MUSCAT: Movistar’s Matteo Jorgenson edged final stage winner Mauri Vansevenant of Soudal Quick-Step by a second to clinch his first professional overall victory in Tour of Oman 2023 on Jabal Al Akhdhar on Wednesday.
USA rider Jorgenson hanged on to keep his red jersey with an overall timing of 19:56:21. Wonderkid Vansevenant came second (+01) by a whisker.
AG2R Citroen Team’s Geoffrey Bouchard (+28) took the third spot overall ahead of Rein Taaramae of Intermarche-Circus-Wanty (+46) and Diego Ulissi of UAE Team Emirates (+48).
“Today was about the team, they were super strong and gave me super support. In the end it was about confidence and doing my best on the climb if I could," Jorgenson said.
“It was between the top three in the GC and with the time bonuses at the finish, it was difficult to know how it would go. I had to finish at the same time as Mauri. He is a good sprinter, has a good kick and is strong. I think the guy with the strongest sprint won the stage and I hung on for GC, and it makes me so happy.”
Jorgenson also became the youngest winner of the Tour of Oman.
“It’s been a beautiful tour. Oman has treated me super well and I was happy to see the country. I hope to be back next year. I love Oman,” the USA rider added.
The Stage 5 of the Tour of Oman 2023, set for the first time up the ascent of Jabal Al Akhdhar (Green Mountain), saw two 23-year-old talents battling in an explosive finale. Vansevenant was the strongest on the brutal slopes of a 5.7-km ascent with an average gradient of 10.5 per cent to take an emotional stage victory in front of his family, who came from Belgium to support him.
The young Belgian started only five seconds behind Jorgenson in the overall classification and gained four seconds thanks to the time bonuses but fell just short in the final stages.
Vansevenant said: “For sure I am happy, but a little bit disappointed. It was all or nothing. I knew if I got a good result today, I could win the General Classification.”
“I won the stage but didn’t win the Tour. I will come back, but for now I have to focus on the next races. It’s a steep climb and you need to push as hard as possible. I didn’t attack on 500 metres to go to feel how it was, but if you attack you have to sit down again because with the heat it is not easy, and he came back and I knew it would be difficult. My family is here, and it’s nice to celebrate with them.”
Jorgenson also won ‘Best Young Rider’ for the second day in a row, along with the ‘Individual Time’ and ‘Individual Points’ awards, adding to his accolades from the Tour of Oman. Norway’s Fredrik Dversnes (Uno-X Pro Cycling) claimed ‘Most Active Rider’ for the second successive day.
FINAL SHOWDOWN
As the 152.2 km stage from Samayil entered the final phase, Intermarche-Circus-Wanty set the pace on the first part of the ascent of Jabal Al Akhdhar. Lawrence Naesen (AG2R Citroen) and Ceriel Desal (Bingol WB) are the last riders to be caught, just inside the last 4 km of ascent.
With 3 km to go, only Jorgenson, Vansevenant and Bouchard could keep up with Rein Taaramae (Intermarche). But the Estonian climber dropped next.
It eventually came down to a brutal uphill sprint. Vansevenant was the most explosive to take victory, edging Jorgenson, who did just enough with a second place to take the overall crown.
TOUR OF OMAN STAGE 5 RESULTS
1. Mauri Vansevenant (BEL) Soudal Quick-Step 03:53:51
2. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Movistar Team + 00
3. Geoffrey Bouchard (FRA) AG2R Citroen Team + 12
4. Rein Taaramae (EST) Intermarche-Circus-Wanty + 22
5. Maxim Van Gils (BEL) Lotto Dstny + 37
6. Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates + 37
7. Cristian Rodriguez (ESP) Team Arkea-Samsic + 58
8. Jesus Herrada (ESP) Cofidis + 58
9. Carlos Verona (ESP) Movistar Team + 01:00
10. Cian Uijtdebroeks (BEL) BORA-hansgrohe + 01:12
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Movistar Team 19:56:21
2. Mauri Vansevenant (BEL) Soudal Quick-Step + 01
3. Geoffrey Bouchard (FRA) AG2R Citroen Team + 28
4. Rein Taaramae (EST) Intermarche-Circus-Wanty + 46
5. Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates + 48
6. Maxim Van Gils (BEL) Lotto Dstny + 58
7. Jesus Herrada (ESP) Cofidis + 01:20
8. Cristian Rodriguez (ESP) Team Arkea-Samsic + 01:22
9. Cian Uijtdebroeks (BEL) BORA-hansgrohe + 01:36
10. Carlos Verona (ESP) Movistar Team + 01:37
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