| Juan Sebastián Molano delivered a perfectly judged sprint to take victory on Stage 1 of the Tour of Oman, giving UAE Team Emirates-XRG an ideal start to the Middle Eastern stage race and claiming the first leader’s jersey of the week.
The 170.9km opener unfolded over rolling desert roads, with an early three-man break establishing itself soon after the flag drop. UAE Team Emirates-XRG kept the move under tight control throughout the day, working alongside other sprint-oriented teams to ensure the gap never grew beyond manageable limits. The break was reeled in inside the final 10 kilometres, setting up a fast and technical run-in to the finish at the Bimmah Sinkhole.
In the closing kilometres, Molano was expertly positioned by his teammates, remaining sheltered in the wheels of Rui Oliveira as speeds increased and the bunch stretched out. Launching his sprint at the perfect moment, the Colombian showed his trademark power and timing to surge past his rivals and take a convincing win at the line.
Molano : “I’m very happy. The team did an amazing job . In the last 15km they really kept me in a good position and sheltered from the wind. After all the hard work to repay them with a victory feels amazing. Rui Oliveira did amazing work for me in the closing kilometres.
It’s important for me to take this win, it means a lot. Last August I had to end my season early because of a knee issues, so after five months without races and two without any bike at all it makes this victory all the sweeter.”
Beyond the stage success, Molano’s victory places UAE Team Emirates-XRG firmly in control of the race narrative early on. With key mountain stages still to come later in the week, the team will also have the ambitions of GC hopeful and reigning champion Adam Yates in mind.
Stage & GC results after Stage 1
1.Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 3:36:42
2.Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural -Seguros RGA) s.t
3.Gerben Thijssen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) s.t
João Almeida put in a solid performance today on the queen stage (Stage 4) of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, crossing the line in second place behind a dominant break from Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull Bora hansgrohe). Teammate Brandon McNulty also rode strongly, finishing inside the top five, as UAE Team Emirates-XRG demonstrated resilience and tactical strength on one of the toughest days of this early-season stage race.
The 172 km route from La Nucía to Teulada-Moraira featured multiple climbs and selective terrain that would define the general classification battle. On the decisive final climb of the Puig de la Llorença, world champion Evenepoel launched a relentless attack that ultimately carried him solo to victory.
Almeida stayed within striking distance throughout the steep gradients, matching accelerations and riding at the front of the chasers alongside Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious) as they carried a passenger in Evenepoel’s teammate Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull Bora hansgrohe). Almeida would take second on the day as McNulty rounded out the strong team showing by securing a top-five result in the elite group.
The result tops off a successful day for the Emirati outfit who took their seventh win of the season on stage 1 of the Tour of Oman with Sebastian Molano.
Almeida: “It was a fast day with some challenging terrain. The racing was quite hard and I did my best. But Remco was just stronger so Chapeau to him. If the climb had have been a bit longer it would have been a bit better for me, but it is what it is, no regrets.
I think I did a good job and the team did well also so we will take it . We were just two pulling in the group behind since Pellizzari was covering Remco which was normal. I’m happy enough with the result.”
Stage 4 results
1.Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull Bora hansgrohe) 4:14:01
2.Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +24”
3.Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull Bora hansgrohe) s.t
5.Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +36”
General Classification after Stage 4
1.Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull Bora hansgrohe) 11:00:29
2.Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +29”
3.Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull Bora hansgrohe) +31”
5.Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +47”
|
