Tour of Oman 2010: A tough new early season challenge

Tour of Oman 2010 logo

Hard on the heels of the Tour of Qatar, the first ever edition of the Tour of Oman kicks off this Sunday, but even though the two races are close geographically, unlike Qatar Oman's winner will almost certainly not be a sprinter or Classics specialist.

Oman is set to be decided in the final individual time trial, only 18 kilometres long and but a tough, very exposed climb almost as soon as the riders roll down the starting ramp. After that it's a rolling ride along the Oman coastline before the race finishes in the capital, Muscat, so calculating how much strength to use up on the first part of the course and how much is needed on the second flatter half will probably be the key to winning the stage.

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