Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) confirmed that he is back to his best after a few years of disappointment as he powered to victory in the first uphill finish at the Tour of Oman. After his team had helped control things on the 2.8km final climb, he launched his trademark uphill sprint and easily distanced Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) to claim his second victory in a week and take the overall lead in the six-day race.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Edvald Boasson Hagen: I knew it was just on the limit with this climb

Edvald Boasson Hagen's fine form continued today at the Tour of Oman as he powered to an emphatic stage 2 victory. Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) was 2nd on the day with Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing) rounding out the podium.

 

The run toward the finishing 3km was a high speed battle for position, with the peloton fragmenting into smaller groups under the pressure. Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka were in the driving seat at the head of the peloton, as Nathan Haas, Tyler Farrar and Youcef Reguigui forced the pace and caused the splits in the peloton. The positive intent shown by the African Team would pay dividends as Edvald Boasson Hagen was well positioned when the final 2.8km climb to the line began.

 

There were a few surges in pace as the road titled skyward which caused a select group to form rather quickly. Boasson Hagen was again well supported by Serge Pauwels, Merhawi Kudus, Jacques Janse van Rensburg and Nathan Haas during the finale to find himself as part of this favourites group. Nobody was able to ride away from the Norwegian Champion on the uphill gradient and his superior kick earned him a great stage victory.

Serge Pauwels crossed the line 6 seconds down in 10th place with Merhawi Kudus a further 12 seconds back in 19th. It was another strong team result for Dimension Data for Qhubeka as Boasson Hagen takes the lead in general classification and the points classification while in the team competition, the African Team still sits in first position.

 

“It was a really good stage for us today. The team did really well, especially at the end to keep me up at the front. They were on the front riding a really good tempo so nobody could attack. Tyler went into the base of the climb and then Nathan did a long turn too. Youcef and Jacques also rode really well to support me. The whole team was strong today, it was a great effort by all the guys which I was really happy with. It was great to then finish off all the good work with the win,” Boasson Hagen said.

 

“It was really good and nice to win here. I was not sure about this final, it was a really tough one on paper. Yesterday I felt strong and missed out, but I wanted to give it a go today. I knew I was just on the limit on this climb, but I managed to stay up there and the team did really well to keep me in front. They were pulling the whole climb and there were no attacks, so that was perfect for me, because I didn’t use the sprint before I needed to.”

 

“It’s a different race but it’s good that I could have some luck again in some races and have a victory.

 

“I think Green Mountain is too hard. It’s even longer now than before when it was already hard enough. I just want to keep the jersey as long as possible, so we’ll see.”

 

Nibali and Fuglsang form strong and confident Astana duo in Oman

It was an excellent performance of Vincenzo Nibali who finished second a few meters behind Boasson Hagen and so moved from tenth to second in the GC, just 4 seconds behind the Norwegian rider.

 

“When I saw him going, I just said, no, I can’t go after him,” Nibali told Cyclingnews. “His acceleration was very good. He’s coming from a couple of years where he was a bit so-so, maybe he had some physical problems, but we all know that Boasson Hagen, when he’s going well, is very fast. On a finish like this, he was going to be faster than everyone.

 

“I’m feeling good, but I’m here without any pressure, so I’m not going to say that I’m going to win. The objective is to do well, whatever that is.

 

”Green Mountain’s a climb I know well. I won there once, and I’ve been up there a lot of other times. The legs are responding well. I’ve worked well up to now. Obviously, the Tour of Oman isn’t an objective for me but when you’ve got the legs, everything comes a bit easier to you. I’d like to pick up wins, for my own satisfaction and for the team.”

 

"I came to Oman to test my condition,” said Jakob Fulgsan,”and until now I must say that I am happy. The training camp in Teide and Tenerife were very useful and I’m also surprised to have already the right race pace.”

 

The Danish rider, at his first race of the season, finished seventh and is ninth in the GC with a delay of 10 seconds.

 

“Both yesterday and today, the boys did a good job and we have two riders in the Top 10,” commented sports director Dmitriy Fofonov.

 

“Tomorrow is a sprinters' stage. I hope that Andrea Guardini can do well.  On Thursday and Friday, however, there are many climbs and we will try to win the Tour of Oman.”

