Tour of Oman: Arkéa Samsic very strong on Green Mountain but elude the win

It was the decisive day when it came to the overall classification at the Tour of Oman and where it counted Team Arkéa Samsic rode superbly, however having their two leaders Kevin Vauquelin and Élie Gesbert beat by Jan Hirt who has jumped onto the race lead aswell.

Vauquelin has been a relevation so far in the race. Although capturing the U23 French time-trial national championships last year, there were not many indicators that the 20-year old had the legs to ride with high-level competition in the mountains. After having completed a couple of stints as a stagiaire, it was only some weeks ago in Mallorca that he turned professional: “I have done very few mountain races in the last few years in the amateur ranks, and I didn’t think I would be able to do such things in the professional ranks, even though a climb is somewhat similar to the effort of a time trial since you have to hold watts over a given time. So it’s in my line of work. What could have played a role here are the percentages in relation to my size but I managed to negotiate them well, and to manage my climb in order not to put myself in the red."

This second place is different from the one I got yesterday, because it’s a physical summit finish and of course I surprised myself. It’s also more merit because we finish one after the other. I thank once again all the team fort the job and the support," Vauquelin added. Finishing second both yesterday and today have risen him up to sixth place in the overall classification.

As for destined team leader Élie Gesbert he is now up to 4th place in the overall after finishing the queen stage third. He struggled in yesterday's hilly stage but made a comeback by proving his climbing worth today: “It was a stressful day, with no respite, starting with a curb cut which we responded to by being in front. We were always one step ahead, we were where we needed to be. Green Mountain is a demanding climb, personally, I might have been a bit carried away by Hirt when he attacked. I paid for it a little bit at the end, and I probably left there the few seconds I was missing to reach the podium. But the satisfaction is to see Kévin doing two and walking very hard. I still have some regrets about yesterday’s stage where I had a hot spell, and there too I am missing some seconds to reach the podium. But that’s sport”.

Arkéa Samsic are on a battle to gain as many points as possible so as to have the opportunity to climb up to World Tour level in the next season. After Nairo Quintana conquered the Tour de la Provence and Nacer Bouhanni finished second in the Clasica de Almeria yesterday the team will rack up important points, the and French duo will do the same here in Oman as tomorrow's stage shouldn't present a big threat.