Paul Magnier and Luke Lamperti combined again to give Soudal-Quick Step victory on stage 3 of the Tour of Oman and put the American into the race lead.
The two former Trinity Racing teammates had already impressed at the Challenge Mallorca and joined forces on the uphill finish at Al Bustan.
The stage was reduced to just 76km due to bad weather, with the steep kick to the line decisive. Some sprinters survived the rising finish but Lamperti and Magnier emerged as the gradient eased to give Soudal-Quick Step a 1-2.
Thanks to his second place, a six-second time bonus and better stage race results, 21-year-old Lamperti took the race leader’s red jersey from Kiwi Finn Fisher-Black (UAE Team Emirates).
Due to the bad weather, Tuesday’s fourth stage has also been reduced but should end with another uphill finish.
Th original 207.5 km stage from Al Rustaq Fort to Yitti Hills has been reduced to 104 km and will now start in Fanja. The decisive finish on the slopes of Green Mountain is on stage 5.
Stage three was supposed to finish at Eastern Mountain but the exceptional bad weather conditions during the weekend forced the organisers to avoid the first mountain finish of the race and create a 76 km stage from Naseem Garden to Al Bustan to the south of Muscat.
The stage was flat except for the final 500 metres, the kick-up to the finish, suiting some sprinters, puncheurs and even the overall contenders.
However the Soudal Quick-Step duo of Magnier and Lamperti dominated on the climb to the line. The 19-year-old French rider was supposed to lead out his 21-year-old American teammate but his speed with 200 metres to go was so high and so powerful that he ended up crossing the line ahead of Lamperti, taking his second victory in the space of two weeks.
“It’s unbelievable to take another win. The plan was to lead out Luke, but it turned out differently,” Magnier said.
“I went really deep on the climb, full gas until the finish, and it’s nice now to celebrate a victory with the team, something which we deserved after coming so close the last couple of days. We won’t stop here, as we are still motivated to go for some nice results before the end of the race.”
Lamperti has finished second in three races so far in 2024 and perhaps wanted his first professional victory. However, taking the race was some kind of consolation. He also tops the points and youth standings.
“We came here for a victory, and we are delighted we got it. Paul was very strong and he won today, I came second, and we are happy with the great job of the team,” Lamperti said, dismissing any thoughts of rivalry with Magnier.
“The two of us have a special connection, we came from the same devo team, and to be successful in the pro ranks immediately it’s nice. I am confident you will see us a lot in the future.
“I am happy to have the red jersey on my shoulders, it’s a beautiful feeling to lead a stage race. We’ll see what happens with things here and with the weather, but we are determined to do our best.”
