Edvald Boasson Hagen wins Tour of Oman stage two to take race lead

Edvald Boasson Hagen won today’s stage of the 2016 Tour of Oman with a well-timed uphill sprint which also puts him into the race leader’s jersey.

The Norwegian’s Dimension Data team maintained control on the final climb, placing him the perfect position to launch his sprint on the uphill finish, the first of two at this week’s race.

A section of crosswinds in the lead up to the climb served to split the peloton, leaving a select group to battle for the victory. An average gradient of 6.8 per cent over the 2.8km climb did not tell the full story as steeper ramps further split the group on the approach to the line.

Yesterday’s stage winner, red jersey wearer, Bob Jungels (Etixx-QuckStep) was dropped within the final two kilometres, ceding the jersey to Boasson Hagen, and now sits in 19th place, 51 seconds down.

The day’s racing began at the Omantel company offices, west of Muscat and covered 162km to the summit finish at Quriyat.

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A group of six riders, including Kenny Dehaes (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Christoph Pfingsten (Bora-Argon 18), both is yesterday’s break, escaped in the first few kilometres. By the time they reached the top of the first climb, after 33km, their lead had grown to over three minutes.

After some discord in the escape, three riders attacked to ride on their own. That group, Christoph Kamp (Stölting), Jesper Asselman (Roompot) and Pierre-Luc Perichon (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) were eventually caught in the final 30km as the leading teams set up the final.

 Video - Edvald Boasson Hagen's custom Cervelo S5

Notable by his absence as the stage came to its climax was Richie Porte (BMC), who was dropped in the crosswind section. The Australian was late arriving in Oman after flight delays, but has apparently come to the race for training following the Australian summer, and is aiming to defend the Paris-Nice title he won when riding for Team Sky last year.

Results

Tour of Oman 2016, stage two: Omantel Head Office to Quriyat, 162km

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana

3. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing

4. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale

5. Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice

6. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx-QuickStep

7. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana

8. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale

9. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida

10. Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension Data all same time

General classification after stage two

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana at 4 secs

3. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing at 6 secs

4. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale at 6 secs

5. Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension Data at 8 secs

6. Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice at 10 secs

7. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale at 10 secs

8. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida at 10 secs

9. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana at 10 secs

10. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin at 16 secs