Tour of Oman 2015 - preview: route and riders

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Tour of Oman 2015 – preview: route and riders

Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali targets victory in the Middle East

The contenders – Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo)

  • Tour of Oman, 2014, peloton, line, pic: Bruno Bade/ASO

    The Tour of Oman returns for its sixth edition (pic: Bruno Bade/ASO)

  • A slight change to the route means Green Mountain moves back to stage four (pic: ASO)

  • Vincenzo Nibali, Astana, 2015, climbing, Dubai Tour, pic: Claudio Peri/ANSA

    Vincenzo Nibali says he is happy with his form but may be waiting until the Tour to really show himself again (Pic: Claudio Peri/ANSA)

  • Rafal Majka, Tinkoff-Saxo, Polka Dot Jersey, Tour de France, 2014, salute, climb, pic; Sirotti

    Rafal Majka won the polka dot jersey 12 months ago, but who will be crowned King of the Mountains in 2015? (pic: Sirotti)

  • Joaquim Rodriguez, Katusha, Green Mountain, 2013, pic: Bruno Bade/ASO

    Joaquim Rodriguez knows what it takes to win on Green Mountain, having done so in 2013 (pic: Bruno Bade/ASO)

  • BMC Racing are entering a new era with Tejay van Garderen at the helm (pic: BMC Racing)

  • Alejandro Valverde, Movistar, Dubai Tour, 2015, pic: Claudio Peri/ANSA

    Alejandro Valverde has made a strong start to the season (pic: Claudio Peri/ANSA)

  • Alexander Kristoff, Katusha, Tour of Qatar, 2015, Eddy Merckx, pic: Bruno Bade/ASO

    Defending champion Alexander Kristoff has made a flying start to the 2015 season (pic: Bruno Bade/ASO)

The contenders – Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo)

Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) came of age in 2014, scooping the Tour de France’s polka dot jersey and being crowned Tour of Poland champion too.

What his role will be in Oman remains to be seen, with Roman Kreuziger and Peter Sagan also on the team, but if he is given license to attack he is more-than capable.

Two stage wins and the King of the Mountains title at the last Tour show exactly what he can do and ascending Green Mountain in such illustrious company will hold no fears for the 25-year-old.

Though Alberto Contador, Ivan Basso, Kreuziger and Sagan could take the sting out of the expectation placed on Majka this season, this is still a big year for the Polish ace.

And he will be keen to prove what he can do from the off, at a race he is certainly more-than capable of winning.

Topics:

Tour of Oman 2015

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