Boasson Hagen wins on hill finish, seizes Tour of Oman lead

Dimension Data’s Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen nabbed his second Middle Eastern stage race lead of this month, as he triumphed on Wednesday’s uphill finish of the Tour of Oman to wear the red jersey. Earlier this month Boasson Hagen led the Tour of Qatar after taking the chrono victory but double flatted the next stage to lose the jersey to eventual winner and British teammate Mark Cavendish.

Two intrepid riders who were in the Tuesday breakaway, Kenny Dehaes (Belgium/Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Christoph Pfingsten (Germany/Bora-Argon 18), also formed the nucleus of Wednesday’s escape, picking up four other fugitives in the move. Pfingsten topped the first climb of the day in the lead. The cooperation in the escape crumbled after the first intermediate sprint.

Three breakaways shook loose of the others but submitted to the will of the peloton on a downhill section. As on Tuesday, Richie Porte (Australia/BMC) lost contact. On the final climb to Quriyat, CCC tried to set something up for Davide Rebellin (Italy) but Boasson Hagen’s strong move denied the orange-clad rider. Tuesday’s winner and overnight race leader Bob Jungels (Luxembourg/Etixx-QuickStep) was not in the top-ten and finished on the same time as Canadian Hugo Houle (AG2R).

Thursday’s route is one for the sprinters, with an unusual profile depicting a very long gradual ascent followed by an even longer gradual downhill to the finish at Naseem Park.

2016 Tour of Oman Stage 2
1) Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway/Dimension Data) 4:12:00
2) Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) s.t.
3) Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium/BMC) s.t.
33) Hugo Houle (Canada/AG2R) +0:59

2016 Tour of Oman GC
1) Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway/Dimension Data) 7:49:31
2) Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) +0:04
3) Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium/BMC) +0:06
40) Hugo Houle (Canada/AG2R) +2:37