Frenchman Baptiste
Veistroffer Triumphs in Grueling Stage 2 of Tour of Oman 2026

Muscat, 8 Feb
2026 (ONA) — French rider Baptiste Veistroffer of Team Lotto–Intermarché claimed
a decisive victory in the challenging Stage 2 of the Tour of Oman 2026, an
event organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth in collaboration
with the Oman Cycling Association and other governmental and private partners.

The podium was
rounded out by Eritrea’s Henok Mulubrhan of Team XDS Astana, who secured a
strong second place, while French compatriot Thibaud Gruel of Team GROUPAMA-FDJ
UNITED powered his way to third.

Veistroffer’s
commanding performance earned him the coveted overall leader’s red jersey. The
gold jersey for the most aggressive rider was awarded to Poland’s Patryk
Goszczurny of Team VISMA | LEASE A BIKE. Veistroffer also secured the green
points jersey, and the white jersey for the best young rider under 23 went to
France’s Thibaud Gruel.

The stage
commenced at the historic A’Rustaq Fort, sending riders on a demanding 191.5-kilometer
odyssey. The route wound through A’Rustaq-Al Awabi-Nakhal road into Wadi Al
Ma’awil, before turning toward Al Lajal and onto the Buwa-Fanja road. After
navigating Fanja Souq and the Al Rusayl Industrial Estate, the peloton passed
the Military Hospital and tackled the Al Murtafa’a ascent. The race then
proceeded through central Muscat via Al Ghubra and descended the Al Ansab road
onto the Muscat Expressway. A final push through Bousher and Al Amerat led to a
decisive left turn into Wadi Adai, with the grueling summit finish awaiting at
the Yetti Highlands after a climb through Al Hamriya.

The stage
concluded with a ceremony presided over by Basil bin Ahmed Al Rowas,
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports.

The tour continues tomorrow (Monday) with the
Stage 3, setting off from the Al Fayhaa rest area in Samail. Cylists will face
a route through the interior, heading toward A’Dakhiliyah before turning onto
Wadi Mahram road. This stage will traverse Wadi Endam and the Al Qaryateen road
to Izki and Birakat Al Mawz, then climb through Ghubra Nizwa, Wadi Kamah,
Tanuf, and past the famed Al Hoota cave near Al Hamra, culminating in a
punishing climb to the finish at Misfat Al Abriyeen.

— Ends/Khalid