00:00 Welcome to Oman, a glorious country full of varied terrain and dramatic racing, always closely fought.
00:07 The Tour of Oman itself won by a single second last year, but also we enjoyed the Muscat Classic.
00:12 Same format this year, another quality field set to take on both events.
00:17 I like it there, this race I won there many times.
00:25 A furious sprint, but the line is coming, it's Kristoff who takes it.
00:30 But it's a few years ago since I was here, so...
00:33 And the courses have been maybe slightly tougher now the last couple of years, so we will see how I can go on in these stages.
00:41 It's the first time for me, so yeah, it's good to be here, but there's only one sprint I think, so...
00:50 Not so many opportunities for me, but I think it's going to be good preparation for the races to come as well.
00:55 New team, new season, first race of the year, so yeah, we're excited to begin tomorrow.
01:02 It's a really strong team, we already started the season really well in Mallorca, and I hope to continue there with some victory and I hope also the GC.
01:17 The team has a good history here and we'll go for a good run in the GC, but I think mainly if we can get a stage win then it's a success, so we go for stage wins.
01:28 I just want to come out with a good feeling. If I can take a win and the legs are good, then that would be fantastic.
01:36 Marco has come out and he's actually raced the season quite well, so I'm excited to be here and we'll see what the legs give us.
01:44 Oman is the right place and the stages have been chosen carefully to give the rider the satisfaction which they are looking for.
01:52 It's a combination of everything, it's nature, infrastructure, topography, all this package gives the rider the joy which they are looking for.
02:05 So, an early season test in near perfect temperatures, this the second edition of the Muscat Classic.
02:13 And this is what we're dealing with, 1940 metres of altitude gain, a route of 174 kilometres in total, with six tough, pushy climbs.
02:23 Finishing loop of 65 kilometres that includes a repeat of two punishing tests, hitting over 10%. This is no easy task.
02:34 Well, the call didn't exactly go out for volunteers to be in the breakaway, but three took a step forward.
02:40 Ishibashi from the JCL team, Tegadi and Lakashek joining the fun for the Terranago squad.
02:48 Well, the gap was up to over nine minutes at one point. Chase wasn't exactly dedicated, but it was the climbs that were having an impact on the break.
02:57 Lakashek went, leaving two up front now. How would they cope? Who was the strongest? Who was taking the bigger turn out there? That was the question.
03:05 Well, nobody attempted to follow. The gap went up to nine minutes and 50 at one point.
03:10 And then finally it came down to one man standing, but could he be joined? That was the big question.
03:16 Well, the man who picked up the mantle was Emil Herzog from Bora-Hansgrohe.
03:23 Given the ticket to ride by Bernie Eisel. First of all, he was collecting Tegadi and then Ishibashi was in his sights.
03:32 Well, they shared the duty up front. Meanwhile, the chase wasn't exactly settled, I have to tell you.
03:40 And finally, Herzog decided that this day had to be grasped by the nettle.
03:48 Everybody woke up. Big turns were catching a few out as well out there. In the end, Herzog just didn't have what it took.
03:55 And then it was the fold over. Who would go next? Finn Fischer-Black, the Kiwi on great form, decided just to distance the pack on the final climb.
04:04 Could he possibly make it all the way home?
04:07 Well, they were trying to stop him, but with two kilometers to go, it was a tenuous gap with a final corner around the Dow that marked out our finish line.
04:17 He climbed the ramp up to home. He carried it all the way. What a spectacular win it turned out for the young Kiwi.
04:24 He couldn't believe it and neither could the chasers. Heartbreak for those in pursuit here at the Muscat Classic.
04:33 Finn Fischer-Black takes it for UE Team Emirates ahead of Luc Lamperti of Sudal Quick-Step.
04:41 Amiri Shapiro making up the podium, denying Brian Cocquart on the throne.
04:46 200 meters from the line, you're thinking there's a scenario that they could come back.
04:49 So it's really like there's a moment maybe 20 meters to go and you realize you really do have it. And then that's when you realize you won.
04:56 A great winner of only the second Muscat Classic. We'll be back, and so will Finn Fischer-Black, you can be sure.
05:04 [Music]
05:17 (bubbling)
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