The 2023 edition of the Tour of Oman has been announced and will take place next year at the beginning of February starting at the Al Sawadi Beach in Oman. The race is slowly gaining recognition despite its short history, as it has been operating for little more than a decade, compared to its more storied counterparts. However even in the short duration that it has been running, the Tour of Oman has managed to attract the top teams and cyclists from across the world, becoming key to the start of the racing season. As early as its fourth season in 2013 it seemed to be setting the pace for the rest of the season, with the winner of the Tour of Oman 2013, Chris Froome (Team Sky), winning the Tour de France later that year.
While the Tour of Oman has not taken place in the last two years, in 2022 it was back with a bang after two seasons off the calendar. It started on February 10th, 2022 with seven WorldTour teams among the start list for its 11th edition. Former world champions Mark Cavendish (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) and Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) were some of the headline names at the race, which follows the route of the cancelled 2020 race and was brought together by organisers Amaury Sport Organisation and the Omani Cycling Federation. Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) was the best on the high-speed finish to the line at Muttrah Corniche to win the sixth and final stage of the 2022 Tour of Oman. Australian cyclist Kaden Groves (BikeExchange-Jayco), and Belgian rider Amaury Capiot (Arkéa-Samsic) came in second, and third, respectively. Breaking his six year hiatus after winning the 2016 Tour of Austria 31 year old Czech cyclist Jan Hirt (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux ) secured the GC title, having resisted his rivals’ attempts to get ahead and retaining his dominance of the field after having taken the red leader's jersey after his stage 5 win up Jabal Al Akhdhar (Green Mountain). The Colombian ’Misil’ also won the opening stage, and furthermore took the points classification. Fausto Masnada (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) came in at second position overall, with Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) coming in at third overall.
The results of the 2022 Tour of Oman did much to stir excitement in the cycling world and we are excited to see what happens in 2023. The varied and rich terrain of the Sultanate of Oman offers glimmering opportunities for all-rounders, climbers and even sprinters to mount the podium, revving up their engines for the season ahead.
The race is slowly gaining momentum and catching the interest of not only the professional cycling circuit but also the people of Oman, who come out to cheer these indomitable men as they speed along the coast of Oman and struggle up the mountainside. The 2023 Tour of Oman is yet another exciting event to look forward to. Are you going to come cheer the riders or just watch from home as these experts take to the road of Oman.
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