The Tour of Oman 2023 is the 4th leg of the Velogames Warm Up championship. After Tour Down Under, Vuelta San Juan, Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, Tour De Provence was expected to be the fourth leg. However, its cancellation made the remaining four legs of the velogames warm cup championship more valuable, starting with the Tour of Oman.
Muscat Classic 2023
Jan Hirt won the Tour of Oman 2022 and was hugely applauded for his powerful attacks with Fausto Masnada and Rui Costa completing the podium. While the Portuguese started the 2023 season at his new team Inter-Marchee Circuit Wanty in impressive manner, he is not part of the Tour of Oman 2023. Interestingly, Jan Hirt and Fausto Masnada will be riding for the same team, Team Soudal-Quick Step.
The Muscat Classic 2023 was held on the eve of the start of the Tour of Oman and might give an indication as to the form of many riders.
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Tour of Oman 2023 preview
Stage 1
Bunch sprint finish
⚝⚝⚝⚝⚝ Tim Merlier
⚝⚝⚝⚝ Pascal Ackermann
⚝⚝⚝ Marc Cavendish
⚝⚝ Jordi Warlop
⚝ Jenthe Biermans
Stage 2
The stage win will be decided during the kicker of a finish 2.6 km at 7%
⚝⚝⚝⚝⚝ Emanuel Buchmann
⚝⚝⚝⚝ Alexey Lutsenko
⚝⚝⚝ Diego Ullisi
⚝⚝ Andrea Vendrame
⚝ Jesus Herrada
Stage 3
A slight longer and steeper finish awaits the bunch. 4.6km at 8.5%
⚝⚝⚝⚝⚝ Jesus Herrada
⚝⚝⚝⚝ Emanuel Buchmann
⚝⚝⚝ Alexey Lutsenko
⚝⚝ Davide Formolo
⚝ Fausto Masnada
Stage 4
A hill top finish that will favour the puncheurs more than the pure climbers. The previous climb of Al Jissah, 2.5km at 6.9% will start to put the pure sprinters in difficulty.
⚝⚝⚝⚝⚝ Maxim Van Gils
⚝⚝⚝⚝ Axel Zingle
⚝⚝⚝ Andrea Vendrame
⚝⚝ Ide Schelling
⚝ Francesco Busatto
Stage 5
The final and the queen stage of the Tour of Oman 2023. 5.7km at an average of 10.5% is rather steep. It will give an edge to explosive riders rather than pure climbers who prefer longer ascents.
⚝⚝⚝⚝⚝ Jesus Herrada
⚝⚝⚝⚝ Alexey Lutsenko
⚝⚝⚝ Emanuel Buchmann
⚝⚝ Davide Formolo
⚝ Fausto Masnada
Tour of Oman Velogames
Alexey Lutsenko– Astana Qazaqstan Team / 18- Usually starts the season well. He will be good both in the wall finishes and the medium climbs. One of the favourite to win the Tour of Oman 2023.
Diego Ulissi– UAE Team Emirates/ 18 – One of the favourites to win stage 2 and 4 with his fast sprints and legendary punchy style.
Cian Uijtdebroeks – BORA – hansgrohe/ 16 – He is a very bright prospect but might not be the wisest investment for Bora Hansgroge at 16 credits
Louis Meintjes – Intermarché – Circus – Wanty /16: He would have preferred longer climbs but still a serious candidate for a final top 5.
Iván Ramiro Sosa – Movistar Team / 16: A tiny climber who would also have preferred longer and steeper terrain.
Jan Hirt – Soudal – Quick Step/ 16 : San Juan has shown that the form is not here and he worked for Remco. Would be a surprise if he wins again especially as his team has other options.
Davide Formolo – UAE Team Emirates/ 16: A great fighter who finished second at the Saudi Tour 2023. One of the most serious challengers to Lutsenko
Emanuel Buchmann – BORA – hansgrohe / 14 :Multiple Grand Tour top 10 finisher. At 30, his best years might still be ahead. At his best, he can be the man to beat.
Matteo Jorgenson / Carlos Verona -Movistar Team/ 14: Their 10th and 12th place at the Muscat classics indicate that the form is acceptable and will most likely share the leadership at Movistar.
Fausto Masnada / Mauri Vansevenant- Soudal – Quick Step/ 14 : With Jan Hirt, Soudal Quick-Step will be presenting themselves with a multiple prong attacks. All 3 finished in the front group at Muscat and showed some muscles on the final climbs.
Andrea Vendrame – AG2R Citroën Team/ 12: He might not be the ultimate favourite to win a bunch sprint but his 5th place at Comunitat Valenciana and his 3rd place in Muscat indicated that the fast legs are here. That being said he will be one of the favourites to win stage 2 and 4. With stage 3 and 5 showing slightly longer climbs for him to keep up, the Italian also knows how get into a break-aways and win from them. The only thing that could stop him from being a Velogames success is a crash.
