Muscat: Rick Pluimers of the Netherlands bagged the top honours in the third edition of Muscat Classic race ahead of the Tour of Oman, on Friday.
The Tudor Pro Cycling Team (Switzerland) rider completed the 170.3 km road race from Al Mouj Muscat to Al Bustan in 4 hours 16 minutes and 50 seconds to win the race, held in a pleasant weather.
The Dutch cyclist leapfrogged the winner of the opening Muscat Classic, Belgian Jenthe Biermans (Arkea–B&B Hotels) and Eritrea’s Henok Mulueberhan (XDS Astana), who finished in second and third places respectively.
“It’s a super nice way to win my first pro victory. I knew I was one of the fastest riders in the group so I only focused on my sprint,’’ Pluimers said, attributing his win to the hard work put in by the team.
As many as 28 riders had the same time including fourth-placed Diego Ulissi of Astana and Groupama’s Tom Donnenwirth of France.
Ninety riders completed the race while 24 cyclists couldn’t finish and three did not start.
This was the third edition of Muscat Classic, a one-day race that began as warm-up act for the Tour of Oman in 2023.
The race witnessed rolling barrage of attacks as the peloton, reduced to under 30 units, reeled in the lead group consisting of Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates), Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar) and Chris Harper (Jayco–AlUla) in sight of the line.
In the end, the precocious Rick Pluimers (Tudor) prevailed in the bunch sprint and bagged the first professional win of his career.
114-STRONG PELOTON
A 114-strong peloton rolled out from Al Mouj Muscat, with Jorgen Nordhagen (Visma–Lease a Bike), Tim Naberman (Picnic PostNL) and Davide Cimolai (Movistar) not making the start.
Adne van Engelen (Terengganu) jumped out of the peloton with his teammate Mohamad Mohd Zariff and Rasmus Bogh Wallin (Uno-X Mobility). Their margin soon grew from 1′30″ at km 10 to 4′30″ at km 23 before peaking at 7 minutes at km 30.
After the gap hit 6′45″, UAE Team Emirates and Visma–Lease a Bike traded turns at the front of the peloton. As the race reached 73 km, the first slopes whittled the breakaway down to two men after the 2022 Malaysian national champion lost contact.
Wallin was gapped by Van Engelen on the ascent to Bausher-Al Amerat but managed to reconnect on the descent. Their advantage dipped below the 2′30″ mark at km 85. The Dutchman finally got rid of the Norwegian for good on the Hamriyah climb (km 111).
The start of the final circuit encouraged several riders to try their luck. Kanter (XDS Astana), Boulahoite (TotalEnergies) and Azparren (Q36.5) flew past Van Engelen at km 127. The Q36.5 Spaniard hit the front of the race, only to be undone in turn by Lorenzo Germani (Groupama–FDJ), who launched a solo move from 34 km out, half a minute ahead of the peloton.
NEW QUARTER
A new three-man group consisting of Vine (UAE Team Emirates), Reinderink (Soudal Quick-Step) and Harper (Jayco–AlUla) counter-attacked and caught Germani with 17 km to go. The newly formed quartet held a 25-second margin over the peloton going into the final 10 km.
The Italian youngster racing for Groupama–FDJ ran out of steam with 6 km to go. Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar) stormed out of the peloton and linked up with Vine and Harper at the front.
However, with just 7 seconds to spare with 2 kilometres to go, it was not to be. A much-reduced peloton took charge, leaving Pluimers for the final kill on the false flat leading to the finish line and fly to his maiden win as a professional rider.
Muscat Classic results
Position, Rider, Country, Team, Time
1. Rick Pluimers (Netherlands) Tudor Pro Cycling Team 04:16:50
2. Jenthe Biermans (Belgium) Arkea-B&B Hotels + 00
3. Henok Mulubrhan (Eritrea) XDS Astana Team + 00
4. Diego Ulissi (Italy) XDS Astana Team + 00
5. Tom Donnenwirth (France) Groupama-FDJ + 00
6. Valentin Paret-Peintre (France) Soudal Quick-Step + 00
7. Davide Toneatti (Italy) XDS Astana Team + 00
8. Ivan Cortina Garcia (Spain) Movistar Team + 00
9. Mauri Vansevenant (Belgium) Soudal Quick-Step + 00
10. Stian Fredheim (Norway) Uno-X Mobility + 00
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