Heading out of Nizwa from the 0730 start the peloton took advantage of cool 17°C conditions under overcast skies to warm-up ahead of the daunting Jebel Akhdar mountain climb that lay ahead. The 200-plus riders representing 26 nationalities stayed in close company in the early stages, before the demands of the formidable Green Mountain climb stretched the field out. https://www.hauteroute.org/ Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/CyclingHauteRoute https://www.instagram.com/haute_route/ https://twitter.com/Haute_Route