Another chapter of UAE vs Visma? 2026 Tour of Oman preview

In 2025, Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates XRG) secured overall victory by just six seconds over Valentin Paret Peintre (Soudal Quick Step) after a decisive showdown on Jabal Al Akhdhar (Green Mountain). The sprint stages were dominated by Olav Kooij, who claimed both of them.

Yates returns in 2026 aiming to make it three in a row, having also won the general classification in 2024. Previous winners before the COVID 19 break include Jan Hirt and Matteo Jorgenson.

The 2026 Tour of Oman route follows the majority of the 2025 route with the same thrilling ending set for the gruelling green mountain on stage 5. Across the 5 stages, the peloton will cover 835.5 kilometres with a mix of pan-flat sprint stages and tough climbing tests for the riders to tackle.

Stage 1 opens up with an expected sprint stage, although the opening half of the stage sees some kickers to contend with, including the climb of Jabal Road, which begins almost immediately. The climb is 3.8 kilometres in length with a gradient of 8.9%, which should provide an ample opportunity for an established breakaway. The final half of the stage is fairly straightforward.

Stage 2 is a day for the puncheurs with several short and sweet crests located in the final portion of the stage. The first to contend with in the final third will again be the climb of Al Jabal Road, which was already seen in stage 1, then Al Hamriyah (1km at 8.5%), which is crested with just 13.5 kilometres to go. But that is not all, as the finish line to Yitti Hills is 5.5% average for 1.7 kilometres.

Stage 3 should be the first day of GC action as the peloton heads across 171 kilometres to Eastern Mountain. Before Eastern Mountain, there should be no real issues. The Eastern Mountain is a brute of a climb, with peak gradients hitting 14.5% inside the last kilometre, where the difference will be made.

Stage 4 is a pan-flat 146-kilometre stage for the sprinters from Al Sawadi Beach to Sohar. The stage is primarily run by the coast, so there is the real chance of echelons if the right conditions presents itself in the open and exposed sections of the stage,

Onto the finale of stage 5, which is reminiscent of a Vuelta a España unipuerto stage with a flat run in to the green mountain, which is a monster of a climb with gradients ‘in the black’ for the hard majority, with the last 1.5 kilometres at 13.5%. It’s a climb which suits the lightweight riders just as it did in 2025, where Valentin Paret-Peintre pipped Adam Yates, and we could see a similar situation play out.

Notable talents to watch include Lotto-Intermarché sprinter Steffen De Schuyteneer, fresh from a second place at the GP de Marseille. He should be among the leading favourites for the opening stage and Stage 4.

Diego Pescador will look to carry his early season momentum into this race for Movistar and could seize an opportunity on the more rugged terrain if the favourites hesitate.

Expect another fine margin on GC, because this route rarely allows anyone to hide. Adam Yates starts as the clear reference point. UAE Team Emirates XRG have built momentum early in 2026 and Yates looks ready to turn Green Mountain into a controlled, selective climb.

Sepp Kuss is the most obvious threat. Oman suits his profile, steep, steady and unforgiving, and if Yates makes it a pure climbing duel, Kuss has the snap to stay close and the freedom to take a real swing at the jersey.

Valentin Paret-Peintre should be in the picture again if his legs are there, while Soudal Quick-Step also have two credible climbing options in Mauri Vansevenant and Junior Lecerf. For a quieter GC play, Einer Rubio is worth watching, especially if Movistar can keep the race tight until the final kilometres on Green Mountain.

Other names with upside include Harold Martín López, plus XDS Astana’s Lorenzo Fortunato and Cristián Rodríguez.

The sprint field is more about resilient finishers than pure top end speed. Bryan Coquard and Axel Zingle look well suited to the tougher run ins, while Vincenzo Albanese is a strong option if the finale is slightly reduced and also Juan Sebastián Molano has also the speed to make it count. As mentioned in the talents section, keep an eye on Steffen De Schuyteneer too.