 

Greg Van Avermaet: Boasson Hagen just flew past me

It was another third place finish for Greg Van Avermaet on today's testing second stage of the Tour of Oman, with Edvald Boasson Hagen taking the stage win and the leader's jersey. In a repeat of yesterday's opening stage, a six rider breakaway stayed away for most of the stage before being caught just prior to the final 2,8 kilometer climb.

 

The steep ascent cracked all but a small group of riders who were left to battle it out in an uphill sprint finish, with Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Pro Team) just edging Van Avermaet out for second place. Van Avermaet now sits third in the General Classification, six seconds behind Boasson Hagen.

 

"It was a hard stage. The team did a really good job to make it harder in the flat part as we've got some strong guys going into the wind so we tried to split the peloton up," Van Avermaet explained.

 

"For me it was about trying to go as far as possible and hoping that the others cracked in the sprint. Boasson Hagen was still there and just flew past. With 200m to go we started sprinting and Boasson Hagen was faster."

 

BMC unworried by another time loss for Richie Porte

Richie Porte lost further time on the climb today.

 

"We will see on the Green Mountain stage and try to test him there," BMC Racing Team Sports Director Fabio Baldato said.

 

"He came here from Australia only two days before the race so for him it's best to go day by day, step by step, to prepare for the next race which will be Paris-Nice. He still has two weeks until then.”

 

“There are no problems,” he told Baldato told VeloNews. “Yesterday, he was already tired from his trip, so we decided not to push it into the red and use this race as a build-up for Paris-Nice. There is no need to worry for the Tour de France, and not even for Paris-Nice.”

 

Pozzovivo and Bardet optimistic after great start in Oman

Domenico Pozzovivo and Romain Bardet made it a good start for Ag2r as they were fourth and sixth respectively.

 

"At the bottom of the climb, the pace was already very fast," Pozzovivo told L'Equipe. "I tried to make an acceleration with 500 meters to fo to  anticipate. But with the flat final part, it was hard for me to go for the win. I was not the fastest. I feel good and I look forward to the stage on Friday."

 

"It was nervous before the final ascent," Bardet said. "There was a good echelon. I found myself a bit trapped and had to chase alone. I made ​​great efforts to close the gap and get back in the flat section. And on the final climb that cost me a bit. I worked hard not to lose time at the finish. I feel that my legs respond well but I'm not sharp. Let's say I'm building my form."

Still going strong: Davide Rebellin rides to fifth in Oman summit finish

Davide Rebellin has proved one more time that the age is only a number. The 44-year old Italian finished 5th on Stage 2 of Tour of Oman which ended with a punchy uphill finish.

 

CCC Sprandi Polkowice was responsible for some of the damage in the finale. The orange squad took over the lead in the field with 10 kilometers remaining, trying to position Davide Rebellin for the finale. The Italian could start the hill among the favorites and reached the top in 5th. For Rebellin it was the second consecutive top 10 in Oman and he moved up to 6th in the overall standings.

 

“The stage was decided in a 3-kilometer uphill finish. The team did a great job in positioning me for the last slope as Simone Ponzi pushed the pace in the finale to make a selection. We started the sprint with 400 meters to go. Pozzovivo and I slightly lost contact with the fastest and I had to settle for 5th place. It was a short but very steep hill so to finish in the top 3, one had to have a lot of power in the legs. I am satisfied with my form and how the team is performing as a unit. Our next goal is to complete Friday’s stage with a mountain top finish among the strongest,” Davide Rebellin said afterwards.

 

Crosswinds end hopes for Jungels and Martin, Brambilla shines in Oman

On the final ascent of stage 2, Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) proved to be the strongest, taking the victory and with it the red jersey off Bob Jungels' shoulders, Tuesday's winner, who dug deep to limit the losses and eventually came 59 seconds behind, together with teammate Laurens De Plus.

 

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) finished second, respectively third, while the best placed Etixx – Quick-Step rider was Gianluca Brambilla. Victorious in Trofeo Pollença-Port de Andratx in January following a valiant attack, the Italian came sixth at Quriyat, same time as the winner, and climbed to 12th in the standings, just 24 seconds adrift.

