Après un sprint massif pour lancer cette 14e édition, le Tour d'Oman proposait ce dimanche une 2e étape longue (202,9 km) et plus escarpée dans le final, notamment avec l'ascension de Yitti Hills (1,6 km à 7 %) et son sommet à seulement 800 m de la ligne d'arrivée. Et à l'issue d'un scénario haletant et d'une lutte intense entre le peloton et les échappés, ce sont ces derniers, ou plutot son dernier rescapé Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Step), qui ont eu le dernier mot ! Plus fort que ses deux derniers compagnons de fuite Xabier Mikel Azparren (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) et Magnus Kulset (Uno-X Mobility) dans la côté d'Al Jissah (2.6 km à 6.7%) à 10 bornes du but, le Belge a ensuite offert un superbe numéro en solitaire pour résister de justesse au retour du paquet et s'offrir son tout premier succès professionnel à 31 ans !
Vidéo : @TourOfOman / @OmanSportsTV
« Le vélo, partout & toujours ici » sur
https://www.cyclismactu.net / Cyclism'Actu
Vidéo : @TourOfOman / @OmanSportsTV
« Le vélo, partout & toujours ici » sur
https://www.cyclismactu.net / Cyclism'Actu
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SportTranscription
00:00I
00:16Think we had to take some responsibility
00:19Team Visma Lisa bike, you know, they had to do all the work today of winding in a breakaway on a very long day
00:26Yeah, I think we did it really good
00:28Barons and McClay will of course be on duty for Olaf Koi
00:33We also did really good spin preparations. Oh, yeah
00:36I was thanks to the boys that they set me up really well
00:39Looking better than just about everybody at the moment is Olaf Koi no challenges at all
00:44It seems Olaf Koi head and shoulders above everybody
00:49We were eager to get the get the stage win this week. Take it in the first stage of two of a man is
00:54Yes, definitely a really good start
00:59I
01:00Am ready for today and it's finished good for me the final
01:03I think it's quite good fast and uphill finish. I will give everything to get
01:09the victory today
01:14What's one of the goals for the team to get up the up the road and try and get one of the jerseys for the
01:18Day, so we're pretty happy that I was able to get it
01:20We will see you again on the breakaway today. Is that is that the goal for you?
01:24Yeah, if everything goes to plan I'll be back up the road again
01:27so try and get some more points and
01:33So to a big breakaways day they say it's for the battle doors the punchers you make your own mind up
01:40Certainly this was causing nerves amongst the pack a big old run today over 200 kilometers
01:47It was going to draw out the very brave to be in a breakaway and that's precisely what we got
01:52It was one heck of a battle. Well, the original six were paired back down
01:56We have two chases that were looking very handy Louie for Vika Xavier aspirin
02:02They bridged over to the quartet who remained from the original break and it was game on
02:07Well a peloton behind was starting to see shredded nerves
02:11The drive for home was also accounting for those who'd been battling for the points out there the golden jersey changed shoulders
02:18But this was going to be about the day itself a big stage win up for grabs
02:25Huge distance some familiar twists and turns along the way
02:29But it was all about delivery and it did whether the breakaway could just hold on long enough to make it their own
02:38While the shredding continued Magnus Coulson went backwards as Lewis for Vika and Xavier aspirin went on
02:44But really it was going to be about one man
02:46He had an idea a plan to be delivered Louie for Vika kicked on and as the hills and mounds
02:53Came and went he was in charge. Would he make it home?
02:56That was the big question some nasty turns very late on and in fact an eight-second margin with the last 500 meters
03:02It could still go wrong and it did for plenty of others crashes behind the man who would be King
03:08He was to deliver couldn't believe it ten years since his last win. Thank you very much
03:15This is a tough game to play we know that but what a winner I
03:21Found my place. That's really good domestic. I think for
03:24Rambo and all the leaders and I think this is what I'm doing the best
03:27But I also just like to attack and yeah, you can see some attacking
03:32I think I always pays off and I sometimes pays off and today. I'm so happy it paid off. Yeah, finally after 10 years
03:40What a win and what a reward not only the stage but the red jersey itself
03:46It just shows you if you're prepared to dig deep
03:49Sometimes it doesn't result in a hole another day to come can't wait