Oman will launch its version of the Tour de France next month when it starts its first national cycling tour. There will be more than 128 riders on 16 teams taking part in the race, which will cover 687 km over a period of six days in Oman’s famed mountain ranges. The country’s highest peak, Jebel Akhdar, is nearly 3,000 meters high, and may be part of the race route. The tour will take place from February 14th to February 19th and award $161,880 in prize money. The winner will receive €9,200 or $13,227.
Director of the Tour de France, Christian Prudhomme called the new Oman tour “A magnificent new destination.” He said the Middle East is an ideal location for the start of the cycling season because its climate and geography are ideally suited for competitors’ requirements this time of year.
