Muscat: On Thursday, February 8, 2024, the organizing committee of the Tour of Oman 2024 for Cycling unveiled the details of its 13th edition, set to commence on Friday, February 9, 2024. This year's tour will feature the participation of 17 teams, including 9 international teams from Europe, Asia, America, and Australia, totaling 119 professional cyclists.
During a press conference held at the Grand Hormuz Hotel in Muscat Governorate, Saif bin Sabaa Al-Rashidi, President of the Omani Cycling Federation, highlighted that the organization of the Tour of Oman is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Omani Cycling Federation, and various government and private entities. The tour is scheduled to run until February 14 of this year.
Al-Rashidi further revealed that the tour will kick off with the Muscat Classic race, covering a distance of 174.5 km. This race will be held for the second consecutive year prior to the official opening of the tour competitions on Saturday. The 13th edition of the Tour of Oman 2024 will consist of 5 stages, spanning a total distance of 867.4 kilometers across the diverse terrains and landscapes of the Sultanate of Oman.
The first stage of the tour will commence on Saturday, February 10, in front of the Oman Across Ages Museum in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah, concluding in the Governorate of Muscat, specifically in front of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center, covering a distance of 181.5 km. The second stage will begin on Sunday, February 11, starting from the Al Sifah area and concluding in the Wilayat of Quriyat, with a distance of 170.5 km.
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He mentioned that the third stage is scheduled for Monday, February 12th, starting from the Wilayat of Bidbid, passing through the Wilayat of Samail, and ending at the Eastern Mountain in the Wilayat of Al Hamra. The total distance of this stage is 169.5 km. The fourth stage will commence on Tuesday, February 13th, starting from Al Rustaq Fort in the South Al Batinah Governorate and concluding at the Yiti Heights in the Muscat Governorate. This stage covers a distance of 207.5 km. The fifth and final stage of the tour will take place on Wednesday, February 14th, starting from the Amti area in the Wilayat of Izki in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate and finishing at Jabal Al Akhdar. The distance for this stage is 138.7 km.
He provided an explanation that the Tour of Oman, in its thirteenth edition, attracts renowned and esteemed cyclists from around the world. The Tour is highly regarded as one of the most significant sporting events and competitions, eagerly anticipated by international competitors and cycling enthusiasts. Previous editions of the competition have witnessed the crowning of notable winners such as Fabian Cancellara, Vincenzo Nibali, and Chris Froome, along with numerous other cycling champions.
Al-Rashidi revealed that the 13th edition of the Tour will witness the participation of our national cycling team for the third time in the championship. The team consists of seven riders: Abdul Rahman bin Marhoon Al-Yaqoubi, Mazen bin Saeed Al-Riyami, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Wahaibi, Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Ghailani, Munther bin Abdullah Al-Hassani, Saeed bin Ibrahim Al Rahbi, and Saif bin Khamis Al Ameri. Additionally, several international champions will also be competing, including cyclist Yates, who secured the third position in the French Tour Championship 2023, Norwegian cyclist Alexander Kristoff, cyclist Kelly Ewan, cyclist Fabio Jacobson, cyclist Brian Coquard, cyclist Isak del Toro, cyclist Paul Magnet, cyclist Anthony Hobby, and cyclist Alexis Feuer Prost.
He emphasized that the Tour of Oman garnered approximately 25-35 million viewership across local and international television networks, solidifying its position as the premier global sporting event on both local and international screens. Moreover, it boasted an estimated annual broadcast duration of 150-200 hours.
He verified that numerous international stations, including Eurosport, Sky Sports, CNN, Rai Sport, BBC, RTVI, France Two, SRG, SSR, Reuters, Euro News, Sky RT, and other widely-watched channels, competed for the broadcasting rights of the Tour of Oman, highlighting its immense popularity among millions of daily viewers.
It is important to note that the selection of the six routes was meticulously based on a comprehensive set of technical, logistical, and tourism criteria, ensuring their suitability for hosting road cycling races.
