2017 Tour of Oman
The 2017 Tour of Oman was a road cycling stage race that took place between 14 and 19 February 2017 in Oman. It was the eighth edition of the Tour of Oman and was rated as a 2.HC race as part of the 2017 UCI Asia Tour.[1] The previous year's winner, Vincenzo Nibali, did not defend his title.[2]
| UCI Asia Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Race details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dates | 14–19 February 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 878 km (545.6 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winning time | 20h 56' 20" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The race was won by Belgium's Ben Hermans,[3] as part of the BMC Racing Team; Hermans took the race lead after winning the second stage of the race, and further extended his lead with a victory in the queen stage of the race, finishing at Jabal Al Akhdhar. Hermans won the race by 22 seconds ahead of Portuguese rider Rui Costa (UAE Abu Dhabi), who finished second on two stages during the race. The podium was completed by Astana's Fabio Aru from Italy, who was a further 13 seconds in arrears of Costa.[4]
Hermans duked it out for the points classification victory with Norwegian sprinter Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha–Alpecin), with the honours ultimately going to Kristoff,[4] who won three of the remaining four stages of the race. The young rider classification was won by Eritrea's Merhawi Kudus, who finished in fourth place overall for Team Dimension Data, while Belgian Aimé De Gendt (Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise) won the combativity classification for points won at intermediate sprints and noted climbs.[4] With Kudus, Lachlan Morton and Nathan Haas all finishing within the top ten overall, Team Dimension Data won the teams classification.[4]
Teams
Eighteen teams were invited to take part in the race. These included nine UCI WorldTeams and nine UCI Professional Continental teams.[5]
UCI WorldTeams
UCI Professional Continental Teams
Route
The route for the race was announced on 27 January 2017.[6]
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Type | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 February | Al Sawadi Beach to Naseem Park | 173 km (107 mi) |  | Flat stage |  |
| 2 | 15 February | Nakhal to Al Bustan | 142 km (88 mi) |  | Hilly stage | .svg.png){kind=small} |
| 3 | 16 February | Sultan Qaboos University to Quriyat | 162 km (101 mi) | | Hilly stage |  |
| 4 | 17 February | Yiti to Ministry of Tourism | 118 km (73 mi) | | Hilly stage | |
| 5 | 18 February | Samail to Jabal Al Akhdhar | 152.5 km (95 mi) |  | Medium-mountain stage | |
| 6 | 19 February | The Wave Muscat to Matrah Corniche | 130.5 km (81 mi) | | Flat stage | |
Stages
Stage 1
- 14 February 2017 — Al Sawadi Beach to Naseem Park, 173 km (107 mi)[7]
Stage 2
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.svg.png){kind=small}
Stage 3
- 16 February 2017 — Sultan Qaboos University to Quriyat, 162 km (101 mi)[13]
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Stage 4
- 17 February 2017 — Yiti to Ministry of Tourism, 118 km (73 mi)[16]
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Stage 5
- 18 February 2017 — Samail to Jabal Al Akhdhar, 152.5 km (95 mi)[19]
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Stage 6
- 19 February 2017 — The Wave Muscat to Matrah Corniche, 130.5 km (81 mi)[22]
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Classification leadership table
There were five principal classifications in the 2017 Tour of Oman.
