Lotto Belisol will send the majority of their Tour of Qatar contingent on to the Tour of Oman.
Kris Boeckmans and Jonas Van Genechten have returned home, while Tony Gallopin and Jurgen Van den Broeck left from Europe fill out the eight man roster.
The race looks to be an early season test for regular GC contendors like Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and Joaquim Rodriguez. Nonetheless, sprinters such as Tom Boonen, Nacer Bouhanni, Alexander Kristoff and Peter Sagan are expected to start as well.
The Tour of Oman is definitely not as flat as the race in Qatar. In stage four the riders have to cover the Bousher Alamrat hill four times before going on a further 13km to a downhill finish.
A day later, the stage to Green Mountain is programmed, (at 1235 meters, the highest mountain in Oman).
There is no time trial in Oman. The sprinters will be able to have a go, for example in the final stage to Matrah Corniche.
Bart Leysen, sports director: “André Greipel, who won a stage in the Tour of Qatar, also aims for a victory in the Tour of Oman. Tony Gallopin wants to get a good GC here and he is also able to win a stage. We certainly have some candidates in the team for a stage win. Taking one stage win is our first goal and then we take a look at the GC.”
“The big difference with Qatar is the wind, so the race will be less nervous. Also the course is different. The stages aren’t too hard, but there are some feisty climbs. We didn’t have that in Qatar. In Oman the roads are smaller, while in Qatar one has to race a lot on highways with four lanes.”
Selection Lotto Belisol: Lars Bak, Gert Dockx, Tony Gallopin, André Greipel, Pim Ligthart, Jürgen Roelandts, Marcel Sieberg and Jurgen Van den Broeck.
Sports director: Bart Leysen
Stages
Stage 1: Tuesday 18th of February: As Suwayq Castle – Naseem Garden (164,5 km)
Stage 2: Wednesday 19th of February: Al Bustan – Quriyat (139 km)
Stage 3: Thursday 20th of February: Bank Muscat – Al Bustan (145 km)
Stage 4: Friday 21st of February: Wadi Al Abiyad – Ministry of Housing (Boshar) (173 km)
Stage 5: Saturday 22nd of February: Bidbid – Jabal Al Akhdhar (Green Mountain) (147,5 km)
Stage 6: Sunday 23rd of February: As Sifah – Matrah Corniche (146,5 km)
Ron Callahan is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.