#MuscatClassic🇴🇲 Caught up in a small crash earlier after a flat and although he was back on the bike okay, @FabioJakobsen has now stepped off the bike as we hit the climbs in the finale. Back for a sprint chance tomorrow! 🤞🏼
Finn Fisher-Black displays top form in Muscat Classic and outwits the peloton with a late breakaway
CyclingFriday, 09 February 2024 at 12:17
Finn Fisher-Black claimed victory in the Muscat Classic on Friday afternoon, serving as a precursor to the Tour of Oman (Feb. 10-14). The 22-year-old New Zealander made his move on the final, steep ascent of the day and crossed the finish line solo.
The race began in Al Mouj Muscat and concluded in Al Bustan, situated at the opposite end of the city. The initial stretch was predominantly flat, facilitating the quick escape of breakaway riders. Ultimately, a trio emerged, all hailing from Asia: Japanese rider Manabu Ishibashi (JCL Team UKYO), Indonesian cyclist Aiman Cahyadi (Terengganu Cycling Team), and his Malaysian teammate Irwandie Lakasek. The peloton deemed the chances of the Asian trio reaching the finish line as slim and allowed the breakaway group to amass a lead of over 12 minutes. Fabio Jakobsen, competing in his inaugural race for dsm-firmenich PostNL, withdrew from the race following a minor crash before the hilly section.
Halfway through the course, it was time for climbing. Similar to last year, there were six categorized climbs to conquer. On the first ascent of the day, Jabal Road (3.5 kilometers at 9.2 percent), the Japanese rider sensed that his two companions were struggling and decided to break away solo. BORA-hansgrohe also aimed to make it a challenging day and succeeded in reducing the gap to the peloton, which Adne van Zengelen (Roojai Insurance) capitalized on by launching an attack. The 30-year-old Dutchman's move triggered a chain reaction, but by the seventy-kilometer mark, everything was back together under pressure from Lotto Dstny and Thomas De Gendt.
Emil Herzog attempts to surprise peloton with long solo breakaway
At around forty kilometers into the race, BORA made its intentions clear. German rider Emil Herzog, aged 19 years and 126 days, the youngest participant in the race, launched an attack and set off in pursuit of the lone leader, leaving his team to control the pace within the peloton. Cofidis found themselves in a tight spot, with sprinter Bryan Coquard positioned poorly and forced to work at the head of the chasing pack.
On the penultimate climb of the day, a fatigued Ishibashi couldn't match the pace of the young German, who still held a three-minute advantage. Recognizing the threat, Soudal-Quick Step dispatched Fausto Masnada and young Frenchman Antoine Huby to the front. However, it soon became apparent that the second ascent of Al Jissah (1.1 kilometers at 10 percent) would be decisive. Ishibashi's lead would soon be eroded.
As the peloton closed in on Herzog's lead at the base of the climb, both UAE Emirates and Intermarché-Wanty intensified their efforts to drop the remaining sprinters with a blistering pace. Finn Fisher-Black surged ahead with a rider from Jayco-AlUla on his wheel, forcing the latter to dig deep to keep up before eventually succumbing to the New Zealander's acceleration.
Fisher-Black maintained his lead and crossed the finish line alone.
Results Muscat Classic 2024
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024