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FEBRUARY 22nd and 23rd – PRE-RACE TIME

Riders are landing in the majestic city of Muscat, Oman’s capital city, in the impressive new international airport, the new pride of the country and the strong symbol of Oman’s will to shine on the international scene Their journey starts by heading to their host for the nights leading to the event, the Al Nahda Resort in Barka City, a fabulous place that will also be the starting location of the race. An ideal spot to gather our athletes, meet with them, discuss their experience and share their feelings as they finalize their preparation for the big moment.

The check-in is the perfect setup for this and the stories of everyone, and their incredible variety, quickly spread across the participants. In a handful of hours, they will all jump in the same adventure and it only seems natural they want to extend the experience by sharing with the others.

Edition #2 will take them on a very similar road as 2018 with changes mostly around the location of CP2, now located in an incredible Omani guest house, sitting in front of the sea and requiring a 400kms ride from CP1, an additional effort of about 60 kms when compared to the previous edition, well rewarded by the amazing scenery as they will enjoy their long awaited rest.

More than ever, the range of athletes deserves a story on its own. The race will gather veterans from the 1st series, extreme adventurers, record holders, ultra triathletes, time-trial champions, and experienced ultracyclists. From beginners, to amateur cyclists or sportsmen, to experienced cyclists, they will all challenge themselves in the 1050 kms loop around the country. Every detail counts as they are still deciding on the equipment to bring with them, spare parts, which bags, etc. , and the strategy to follow, when and where to stop and refuel. The veterans gladly share their experience from last year, a valuable source of information that can influence these choices differently for everyone.

Soon, this anxiety will leave room to the excitement of the last moments that leads to the race. The early night will be the scene of an intense battle at the front, en-route to the first checkpoint, a segment we hope will be the stage of many stories and memories for the athletes. Stay tuned!

FEBRUARY 23rd – RACE BRIEFING

For the first time in a BikingMan event, a large media team is covering the race, some dedicated to press, some to photography, some to film-making. In terms of briefing, this is an additional requirement for the organisation to ensure things happen in the best possible (ie: safest) way.

RACE DAY 1

2:00am, we are already up setting everything for the start, the arch, banners, positioning cars to bring more light to the arch and group of cyclists, hopefully helping at capturing the big moment.

Soon, some athletes are popping up and we take that early opportunity to start and check their trackers for the race. It’s obvious everyone at this time does not feel the same emotions. Some are anxious and still questioning themselves; others are thinking at their strategy over and over. Then the veterans, mostly filled with excitement, are in a hurry to get going and battle against the environment, and their fellow competitors. Finally, you have the participants who do not look at the competition aspect and are taking this lightly, free from any form of pressure, with the only goal to enjoy themselves and discover the Oman territory.

3:00am, the Harley Davidson marshal is revving his bike as the countdown hits 3, 2, 1, GO!!! The athletes cross the starting line and engage on the road, with the protection of the Royal Oman Police, leading the pack, and closing the peloton.

Around 280kms of cycling awaits before the biggest highlight of the day: the Jebel Shams climb, with its steep switchbacks, and crazy gravel section. The Oman police guides the convoy for around 60kms, as they approach the city of Rustaq. At this point we are already more than 2 hours in the race, and the sun is only just starting to brighten up the sky. At last, the race is fully on and the speed of the group quickly ramps up as the peloton spreads out.

At the front, a group made of veterans, including Josh, Rodney and Jason, is already pressured by new comers like Peter or Daniel.

But a key decision is about to affect the lead of the race though, with the choice that’s offered by the intersection of the mandatory road and the optional gravel shortcut. While most people choose to cycle the safe and predictable way and continue on the paved road, Rodney, winner of the 2018 edition, takes the bet to tackle the unknown. After around 50kms cycling between gorgeous mountains, he reaches the start of the gravel part, a rather rocky stretch with many ups and downs and technical challenges. Those will show little impact however as Rodney’s experience in MTB will help him get across this with no damage, not even a puncture to his aggressive tire choice.

With a nearly 2 hours lead, he is not engaging in the Jebel Shams climb, and its dreadful switchbacks. Another 2 hours later, past 2pm, and he is the first athlete of this 2019 edition to make it to CP1, welcomed by the Oman Air cabin crew who stamps his map and validate his way through the checkpoint.

Josh, who just passed Niel in the climb, arrives at CP1 1h46m later, with the rest of the top 10 following in the next hour. By midnight, 57 athletes have climbed the Jebel Shams and reached the checkpoint. Simply unbelievable!

The Jebel Shams quickly makes a first victim, Marcel, who gives up his attempt at climbing the mountain with his recumbent bike, a task made nearly impossible with the steepness of some sections, not suited to this type of bike.

Earlier, Jonathan had been the first to scratch from the race, sadly leaving the race with an injured shoulder, resulting from a bad fall in the first hours of the race.

RACE DAY 2

It’s night time, yet a large part of the athletes have chosen to keep riding, especially at the front, where the battle is fierce and riders fast as they already approach the 2nd checkpoint of the race, a lovely Omani guest house, sitting in front of the sea. Before getting there, our riders will have crossed a fabulous desert section where the road slices the dunes, lit only by a bright moon at this time of the day. For most, it would be a challenging experience to ride in these conditions, for them, it’s a memory like no others.

Further in the back, Perrine has to resign, injured after a fall when passing over a speed bump. Her shoulder is hurt and she is unable to keep riding. The disappointment is high, but she will definitely be back.

