Tags
AFP/Muscat
Italy’s Andrea Guardini sprinted to victory in yesterday’s opening stage of the 2015 Tour of Oman.
Guardini crossed the line first in the mass sprint to claim his first win of the season ahead of Belgium’s Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) and Italy’s Matteo Pelucchi (IAM Cycling).
“My time finally came. I was really good in Qatar. I’ve been in good shape since the start of the season in Dubai when I came close to a win,” said the Italian, who finished second twice in the Emirate and grabbed second and third-place finishes in Dubai.
“The team worked for me perfectly. We were a bit behind on the last turn but with the headwinds and a false flat climb in the end, it was the perfect setting for a comeback. I followed Boonen’s lead and went full throttle in the last hundred metres. This time, the timing was perfect.”
Guardini will wear the leader’s red jersey after his victory in the 161km stage from Bayt Al Naman Castle to Al Wutayyah.
Today’s stage two runs from Al Hazm Castle to Al Bustan over a distance of 195km.
Due to time bonuses, Guardini leads Boonen by four seconds with Austria’s Patrick Konrad (Bora-Argon 18) third overall at five seconds.
Results
Stage 1:
1.Andrea Guardini (ITA/AST) 3hr 45min 37sec, 2. Tom Boonen (BEL/EQS) s.t., 3. Matteo Pelucchi (ITA/IAM)s.t., 4. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) s.t., 5. Ramon Sinkeldam (NED/TGA)s.t.
Overall standings:
1.Andrea Guardini (ITA/AST) 3hr 45 min 37sec, 2. Tom Boonen (BEL/EQS) at 04s, 3. Patrick Konrad (AUT/BOA) at 05s, 4. Matteo Pelucchi (ITA/IAM) at 06s, 5. Johann Van Zyl (RSA/MTN) at 07s.
There are no comments.
SPORT Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.
TECHNOLOGY Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education
CULTURE Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions
ARABIA The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged
ARABIA Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.
ARABIA The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.
ECONOMY Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.
