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

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Apr 9, 2011
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Mellow Velo said:
Yes and if BMC win half the races that you tip them to win, then they will win 50% of the races they enter, this season.

To be fair though in this case in probably is a race in 2 between Sky and BMC unless Garmin send some of their engines.
 
Aug 18, 2009
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Banging on about Lotto again, but they could take the win here if they're taking Greipel. Wonder if they'll send Sohrabi for the Middle-Eastern home advantage. Don't know whether to expect anything from Cav quite yet.
 
Jul 16, 2010
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just some guy said:
To be fair though in this case in probably is a race in 2 between Sky and BMC unless Garmin send some of their engines.

Lol, Quickstep will win the TTT. They've won a few TTTs here in the past and now they have a much better team for time trials.
 
Dec 27, 2010
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El Pistolero said:
Lol, Quickstep will win the TTT. They've won a few TTTs here in the past and now they have a much better team for time trials.

Depends on who they send to Qatar obviously. They've also got some terrible TTers. Do you know their Qatar squad other than Boonen?
 
Jul 16, 2010
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just some guy said:
Not this year they won´t

Do you think someone like Cavendish will be in form already for the Tour of Qatar? I doubt it. Their team isn't that special, they'll certainly be up there for the podium, but they're not as unstopable as you seem to imagine. Same goes for BMC, guys like Gilbert and Hushovd won't be in top shape yet.
 
Jul 16, 2010
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will10 said:
Depends on who they send to Qatar obviously. They've also got some terrible TTers. Do you know their Qatar squad other than Boonen?

You're right, it does depend on who they send, but they've won with some pretty awful TTT squads here before.

Francesco Chichi and Boonen are the only names so far I think. But they got a lot of time trial specialists, so it will be a pretty decent squad no matter who they send. It's early in the season and QS seems the most hungry team to me.
 
Aug 31, 2011
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Do they get to use TT bikes for this? I can't remember which early season races don't allow TT bikes... (something to do with the smaller teams being at a disadvantage?)
 
Dancing On The Pedals said:
Do they get to use TT bikes for this? I can't remember which early season races don't allow TT bikes... (something to do with the smaller teams being at a disadvantage?)
Something to do with the race being in Qatar, and shipment costs being too high.

It's an 11 km TTT, screw up a corner and you're out. Any team can win (any sort of decent team, I mean).
 
Apr 9, 2011
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El Pistolero said:
Do you think someone like Cavendish will be in form already for the Tour of Qatar? I doubt it. Their team isn't that special, they'll certainly be up there for the podium, but they're not as unstopable as you seem to imagine. Same goes for BMC, guys like Gilbert and Hushovd won't be in top shape yet.

Most riders will be in similar form so it comes back to engines who has the biggest and unless OPQS send there stage race team the bigger engines will win and it wont be Boonens team unless turbo tom drags the team around himself.
 
Apr 9, 2011
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roundabout said:
I wouldn't be surprised to see QS punching above their weight should they send a "weaker" team

???? Why send a weaker team?

OPQS TT strength lies in the GC area what I am saying is other teams have bigger engines than Toms team for a TTT yes they will be top 5 but El P said they will win I dont
 
Dec 27, 2010
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Guys like Leipheimer aren't going to ride Qatar. It's a buildup race for the classics, so it's much more likely to see a classics type squad than a typical 'big engines for GTs' squad.

i.e. I think it's more likely that we'll see folk like Steegmans, Vandenbergh, Van Kiersbulck, Brammier, Fenn etc. than Martin, Leipheimer or Peter Velits.
 
Apr 9, 2011
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will10 said:
Guys like Leipheimer aren't going to ride Qatar. It's a buildup race for the classics, so it's much more likely to see a classics type squad than a typical 'big engines for GTs' squad.

i.e. I think it's more likely that we'll see folk like Steegmans, Vandenbergh, Van Kiersbulck, Brammier, Fenn etc. than Martin, Leipheimer or Peter Velits.

of course they wont ride but my point was if you think TTT abd OPQS then you think Martin Leipheimer Peter Velits

and then it comes back to engines and I am saying BMC and Skys are bigger
 
Jun 7, 2011
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I actually like the Qatar and Oman races. The winds make them exciting. Boonen's sprint win last year was pretty sweet with the reduced peloton and the crazy wind. I'm just waiting for a full on sandstorm to hit the peloton during a stage. Now that would cause some gaps. Somone like Wouter Mol would win by 4 hours out of pure luck.
 
GE according to that start list have one more spot to fill. Durbridge i thought was doing Qatar but i would prefer for Howard or Goss to be included as they could then challenge in sprints and only lose 10 seconds in the TTT ( whereas if they sent Durbridge they might win the TTT but not challenge for stages/ overall ).

Instead Kroupis will be led out by McEwan probably.

I think Garmin if they sent a good sprinter could go well ( especially since there is a TTT ). Of course Sky shall challenge as well along with maybe BMC ( though they have 4 new riders in their lineup so cohesion might not be there )

I would love for Sagan, Greipel and Renshaw to challenge Cav who is probably not in great form ( yet )
 
Swede1 said:
I actually like the Qatar and Oman races. The winds make them exciting. Boonen's sprint win last year was pretty sweet with the reduced peloton and the crazy wind. I'm just waiting for a full on sandstorm to hit the peloton during a stage. Now that would cause some gaps. Somone like Wouter Mol would win by 4 hours out of pure luck.

Do you mean ( Someone like Wouter ) or ( specifically Wouter Mol )
 
Sep 18, 2010
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With just a few days till this race starts I though I would bump it back to the first page.

Another sprinter showdown ahead - we all know the big boys will fight it out.

But, what about the smaller teams - who are the main guys to look out for from the likes of Bridgestone Anchor, Champion Systems, FDJ-Bigmat and RTS?
 
Jan 22, 2011
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LabMonkey said:
With just a few days till this race starts I though I would bump it back to the first page.

Another sprinter showdown ahead - we all know the big boys will fight it out.

But, what about the smaller teams - who are the main guys to look out for from the likes of Bridgestone Anchor, Champion Systems, FDJ-Bigmat and RTS?

From Champion systems, you could bet your *** Will Clarke will try to liven up the race and pull another miracle stage. Gorik Gardeyn has a few wins to his name as well.

I would also be on a lookout for Offredo from FDJ.
 
Garmin usually does well in TTT's too. But they don't sent their specialists to Qatar..only Dekker. And then some fast men, eg Hunter, Fischer, Farrar, Rathe.. Vansummeren will be a help in the TTT as well.

But there's no Millar, no Zabriskie, etc
 
Jul 16, 2010
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Dekker_Tifosi said:
Garmin usually does well in TTT's too. But they don't sent their specialists to Qatar..only Dekker. And then some fast men, eg Hunter, Fischer, Farrar, Rathe.. Vansummeren will be a help in the TTT as well.

But there's no Millar, no Zabriskie, etc

No offence, but Dekker will more than likely be their weakest link at the TTT.
 

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