Spectacular first pro win for Vervaeke in Oman overshadowed by bizarre crashes in the final meters, Kooij loses leader’s jersey

On Saturday, Visma | Lease a Bike was celebrating. The Dutch team, which missed out on a GC rider with Jørgen Nordhagen due to illness, controlled the opening stage with Pietro Mattio and Steven Kruijswijk. In the finale, Niklas Behrens and Dan McLay provided a perfect lead-out for Kooij, who sprinted from the wheel of Fernando Gaviria to the stage win and leader's jersey.

Read more below the photo.

Day two featured a long 200-kilometer stage towards Yitti Hills. "It's trickier for me uphill. This stage suited me, but in the coming days, that will be less the case," leader Kooij announced after the first stage. "We will see. I have the leader's jersey now, so first, we will enjoy this win."

It would be a long stage, so an early start was required. That didn't prevent Magnus Kulset (Uno-X), Rodrigo Alvarez (Burgos-BH), Kane Richards (Roojai), and Omani boys Mohamed Al-Wahibi and Mundher Al-Hsani from attacking immediately. However, the battle for the breakaway was not decided until after Fanja's climb.

Louis Vervaeke crossed to the front on behalf of Soudal Quick-Step and Xabiel Mikel Azparren of Q36.5. Valentin Madouas of Groupama-FDJ, still one of the favorites for this stage and the overall victory, ventured to do the same with Orluis Aular (Movistar). However, only Vervaeke, Azparren, and the remaining Kulset stayed ahead. Jayco-AlUla started the chase in the peloton.

With a three-minute lead heading into the final 20 kilometers, the three had a chance. However, the finale was still very tough, with the climbs of Al Jissah and our arrival in the Yitti Hills. With the support of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the gap decreased, so Vervaeke went all-in on the second-to-last climb with two minutes to spare.

It became a true battle in the final 10 kilometers, with Vervaeke being chased by now David Gaudu's Groupama-FDJ, plus UAE and an attentive Tudor. Could the lone leader defend a minute-and-a-half lead in the uphill finish? The Wolfpack fiercely defended Vervaeke in the peloton, joining in with all the attacks.

With three kilometers and a good minute to go, this had to be successful! Groupama-FDJ still struggled, but Vervaeke went on after a mighty solo for his first professional win and the fourth for Soudal-Quick Step this season. Vervaeke is also the new leader. In the peloton, Valentin Paret-Peintre won the uphill sprint, making it 1-2. That sprint was overshadowed by several bizarre crashes, with riders going down left and right.