2012 Tour of Qatar (5th - 10th February), 2.HC

[auscyclefan94]

2012 Tour of Qatar (5th - 10th January), 2.HC

The stage maps are all on the above map and the profiles are all like below.

_______________________________________________________________


3 jerseys

Gold - General individual classification
Silver - General points classification
white - Best young rider classification


Stage: 1 - 5 February : Barzan Towers - Doha Golf Club, 142.50 km
Stage: 2 - 6 February : Lusail TTT, 11.30 km
Stage: 3 - 7 February : Dukhan - Al Gharafa Stadium, 146.50 km
Stage: 4 - 8 February : Al Thakhira - Madinat Al Shamal, 144.00 km
Stage: 5 - 9 February : Al Khor Corniche, 160.00 km
Stage: 6 - 10 February : Sealine Beach Resort - Doha Corniche, 120.00 km

Incomplete startlist - Cyclingfever

 

[TeoSheva]

should it be in February, not January

 

[Havetts]

So the team with the best TTT and sprinter that can grab bonification seconds wins this.. "Exciting"

 

[TeoSheva]

Galim for one stage at least

 

[FF'Wilco]

Pretty underrated race. The corsswinds make this race quite interesting. Like Gilbert says, its a good preparation for the classics. Last year Garmin smashed the field on the wind, i hope something similar this year, just too bad on tv we can only see last km's and cant actually see the fight on the wind, which is usually at the beginning of the stages.

 

[El Pistolero]

So the team with the best TTT and sprinter that can grab bonification seconds wins this.. "Exciting"

Have you ever watched Qatar?

 

[will10]

So the team with the best TTT and sprinter that can grab bonification seconds wins this.. "Exciting"

I guess you've never watched Qatar before then? Usually a decent race, can be carnage if the wind blows like it did on 5 of the stages last year. Aren't many flat stages in stage races where there's only a group of 10 left at the end.

 

[theyoungest]

Pretty underrated race. The corsswinds make this race quite interesting. Like Gilbert says, its a good preparation for the classics. Last year Garmin smashed the field on the wind, i hope something similar this year, just too bad on tv we can only see last km's and cant actually see the fight on the wind, which is usually at the beginning of the stages.

Though he proved last year that you can do pretty well without racing Qatar

Actually, it seems like the big guns are shunning this race more and more, and going for Mallorca/Algarve instead.

 

[FF'Wilco]

Though he proved last year that you can do pretty well without racing Qatar

Actually, it seems like the big guns are shunning this race more and more, and going for Mallorca/Algarve instead.

But, on the other hand, he changed his schedule and choose Qatar over Algarve this year.

Expect Haussler, it looks like all the big names from last edition will show up again with addition of Gilbert, Hushovd, Langeveld and Degenkolb. I would say the lineup will be much stronger than last year.

Algarve looks like the most prrestigious February race but mostly for those who prepare for either Tirreno or Paris Nice

 

[Kvinto]

Well, i guess Qatar with its winds and echelons is a better place to start season for a rider who counts on Ronde while Mallorca/Algarve is a schedule for those who ride PN/Tirreno/Catalunya/Pais Vasco. Qatar is not underrated or overrated, it just takes its niche of a warm up race for cobbled classic riders...

 

[Spider1964]

So the team with the best TTT and sprinter that can grab bonification seconds wins this.. "Exciting"

I'm hearin ya.. But apparently the TDU is the only "boring" race at this time of year?

Me... I like cycling whether they go up down horizontal or sideways.

 

[maltiv]

Tour of Qatar can be one of the most awesome and unique races on the calendar if we get enough wind. Not many other races where there's not a single hill and yet there's only 15 guys or so left to sprint for the victory. I guess Boonen will take this again though.

 

[theyoungest]

But, on the other hand, he changed his schedule and choose Qatar over Algarve this year.

Expect Haussler, it looks like all the big names from last edition will show up again with addition of Gilbert, Hushovd, Langeveld and Degenkolb. I would say the lineup will be much stronger than last year.

