Muscat: The third edition of the Tour of Oman is expected to be one of the biggest draw for the 29-day-long Muscat Festival, which kicks off on Thursday at two venues - Naseem Park and Qurum Natural Park.
Big names in international cycling will descend in Oman for a gruelling six-day tour that will take them through some of the country's most picturesque locales across 875-km distance.
The last two editions of the Tour of Oman have been immensely successful as the Sultanate provides a challenging route and this year 128 top cyclists from across the world will compete to take the top position in the race organised in association with the legendary Eddy Merckx and Amaury Sport Organisation.
British Sprinter and UK Sports Personality of the Year, Mark Cavendish, winner of 21 stages in the Tour de France and the holder of the Tour de France Green Jersey, Fabian Cancellara, winner of the 2012 Tour of Oman, four times Time Trial World Champion, current Olympic gold medallist and twice winner of the Paris-Roubaix) and Andy Schelk, who has finished runners up three times in the Tour de France are some of the big names coming here for the Tour of Oman.
Then there will be Traditional boat racing at The Wave, Muscat on February 9 to 10. To celebrate Oman's sea faring history, traditional boats like Al Badan, Al Ghanjah and Al Boom will be on display during the races.
While sportsmen and women will negotiate Oman's mountains as well as crystal clear sea waters, the mood at the Qurum Natural Park will be completely rustic at the Oman Heritage and Cultural Village, which has become hallmark of Muscat Festival since it started a decade ago.
As the sun sets on the Park, also known as Rose Garden, tourists come to the Heritage Village to have first hand knowledge of Oman's traditional practices of irrigation, clay pot making, boat building and various other handicrafts.
The visitors to the Park also get to see the folk dances of Oman and satiate hunger with typical Omani cuisine prepared by village dwellers on the spot. Cock-a-hoop after the success of Oman Food Festival, held for the first time last year, Muscat Municipality has decided to hold the food festival for ten days from February 7at the Qurum Natural Park.
A three-day fashion show will be held at the Riyal Park from February 21 while the designers will showcase their creations after each show for three days from February 22 at Ghalya's Museum of Modern Art from 10am to 7pm.
The International Festival for Arts & Creativity, Omani plays and concerts are the other events lined for the Muscat Festival, which will have amusement parks and shopping arcades at the Naseem Park, which will have facility to accommodate 5000 cars.
Last year 1.2 million visitors from 180 countries came to Oman during the Muscat Festival and this year Muscat Municipality officials are expecting over two people footfalls during the Festival, known for propagating Oman's rich heritage and culture.
