The Soudal Quick-Step boys return to Oman this week for six days of hard and exciting racing 🔥 Artwork: @ArtsRonan
Former champion Jan Hirt headlines Soudal - Quick-Step's roster for racing in Oman
CyclingTuesday, 06 February 2024 at 01:00
From the first looks at the stage profiles, it's clear that the racing in Oman won't be for those who don't fancy going uphill. Soudal - Quick-Step knows that very well and that's why the Belgian team brings a mix of young riders and experienced climbers.
In person of Jan Hirt the team has a 2022 Tour of Oman winner, while Mauri Vansevenant was agonizingly close to winning the overall last year, coming one second short in the GC after queen stage victory. Additionally Fausto Masnada will also have some unfinished business with the race as he only lost to Hirt in the beforementioned 2022 edition. Finally, the Belgian team will be defending Jordi Warlop's second place from innaugural Muscat Classic.
"Muscat Classic is a nice one-day race, where we could have a lot of action before a reduced bunch sprint. Concerning the stage race, the route will be for the climbers and puncheurs, with some hard stages and ascents. Of these, the Green Mountain promises to be again decisive in the fight for the overall standings. We’ll try to do a good GC, but our main goal is to go for a stage win, and we have a strong team capable of fighting for one," said sports director Wilfried Peeters.
Soudal - Quick-Step lineup for Muscat Classic and Tour of Oman:
Gil Gelders, Jan Hirt, Antoine Huby, Luke Lamperti, Paul Magnier, Fausto Masnada and Mauri Vansevenant
Read also
claps 0visitors 141
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Fortunately and as you point out, more than one strategy is possible and worth trying and I’m sure all concerned riders are well informed and counselled on this subject and don’t need such basic personal advice through media from an outsider.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- The main SPOTY award is "decided" by public vote but the BBC "expert panel" decide who you can choose from, that choice has an equal split of genders and is focussed on the sports BBC show and a disabled athlete. Oh yea the ubiquitous "Pub Games" candidate there too, Darts and Snooker are not sports. The other awards are decided by the "Expert Panel" again it's about the sports BBC show, cycling has had it. Cav got his for his years and achievements in the sport, not just that 35th TDF win. Unless the BBC get access to Pro Cycling it will never feature "adequately" on SPOTYslappers6621-12-2024
- Ahhh..... you have to understand the "strange" diversity concepts of the BBCslappers6621-12-2024
- Avoiding him is a good strategy, you get more wins and then you can compete in the TDF relatively relaxed. Pit yourself against Pogi and not only there will be no wins, it will be considerable mental setbackabstractengineer21-12-2024
- If you hold onto then, you blowup in a minute and then you finish 5 minutes down like Ben O'Connorabstractengineer21-12-2024
- Based on what argument?Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Agreed except the length of climbs, pretty sure you can stretch that to about a km unless we’re talking about half a dozen in quick succession.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Lot of contradictory information floating around world cup contenders, someone should do some tidying up.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- A bit much to suggest that Pogacar is better than MvdP on most terrains. The only terrain Pogacar is clearly better is long climbs, on any other terrain they are pretty even except flat cobbles and short and steep climbs (max a few 100 mtrs) where MvdP is clearly better than Pogacar.Velovibes21-12-2024
- The likelihood of RE improving enough at this point to outclass TP or JV is less than zero.verve82521-12-2024