Muscat: Czech cyclist Jan Hirt beat off competition from Fausto Masnada and Rui Costa to finish first in the overall Tour of Oman rankings.
Hirt, who represents Belgian team Intermarche – Wanty – Gobert Materiaux – excelled in Stage 5 of the six-leg race, as he displayed impressive climbing legs on Monday to tame the infamous ascent of Jabal Al Akhdhar.
The Czech rider enjoyed strong support from his teammates, especially Rein Taaramäe, and went solo inside the last 2km. Not only does Hirt take the stage win ahead of Kevin Vauquelin and Elie Gesbert (Arkea-Samsic), he also cracked Fausto Masnada (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) on slopes of more than 10 percent incline to take the red leader’s jersey at the end of an eventful stage that saw the battle open up early in the wind.
The final stage led the riders to the spectacular Muttrah Corniche.
Colombian Fernando Gaviria – nicknamed the ‘Misil’ (Spanish for ‘missile’) – finished the sixth leg of the Tour of Oman in first place. The UAE Team Emirates rider was able to outlast Kaden Groves of Team Bike Exchange Jayco and Amaury Capiot of Arkea Samsic.
French team Arkea Samsic were named the best team of the peloton, while the White Jersey, which is given to the best young cyclist, went to Dane Anthon Charmig of Uno-X Pro Cycling Team.
