From the queen stage in Oman to a blanket finish in the Algarve, the peloton served up some delicious race finishes.
Tour of Oman Stage 5: Samail to Jebel Akhdar, 152.5km
Ben Hermans (BMC) put in the ride of his life to conquer the fabled Green Mountain and all but pack the race leader’s jersey in his suitcase. It was a day to shred the nerves of the calmest rider. Chaos in the crosswinds and the only water for miles flooding the road causing a mass pile up. The furious pace into the climb left riders were scattered all over the slope, but the Belgian was equal to anything the more fancied climbers could throw at him. He finished 3secs ahead of Astana’s Fabio Aru who rode to third on GC, with Rui Costa (UAE Abu Dhabi) rounding out the podium to retain his second place overall. With a lead of 22secs and a flatter stage to come, Hermans looks set fair to take the first GC win of his career.
Highlights, such as they are – It’s a crying shame we don’t get to see this more of this race, it’s one of the best desert excursions
What it takes to race 5.7km at 10% – Nathan Haas (Dimension Data) at the summit…
What a race new team on the block Aqua Blue are having. We have lost count of the number of times their riders have been on the attack. Here’s Mr Breakaway Mark Christian having podium time for most combative rider.
Full report at Cycling News
Race Website Race Twitter #TOO2017
Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol Stage 4: La Campagna to Sevilla, 179.3km
Direct Energie’s Bryan Coquard took his second win of the season, his sheer track speed carrying him past an impressively strong Daniel Hoelgaard (FDJ) in last metres. Hugo Hofstetter (Cofidis) rounded out the podium. The GC contenders all finished safely on the same time, and so they head to the final day with Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) still holding the lead by a one single second from Trek-Segafredo’s Alberto Contador, with Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) a further 5secs adrift. Do not miss the action on the last stage!
Highlights ( we pick it up with 2.5km to go) …
So often working for Arnaud Demare, it was great to see Daniel Hoelgaard taking his own chance today…
Much more useful than a huge metal trophy #LeCoq #VeryDapper…
https://twitter.com/GDiGrazia/status/833007664850407425/photo/1
Full report at Cycling News.
Race Website Race Twitter #63RdS
Volta ao Algarve Stage 4: Almodôvar to Tavira, 203.4km
Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) took his second win of the season by a smidgeon. After a frantic chase to catch the break of the day the sprint teams had just two kilometres to get their fast men to the front. The Trek-Segafredo train were superb and dropped John Degenkolb with pin point precision for his run to the line. He looked to have the win in the bag when the Gorilla powered his way from miles behind with LottoNL-Jumbo’s Dylan Groenewegen in tow. The three fast-men synchronised their bike throws for a blanket photo finish. Greipel got the nod over Degenkolb by millimetres. The GC remains unchanged with race leader Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) holding +22secs on Sky’s Michal Kwiatkowski.
Highlights (we pick it up with 3km to go)…
This close on the line…
Embed from Getty ImagesI spy with my little eye two breakaway companions…
With Omloop Het Nieuwsblad next week (HOORAY), the Trek team put in the extra miles…
Full report at Cycling News.
Race Website Race Twitter #Valgarve2017
Header image: Ben Hermans – © Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images