Muscat: Colombian Fernando Gaviria of UAE Team Emirates claimed the first stage honours in the Tour of Oman 2022 ahead of the accomplished Mark Cavendish (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) and Kaden Groves (BikeExchange-Jayco), here on Thursday.
Gaviria brought his A game in the finishing stages of the race as he completed a sprint that ensured his triumph with Cavendish struggling to keep pace.
Gaviria had started the season with the Saudi Tour last week, but his 2022 campaign got the kickstart here in Muscat with this race win.
“My team did really nice. Max made a big difference in the lead-out and then I’m really happy to work like this,” said Gaviria.
UAE Team Emirates' experienced leadout rider Max Richeze delivered Gaviria to the finish line in clockwork precision as the team clinched the victory.
Injury to Alvaro Hodeg brought Richeze into the picture after UAE Team Emirates initially decided against renewing his contract. After being added to the roster in January, Richeze will now be in the team's ranks until the end of Giro d'Italia in May and the Argentinian showed his class with a text-book leadout performance here.
Richeze did all the hardwork for UAE Team Emirates as his leadout stretched out the rest of the peloton leaving Cavendish with too much ground to cover up.
However, Cavendish ratcheted up a stunning sprint in the closing stages that confirmed his second place finish and also augurs well for his prospects later in the Tour of Oman.
Groves bagged the third place ahead of GP Marseillaise winner Amaury Capiot while the 20-year-old Paul Penhoet (Groupama FDJ) finished an impressive fifth.
The 138km stage was animated by a three-man move featuring Jan Dunnewind (Team Novo Nordisk), Peio Goikoetxea (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Mohammed Al-Wahibi (Oman) that went clear in the opening kilometre, though the peloton was reluctant to grant the trio too much leeway on such a short stage.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