Shortly after 5am, our leader has already reached the 2nd control point, and validated his progress. at that moment, 750kms traveled in only 26 hours. The pace is relentless. Behind Rodney, Jason and Josh are trying everything to catch up, coming in CP2 just 1h40min after him.

By noon, the top 10 has already left the place and are making their way back to Muscat, as some others are finishing their climb to CP1, before the time limit. It’s 11am and a group of 5 riders have regrouped at CP1 and are sharing their lunch, and laughs. 72 athletes have reached the top of Jebel Shams and its CP1 before the cut. Now it’s their turn to head down, and cycle towards the south. Rodney on his side, is only 70kms from the finish. The leaders maintain their astonishing speed and the gaps remains stable between them.

The afternoon will bring difficult conditions to the middle of the group, with strong heat and wind around on the road to the south and the desert sections, putting some of the athletes in sand-storm like conditions, with clouds of dust covering the road. Stunning images, but tough on the bike. This is not enough to stop them however, and they keep making their way, whatever they are facing, some only taking a few hours rest, to recover from the heat or avoid the strongest wind blows.

38h17min, that’s the time it’s taken to this year’s winner to complete the loop, 1037 kms around Oman. That’s almost 10 hours faster than 2018’s best time. What a performance !

Jason takes the 2nd position, after an intense battle with Josh, 3rd overall. They complete the race in 40h32m and 41h22m.

By midnight, of this second day, we are amazed to witness the first 31 athletes have already stamped their map at CP2, that’s 750kms in only 41 hours! These humans are incredible!

RACE DAY 3

The 3rd day in the race starts with the arrival at CP2 of veteran pair Sandra and Stefan, who cycled through BikingMan Corsica as part of 2018 series and made the choice to discover Oman this year. The night will see 12 riders passing by CP2 before the sun appears.

On the finish camp, the first woman, Jasmijn, reaches the finish shortly after midnight, in 45h37m, that’s quicker than last year’s fastest loop as well, and that’s after pushing her fellow rider Niel to the limit, finishing just 2min behind him. Astonishing performance of the 24h female TT record-holder. She takes position 9 overall.

Again, the unpredictable wind and heat will prove to be challenging for riders reaching the south coast and the second control point, slowing down some of them, or encouraging others to stop and wait for better cycling conditions.

13:59 sees the arrival at finish camp of the first pair, Christian and Jeff. They complete the loop in under 60 hours, or 12 hours faster than 2018’s best pair. Once again showing the fast pace of the athletes this year. The day will also see the arrival of Steven, who climbed the Himalaya with his bike, Georgina, youngest participant of this edition, and Amit, the most famous ultra-distance cyclist from India, all finishing in under 70 hours (59h06 / 61h:30m / 65h58m).

The CP2 team, lead by Renette and Laura, welcomed the now legendary Jacques and Rob, both BikingMan veterans, 65 and 70 yo, and showing they, too, have crazy strong legs and sense for adventure. Their unbreakable enthousiasm and smiles over the entire race is a awe-inspiring for many people, us included, and they are a joy to meet on the road and checkpoints.

By the end of the day, we are left with just 5 athletes on their way to CP2, while 32 athletes have already accomplished the feat of cycling the entire 1040kms loop. There is truly no shortage of awe for those people.

RACE DAY 4 & 5

Day 4 starts quietly as our last riders on the road to CP2 have all made the choice to stop for the night, before reaching the checkpoint and making their way along the Arabian Sea coast. Today sees the closing of CP2, at noon, and athletes have little margin if they want to make sure to get through the cutoff time.

And they end up succeeding at that as they are all gone by 11am, with Melwyn closing the march. Now, a 280 kms road lays ahead of them, before they reach Muscat and the finish line, with 40 hours left.

At the finish camp, it’s a constant flow of arrivals that our team is welcoming, starting with Sandra and Stefan, the first ones to write their names on the timesheets for the day.

Minutes before 5am will see the Oman team cross the finish line, in 73h56m, a time that’s setting them in 4th position for the pairs and 36th overall.

Our legends, Jacques and Rob, arrive at finish after 69h50m and 81h25m. At noon, Corey, veteran from Oman 2018, is arriving as well, after following the wrong route. He will be our first and only unclassified rider for this reason.

In the evening, we get to organize a special surprise, for a special rider: as he has just exited the final gravel section and reaches the courthouse, an Oman police car is escorting Anas, the first amateur cyclist from Oman joining an ultracycling event, on his final legs to the finish. A great moment for his first experience of the kind, and we hope something that will stay engraved in his memory.

The final day awaits the last 5 athletes on the road, with 64 athletes having stamped the final segment of the route. Dawn is the first to reach the Matrah corniche. Blowing with emotions as she crosses the line after 105 hours riding, she is relived and proud to have made her way back to Muscat in time, a great achievement for her who started cycling only a couple month prior to the event.

4:30pm, the last pair, Hélène and Jan, our belgian friends, finally cross the finish line too, closing this 2019 edition in 109 hours, after having thoroughly enjoyed each and every day, takiug the time to discover the country, meet with locals, and enjoy the omani culture and food.

A great way to close the book of the 2019 BikingMan Oman story. Thank you to all the athletes for attending this race, and to everyone who followed it, from anywhere in the world.

Next race: Corsica, starting April 29th 2019. Stay tuned!

#BikingManOman