Taylor Phinney will make his professional debut for the BMC Racing Team at this week’s Tour of Oman. The 20-year-old American was scheduled to start at last week’s Tour of Qatar, which he raced last year as a Trek-Livestrong rider, but a knee injury that he attributed to overtraining prevented him from doing so.
As World under-23, and US Elite, time trial champion Phinney will be targeting the 18.5km time trial in Al Jissah on stage 5; according to the team he “believes that the undulating and technical [stage] suits him.”
The BMC Racing Team will nominally be led by Marcus Burghardt, who is taking advantage of the Middle Eastern racing to hone his legs for the classics. The 27-year-old German finished ninth overall in Qatar after managing to avoid getting caught behind the myriad of splits in the peloton as it traversed the windswept peninsular. He was seventh in Oman last year, finishing eighth on two stages including the 19km time trial.
Other strong performers from Qatar in the team are Manuel Quinziato and Greg Van Avermaet, who both figured strongly in breakaways. Michael Schär and John Murphy will both make their second appearance in Oman, while Karsten Kroon and Alexander Kristoff make their debut.
Kristoff will be the team’s designated sprinter and so will be targeting the finishes on stages 1, 2 and 6.
BMC Racing Team for the Tour of Oman:
Marcus Burghardt, Alexander Kristoff, Karsten Kroon, John Murphy, Taylor Phinney, Manuel Quinziato, Michael Schär and Greg Van Avermaet