Wiggins, Contador, Cavendish, Evans and world champion Gilbert amongst best-ever lineup
The organisers of the Tour of Oman have confirmed that current Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins (Sky), past Tour winners Alberto Contador (Team Saxo Tinkoff) and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) plus current and former world champions Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team), Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack Leopard), Mark Cavendish and Tom Boonen (both Omega Pharma Quick Step) will all take part in next month’s Tour of Oman.
Also confirmed are past Vuelta a España winner Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), world number one Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and last year’s Tour of Oman champion Peter Velits (Omega Pharma Quick Step).
The lineup is a very strong one and will see their teams joined by others such as Orica GreenEdge, Champion System, NetApp Endura, Ag2r La Mondiale, FDJ, Bardiani Valvole CSF Inox, Cannondale, Argos Shimano, Vacansoleil DCM, IAM Cycling and Japan.
Route details have also been announced and will once again see the riders duke it out on the 10.3% climb of Green Mountain, which will likely decide the overall classification.
The event will begin on Monday February 11th with a 162 kilometre road stage between Al Musannah and Sultan Qaboos University. The following two stages, to Al Bustan and to Wadi Dayqah Dam, are 146 and 190 kilometres in length respectively, and come before that decisive stage to the top of Green Mountain.
Stages five and six are both 144 kilometres in length and run from Al Alam Palace to the Ministry of Housing in Boshar and from Hawit Nagam Park to Muttrah Corniche.
This year’s race will lack a time trial, making it ever more likely that a strong climber will take the overall.
Eddy Merckx will once again work as organiser of the race and hails what is a step up in standard. “The Tour of Oman is such an amazing example of what potential and willpower together can achieve in such a short space of time,” he said. “The line-up for the event this year, the competition's fourth year, is simply outstanding.
“It is all thanks to the willingness of the Omani authorities and the incredible reception of the Omani people.”
Tour of Oman 2013:
Stage 1, Monday 11 February: Al Musannah - Sultan Qaboos University (162km)
Stage 2, Tuesday 12 February: Fanja in Bidbid - Al Bustan (146km)
Stage 3, Wednesday 13 February: Nakhal Fort - Wadi Dayqah Dam (190km)
Stage 4, Thursday 14 February: Al Saltiyah in Samail - Jabal Al Akhdhar / Green Mountain (152.5km)
Stage 5, Friday 15 February: Al Alam Palace - Ministry of Housing in Boshar (144km)
Stage 6, Saturday 16 February: Hawit Nagam Park - Muttrah Corniche (144km)
Teams:
ORICA – GreenEDGE (Australia)
Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team (Belgium)
Champion System Pro Cycling Team (China)
Team Saxo – Tinkoff (Denmark)
Team NetApp – Endura (Germany)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Radioshack – Leopard (Luxembourg)
AG2R La Mondiale (France)
FDJ (France)
Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox (Italy)
Cannondale (Italy)
Astana Pro Team (Kazahstan)
Team Argos – Shimano (Netherlands)
Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team (Netherlands)
Sky Procycling (United Kingdom)
Katusha Team (Russia)
IAM Cycling (Switzerland)
Japan