Finn Fisher-Black 'didn't want to lose in the sprint again', Lamperti has 'mixed feelings' about second place

Finn Fisher-Black won the Muscat Classic on Friday afternoon, the appetizer for the Tour of Oman (February 10-14). The 22-year-old New Zealander broke away on the final, steep climb of the day and finished solo. Luke Lamperti won the sprint from the chasing group ahead of Amaury Capiot.

"I was feeling really good beforehand," the Kiwi reflected afterwards. "I had already caught good form from the Tour Down Under and especially from last week in the AlUla Tour, and I had really good legs in the finale. Adam Yates brought me forward on the last climb of the day, and I just went for it. When I looked back and saw no one was there, it was a good sign. I knew I had to arrive solo because I didn't want to lose in the sprint again, like in the AlUla Tour (against Simon Yates and William Junior Lecerf; ed.)."

"Every meter you stay ahead increases your chance of winning, and even two hundred meters from the finish, you consider the scenario that they could still catch you. Eventually, I held on and I'm happy with this victory. It's a warm-up for the Tour of Oman, where I'm working for Yates and Diego Ulissi."

Lamperti left with 'mixed feelings' about second place

Fisher-Black then held his lead and crossed the finish line solo. In the chasing group, Lamperti was the fastest ahead of Capiot and Coquard, who saw victory slip through his fingers once again. Dark horse Francesco Busatto finished one place worse than last year, taking fifth place.

"I was surprisingly feeling good so early in the season," Lamperti commented to the organizers. "The team was strong all day long, and we had a plan to go for the sprint with either me or Paul Magnier. On the last climb, a rider from UAE was very strong and managed to create a gap at the top, which we couldn't close on the descent. Winning the sprint then gives me mixed feelings. You might think that if that rider hadn't been ahead, I could have won, but that's racing for you. We can still be satisfied and proud of the second place, and it gives us confidence for the rest of the week," concluded the 21-year-old American from Soudal-Quick Step.