 

"We controlled the race from the beginning with Iljo [Keisse] and Guillaume [Van Keirsbulck], who did a fantastic job. Then, in the last 20 kilometers, BMC and Dimension Data rode full gas and split the peloton in the crosswinds. Bob had to put in a big effort to come back and that's why he lost some important energy. But we still were up there thanks to Gianluca, who finished inside the top 10 after a strong ride", said sport director Rik van Slycke.

 

”So sorry for not paying back the incredible work of the boys today with a better result. Pulling all day long when it's headwind isn't funny,” Jungels tweeted.

 

”Got caught in the crosswind section with 10k to go and missed that energy in the final climb! Thanks again to @Etixx_QuickStep boys!!”

 

Strong Rui Costa still in contention after first uphill finish in Oman

Nine riders were leading the race in the approach to the final straight. Rui Costa was with them and he obtained 9th place in the long sprint.

"I asked the guys to ride together, to be ready to face any dangers caused by the wind and bring Rui well placed to the final climb, Lampre-Merida sports director Philippe Mauduit said.
 

“Our riders were very careful, doing their job well and keeping Rui protected from the wind that was blowing in the opposite direction for the entire stage. 
 

“15 km from the finish, BMC created an echelon that challenged some of the GC riders. We were reactive, remaining in the top group with Rui Costa, Pibernik, Bono, Zurlo and Kump.
 

“Rui crossed the finish line in the first group and did well not to miss a split, even considering that the riders came to the finish line completely stretched out.”

 

Dr Pollastri gave updates about Arashiro's conditions after the surgery to the fractured femur:

 

“Yukiya has left the hospital in Doha and on Friday he'll fly to Japan. Meanwhile, he has taken some small steps as suggested by the doctor who performed the surgery.”

 

Tom Dumoulin: I don’t know whether this form is good enough for Paris-Nice

On the first uphill finish of the Tour of Oman on the second day of racing, Tom Dumoulin continued his good form by finishing in the front group in 11th position. He is now 10th overall, 16″seconds behind.

 

”I was on the limit in this long sprint,” he told De Telegraaf. “I started the final climb in a good position. With 500m to go, Domenico Pozzovivo attacked. Thereafter, they wweresprinting to the finish and I was at the limit. This position between tenth and fifteenth corresponds well to where I am now in this field. I would have prefereed to be a little better.”

 

“I do not know if this form is enough to get involved in the GC at Paris-Nice. That's a pity. I hope my form gets a little bit better here. I'll have to do better in this kind of finishes. Tn the winter especially worked on my endurance which gives me a good foundation for the season. Now I still miss some intensity which you'll do in this kind of competition.”

 

”Boasson Hagen and Van Avermaet train so well for the spring, they are simply superb. This climb was for a mixture of explosive riders and climbers. That was nice to see.”

 

Giant-Alpecin coach Luke Roberts said:

 

“Today was a relatively uneventful stage until the last 20km. At that point, BMC took advantage of the crosswinds and managed to split the bunch. All our riders were in the first group except for Cheng [Ji].

 

“In the final, the climb was not so difficult and there were still a lot of riders for the bunch sprint. Unfortunately, Tom’s sprint was not so good today, he finished in 11th position.”

 

Young Austrian takes the white jersey with great ride in Oman

The young Austrian Konrad again finished with the group of favourites in 13th place and is now in the white jersey. Bora-Argon 18 teammte Christoph Pfingsten becomes the marathon man of Oman. Today he again managed to jump into the group of the day, but again his effort did not pay off in the end.

 

 “I am proud that I could fulfil my task today again 100%. But again the wind was not the friend of our breakaway group, therefore in the end the gap was closed very quickly from the peloton,” Christoph Pfingsten said.

 

“Patrick did a great job again today, but of course also Christoph Pfingsten. We are proud to have the white jersey now within our team and want to keep it until the end of the race. I am confident that we will also achieve our goal of getting at top ten result in the GC because now we are in a really good position,” Enrico Poitschke, sports director of Bora-Argon 18, said.

 

Eduardo Sepulveda bounces back from crash with solid ride in Oman

After some bad luck yesterday, FortuneoVital Concept did well the second stage. In the breakaway, Pierre-Luc Périchon spent almost 130 kilometers in front and was caught just 20km from the finish.

