Thibaud Gruel joins the sprint finish

# Thibaud Gruel Rides Strong in Tour of Oman Opener

The inaugural stage of the Tour of Oman unfolded this Saturday, culminating in a spirited bunch sprint after 170 kilometers of racing. Colombian cyclist Juan Sebastian Molano emerged victorious, while Thibaud Gruel of the Groupama-FDJ United team proved his mettle, finishing in 13th place.

The day started with high anticipation as the Tour of Oman kicked off following the lively Muscat Classic. Riders faced a linear route leading to Bimmah Sink Hole, with some early uphill segments but ultimately no major obstacles. A bunch sprint was widely predicted, remaining virtually unchallenged by a trio of breakaway riders who were caught with over twenty kilometers to go.

“We knew there was a strong chance the stage would end in a sprint, and on top of that there was mostly a headwind throughout the first part of the race,” remarked Team Director Thierry Bricaud. “So the goal was to stay calm, recover from yesterday, and focus on the sprint. That’s exactly what the guys did very well, but we inevitably lacked a bit of coordination, as we don’t have riders who are used to setting up sprints in this race.”

Gruel, supported closely by his teammates during the last fifteen kilometers, made a valiant effort to position himself for the final sprint. However, he began his push from too far back and ultimately could not climb higher than 13th. “It’s a bit frustrating, but you can feel that the guys are going well and that they’re motivated,” Gruel shared. “That’s encouraging, and it’s going to pay off in the next few days.”

The Groupama-FDJ United team also welcomed back Rudy Molard, who had missed the previous day’s race due to illness. “He had a decent day,” said Bricaud. “The conditions were perfect to get back into rhythm. That’s good for what’s to come.”

As the peloton looks ahead to the second stage, it will return to familiar roads from the Muscat Classic and finish at the challenging Yitti Hills, featuring a climb of 1.8 kilometers at a gradient of 5.4%. “The last hour and a half of racing is punchier, the race will be harder—and that’s fine by us,” concluded Bricaud, signaling optimism as the team gears up for the days to come.