MUSCAT: Czech rider Jan Hirt produced a masterful performance in the tough climbing stage at Jabal Al Akhdar (Green Mountain) to grab the red jersey of the Tour of Oman in the Stage 5 on Monday.
In a repeat of stage 4 finish, the Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux rider went solo inside the last 2 km.
Well supported by teammate Rein Taaramae, Hirt displayed impressive climbing legs to tame the 5.7 km ascent of Jabal Al Akhdhar in the 150.5km stage that began at Al Feyhaa Resthouse in Samail.
Hirt claimed the stage win ahead of Kevin Vauquelin and Elie Gesbert (Arkea-Samsic).
On the way, he also cracked overnight leader Fausto Masnada (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) on slopes of 10.5% gradient to power to the top of the standings.
Masnada finished just outside the top 10 (+1’48’’). and remained second in the general standings ahead of the sixth and final stage of 132.5 km from Al Mouj to Matrah Sea Road.
The closing ceremony will be presided over by HH Sayyid Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, Assistant Secretary General for the Cabinet of the Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, at the Matrah Sea Road.
White jersey Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) suffered a crash earlier in the race.
Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) climbed two spots into third at 1:16 with both Elie Gesbert (Arkea-Samsic) and Charmig sitting just two seconds behind him.
The 92-man peloton had to battle the windy conditions throughout and splits did eventually begin to form. Marco Canola (Gazprom-RusVelo) was the non-starter.
The Danish rider Charmig was one of several to come down in a crash along with Mark Cavendish, but both got back to action.
At 4 km, Luca Rastelli (Bardiani-CSF-Faizane’), Laurenz Rex (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Antonio Angulo (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Andrea Peron (Team Novo Nordisk) and Nicolas Vinokurov (Astana Qazaqstan Development Team) opened up a gap. Oman national team’s Abdulrahman al Yaqoobi made an effort to join the top six but he was caught by the peloton after 20km.
Two major splits came back together with just over 40 kilometres remaining.
Quick-Step led the bunch toward the foot of the final climb.
Intermarche sets pace
Then a push from the Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert squad saw it further reduced to about 15 riders at the bottom of Green Mountain.
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux quickly get to the front of the bunch to bring the gap down to 2 minutes and control the day.
Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux set the pace at the bottom of the climb and Rein Taaramae quickly reduced the front group to a handful of riders. Hirt broke away with 2km to go past Arkea-Samsic’s power duo of Elie Gesbert and Kevin Vauquelin.
Hirt also topped the points classification (34 points) ahead of Masnada (24) and Charmig (24).
In team category, Team Arkea-Samsic (55:23: 00) were on top, followed by Intermarche (+07′) and Team DSM (+2.07′).
TOUR OF OMAN STAGE 5 RESULTS
(RANK, RIDER, TEAM, TIMING)
1. Jan Hirt Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux 3:35:39
2. Kevin Vauquelin Team Arkea-Samsic 3:36:18
3. Elie Gesbert Team Arkea-Samsic 3:36:27
4. Kevin Colleoni Team Bikeexchange-Jayco 3:36:36
5. Rui Costa UAE Team Emirates 3:36:36
6. Rein Taaramae Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux 3:36:50
7. Anthon Charmig UNO-X Pro Cycling Team 3:36:50
8. Henri Vandenabeele Team DSM 3:36:58
9. Kevin Vermaerke Team DSM 3:37:22
10. Mauro Schmid Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 3:37:22
GENERAL STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 5
(RANK, RIDER, TEAM, TIMING)
1. Jan Hirt Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux 18:25:27
2. Fausto Masnada Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 18:26:27
3. Rui Costa UAE Team Emirates 18:26:43
4. Elie Gesbert Team Arkea-Samsic 18:26:45
5. Anthon Charmig UNO-X Pro Cycling Team 18:26:45
6. Kevin Vauquelin Team Arkea-Samsic 18:27:05
7. Kevin Colleoni Team BikeExchange-Jayco 18:27:17
8 Rein Taaramae Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux 18:27:18
9 Henri Vandenabeele Team DSM 18:27:21
10 Mauro Schmid Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 18:27:28
