Team LottoNL-Jumbo saved energy in the second stage of the Tour of Oman, which Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) won. Only Mike Teunissen and George Bennett targeted the stage from the Omantel Head Office to the uphill Quriyat finish.

“We wanted to come through this stage without wasting too much energy. To stay as fit as possible for tomorrow’s stage,” sports director Jan Boven explained Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s plans. “There was a chance for echelons in the stage final, so we wanted to be sharp, but besides that, everyone relaxed for the finish. Mike Teunissen wanted to try to grab a good result after yesterday’s performance, so we gave him and George Bennett the opportunity to do that. Mike did a good job. He must grow a bit stronger, but what he delivered today was great.”

Teunissen finished 24th, 26 seconds behind stage winner Boasson Hagen, but was still in the first group with only 400 metres to go. “The finish line was on a tough climb today and every rider in the top 10 is world class,” Teunissen said. “That makes it hard to grab a good result, but I tried to follow them as well as possible. With only 400 metres to go, I had to let them go. Last year, I was dropped early on climbs like this, but now I’m able to follow much longer. I want to keep growing in this process and considering that, it’s nice to get the chance from the team to try in races like today’s. Let’s set a date: next year, I’ll be able to sprint for the stage win in this race.”

The relative rest for the Team LottoNL-Jumbo men will not last longer than one day because the race includes an important stage on Thursday. “We are going to fight to give Moreno Hofland his chance to deliver a good final sprint,” Boven added. “He’s feeling good and he can show off tomorrow. We will focus on that.”