Lotto-Belisol’s Andre Greipel has taken the 159km opening stage (Muscat to Wilayat al Rustaq) at the Tour of Oman in 3hr25`59″, holding off Denis Galimzyanov of Team Katusha for second and Garmin-Barracuda’s Tyler Farrar third. The win reinforces the German’s solid start to the season, which began with three stage wins at the Tour Down Under.
The Tour of Oman, which runs February 14 to 19, is now in its third year and proving a popular addition to the racing calendar. This year 127 elite cyclists have taken to the roads of the Sultanate (the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula) and with growing media coverage this is increasingly looking like an early-season tour to watch. Tomorrow’s Stage 2 covers the 140.5km From Bait Al Batah in Wilayat Sur to Wadi Dayqah in Wilayat Qurayyat.
