The third edition of the Tour of Oman starts on Tuesday, February 14, and runs until Sunday, February 19 2012.
Although it's often lumped in together with the preceding Tour of Qatar in the Middle East, the Tour of Oman is a very different sort of race and for one reason: hills.
This year's edition has dispensed with the individual time trial of last year, but again features a finish up Green Mountain on stage five. The riders face over 1,200 metres of elevation gain on this stage and it's likely to be the race decider.
Classics specialists will use the race to further fine-tune their form ahead of their imminent spring campaign in Europe, and sprinters will have an opportunity to win on the flatter stages.
Climbers will have a chance to test their legs on stage five. Last year's race was won by Dutch climber Robert Gesink after he soloed to win on Green Mountain.
The Tour of Oman last year was the scene of Mark Cavendish's first win of the season before peaking his form to win the Tour de France green jersey and World Championship road race.
This season, Cavendish has said that he wants to do the rainbow jersey justice and take wins whenever he can for new squad Sky. With two stage victories in Qatar already in the bag, you can bet on the Manx Missile to be gunning for more glory in Oman - as long as he's recovered from a nasty final stage crash in Qatar.
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Many of the 16 teams taking part will use either the same or similar line-ups as they did in Qatar, swapping from one plush hotel to another.
Neither Gesink nor 2010 and 2011 runner-up Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) are on the start list this year, so we may see one of the Grand Tour contenders have a stab at glory. Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan), Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale), Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha), Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Barracuda) and 2010 Oman winner Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) are all down to ride and will likely feature in the top ten.
In addition to Cavendish, Britain is represented at the race by in-form Adam Blythe (BMC Racing), David Millar (Garmin-Barracuda), Alex Coutts (RTS Racing), Lee Rodgers (RTS Racing), Ian Stannard (Sky) and Jeremy Hunt (Sky).
Tour of Oman 2012: Latest news
Cavendish to race Qatar and Oman
Tour of Oman 2012: Stage reports
Kittel claims final stage; Velits wins overall
Stage five: Nibali wins on Green Mountain
Stage four: Greipel wins again
Stage three: Kittel takes bunch sprint
Stage two: Sagan wins
Stage one: Greipel wins Oman opener
Tour of Oman 2012: Photo galleries
Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson
Tour of Oman 2012: Stages
Stage 1, Tuesday 14 February: Al Alam Royal Palace to Wadi Al Hoqay, 159km
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
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