Getting into a breakaway usually isn't an easy task, but very likely riders are slightly less tempted to deprive themselves of an opportunity to hide behind team-mates while tackiling windswept roads of the Middle East. Or maybe the new breakaway artist emerged in person of Jef Van Meirhaeghe, as the Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise neo-pro rode at the front each day at the Tour of Oman and won the combativity classification as a result.

Van Meirhaeghe revealed that getting into a breakaway every day at the Omani race was never his plan, and his motivations to join the front group varied rather considerably from one stage to another.

“It was planned on the first stage, yes, as I wanted to take the young rider’s jersey with the time bonuses. That didn’t work out and I was disappointed,” he told Cycling Weekly.

“On the second day, I went in the break with my team-mate Preben van Hecke, and he helped me get the most aggressive rider’s jersey.

“The day after, I was planning on going for the first 34 kilometres, up to the stage’s first sprint, but I didn’t really feel like dropping back after we passed that.

“Yesterday [on Saturday] was a rest day [because the stage was neutralised] – I was afraid about finishing outside the time limit yesterday after it was shortened. If we had raced, riders would have gone hard for the full 90 kilometres, which makes for a hard time limit.”

His struggles at the front were eventually rewarded, as the breakaway made it home on the final day of the Tour of Oman, with the 23-year old Belgian finishing third behind Matthias Brändle and Iljo Keisse. Van Meirhaeghe admitted that tired legs wouldn't allow him to contend for a victory on Sunday, but nonetheless was pleased with a fashion he kicked his professional career off with.

He said: “I’m happy with third, it’s a good way to start my pro career."

“I didn’t do as much work as they did, as my legs hurt almost immediately after the start.”