Pellaud crowned Tour of Salalah champion

MUSCAT: Swiss rider Simon Pellaud delivered a masterclass in tactical racing over four intense days to secure the overall title at the sixth edition of the Tour of Salalah on Wednesday.The UCI 2.2 international event concluded with a high-stakes 108-kilometre final stage, leaving Pellaud to pull on the final golden jersey denoting general classification supremacy. Pellaud’s victory by a 15-second margin crowned a week of unmatched dominance for his team, Li Ning Star, which also saw Argentine climbing specialist and Pellaud’s team-mate, Eduardo Sepúlveda, finish second overall following his recent success at the Dhofar Classic one-day race and a stage win. Mongolian powerhouse Tegshbayar Batsaikhan (Roojai Insurance Winspace) rounded out the overall podium in third place.The final stage of the tour took the peloton on a fast, undulating route starting at the lush springs of Ain Razat and finishing at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex.Australian rider Cameron Scott triggered a perfectly timed launch out of the final corner, overpowering his rivals to claim the Stage 4 victory in two hours 22 minutes and 34 seconds.Jakarta Pro Cycling Team cyclists Yosandy Darmawan Oetomo and Terry Yudha took the second and third spots respectively in the sprint finish, which saw 65 riders clock the same time as the winner among the total 79 that completed the stage.Having successfully survived the brutal mountain climbs of the previous days, Pellaud entered the final stage holding a narrow 15-second lead over team-mate Sepúlveda. The primary objective for Li Ning Star team was simple: monitor dangerous breakaway attempts and ensure a safe bunch finish to protect the golden jersey.A flurry of early attacks from regional teams tried to disrupt the peloton, but the continental squads kept the speed exceptionally high. As the race entered its final stretch, the sprinters’ teams took control of the field.Pellaud, well-protected by his team-mates, crossed safely in the heart of the main group to solidify his championship status.The 2026 edition of the tour drew 95 international riders from 28 countries. Dutchman Jeroen Meijers (Victoria Sports Pro Cycling) won a selective seven-man breakaway sprint from Mughsail Beach to Mirbat Castle to wear the first leader’s jersey after stage 1.Pellaud laid his foundation here by taking third place and on stage 2 he made his definitive move. He conquered the grueling uphill finish at Wadi Darbat, out-dueling Colombia’s Edison Alejandro Callejas in a punishing uphill sprint to take over the general classification lead.The queen stage threw a 156km mountain trek toward Jabal Samhan at the riders on the penultimate stage. Sepúlveda put on an authorised climbing clinic to win the stage at Gravity Hill. Pellaud dug deep to finish fifth, losing only a small handful of seconds and keeping his lead intact ahead of the final day.Li Ning Star comfortably took the team championship with an overall time of 33:49:26. Thailand’s Roojai Insurance Winspace was second (+0:49), while Rwanda’s Team Amani finished third (+9:40). Philippines Victoria Sports Pro Cycling (+12:18) and Guam-based EuroCyclingTrips – CCN (+16:59) completed the top five.Organised by the Dhofar Municipality in cooperation with the Oman Cycling Association, the tour successfully concluded its mission to push the Sultanate further onto the global cycling map while showcasing the unique tourism landscape of the Dhofar region during the Khareef season.The final ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Ahmed Al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, and Saif Al Rashidi, Chairman of the Oman Cycling Association.