Green is the colour
Cycling’s signature climbs, those able to decide the outcome of an entire race, are not limited to the Grand Tours (the Passo Giau, l’Alpe d’Huez, the Alto del Angliru) or the Classics (the Poggio, the Cauberg, La Redoute). Already this season, we’ve been reminded of the power of Old Willunga Hill to shape the outcome of the Tour Down Under, and tomorrow’s ascent of Green Mountain could have a similar effect on the Tour of Oman.
Chris Froome will hope it is so. The Team Sky leader took a significant step towards his first ever stage race victory on its slopes last year, and, as discussed earlier, has shown that he is unafraid to go on the attack having returned as defending champion. Others among the massed ranks of climbing talents assembled in Oman may also fancy their chances, notably world number one, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), who has made a specialism of victory on climbs of the most brutal gradient, and who rode to victory atop Green Mountain last year.
