Fernando Gaviria and Max Richeze teamed up in a sprint win on the opening stage of the Tour of Oman, as the UAE Team Emirates duo scored the Colombian's first win of the 2022 season in Muscat.

Gaviria, who won one race last year and has been plagued by injuries and COVID-19 infections in recent years, won the windy uphill finish at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center, beating Mark Cavendish (Quick Step - Alphavinyl) and Kayden Groves ( Bike Exchange-Jayco) to win the race.

The win was the latest in a long line of successes for Gaviria, who has been with Quick Step since the 2016 Neo Pro season, with Richeze as his lead-out man. After the race, Gaviria was effusive in his praise for the Argentine veteran.

"More than half of the win belongs to Max," he told the assembled press before the post-race awards ceremony.

"I'm really grateful to the team. Max took the lead in the last part of the race and moved with complete 100 percent control. Every moment, every pedal stroke, we didn't lose any meters, and in the last part of the race we were at full throttle, and that's how we won today."

The finish sprint at the end of the 138-km opener was affected by strong winds, which kept the riders sprinting on the right side of the road. Richeze took over the lead from Groupama-FDJ and BikeExchange-Jayco before allowing Gaviria to sprint.

"We were on the right side," Gaviria said. "The little uphill made sprinting difficult. Right after the corner your legs hurt and then you have to sprint. It's like a kilometer where you have to give it your maximum. My legs were good today and I am really happy to win here.

"It was really good for the whole team.

Richeze, whose 17-year career comes to an end at the Giro d'Italia, said the win was important for Gaviria's morale after starting the season on the podium but without a win in the Tour of Saudi Arabia.

"It was necessary for morale. Fernando and I are friends. Fernando and I are friends. Fernando and I are friends. I know that he trusts me and I trust him. We worked perfectly in the pack, so I think it's good for his morale and mine for the rest of the race.

The six-day race offers Gaviria two more chances to add to his win total. The day could be affected by crosswinds, and Richeze said the team has a plan B if Gaviria fails to lead at the finish.

"We will try in the next stage, the next sprint. We have two chances. I think tomorrow we will have a small group. I want to race with Fernando. Maybe I will be with Ryan Gibbons."