Italian finishes runner-up at the 11th edition of the Tour of Oman after a solid outing.
Fausto Masnada concluded the Tour of Oman race by going on the attack in the closing kilometers of the final stage, before working hard for the team at the front the moment it became clear that despite the presence of several short bumps along the way, it would end up in a mass gallop. It was a strong display by the 28-year-old from Bergamo, who just last weekend became the 100th different rider in the history of the team to get a win following his impressive offensive display in Muscat.
For Masnada, this was his second podium in a stage race in the Wolfpack’s colors – after the 2021 Tour de Romandie, which he finished in third position – a result that gave him an extra boost of confidence ahead of his next races: “It’s been a good week. Coming here, I knew I had a good condition and I am happy I could finally get a win for the team. Unfortunately, I had that bad day on stage 5, but second on the GC is still a good result so early in the season. I want to say a big thank you to all my teammates for their support, this result wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
The final stage was one for the peloton’s fast men, and Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl was at the head of things, controlling the early breakaway and setting up Mark Cavendish for the sprint. On the finishing straight, the Manxman had the speed and the positioning to win the final stage of the Tour of Oman, but had to hit the brakes with 50 meters to go as he was making up ground rapidly when a rider deviated towards the barrier and blocked him. In the end, the 36-year-old Brit – who was victorious last week, on stage 2 – finished a frustrating sixth, as Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) took the win in Muscat.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
Fausto Masnada 