Mark Cavendish – Astana Qazaqstan Team/ 12: The Manx missile make his long awaited return and what a race did he he choose. His team will do their utmost best to protect him and bring him to sprint in the first stage. At 12 credits, this is the only reason to select him.
Rein Taaramäe– Intermarché – Circus – Wanty / 12 :His performance at Muscat 1:26 from the winner indicated that the form is not here yet but things could change.
Eduardo Sepúlveda Lotto Dstny / 12: The Argentinian is a very good puncheur. However early races in Spain and his DNF in Muscat does not give any indication of his shape.
Maxim Van Gils – Lotto Dstny/ 12: He won the Saudi Tour in 2022, finished 5th of the Japan cup in 2022 and 5th at the Muscat Classics. He is a fast finisher and can get over climbs as well. 12 credits might prove to be a real bargain for this underdog
Tim Merlier – Soudal – Quick Step /12 He seems to be the strongest of pure sprinter here. But just like Cavendish and Ackermaan, their chances revolve around stage 1 only.
Cristián Rodríguez -Team Arkéa Samsic /12 :He participated in the lead out to the win of Biremans in Muscat but he otherwise been rather quiet in the race for a usually very offensive riders,
Geoffrey Bouchard AG2R Citroën Team/ 10 : His from looks good but he will be most probably be used to help Vendrame. His own chance will come as a break away rider.
Giovanni Aleotti BORA – hansgrohe / 10: One of the 4 riders from Bora-Hansgrohe who animated the race in Muscat. The form is here but is his duty only towards Buchmann?
Jesús Herrada– Cofidis/ 10: He was the one who led the charge on the final climb in Muscat, putting in attacks after attacks. Not reputated for his sprint, he managed to finish 11th on his own.
Axel Zingle– Cofidis /10 He came to the eyes of many with his puncheur qualities by taking 5 wins. He started the season very well in the Valencia classics as well. With 4 top 12 results. His performance in the Muscat classics ( 82th should probably not be read too much into)
Thomas De Gendt -Lotto Dstny/ 10: You can really never rule the man out but can you send 10 credits on him.
Pascal Ackermann – UAE Team Emirates/ 10 :Top 3 finish in stage 1.
Francesco Busatto I- ntermarché – Circus – Wanty /8: One of the 2 sole finisher of his team in the first group. His 4th place demonstrate that he is a good finisher in addition to getting over climbs. 3 stage top 10 finishes achievable.
Greg Van Avermaet – AG2R Citroën Team/ 8 : He has been a little more at the front of things this season. In Besseges and in Muscat. He might actually be a good bargain.
Harold Tejada – Astana Qazaqstan Team/ 8 :He will be supporting Lutsenko here
Lennert Teugels – Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB /8: Seems to be his team main leader here. Fast finished and good puncheur.
Ide Schelling– BORA – hansgrohe / 8: He looked exceptionally good in Muscat cassics. He is a very good puncheur and his early season form has been exceptional. One of the best 8 credit deals
Roger Adrià -Equipo Kern Pharma/ 8 :The sprinter will have the support of his full team whether it wil be a bunch sprint or an uphill finish. 3 top 10 stage finish expected.
Sylvain Moniquet -Lotto Dstny/ 8: One of the fastest and most under-rated puncheur in the world. He could easily finish in the top 10 of stage 2 and 4 and enjoy breakaways.
Ryan Gibbons -UAE Team Emirates /8: UAE does not plan to control the race and this could give the South African freedom amongst the like of Formolo and Ullisi.
Victor Langellotti – Burgos-BH /6 : Another fast finisher who can get over climbs better than most sprinters.
Jordi López -Equipo Kern Pharma / 6: Finished in the first group in Muscat
Simone Petilli – Intermarché – Circus – Wanty/ 6: One of the two finishers in the first group for the team of the season so far. We would not bet much against them, would we?
Niklas Eg– Uno-X Pro Cycling Team /6: Looks like the best climber for UNO-X and can finish in the final top 10.
Giovanni Carboni– Equipo Kern Pharma/ 4 :Finished 16th in Muscat classics
Magnus Kulset -Uno-X Pro Cycling Team 4 : Finished in the front group in Muscat.
Predictions for Overall win of Tour of Oman 2023:
⚝⚝⚝⚝⚝ Jesus Herrada
⚝⚝⚝⚝ Alexey Lutsenko
⚝⚝⚝ Emanuel Buchmann
⚝⚝ Davide Formolo
⚝ Fausto Masnada
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