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 – Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)

  • 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 – Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)

World number one last year, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) already has one win and two runner-up spots to his name in a busy start to his season.

Victorious in the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana, Valverde tested his legs on the uphill finish of stage three of the Dubai Tour, atop the Hatta Dam, and is now finding form in Qatar.

He will arrive in Oman for the latest part of his build-up to the Spring Classics as opposed to defending his Ruta del Sol title.

It will be his first time in Oman, but he will find a course to his liking there, with the undulating Ministry of Housing stage seemingly right up his street for starters.

Should he show the climbing legs he displayed to finish second on stage three of the Dubai Tour, too, this is certainly a race he is capable of winning.

Topics:

Tour of Oman 2015

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