Edvald Boasson Hagen won the second stage of the Tour of Oman this afternoon and took the race leader's red jersey as well. The Norwegian looks in absolutely superb condition this year and will be hell-bent on winning outright after finishing fifth in Qatar last week.
Dan Martin’s hopes of a tilt at the general classification on the Tour of Oman were ended today as he conceded time to his main rivals who contested stage honours on the second day of the race.
The Irishman lost 1:41 to stage winner and new leader Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data).
And having started the day 11th overall at eight seconds Martin is now 31st at 1:51.
On paper, the stage looked perfect for a man of Martin’s ability; the sharp uphill drag to the finish at Quriyat after 183 kilometres should have been right up his street.
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But approaching the final it was clear he wouldn’t be in a position to contend as he looked far from his best.
At 2.8 kilometres long and with an average gradient of 6.5%, it was always going to split the field but unfortunately wasn’t even in the lead group at the start of the climb.
His Etixx-QuickStep team controlled the race from the beginning, with Iljo Keisse and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck doing a phenomenal job on the front to contain the break of six riders.
However, in the last 20 kilometres BMC and Dimension Data rode full gas and split the peloton in the crosswinds.
Dan Martin’s hopes of a strong overall finish in Oman have taken a hammering but he may now get more leeway later in the week to go for a stage win.
Overnight leader Bob Jungels had to put in a big effort to get across a gap when he found himself on the wrong side of the splits and he paid for that in the final.
As it transpired, Martin’s team changed their focus and turned their attention to Gianluca Brambilla who took sixth in the same time as Boasson Hagen.
Jungels finished 59 seconds down on the lead group, meaning Boasson Hagen took the race lead.
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The 28-year-old Norwegian finished ahead of Italian Grand Tour specialist Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), with Belgian Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) in third.
Nibali (Astana) is now second overall, at four seconds.
Another to lose big time today was Richie Porte (BMC Racing Team), though perhaps that’s not so surprising given he also conceded a chunk of time on yesterday’s opener.
Sam Bennett (Bora Argon 18) was never likely to contest the stage and he rolled home in one of the last groups, some seven minutes back.
He was perhaps saving himself for tomorrow’s stage where a bunch sprint is the expected outcome.
The 176-kilometre trek takes the riders from Al Sawadi Beach to Naseem Park and there are no categorised ascents; though there is a 415-metre climb around the midway point.
Stage 2 – Final kilometersBoasson Hagen made the best of a brand new hilltop finish to beat all the favourites of the race.Watch the final kilometers. #TOO2016
Posted by Tour of Oman on Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Stage 2: 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
51. Dan Martin (Irl) Etixx-QuickStep at 1:41
133. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora Argon 18 at 7:06
General Classification
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
31. Dan Martin (Irl) Etixx-QuickStep at 1:51
105. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora Argon 18 at 10:01
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