PREVIEW | Muscat Classic 2025 - Can British champion Ethan Hayter win once again after leaving INEOS?

On the 7th of February racing resumes in the Middle East and this time around we've got the recently created Muscat Classic. Ahead of the Tour of Oman, this one-day race provides an opportunity for different types of riders to take a strong win. We preview the race ahead.

The race will be 169 kilometers long and follow a course that the riders know well if they have raced in Oman in the past. It's a day where climbers, classics riders and sprinters can all succeed, depends on how the course is raced. The riders will have a few short but explosive climbs throughout the final two thirds of the race, but most will be eyeing the final one only. The ascent to Al Jissah is 1.1 kilometers long at over 9% and ends with only 5 kilometers to go, providing an ideal opportunity for a late attack to victory. Most of the finale is downhill, with the final kilometer then being flat.

*** Ethan Hayter, Olav Kooij
** Mauri Vansevenant, Diego Ulissi, Valentin Madouas, Ivan García Cortina
* Adam Yates, Jay Vine, Anthon Charmig, Wout Poels, David Gaudu, Niklas Behrens, Amaury Capiot, Warren Barguil, Chris Harper, Felix Engelhardt, Paul Double, Damien Howson

Pick: Ethan Hayter