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

[El Pistolero]

Steegmans has more power, Renshaw (usually) a better positioning sense (haven't seen any of that so far this year though)

You're probably right, definitely that he hasn't shown it this year yet. I think he's having difficulties with the pressure that now rests on his shoulders.

 

[El Pistolero]

@El Pisti: Steegmans loses his effectiveness when we get to a full a nervous peloton and not on straight roads.

He's only good when he has space. Which is only in Qatar and the Champs Elysees lol. Most of the year Steegmans is useless as lead out.

He wouldn't even have had to deal with that 90% of the time if he was the final lead-out man for Cavendish during HTC dominion.

 

[TeoSheva]

amazing stage loved the cross winds! Cav got me cq points! Kinda dissapointed that Blythe got box in and in the end didnt have the power. He had a great position.

Actually I think than even on the first stage he didn't have the power: he had again a great position (wheel of Boonen) and he stayed there, just wheelsucking...

 

[dlwssonic]

Actually I think than even on the first stage he didn't have the power: he had again a great position (wheel of Boonen) and he stayed there, just wheelsucking...

Haha yeah he is young and kinda slim. But he worked hard to get to his position in the first stage. At least our BMC sprinter this year has good positioning unlike TGAK. And he has done it all without anyone helping him really.

 

[Four Winds]

Sounds like Cavendish is taking this Rainbow Jersey thing seriously! It's a bit of a monkey off his back to get a win early in the season

 

[jens_attacks]

good stage and great to see cav winning in the world champ jersey,still the fastest in the world.

 

[Panda Claws]

1. Sohrabi is 13th after being in the breakaway the whole day and winning the 2 intermediate sprints. That is not too bad.

2. Where was Hushovd? I get that he is not sprinting but he was not even in the front.

3. Gilbert is really just hanging on making sure he does not lose time. I was hoping he would lead out Blythe at least once...

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

1. Sohrabi is 13th after being in the breakaway the whole day and winning the 2 intermediate sprints. That is not too bad.

2. Where was Hushovd? I get that he is not sprinting but he was not even in the front.

3. Gilbert is really just hanging on making sure he does not lose time. I was hoping he would lead out Blythe at least once...

Sohrabi was incredibly strong today. He also took a turn at the front in the last 3 k if I'm not mistaken.

 

[jens_attacks]

sohrabi indeed seems not to be the guy to make jokes about.very strong

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

You're probably right, definitely that he hasn't shown it this year yet. I think he's having difficulties with the pressure that now rests on his shoulders.

Nahhh, he just didn't have a lead out today. He got boxed in and then used his positioning skills to rough through a mob of sprinters to get fourth. He won this course last year, so he ought to be able to take the pressure. Rabobank just needs to learn setting up a sprinter properly.....

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

sohrabi lost 2 minutes in the team time trial tho.

 

[El Pistolero]

sohrabi lost 2 minutes in the team time trial tho.

Yeah, but we don't know for what reason.

 

[theyoungest]

Yeah, but we don't know for what reason.

Getting dropped?

Nahhh, he just didn't have a lead out today. He got boxed in and then used his positioning skills to rough through a mob of sprinters to get fourth. He won this course last year, so he ought to be able to take the pressure. Rabobank just needs to learn setting up a sprinter properly.....

Tjallingii and Wynants were his team members in the front group, can't expect these guys to lead out a sprinter. They just stupidly took turns at the front, while Sky were waiting at the back. Van Winden was in that group, he could maybe do a leadout, but he had a flat.

 

[Kwibus]

Was a very nice race again and there really wasn't that much wind, but apparently in the open desert not much wind is needed.

I love those echelons. Those asian guys in Champion/bridgestone must've been like ..

Impressive Steegmans and a very strong Boonen again, but Cavendish is simply too fast. When I noticed him yesterday in the TTT working hard and finishing with the first I certainly expected him to be upfront today.

Farrar had the perfect leadout, but Steegmans just dashed passed the last Garmin leadout guy. Farrar tried to pick Boonens wheel, but simply got blown away by the speed and the other guys allready in Boonens wheel.

Renshaw was a great leadout man, but he seems to have problems getting into the right position himself. He wasn't that slow today as he came from far back and during moving up 2 riders closed the gap on him.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

I have not been able to watch much, but of the 15 minutes I watched today, I did catch the splitting of the peloton.

Is Thor struggling? or just tucking in? There is a good classics battle shaping up, with Boonen looking strong, Gilbert strong enough, as well as others

 

[insideout leadout]

Farrar had the perfect leadout, but Steegmans just dashed passed the last Garmin leadout guy. Farrar tried to pick Boonens wheel, but simply got blown away by the speed and the other guys allready in Boonens wheel.

Garmin's leadout was horrible, it always is when they try too much early on.

 

[maltiv]

I have not been able to watch much, but of the 15 minutes I watched today, I did catch the splitting of the peloton.

Is Thor struggling? or just tucking in? There is a good classics battle shaping up, with Boonen looking strong, Gilbert strong enough, as well as others

Thor always starts the season with no form whatsoever, so I'm not worried at all. He usually only needs 1 stage race to find his legs again though. Last year he started at Tour of Oman where he nowhere near the front, but still managed to peak for P-R.

 

[El Pistolero]

Good win for Cav. I was very disappointed with Liquigas today. You would of least expected one of Sagan or Oss to make the front group. Nevertheless it was a good stage to watch.

By the way El Pistolero, i see you are a fan of Matt Brammeier in his Irish National Champions jersey. I remember that race well when he beat Dan Martin in a close sprint.

Yeah, I've been a fan of him ever since I discovered his twitter page. He just seems such a nice guy and is a good domestique. I've seen him at the front a few times already at Qatar this year. Was also strong in the TTT. And he also did a lot of domestique work for Cavendish of course in HTC days.

 

[Zoncolan]

Caught the final 20 km today. Nice to see echelons forming.
I too was surprised not to see at least Oss and Sagan making the split.
Boonen and Cavendish both looked good today.
I look forward to both being competitive for MSR.

 

[Swede1]

I think Boonen went like 50 meters too early. Steegmans was a beast. Cav did better than I thought. Although he didn't exactly blow Boonen away. I still think Boonen will take this thing overall. If more winds pick up, then the steegmans boonen tandem will be unbeatable in the finale.

Sohrabi was a beast also. I think he will have a pretty good season. Probably take a couple of early season breakaway wins.

 

[Michele]

I saw only the last 30kms of the race, but while Boonen was taking turns at the front, Cavendish was sitting in the bunch.
Anyone can confirm?

 

[BRCYC11]

Boonen wasn't taking turns at the front as I saw it

 

[theyoungest]

No, he wasn't. Boonen is wearing the leader's jersey, remember Michele?

 

[euanli]

Bit silly of Boonen if so.

 

[theyoungest]

Sign in table at the Tour of Qatar (via @edekker1970)

There's echelons already, BTW.