Sowing in Colombia, reaping in Oman: what a gang!

Fausto Masnada he achieved his first victory in the jersey Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl and also marks the 100th success for the group he joined in 2020. It happened yesterday at Tour of Oman, at the finish line in the capital Muscat, at the head of a 119,5 kilometre stage with three climbs of Al Jabal.

Team play

It was clear that he wanted to leave his mark when he moved together with Mauro Schmid, The young Swiss rider who had won the Montalcino stage at last year's Giro. First together, then Schmid alone, while Fausto was absorbed by a larger group. And when the gap from his teammate had been neutralized, Masnada started alone, reaching the finish line while his teammate behind repelled the attacks.

“Today was a really difficult stage,” said Masnada, “but we raced as a team, and that’s what made the difference in the end. Mauro had a fantastic race, today he was very good, attacking and putting pressure on the others, before helping me in the final part of the stage, after being reprimanded. I can't thank him enough for his dedication and excellent work!

Covid in January

Victories don't come alone and they're never by chance. Fausto's last one was in the Cassino stage of the 2019 Giro, on the day that brought Valerio Conti to the pink jersey. Then came the move to CCC and, faced with the latter's difficulties, in the spring of 2020 the Bergamo native joined the then Deceuninck-Quick Step.

"Winning at the start of the season," he says, "always boosts morale because, after all, it's only the first race of the year, so a win is always something different. Preparation went well. We had the team training camp in Calpe in December, and everything went according to plan. Then in January I had problems with Covid, so nothing serious. However, it did compromise my second training camp, and I missed about ten days.

«So as soon as I tested negative, I immediately went to Colombia and did a period of training at altitude. And then I came straight here to run. So I didn't expect to be in such good shape anyway."

Retreat to Duitama

In Colombia, in Duitama which evokes colorful and bald memories, Fausto was a guest of one of his former teammates from Androni, Rodolfo Torres.

"I went there for the training camp," he says from Oman. "I'd already been there in 2020, so I already knew the place. Rodolfo always organizes everything for me! The hotel, a guy who follows me on his motorbike and gives me massages. Let's just say it's a great place. And since it's January, it's hard to find another place at 2.500 meters where you can train in shorts and a T-shirt. So even though I lost about ten days at the beginning of January, I'm satisfied. So now let's think about finishing this race well and then I'll go straight to the UAE Tower, which is the second race on the schedule for me this season."

Special gregarious

In such a strong team, filled with champions, such a generous rider will often be called upon to help, but he's never worried about it. Opportunities will come, as they did at last year's Lombardy.

«After the UAE Tour – he explains – we'll then see how to focus for the rest of the races. The team certainly brought me here with their trust, and I've shown that I can repay that trust. Even in this case, however, when the important races come I will still have to maintain my role and be of support to Alaphilippe, Remco or whoever will be the captain. But I'm happy that it is like this. In the meantime, I'll continue to play my cards, to do my best and to improve month after month. And what comes next will be decided by the path."

Masnada now has a 55 second lead in the standings over Charmig of Uno-X, winner of the first uphill finish. The Tour of Oman faces a challenging final finish today at Jabal Al Akhdhar with a final climb of 7 kilometers. It will certainly be a no-holds-barred battle, awaiting tomorrow's final stage at Matrah Corniche.