Molano Wins an All-Colombian Duel
February 7 th 2026 - 11:43 [GMT 0]
The opening stage of the Tour of Oman unfolded according to expectations, with a largely flat profile, apart from a short climb that triggered the formation of a Spanish-Polish breakaway trio, which was caught with 22 kilometres to go. A bunch sprint then took shape within the peloton on a seaside road where the fastest riders prepared for the finale. In the final hectometres, UAE Emirates XRG sprinter Juan-Sebastian Molano, led out by Rui Oliveira, proved the most powerful. The two-time Vuelta stage winner (2022–23) narrowly beat his compatriot Fernando Gaviria, now riding for Caja Rural-Seguros RGA. The 19-year-old Polish rider Patryk Goszczurny (Visma | Lease a Bike) claimed the gold jersey for combativity thanks to the points he collected during his breakaway, as well as the white jersey.
Three Riders Up Front
The peloton, made up of 123 riders, lined up for the first stage in front of the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Tourism in Muscat. The pace was high from the opening kilometre, but it was on the slopes of the Bousher Al Amerat climb that two Omani riders, Mohammed Al Wahibi and Said Al Rahbi, launched the first attack, joined by Patryk Goszczurny (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Jose Luis Faura (Burgos-Burpellet-BH). While the two Omani riders were dropped on the climb, the remaining duo pressed on and crested the day’s only summit in the lead (km 6.5), as Alex Diaz (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) bridged across. With the combativity jersey at stake on both the climbs and the intermediate sprints, the battle continued at the line drawn in Al Amerat (km 20). On both occasions, Goszczurny edged Faura to take an early advantage in the fight for the first gold jersey. At kilometre 23, a brief lull allowed Diaz to complete the breakaway, while the peloton’s deficit grew to 3’25’’ by km 30.
Gold Jersey for Goszczurny
UAE Emirates XRG and Alpecin-Deceuninck took control of the chase, with the break reaching km 50 with a 2’20’’ advantage, then 2’35’’ at km 100. The Spanish-Polish alliance worked well despite a headwind over much of the course. As the race entered the final 50 kilometres, the peloton stepped up the pace and the gap quickly dropped to 1’30’’. The trio initially held off the bunch, but the advantage was down to just 40’’ when Goszczurny won the second intermediate sprint, 25.1 kilometres from the finish. He then sat up, and his two companions lasted only three more kilometres at the front.
A Colombian One-Two in the Sprint
The route then featured a U-turn that put the peloton back with a tailwind along the coast of the Sea of Oman for the final 20 kilometres, further confirming the likelihood of a bunch sprint. The sprinters’ teams moved into position with 5 kilometres to go, including Gaviria’s Caja Rural squad and Coquard’s Cofidis teammates. In the final dash to the line, Juan-Sebastian Molano edged out Fernando Gaviria, with Gerben Thijssen taking third place.