The first and most important was the general classification; the winner of this was considered the overall winner of the race. It was calculated by adding together each rider's times on each stage, then applying bonuses. Bonuses were awarded for coming in the top three on a stage (10 seconds for the winner, 6 seconds for the second placed rider and 4 seconds for the rider in third) or at intermediate sprints (3 seconds, 2 seconds and 1 second for the top three riders). The rider in the lead of the general classification wore a red jersey.[23]
The second competition was the points classification, calculated by awarding points for the top 10 riders at the finish of each stage (15 points to the winner down to 1 point for the rider in tenth place) and to the top three at intermediate sprints (3 points, 2 points and 1 point). The rider with the highest points total was the leader of the classification and wore a green jersey.[23] The young rider classification was open to those born on or after 1 January 1992. The young rider ranked highest in the general classification was the leader of the young rider classification and wore a white jersey.[23]
The combativity classification was based on points won at intermediate sprints and classified climbs along the route. Points were awarded to the top three riders across each sprint or climb (3 points, 2 points and 1 point). The rider with the most accumulated points was the leader of the classification and wore a white jersey with red and green polka dots.[23] The final competition was the team classification. On each stage, each team was awarded a time based on the cumulative time of its top three riders; the times for each stage were then added together and the team with the lowest total time was the leader of the team classification.[23]
| Stage | Winner | General classification |
Points classification |
Young rider classification |
Combativity classification |
Team classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[24] | Alexander Kristoff | Alexander Kristoff | Alexander Kristoff | Aimé De Gendt | Aimé De Gendt | UAE Abu Dhabi |
| 2[25] | Ben Hermans | Ben Hermans | Merhawi Kudus | Mark Christian | Team Dimension Data | |
| 3[26] | Søren Kragh Andersen | Ben Hermans | ||||
| 4[27] | Alexander Kristoff | Alexander Kristoff | Stefan Denifl | |||
| 5[28] | Ben Hermans | Ben Hermans | Mark Christian | |||
| 6[4] | Alexander Kristoff | Alexander Kristoff | Aimé De Gendt | |||
| Final[4] | Ben Hermans | Alexander Kristoff | Merhawi Kudus | Aimé De Gendt | Team Dimension Data | |
References
- "Tour of Oman 2017". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Tour of Oman 2017 start list". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Hermans seals Tour of Oman as Kristoff wins final day sprint". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
- "Hermans and Kristoff, heroes of Oman". Tour of Oman. Amaury Sport Organisation. 19 February 2017. Archived from the original on 20 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
Well protected by his BMC team mates, Ben Hermans made it to the finish among the peloton, winning the general classification of this 8th Tour of Oman. In the final standings, the Belgian wins the race with a 22" lead over Rui Costa and 35" over Fabio Aru. Second of the Vuelta a la Comunitat Valenciana behind Nairo Quintana at the beginning of the month, he confirms his fine start to the 2017 season. Thanks to his day's success, Alexander Kristoff wins the green jersey (points classification) and Merhawi Kudus (DDD) finishes best young rider while his Dimension Data squad is the best team of this Tour of Oman. Present at the front, on day 1 and again for over 120kms [sic] of the final stage, Aimé De Gendt claims the most aggressive rider's jersey.
- "2017 Tour of Oman start list". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Tour of Oman route and teams announced for 2017". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Al Sawadi Beach / Naseem Park". Tour of Oman. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Stage Classification 1" (PDF). MATSport.fr. MATSport Timing. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "General Classification 1" (PDF). MATSport.fr. MATSport Timing. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Nakhal / Al Bustan". Tour of Oman. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Stage Classification 2" (PDF). MATSport.fr. MATSport Timing. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- "General Classification 2" (PDF). MATSport.fr. MATSport Timing. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- "Sultan Qaboos University / Quriyat". Tour of Oman. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- Robertshaw, Henry (16 February 2017). "Surprise winner of Tour of Oman stage three as Ben Hermans retains overall lead". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- "Andersen wins stage 3 of Tour of Oman". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- "Yiti (Jebel Sifah) / Ministry of Tourism". Tour of Oman. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- Robertshaw, Henry (17 February 2017). "Alexander Kristoff sprints to Tour of Oman stage win as climbers' attacks prove futile". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
- "Tour of Oman: Kristoff victorious on stage 4". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
- "Sama'il / Jabal Al Akhdhar". Tour of Oman. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- Marshall-Bell, Chris (18 February 2017). "Ben Hermans wins Tour of Oman Queen stage to all but secure overall victory". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- "Tour of Oman: Hermans wins on Green Mountain on stage 5". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- "The Wave Muscat / Matrah Corniche". Tour of Oman. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Specific regulations" (PDF). Tour of Oman. Amaury Sport Organisation. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Honor 1st Stage" (PDF). MATSport.fr. MATSport Timing. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Honor 2nd Stage" (PDF). MATSport.fr. MATSport Timing. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- "Andersen powers to glory". Tour of Oman. Amaury Sport Organisation. 16 February 2017. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
Third on the day, Ben Hermans remains in the overall lead with a 2" advantage over Rui Costa and 10" over Jakob Fuglsang (AST). The Belgian also takes command of the points classification while Kudus keeps the best young rider's white jersey. Mark Christian also keeps the most aggressive jersey on his shoulders.
- "Kristoff in classic style". Tour of Oman. Amaury Sport Organisation. 17 February 2017. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
Part of the break of the day, Stefan Denifl (ABS) takes the most aggressive rider's jersey from his team mate Mark Christian.
- "King of Green Mountain, Hermans comforts Red Jersey". Tour of Oman. Amaury Sport Organisation. 18 February 2017. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
On the eve of the final stage on the Matrah Corniche, the BMC rider has all the cards in hands to conquer his very first Tour of Oman. He now also leads the points classification while Kudus (DDD), fifth today, remains the best young rider. The Most aggressive rider's jersey changes shoulders and returns to those of Mark Christian.