Three different races, in three different countries, with three different sprint finishes. Let’s get straight down to it.
Tour of Oman, Stage 2, Omantel Head Office to Quiryat, 162km
You wait years for a win and then two come along in the same week! Yes indeed, Edvald Boasson Hagen bossed the finish again. The Dimension Data rider was faster and stronger than both Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and BMC’s Greg Van Avermaet on a nasty kicker of a steep finish. With overnight race leader Bob Jungels (Etixx-Quick Step) unable to stay with the lead group, Eddy takes the leader’s jersey with an advantage of 4secs over The Shark.
#DaneWatch the red and white bunting festoons VeloVoices Towers again.
Final km
Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta, Stage 1: Lagos to Albufeira, 163.6km
There’s apparently no stopping Marcel Kittel or Etixx-Quick Step either. In a crash marred finale, the ArgoSunGod cruised into the leader’s jersey with daylight to spare ahead of Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) and Jesper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo).
Answers on a postcard please…
This tweet just made me smile …
Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol, Stage 1, Almonaster La Real to Sevilla, 165.2km
Tinkoff worked hard to get Daniele Bennati into the perfect position on the tricky finish in Seville. The Italian exited the last roundabout with his leadout man Oscar ‘the cat’ Gatto, then powered his way past Bert Van Lerberghe (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) on the run to the line, to take his first victory for the team. Movistar’s JJ Lobato claimed third, and Cofidis will be left wondering what derailed their sprint train on the run in.
Final km [3km to go at about 14min mark]
Links:
Tour of Oman: Official Website, Twitter #TOO2016
Volta ao Algarve: Official Website, Twitter #VAlgarve2016
Ruta del Sol: Official Website, Twitter, #62RdS
Header photo: A very happy Daniele Bennati with his team mates at the #RdS2016