PARIS – The Colombian Fernando Gaviria (UAE) won the first stage of the Tour of Oman in a sprint, run on Thursday over 138 kilometers, ahead of the Briton Mark Cavendish.
Gaviria was the fastest at the finish judged in front of the Muscat Convention Center, near the airport, to take away his first success of the season.
Australian Kaden Groves took third place in this stage ahead of Belgian Amaury Capiot and young Frenchman Paul Penhoët (20).
Gaviria, 27, is taking part in the Tour of Oman for the first time, an event which returns to the calendar after a two-year hiatus.
On Friday, the second stage connects Naseem Park to the Corniche de Suhar on a rigorously flat course of 167.5 kilometers, along the Arabian Sea.
Stage classification :
1. Fernando Gaviria (COL/UAE), the 138 km in 3 h 17:04.
2. Mark Cavendish (GBR/QST) mt
3. Kaden Groves (AUS/BIK) mt
4. Amaury Capiot (BEL/ARK) mt
5. Paul Penhoet (FRA/GFJ) mt
General classification :
1. Fernando Gaviria (COL/UAE) 3:16:54.
2. Mark Cavendish (GBR/QST) at 02.
3. Peio Goikoetxea (ESP/EUS) 04.
4. Kaden Groves (AUS/BIK) 06.
5. Rui Costa (POR/UAE) 09.
…
8. Paul Penhoet (FRA/GFJ) 10.
