Preview Muscat Classic 2026 - Astana go to war with Jayco and Movistar on packed hilly classic

On the 6th of February the riders have got their first one-day race this season in the Middle East, and the only one at top level as well. A day before the Tour of Oman, the riders tackle the Muscat Classic, a hilly race which provides some extra action always before the main event. We preview the race ahead.

The Muscat Classic was created in 2023, so as to provide the riders making the trip to Oman to have more racing in their calendar and more UCI points to hand out. The one-day race usually features a route with climbs previously used in the stage-race, and suits both sprinters and puncheurs.

The race was on by Jenthe Biermans in its first edition, whilst Finn Fisher-Black won in 2024 and last year, it was Tudor's Rick Pluimers who won in a sprint from the riders who survived the day's climbing.

This is a race that is going to be wide open, as we have got some difficult climbing but it is not long enough for the pure climbers; the puncheurs may have the upper hand but historically this is a finale where some groups typically come back before the final uphill sprint. But the quality of puncheurs here is notable, with riders such as Mauro Schmid, Christian Scaroni, Mikkel Honoré, Roger Adrià and plenty more who thrive on this type of short climb.

The pure climbers can also make the difference depending on the situation, men like Adam Yates or Sepp Kuss even if they lack the explosivity; others such as Luke Plapp and Alberto Bettiol are deadly if they get any gap before the finish; whilst some such as Bryan Coquard and Vincenzo Albanese will try to hide and hope for a sprint to potentially come through to decide the race.

*** Mauro Schmid, Christian Scaroni
** Mikkel Honoré, Roger Adrià, Diego Ulissi, Luke Plapp
* Adam Yates, Valentin Paret-Peintre, William Lecerf Junior, Bart Lemmen, Quentin Pacher, Diego Pescador, Alberto Bettiol, Vincenzo Albanese, Paul Double, Bryan Coquard

Pick: Mauro Schmid

How: Small group sprint.