 

Many echelons were created late in the race. Eduardo Sepúlveda was not trapped and finished in the first group, 6 seconds behind the winner. After crashing yesterday, he is now 18th overall, 48 seconds behind.

 

"With our sports director, Sébastien Hinault, we agreed that Benoit Jarrier and I would try to join the break, Perichon said. “We attacked in turns and I found myself in the right group with 5 riders. We worked well together for 60km. But at the first intermediate sprint, three riders made ​​war to get the points. Some sat up and it became very difficult to ride together. It was a point in the stage where we had to win time and we lost some there. Two riders decided to take off and the others still would not cooperate. So I made ​​the effort alone to reach the front of the race. 

 

”50 kilometers from the finish, we were three with 3 minutes over the peloton. I knew it was almost an impossible task but I wanted to go to the end. We are caught by the peloton 20km from the finish.  

 

”Before the stage, we knew it would be difficult for the break but we had to try. We quickly gained three minutes without using too much energy. To win, you had to have a minute at the bottom of the last hill.

 

“Eduardo made a good move today, we keep the same goal of a good place in the GC and going for a stage.”

 

Enrico Gasparotto shows growing condition in Oman mountains

Enrico Gasparotto stayed with the first group on a demanding, steep finish. Marcato was a few seconds behind and both Italians are still within a minute of race leader Edvard Boasson Hagen. Kenny Dehaes featured in the breakaway again.

 

Enrico Gasparotto said:

 

"I am happy that I was in the first group even though I know I am missing some power because it's still early in the season. I am improving every day and was really happy with the team. They are the real fighters. When BMC increased the pace, formed echelons and broke the peloton, the team safely brought me to the front. They really worked hard in Qatar and learned this. We are becoming a real team here, becoming friends, ready to help each other where we can."

 

Jurgen Van den Broeck: The finale was quite explosive.

Two Team Katusha riders, Jurgen Van den Broeck and Sven Erik Bystrøm were in this leading group until the last few hundred meters. Finally, Van den Broeck finished 17th (+0.16) and Bystrøm was 18th (+0.18).

 

“Before the climb, I was already a bit suffering and I lost a lot of energy there. On the climb I tried to go more regular, but the final was quite explosive. I tried to follow the final sprint of our leading group with some 500 meters to go, but it went too fast for me. I accelerated, but I could not find my rhythm immediately after it. That's why I tried to limit my loss today. It was the first uphill finish for me this year. So, let’s see what will happen on the Green Mountain,” said Jurgen Van den Broeck.

 

Jurgen Van den Broeck moved up in the general classification to 13th position, 26 seconds behind the leader.

 

Mike Teunissen after Oman uphill finish: Next year I want to sprint for the win

Team LottoNL-Jumbo saved energy in the second stage of the Tour of Oman, which Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) won. Only Mike Teunissen and George Bennett targeted the stage from the Omantel Head Office to the uphill Quriyat finish.

 

 “We wanted to come through this stage without wasting too much energy. To stay as fit as possible for tomorrow’s stage,” sports director Jan Boven explained Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s plans. “There was a chance for echelons in the stage final, so we wanted to be sharp, but besides that, everyone relaxed for the finish. Mike Teunissen wanted to try to grab a good result after yesterday’s performance, so we gave him and George Bennett the opportunity to do that. Mike did a good job. He must grow a bit stronger, but what he delivered today was great.”

 

Teunissen finished 24th, 26 seconds behind stage winner Boasson Hagen, but was still in the first group with only 400 metres to go.

 

“The finish line was on a tough climb today and every rider in the top 10 is world class,” Teunissen said. “That makes it hard to grab a good result, but I tried to follow them as well as possible. With only 400 metres to go, I had to let them go. Last year, I was dropped early on climbs like this, but now I’m able to follow much longer. I want to keep growing in this process and considering that, it’s nice to get the chance from the team to try in races like today’s. Let’s set a date: next year, I’ll be able to sprint for the stage win in this race.”

 

The relative rest for the Team LottoNL-Jumbo men will not last longer than one day because the race includes an important stage on Thursday.

 

“We are going to fight to give Moreno Hofland his chance to deliver a good final sprint,” Boven added. “He’s feeling good and he can show off tomorrow. We will focus on that.”