Tour of Oman 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

Tour of Oman organiser Christian Prudhomme has formulated a much hiller route for the second edition of the six-stage Tour of Oman, starting on Tuesday, February 15, and running until Sunday, February 20 2011.

The inaugural event last year was won by Fabian Cancellara. The Swiss rider returns for 2011 wearing the number one plate for new team, Leopard-Trek, but he may find this year's tougher route doesn't favour him quite so well.

Though the two Middle East races get lumped together, the mountains and individual time trial mark out the Tour of Oman from the previous week's flat, wind-swept and sandy Tour of Qatar - largely dominated by sprinters. This year, Oman's stage four finishes part-way up a 3,000 metre climb, the Jabal al Akhdhar or Green Mountain, prior to the following day's 18.5 kilometre test against the clock.

Many of the 16 teams taking part will use either the same or similar line-ups as they did in Qatar. Classics specialists will be looking to improve their form ahead of their imminent spring campaign in Europe, sprinters will still have an opportunity to win on the flatter stages, climbers will have a chance to test their legs on stage four, and time trial specialists will have their first chance of a long test against the clock this season. Something for everyone.

Seven British riders will take part in the race:  Russell Downing (Team Sky), Jeremy Hunt (Team Sky), Ian Stannard (Team Sky), Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad), Andrew Fenn (An Post-Sean Kelly), Mark McNally (An Post-Sean Kelly) and Roger Hammond (Garmin-Cervelo).

Both Hammond and Hunt are in good shape, having placed fifth and sixth overall behind winner Mark Renshaw (HTC-Highroad) in the Tour of Qatar. Cavendish may have three or four chances to take a couple of stage wins in sprints if he has sufficiently recovered from his Qatar crash injuries.

Sky riders Downing, Hunt and Stannard will likely rally around Norwegian team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen, who placed second overall last year behind Cancellara after beating him in the time trial.

Along with Cancellara and Boasson Hagen, other likely contenders for the overall include BMC debutant Taylor Phinney, Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha), Robert Gesink (Rabobank), Denis Menchov (Geox-TMC) and Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana).

Tour of Oman 2011: Video

Tour of Oman 2011: Video highlights

Tour of Oman 2011: Latest news

Gesink happy to have taken second triumph in Oman

Boasson Hagen and Sky rip Oman apart on toughest stage

Sky's Boasson Hagen poised for two crucial days

Brits and Sky battle through second stage of Tour of Oman

Phinney feeling fine in Oman

Cavendish comes closest yet to win in 2011 season

Cavendish to race in Tour of Oman

Prudhomme presents hillier Tour of Oman

Tour of Oman 2011: Stage reports

Stage six: Cavendish wins stage/Gesink takes overall

Stage five: Gesink set for Oman overall win

Stage four: Gesink wins mountain stage

Stage three: Bos strikes again

Stage two: Goss wins, Boasson Hagen takes lead

Stage one: Theo Bos takes opening stage; Cavendish second

Tour of Oman 2011: Photo galleries

By Graham Watson

Stage five gallery

Stage three gallery

Stage two gallery

Stage one gallery

Tour of Oman 2011: Stages

Tuesday, February 15 - Stage 1: as Sawadi - Al Seeb, 158km, winner: Theo Bos>>

Wednesday, February 16 - Stage 2: The Wave, Muscat - Al Wutayya, 139km, winner: Matt Goss>>

Thursday, February 17 - Stage 3: Sur - Sur, 208km, winner: Theo Bos>>

Friday, February 18 - Stage 4: Sultan Qaboos University - Jabal al Akhdhar (Green Mountain), 157km, winner: Robert Gesink>>

Saturday, February 19 - Stage 5: Al Jissah - Al Jissah (TT), 18.5km, winner: Robert Gesink>>

Sunday, February 20 - Stage 6: Qurayyat - Mattrah Seafront, 157km, winner: Mark Cavendish>>

Total distance: 848 kilometres

Overall winner: Robert Gesink (Rabobank)

Tour of Oman 2011: British TV guide

The 2011 Tour of Oman will be shown on cable and satellite channel British Eurosport. Times may be subject to change.

Stage one, Wednesday (16 Feb) 8.30am British Eurosport 2, repeated 10pm British Eurosport 2

Stage two, Thursday (17 Feb) 10am British Eurosport 2, repeated 10pm British Eurosport 2

Stage three, Friday (18 Feb) 8.30am British Eurosport 2, repeated 10pm British Eurosport 2

Stage four, Saturday (19 Feb) 8.30am British Eurosport 2, repeated 10pm British Eurosport 2

Stage five, Sunday (20 Feb) 8.30am British Eurosport 2, repeated 10.15pm British Eurosport 2

Stage three, Friday (18 Feb) 8.45am British Eurosport 2, repeated 10pm British Eurosport 2

Stage six, Monday (21 Feb) 8.30am British Eurosport 2, repeated 8.45pm British Eurosport 2

Tour of Oman 2011: Teams

An Post-Sean Kelly (Ireland)

Astana (Kazakhstan)

BMC Racing Team (USA)

Farnese Vini-Neri (Great Britain)

Francaise des Jeux (France)

Garmin-Cervelo (USA)

Geox-TMC (Spain)

HTC-Highroad (USA)

Katusha (Russia)

Lampre-ISD (Italy)

Leopard-Trek (Luxembourg)

Quick Step (Belgium)

Rabobank (Netherlands)

Skil-Shimano (Netherlands)

Team Sky (Great Britain)

Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator (Belgium)

Tour of Oman 2011: British riders (subject to confirmation)

Russell Downing (Team Sky)

Jeremy Hunt (Team Sky)

Ian Stannard (Team Sky)

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad)

Andrew Fenn (An Post-Sean Kelly)

Mark McNally (An Post-Sean Kelly)

Roger Hammond (Garmin-Cervelo)

Tour of Oman: Last year's top ten (2010)

1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Saxo Bank in 16-02-52

2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky at 28secs

3. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Garmin-Transitions at same time

4. Marco Pinotti (Ita) HTC-Columbia at 31secs

5. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo at 47secs

6. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Milram at 54secs

7. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team at 1-02

8. Martin Velits (Svk) HTC-Columbia at 1-07

9. Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step at 1-12

10. Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo at 1-13

British riders

19. Roger Hammond (GB) Cervelo at 1-43

61. Daniel Lloyd (GB) Cervelo at 3-36

65. Alex Dowsett (GB) Trek-LiveStrong at 3-53

70. Ian Stannard (GB) Team Sky at 4-22

80. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky at 5-00

Tour of Oman: Previous winners

2010: Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland)

Related links

Tour of Qatar 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

Tour of Oman 2010: Boasson Hagen takes final stage as Cancellara wins overall

External links

Tour of Oman official website