Algarve looks like the most prrestigious February race but mostly for those who prepare for either Tirreno or Paris Nice

Well... yeah, if you put it like that... gotta say I didn't look at the startlist With Cancellara, Gilbert, and Boonen you have your main classics stars at the start.

Actually I just assumed Gilbert would repeat his 2011 preparation. But maybe BMC think he can do better.

 

[will10]

But, on the other hand, he changed his schedule and choose Qatar over Algarve this year.

Expect Haussler, it looks like all the big names from last edition will show up again with addition of Gilbert, Hushovd, Langeveld and Degenkolb. I would say the lineup will be much stronger than last year.

Algarve looks like the most prrestigious February race but mostly for those who prepare for either Tirreno or Paris Nice

Is Haussler not riding?

 

[craig1985]

So Greenedge v Sky v BMC for the TTT.

 

[AussieGoddess]

Well... yeah, if you put it like that... gotta say I didn't look at the startlist With Cancellara, Gilbert, and Boonen you have your main classics stars at the start.

Actually I just assumed Gilbert would repeat his 2011 preparation. But maybe BMC think he can do better.

He didnt go to Qatar last year because OPL werent invited. He wanted to ..

 

[theyoungest]

He didnt go to Qatar last year because OPL werent invited. He wanted to ..

Yes, I know, but I think it worked out pretty well...

 

[FF'Wilco]

Is Haussler not riding?

Not sure but he is confirmed for Algarve so i doubt he will go to Qatar which finish just a few days before Algarve starts. He'd done both Qatar and Algarve in 2009 but there was twelve days between them, this year its only five.

 

[Kvinto]

hmm, as far as i understand 5.4km of 11.3km ttt is the Losail motorcycle circuit used in Qatar MotoGP

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes, I know, but I think it worked out pretty well...

It's basically the same except for Tour du Haut-Var and Qatar.

He didn't start his season in Algarve and Mallorca because the races were having financial problems and it wasn't sure if they would be held this year.

I don't think Algarve and Mallorca were the key races of his succes last year

Tirreno-Adriatico was!

 

[Fetisoff]

Hmm, the TTT on road bikes could be interesting

 

[theyoungest]

It's basically the same except for Tour du Haut-Var and Qatar.

He didn't start his season in Algarve and Mallorca because the races were having financial problems and it wasn't sure if they would be held this year.

I don't think Algarve and Mallorca were the key races of his succes last year

Tirreno-Adriatico was!

In Tirreno he already had pretty good form. He won Montepaschi beforehand, remember?

He rode all day in a breakaway on Mallorca because he didn't feel very strong yet. He then won a stage in Algarve by jumping away before the final km. That's what prep races are for, and he used them well.

 

[El Pistolero]

In Tirreno he already had pretty good form. He won Montepaschi beforehand, remember?

He rode all day in a breakaway on Mallorca because he didn't feel very strong yet. He then won a stage in Algarve by jumping away before the final km. That's what prep races are for, and he used them well.

And he can do all that in Qatar and Haut-Var. He wasn't in great shape yet after Algarve, just look at the Nieuwsblad.

Algarve isn't a fundamentally different race than Haut-Var or something.

 

[TeoSheva]

So Greenedge v Sky v BMC for the TTT.

GREENEDGE CYCLING TEAM
COOKE Baden Australia
KRUOPIS Aidis Lithuania
LANGEVELD Sebastian Netherlands
MCEWEN Robbie Australia
MEYER Travis Australia
MOURIS Jens Netherlands
TUFT Svein Canada


Greenedge doesn't look too strong for the TTT.. Sky and BMC are much better, and I will wait to see Liquigas and Radioshack...

EDIT: who will be the main sprinter of Greenedge? Kruopis?

 

[dlwssonic]

BMC has a chance to win the TTT. Their team looks superb. Maybe one of them can go for the overall too.