Team Emirates’ Molano stars in opening stage of Tour of Oman

Juan Sebastian Molano delivered a perfectly judged sprint to take victory on Stage 1 of the Tour of Oman, giving UAE Team Emirates-XRG an ideal start to the Middle Eastern stage race and claiming the first leader’s jersey of the week.

The 170.9km opener unfolded over rolling desert roads, with an early three-man break establishing itself soon after the flag drop. UAE Team Emirates-XRG kept the move under tight control throughout the day, working alongside other sprint-oriented teams to ensure the gap never grew beyond manageable limits. The break was reeled in inside the final 10 kilometres, setting up a fast and technical run-in to the finish at the Bimmah Sinkhole.

In the closing kilometres, Molano was expertly positioned by his teammates, remaining sheltered in the wheels of Rui Oliveira as speeds increased and the bunch stretched out. Launching his sprint at the perfect moment, the Colombian showed his trademark power and timing to surge past his rivals and take a convincing win at the line.

Molano : “I’m very happy. The team did an amazing job . In the last 15km they really kept me in a good position and sheltered from the wind. After all the hard work to repay them with a victory feels amazing. Rui Oliveira did amazing work for me in the closing kilometres.

It’s important for me to take this win, it means a lot. Last August I had to end my season early because of a knee issues, so after five months without races and two without any bike at all it makes this victory all the sweeter.”

Beyond the stage success, Molano’s victory places UAE Team Emirates-XRG firmly in control of the race narrative early on. With key mountain stages still to come later in the week, the team will also have the ambitions of GC hopeful and reigning champion Adam Yates in mind.

Meanwhile, Joao Almeida put in a solid performance today on the queen stage (Stage 4) of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, crossing the line in second place behind a dominant break from Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull Bora hansgrohe).

Team-mate Brandon McNulty also rode strongly, finishing inside the top five, as UAE Team Emirates-XRG demonstrated resilience and tactical strength on one of the toughest days of this early-season stage race.

The 172 km route from La Nucía to Teulada-Moraira featured multiple climbs and selective terrain that would define the general classification battle. On the decisive final climb of the Puig de la Llorença, world champion Evenepoel launched a relentless attack that ultimately carried him solo to victory.