Recent content by hayneplane

Not flying start to the season but then only Van Eetvelt (crash) and Mas (no form) have really flopped and most of my bigger points riders are yet to start their season. A bit concerned that almost all my GC type riders are lining up at UAE tour where the podium looks beyond the range of all of...

Looks like: 1. Remco 2. Almeida 3. Tiberi Not the greatest parcours for a GC fight especially with the worlds best TTer here and in confirmed excellent early season form. Hopefully Lidl Trek will race aggressively in the easier stages for Pedersen and it would be good if Girmay is able to...

The kit looked fantastic in the Arabian desert. Far too many variations of blue/green jerseys in the peloton that are hard to pick out so having one so different to everyone else really helps their sponsors visibility as well.

The way he bridged across to the small group that attacked after the last uphill section was a highly promising sign for the classics ahead. If his team had shown up then he might have won but as a demonstration of form it was there for all to see.

I think the issue with Remco coming here is all the points he deprived from the January team leaders who might not get chances to win elsewhere on the calendar when it’s not even a notable victory for Remco given what he has already achieved.

That’s a really nice medium mountain stage profile but all suspense will be voided if Remco decides to turn it on again.

I though it was good sportsmanship especially considering Morgado got the win on his birthday.

The gap feels like at least a minute judging by how long it took the moto to cross the gap.

Glad I didn’t keep Jakobsen in my CQ team. That would have been maddening to see him make a front echelon and look strong then manage to get dropped in the last km and score no points.

3 riders making their seasonal debuts tomorrow at Alula Tour. Some potential for good points if they don’t end up working fully for a teammate. Vermaeke hopefully has some UAE stardust sprinkles on him and Garofoli to continue the rich promise from the EC road race at the back end of last year.

Spanish?

A couple of 3rd place finishes from Pithie was an ok start but disappointing that he was working for Fisher-Black today instead of his own chances when I would have foreseen a top 5 finish again.

Vernon looked on a different planet to the rest of the field today. Even more impressive when you note that much of his leadout train crashed out of the race earlier in the stage.

Probably increases the chances of Jan Christen being selected. He did a great turn as last man on Mur de Huy in 2025. Not the most loyal of lieutenants in general but he does lay it all out for Pogacar.

That last 3km was a mess from the peloton perspective. Riders dropping back from their work at the front left and right carousing a narrowing funnel effect in the bunch stringing it out and gaps appearing as riders seemed unmotivated to stay attached to the riders in front. It looked like a 3rd...