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

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Oh God, Cav didn't win.

Ok, sorry, it was a very exciting sprint with lots of riders involved - Boonen was challenged hard but proved the quickest...

 

[will10]

Boonen, master of echelons.

Ehm...there weren't any.

Good work from OPQS. Looked like Guardini had Boonen's wheel at about 1km to go and then got swamped as the other trains came over the top. Nice to see Adam Blythe still knows how to sprint, thought they'd be working for Hushovd to be honest.

 

[theyoungest]

Ok, sorry, it was a very exciting sprint with lots of riders involved - Boonen was challenged hard but proved the quickest...

The guy on his wheel was welcome to beat him...

 

[El Pistolero]

Ehm...there weren't any.

Good work from OPQS. Looked like Guardini had Boonen's wheel at about 1km to go and then got swamped as the other trains came over the top. Nice to see Adam Blythe still knows how to sprint, thought they'd be working for Hushovd to be honest.

I know, only tuned when they just finished and I heard the ladies had a rough time in the wind, so I assumed

But still, 19 wins in Qatar= master of echelons

 

[El Pistolero]

You do know he's ill right?

Yeah, what a surprise that news was to me

 

[Mellow Velo]

Looked exactly like it is: a training ride for a lot of folks.

 

[dlwssonic]

I must say Im pretty surprised and impressed with blythe. Didn't know he still had it. He was strong today and I saw him from the helicopter camera sprinting from a few riders back to Boonen's wheel in the final km. He had to fight for his position the whole time. At least now I wouldn't have to be totally ****ed off after the sprints like last year with TGAK's "brilliant positioning". By the time of the sprint he looked pretty wasted. He deserved a train but I think BMC are saving their energy for the TTT to start the mass pwnage.

 

[jens_attacks]

nice one by boonen.let's hope for a powerful tommeke in roubaix,here is not much of a surprise.

 

[theyoungest]

He was pretty good at u23, so I still had some hope for him showing at least something this season, but if he's going to crash in his first race this year..... meh....

Like you say, "pretty good". Nothing special. He beat Taylor Phinney a few times in a sprint, whoopteedoo.

 

[Christian]

Tweet of the week:

Stage one done in Qatar. Have stomach problems. Spent the last two days more at the toilet then somewhere else #****

@joostposthuma

 

[El Pistolero]

24 victories for Boonen already in Qatar. 19 individual stages, 2 TTTs and 3 GCs.

Looking forward to the TTT.

 

[Old School]

Qatar is a lovely place. GREAT food, local style and American brands too. It's almost gourmet compared to the simple fast food here.

It's been awhile since I was there, so I'm sure things have only improved.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Chicchi or Boonen FTW, I would say Cav but we don't really know where his forms at.

Good call.

 

[Justin Pain]

Impressed by Boonen today! What's the weather forecast for the upcoming days? Some strong winds in sight?

 

[greenedge]

Nice work by Boonen and Blythe. I was expecting Renshaw to go better but the sprint was chaotic.

Davis finished really far down and no GE rider in the top 10 and Will Clarke did not start at all??? Anyone know why?

 

[greenedge]

I mean, everybody knows Cav will win 4-6 stages and the green jersey in the Tour again, but Cav fans are getting worried it seems

I don't know if he will win Green again. I can envisage him having to share out a few more stage victories with Goss, Kittel and Greipel.

 

[happychappy]

Cav letting it all hang out in Qatar.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Nice work Adam Blythe. Nice to see him beat some top sprinters for 2nd including TGAK.

 

[pugdog]

Qatar is a lovely place. GREAT food, local style and American brands too. It's almost gourmet compared to the simple fast food here.

It's been awhile since I was there, so I'm sure things have only improved.

No podium girls, and no kiss for Boonen

 

[Swede1]

So who will win the TTT? I'll say quick step simply because they appear to be in the best shape. Radioshack and Sky should also do pretty well (they have some pretty strong riders).

 

[auscyclefan94]

BMC or Quickstep imo. Sky should do well but I don't think this short, punchy tt will suit Radioshack.

 

[Froome19]

Nice work by Boonen and Blythe. I was expecting Renshaw to go better but the sprint was chaotic.

Davis finished really far down and no GE rider in the top 10 and Will Clarke did not start at all??? Anyone know why?

Davis was working really hard on the front for Mcewen in last 2km so no suprise he decided to sit up, yet Mcewen should certainly have done better

 

[Thomsena]

Cav letting it all hang out in Qatar.

He's not going to win anything is he...

 

[gustienordic]

He's not going to win anything is he...

Yikes he needs to shed some kilos... There is no way he can race as well as he has looking like that.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Nice work Adam Blythe. Nice to see him beat some top sprinters for 2nd including TGAK.

Kinda lame he couldn't even hold Boonen's wheel. And that was even before Boonen put in his actual acceleration.