Bob Jungels wins Tour of Oman stage one as contenders put up early fight

Luxembourg road champion Bob Jungels (Etixx-QuickStep) will start tomorrow’s stage of the 2016 Tour of Oman wearing the leader’s red jersey after winning today’s opening stage at Al Bustan.

The 23-year-old attacked a group of 16 riders with two kilometres to ride, finishing six seconds ahead of Belgian Serge Pauwels (Dimension Data) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r) at eight seconds.

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The 145.5km stage set off from the Oman Exhibition Centre and, after a frantic few kilometres a group of six riders escaped the peloton, and by kilometre 15 had built a lead in excess of six minutes, before the bunch took control, keeping the advantage to a manageable distance.

The course took the race into the mountains south of the capital Muscat on wide, multi-lane carriageways with mostly gentle gradients before heading back towards Muscat.

By the time time the escapees crossed the first intermediate sprint point their lead was down to three minutes and five seconds and their fate was sealed, the peloton finally swallowing them at the foot of the first categorised climb at Al Hamriyah. It was here the action started, with a number of attacks going clear before being brought to heel.

The final 1800-metre climb saw a select group form, containing Jungels and team-mate Dan Martin, along with the likes of Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) and former World champion Rui Costa (Lampe-Merida).

It was on the descent from the final climb that Jungels attacked the remaining riders, staying clear on the final short incline to the finish line.

Tomorrow’s stage takes the peloton on a 165km course between the Omantel Head Office and Quriyat

Result

Tour of Oman 2016, stage one: Oman Exhibition Centre to Al Bustan, 145.5km

1. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-QuickStep

2. Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension Data at 6 secs

3. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r at 8 secs

4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data

5. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin

6. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing

7. Mario Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida

8. Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice

9. Floris De Tier (Bel) Topsport-Vlaanderen

10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana at same time

General classification after stage one

1. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-QuickStep

2. Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension Data at 10 secs

3. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r at 14 secs

4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data at 18 secs

5. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin at 18 secs

6. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing at 18 secs

7. Mario Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida at 18 secs

8. Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice at 18 secs

9. Floris De Tier (Bel) Topsport-Vlaanderen at 18 secs

10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana at 18 secs