The 2015 Tour of Oman kicks off Tuesday and promises to be as exciting as the previous editions. The event, again, hosts an impressive field of riders including the likes of Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali but also Peter Sagan, Joaquim Rodriguez and two former World Champions, Rui Costa and Tom Boonen. During six days of racing, the pack will take on classics such as the climb up Green Mountain or the bunched sprint on the Matrah Corniche but will also discover new venues. There's no doubt about it: Oman is the place to be for cycling enthusiasts.

Classic stages and new venues
The course of this 6th edition will feature some stages that have become classics and brand new venues to welcome starts and/or finishes. Indeed the riders will for example return to places like Al Bustan, the Ministry of Housing, the Matrah Corniche and of course Green Mountain where stars such as André Greipel, Peter Sagan and Chris Froome triumphed last year. Stage one on the other hand starts and finishes in places the peloton has never been to. And the same goes for stage 3 that will take place around the Al Mussanah Sports City. 

Pre race quotes:
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana)
“I want to start my season well, in calm conditions before key moments to come like Tirreno Adriatico or Milan - San Remo. It's a perfect race to start the season. The weather conditions are ideal compared to Europe. Physically, I feel gréât but it's only my second race of the year after Dubai, an event made for sprinters. It's a lot harder here with two mountainous stages. I keep a fond memory of Green Mountain where I had won in 2012 after a year and a half without victories. Today, I feel a lot calmer in a different physical condition and different goals. I don't think I'll have the level to win. Valverde for example has a lot more racing days than I have, and I'll also keep a eye out on riders like Rodriguez or Majka. If I feel I don't have the level, maybe I'll just focus on a stage win, like the one with the climbs of Boucher Al Amerat”.

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ)
"I presume that there'll be a lot of stress before the Green Mountain stage. Honestly, I don't know where I stand compared to the other big riders. I hope to be in a good pace. It'll be important to be rapidly in shape for Tirreno Adriatico and not to run after that shape for too long.”


The Tour of Oman, a little Tour de France
There'll be a slight taste of the 2014 Tour de France on the roads of Oman. Indeed, the winners of all four jerseys will be racing in the sultanate: Yellow jersey Vincenzo Nibali, Green jersey Peter Sagan, White jersey Thibaud Pinot and Polka dot jersey Rafal Majka. Of the last Tour de France, four riders of the Top 5 are present: Nibali, Pinot, Valverde and Van Garderen, not forgetting Leopold Konig, 7th and now riding for team Sky.

Sprinting festival
Out of the six stages, at least three could be made for spectacular bunched sprints. And the outcome of these days should be rather mouthwatering with riders such as Tom Boonen (stage winner in 2010), Alexander Kristoff (winner in Quriyat last year), Nacer Bouhanni (winner on the Matrah Corniche in 2013), Edvald Boasson Hagen (two stage wins in 2010), as well as fast men Matt Goss, Adam Blythe and Sam Bennett.

Former stage winners
Of the 144 riders due to start this 2015 Tour of Oman, 9 have already won stages here:
Peter Sagan (TCS), 4 stages
Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN), 2 stages
Daniele Bennati (TCS), 1 stage
Tom Boonen (EQS), 1 stage
Nacer Bouhanni (COF), 1 stage
Matt Goss (MTN), 1 stage
Alexander Kristoff (KAT), 1 stage
Vincenzo Nibali (AST), 1 stage
Joaquim Rodriguez (KAT), 1 stage