Valentin Paret-Peintre was our top finisher on the second stage.
The Yitti Hills, where Louis Vervaeke soloed to a spectacular solo victory one year ago, returned as a finish at the Tour of Oman, and just like in 2025, a breakaway stole the show and made it. Knowing that a move had strong chances of going all the way, Soudal Quick-Step sent Gil Gelders in a four-man front group which quickly established a three-minute margin.
The young Belgian stayed there until 80 kilometers to go, when intestinal issues forced him to drop out of the move before eventually abandoning the race. With just ten kilometers left, only one minute was still separating the escapees from the charging peloton, but despite the break splitting on the ramps of the final climb, the bunch couldn’t bring the race back together, and Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarche) took the win and the leader’s jersey.
From the reduced group that concluded 17 seconds later, Valentin Paret-Peintre came over the line as the highest-ranked Soudal Quick-Step rider, which helped him make a significant jump in the general classification. On Monday, the Frenchman will have another chance to move up as the third stage concludes on the Eastern Mountain, a 3.4km climb averaging 8%.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
