It was over a decade ago when a Vinokourov last raced in Oman, the Kazakhstani rider starting his 13th and penultimate professional season in the Gulf state, an affinity between the two oil-based Asian states, however slight and forgettable.
This year sees the return of the famous Kazkhstani surname to the early season race, though the 2022 meeting comes via teenagers with French accents rather than the national hero and now-boss of the Astana Qazaqstan team.
The squad's continental feeder squad have taken to the roads of Oman this week. Alexandre is there – the 19-year-old son, not the father – along with his identical twin brother Nicolas, who made the breakaway on stage 5.
Alexandre: A little more pressure with high-level teams. We're here with nice and strong guys in the team. The Tour of Oman is not the biggest race in the pro tour but still, when you arrive for a climb or the flat stages you see the speed is higher and the tension is also high. It changes a bit here.
Nicolas: It could have been better, but the level is very high here. Not so high, but it's my first time in a pro stage race. So, no pressure but just take some experience from it.
QuickStep, UAE, DSM are here and it's kind of strange but it's a good feeling. It's like we have passed a step up in the pro level. I'm feeling good inside the peloton and I'm enjoying it.
CN: You're Kazakhstani but you were born in France and now live with your family in Monaco?
Alexandre: We live there and we study in the International University of Monaco. We both study business management; we're one and a half years in so we are halfway through that.
Alexandre: We're more like climbers. It's a bit complicated so just say that we're climbers [laughs]. No, we do our best in the climbs, but we're not going to win any stages in the Tour of Oman this year. Let's just hope our shape goes up and up this year and we'll see what we can get after.
Nicolas: I'm still trying to know what I'm good at like time trials, climbing, sprinting. I don't know. But the main goal in my career would be to win some stages at the Tour de France. I think it's the goal of most of the peloton. And maybe once to become world champion.
CN: You've already taken part in major under-23 races despite only being 18 and 19 at the time. How was that experience?
Nicholas: We have raced the Tour de l'Avenir and U23 Giro already. The plan is to race them both again this year. We're going to see how the shape is going and try to go well in both races.
Last year the World Championships was a good experience in Belgium. It was my first time riding the Flandrian pavè. There was not a lot of it but still it was very tough and with the wind and climbs as well.
Alexandre: You have to be at the certain level to get here. It's not just because your name is this name so you'll follow. For sure, if we're good then yeah but if we're not then… you don't.
Nicolas: Maybe for fun. For brothers it's always like this. We try to beat each other but now it's not our main goal. Like maybe I'll be better in the beginning of the season and he'll pass me and then again. Every moment of the season we can be in a different shape.
Roglič is an incredible guy. Because he also lives in Monaco we met a few times. Then at a training camp in Sierra Nevada in May we saw him also training there and we spent part of the time with him. Super guy.
In Monaco we don't ride with the pros too much but when we see them we ride with them a bit and say hi. All the guys are cool.
