Another good day for Soudal Quick-Step in the Middle East.
Valentin Paret-Peintre produced a superb effort on what arguably was the hardest summit finish since the start of the season – Eastern Mountain, a climb never before used at the Tour of Oman – and remained in contention for a good general classification in his first stage race with the team.
Soudal Quick-Step controlled the stage long before the GC favourites crossed swords on the gruelling slopes of this 4.6km ascent averaging 8.5%, protecting red jersey Louis Vervaeke, who was enjoying his first day as the leader of a race following his spectacular victory in Yitti Hills. The Wolfpack let the five riders in the lead build a three-minute gap, before ramping up the pace and cutting it to one minute inside the final twenty kilometers.
Showing the same self-sacrifice that has made him one of the best domestiques in the peloton, Louis then took over the pace-setting, and it was thanks to his hard work that the bunch caught the last member of the breakaway on the early slopes of this punishing ascent. The gradient began to bite in the final two kilometers, when a series of accelerations led to the group being reduced to just a handful of riders, including white jersey Valentin Paret-Peintre.
Runner-up on the previous stage, the Frenchman dug deep and managed to finish just outside the podium the stage won by countryman David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), a result that sees him lead both the points and youth classification with two days to go. In addition to this, Valentin sits fourth overall, just six seconds off the first three places.
“Today it was a pretty hard day, with some relly high temperatures. The team did a great job and brought me in a good position at the bottom of the last climb. When Gaudu attacked I was well positioned but already at the limit. I tried to follow, but it was difficult, so I just tried to limit the losses. I will now see what will happen on the Green Mountain, but I know that I will do my best to finish on the podium”, Valentin said after the stage.
Photo credit: ©Alex Broadway / Getty Images
