Friday 06 / February / 2026
Muscat: A brand-new scenario unfolded in the finale to mark the inauguration of the Muscat Classic’s new status, promoted to the ProSeries this year. In the Al Bustan finale, on the heights overlooking the capital of the Sultanate, a trio broke away on the initiative of two-time Tour of Oman winner Adam Yates, followed by two Jayco-AlUla riders, Luke Plapp and Mauro Schmid. Among them, it was the Swiss champion who proved the strongest in the final showdown, claiming the first victory of a season that is off to a flying start. A double stage winner at the 2024 Vuelta, Schmid had narrowly missed out on a prestigious overall victory at the Tour Down Under on his season debut, beaten only by Jay Vine. In Muscat, he took his revenge on another UAE Emirates XRG rider, with Adam Yates having to settle for second place this time, while former Australian champion Luke Plapp completed the podium.
A solo ride for Veistroffer
The peloton gathered in the seaside district of Al Mouj with 121 riders on the start line, but without Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) and Anders Foldager (Jayco-AlUla). Immediately after the official start, Baptiste Veistroffer (Intermarché-Lotto) attacked solo and built up a lead of 2’20’’ by kilometer 5. The attacker extended his advantage to 5’35’’ before the Cofidis team took control of the peloton at km 16. The Tudor riders of defending champion Rick Pluimers joined the chase, as the lone rider crested the Boucher Al Amerat climb (km 92.7) with a margin of 4’15’’.
XDS Astana close the gap
The day’s breakaway rider continued his effort under the watchful eye of the same teams, which reduced the gap to 2’45’’ at the first passage over the Hamriyah wall (km 118.1). Things began to deteriorate for Veistroffer on the Al Jissah climb (1’45’’), then further on the Wadi Al Kabir climb (km 142.5), where a move by XDS Astana forced him to hang on to a lead reduced to just 45’’. After 151 km of effort, as he tackled the Hamriyah climb for the second time (km 153), the Intermarché-Lotto rider finally capitulated following another acceleration from XDS Astana, joined by an equally aggressive Movistar squad.
Jayco-AlUla two against one
With 15 km to go, Soudal-Quick Step took the reins of the peloton to set up the final ascent of Al Jissah. But on the climb, Adam Yates launched an attack with 5 km remaining, immediately followed by Jayco-AlUla riders Luke Plapp and Mauro Schmid. The trio quickly opened a gap of around fifteen seconds and had to fend off both the peloton and a counter-attack led by Astana riders Scaroni and Lopez. On the slight uphill run-in to the finish, the sprint was contested by the three escapees, with Swiss champion Mauro Schmid claiming a clear-cut victory.
