Geoffrey Bouchard Takes Third Stage and Leads Tour of Oman
“We knew that the climb to Jabal Hatt, which was longer than the previous day’s climb to Qurayyat, suited me better. A big thank you to all my team-mates who protected me and trusted me all day. I didn’t want to follow the first attack in the final stretch because the slope was so steep. I came back just after the start of the final sprint. And finally, there’s the podium at the finish. This third place confirms the good sensations I felt during our training camp in Sierra Nevada. Now we’ve got two days to put all the hard work into practice. Tomorrow’s stage will be more for the puncheurs. I think everything will come down to the final stage, with the ascent of Green Mountain.”
Geoffrey Bouchard of France has claimed victory in the third stage of the Tour of Oman and has taken the overall lead in the race. Bouchard showcased his climbing skills during the grueling ascent to Jabal Hatt, a climb that suited him better than the previous day’s climb to Qurayyat.
In a post-race interview, Bouchard expressed his gratitude towards his team-mates for their support throughout the day. He explained his strategy in the final stretch of the race, stating, “I didn’t want to follow the first attack in the final stretch because the slope was so steep. I came back just after the start of the final sprint.”
Reflecting on his performance, Bouchard mentioned that his third-place finish confirmed the good sensations he felt during the team’s training camp in Sierra Nevada. With two days left in the race, Bouchard is focused on putting all the hard work into practice. He predicts that tomorrow’s stage will be more suitable for the puncheurs, but believes that the final stage, featuring the ascent of Green Mountain, will ultimately decide the winner of the Tour of Oman.
