but it was the trio of Sagan, Nibali and Urán that would escape on the descent, and succeed to the finish.

“They went quite hard the first time up because there was a backwind on the first and third time, otherwise it was headwind,” said Andersen. “On the fourth time, even with the headwind, I was quite surprised that it split like it did.”

“I was happy to show the team that I could follow the top 5-10 riders in the climb today," said Fränk Schleck after the finish. "It was a hard climb; you could see the top guys were up there. I was happy to be a part of that, to show the boys they can count on me, and it was also good for my confidence, too. I will take it as a small personal victory.”

Although Andy Schleck did not make it over the climb with the leaders the third time up, it was not a concern for director Kim Andersen, or for brother Fränk.

“Andy was empty after 140kms,” explained Andersen, “which is not a big surprise for me, for this moment. He simply needs more race days.”

“Of course," echoed Fränk, "He has not raced yet, he is missing one race, but we all could see he has the good push and that he just needs the race kilometers. Andy is good. He is in a good way - on the right track.”

Tomorrow is the queen stage of the Tour of Oman, which finishes on the top of Green Mountain, and the climbers will again have their moment to shine.  It may be the final chance to sort out the overall, and who will stand on the final podium for the Tour.

“We are still in the start of the season but Fränk has showed he has really done his homework, there are real mountains here, and big riders too. We are in good position for tomorrow.”

You can read our preview of the race here.