Tour of Oman 2013 **SPOILERS**

Anonymous

From teamsky website: http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290, ... 16,00.html

A number of big names in the field including Team Sky’s Chris Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins were content to sit in the bunch on a day which had all the hallmarks of a sprint finish.

With no designated sprinter in the team a safe passage was the first objective ahead of five more stages in the Arab state.

The team all finished comfortably despite a late scare as Wiggins was forced to check up behind a crash with two kilometres remaining. Christian Knees led the team home.

After the stage we caught up with Sports Director Nicolas Portal who talked us through the late drama and also summed up a quiet opening day.

He confirmed: “There was a crash with 2km to go. Bradley was not caught up in it but he was behind it and there was a little split in the peloton as the riders slowed down. So with the 3km rule he should be fine.

slim_boy_fat

Thanks guys. Hadn't seen the hold up reported anywhere.

Richmond Racer

GCN's report on Stage 1

https://www.youtube.com/embed/d1QMuNFtwgY

frenchfighter

Froome confirmed as protected rider.

Nice photo of Contador and Evans chatting at the start.

As usual, lots more supporters than in Qatar.

rob churchill

Official website still showing Wiggins on his own in last place?

Macaloon

I don't understand an event that has most of the top 20 most highly paid athletes in the sport, in direct competition for the first of several times this season, on a parcours from Heaven to racing-starved fans, dressed up in ridiculous corporate logos who pay for the whole shooting match; but is not on the telly

How is this possible? Audience too small? Cost too much to send a crew?

frenchfighter

frenchfighter

Hmm, do not like.

above_the_cows

frenchfighter wrote:

Hmm, do not like.

Did he leave his cape at home?

specialgueststar

frenchfighter wrote:

Hmm, do not like.

you can tell him - he's a bit right left right goodnight

I think it looks alright - but maybe not for four hours - he still got a third though

jerry3571

Macaloon wrote:

I don't understand an event that has most of the top 20 most highly paid athletes in the sport, in direct competition for the first of several times this season, on a parcours from Heaven to racing-starved fans, dressed up in ridiculous corporate logos who pay for the whole shooting match; but is not on the telly

How is this possible? Audience too small? Cost too much to send a crew?

I've been confused.com about this. Bike racing is a dangerous sport and putting your big riders in small races is a gamble. The roads are good in Oman (not much road furniture) but crashes are a common, especially big bunches at high speed on flat roads.

I assume there must be some financial incentive. Still risky though.

Jerry

Macaloon

30 min highlight show for on Eurosport 2 (& player) now.

1st 10 mins, let's meet the riders. What a line-up. :shock: Alberto with the usual insightful interview. Bradley horizontally chilled.

dabber

So what happened to Wiggins after being held up by the crash. It seems he is 20 secs or so off the back in last place.

Macaloon

Last 5K. All together
"Boonen: 8 hours from losing arm" - surgeons

Richmond Racer

hmmm....very odd re Wiggins yday. GCN video race report said that he was floating around back of peloton with Phil Gil during the race, and then held up behind crash 2kms from end. Never mind the oddity of him not getting same time as winner as it was within 3kms, one report said that 3 other riders crossed the finishing line behind him. I'm also curious why no other Sky guys with him - even though Froome is leader, still seems odd.

Sky playing games?

Macaloon

Wiggins amongst a few at back who slowed to about half speed to avoid small crash. Looked like Wiggins just didn't bother to chase back on. Odd. But one way to clearly separate Froome from Wiggins?

takethehighroad

Why is it odd that Wiggins isn't arsed about chasing back on in the Tour of Oman?

jerry3571

Is Wiggins just concentrating at getting a suntan? There's a lumpy stage soon (stage 4) so maybe he'll stretch his legs then. Meanwhile, he's hanging of the back because he's got nothing to gain; main aim would be trying to avoid road rash.

Still, early days in the season. As Mr Kelly would say "There's a long ways to go".

Jerry

PS- Never seen http://www.procyclingstats.com before. Seems a good website with route and profiles which is easy to navigate. Is it a new site??

Macaloon

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

Why is it odd that Wiggins isn't arsed about chasing back on in the Tour of Oman?

I wasn't thinking of the result. The casual manner he let the small group drift away seemed a little out of place in an intense preparation regime. Also I'm not looking for imaginary Christopher Bradley friction. Maybe Bradley wants some space on GC to launch a searing attack to stick it to the sceptics?

bobwinston

Not sure if anyone already posted this - here is a live twitter feed of ToO: https://twitter.com/tourofoman_live

Anonymous

Better to follow the hashtag #TOO13 as it has everyone's tweets. the OPQS twitter feed was being highly rated during the race yesterday

thegibdog

Win for Sagan apparently.

RichN95.

1 Sagan 2. Gallopin 3. Elmiger 4. Nibali 5. Stybar 6. Froome 7. Bandiera 8. Marcato 9. Impey en 10. Bouhanni.

Richmond Racer

dupe post

frenchfighter

frenchfighter

As far as I can make out, those 10 riders had a 19 sec lead over the rest of the field.

ocdupalais

frenchfighter wrote:

What a splendid twit he is.

Had assumed from the brief report I read that he'd just nudged them in a small group sprint - looks like some gap...

Turfle

Well done, Sagan.

That's quite a nice little 10 man group that got away.

Richmond Racer

Sky reporting that he attacked in final 5k and no one could/did respond

Macaloon

Highlights should be worth a watch. At 9:00 am tomorrow. Liked Sagan's full-length national colours stripe on back of jersey, not that he's in danger of being lost in the group.

Bonus Boonen note: he seemed unfettered in yesterday's elbows-out sprint.