Merhawi Kudus (Dimension Data) showcased his early-season form with a fine display on the Mas de la Costa climb at the recent Vuelta a la Comunitat Valenciana, beaten only by Nairo Quintana (Movistar), and the Eritrean has continued in similar fashion at the Tour of Oman.
Every time the road has climbed this week, Kudus has been to the fore. Spinning at his usual high cadence, he placed fourth on the uphill finale at Al Bustan, and then 8th at Quriyat on Thursday, alongside Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Fabio Aru (Astana). Those performances leave Kudus fourth overall ahead of Saturday’s decisive leg to Jabal Al Akhdhar, better known as Green Mountain, just 21 seconds off the lead of Ben Hermans (BMC Racing).
“Green Mountain is the main objective for me, but it’s very close between everybody on the bunch so it’s going to be hard tomorrow. Still, I’m looking for a result,” Kudus told Cyclingnews in Yiti on Friday.
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A year ago, Kudus placed 6th as Vincenzo Nibali won atop Green Mountain. On that occasion, the ascent was extended to 7.5 kilometres in length, but for 2017, the finish has been returned to its previous positon lower down the mountainside, making for a final climb of 5.7 kilometres at an average of 10.5 per cent. At that distance and that gradient, there is precious little room for tactical finesse.
“I think it’s going to be all about the strength on the climb because it’s just so hard,” Kudus said. “Compared to last year, the climb going to be two kilometres less, so it’s going to be more about power.”
In that respect, Kudus has been aided by the heavy 2016 racing schedule that saw him line up in two Grand Tours, the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. The miles run up there, allied to a solid winter in Eritrea, have laid the foundations for his fast start to the new season. “It gave me a lot of experience and big power, so for sure they will help me this year,” he said.
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