Tour of Oman stage 2

Photo credit © Lloyd Images/ Muscat Municipality

Talk about a shake down of the sprinters.  There was a 3k bump in the road today with about 60k to go that separated the group and allowed about 70 some odd riders the chance to escape.  The short but sweet steep climb caused an eventual 10:34 gap at the line, that left most of the sprinters on the wrong side of the time split.  Cav, Boonen, Hushovd, Chicchi, and Phinney all suffered the same fate.  Goss, Bennati, Boasson Hagen, Boom, and Haussler all came out on the plus side, with Goss getting the best of Bennati and Boasson Hagen.  Haussler's form is looking Classic, like what I did there?  Bennati is killing, but just can't seem to find the line first.  Boom is targeting Classics and with his early season exploits looks to be in the favorite category. 

Photo credit © Stephen Farrand

An outside dark-horse team to keep an eye on is the Farnese Vini team (formerly ISD).  Giovanni Visconti, the Italian national champ headlines a neo-pro lineup that could steal some stages in future races to come.  Read: Giro Italia.  Visconti finished 17th and Oscar Gatto 6th.  Don't say I didn't tell you.

How about HTC?  It's a little strange reading headlines from Renshaw and Goss and it not being about them leading-out Cav.  I'm glad these guys are getting some W's of their own, they deserve the spotlight.  Until recently probably some of the fastest riders in the peloton with no wins to their credit, other than dragging Cav to the line with indisputable authority.  Anyone keeping tack of HTC vs Garmelo in the Win department?  Anyone care to place any wagers?

1 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad 3:18:17
2 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Leopard Trek
3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
5 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre - ISD
6 Oscar Gatto (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
7 Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha Team
8 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
9 Simon Clarke (Aus) Pro Team Astana 0:00:03
10 Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre - ISD