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

[will10]

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

That had a lot to do with Steegmans' awesome leadout, back to his best from the looks of things.

 

[Flamin]

Blythe had already ridden his sprint at 500-600m from the finish, when he jumped, in the wind, from 10th to Boonen's wheel.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Blythe had already ridden his sprint at 500-600m from the finish, when he jumped, in the wind, from 10th to Boonen's wheel.

Yes, while Boonen was behind a proper, functioning, train right up until he kicked. It's a bit strange that OPQS look better drilled than the other teams at the moment, but they do.

 

[Swede1]

Yes, while Boonen was behind a proper, functioning, train right up until he kicked. It's a bit strange that OPQS look better drilled than the other teams at the moment, but they do.

Well they used to have the best leadout with boonen a couple years ago. Maybe they are back! I still doubt Boonen can beat Cav/Greipel in a flat sprint without any wind or hills. Buy hey I hope he proves me wrong, and he is probably still faster than most other sprinters besides them.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Well they used to have the best leadout with boonen a couple years ago. Maybe they are back!

You are right that they used to be good at it, and they have added a big chunk of the HTC train to their roster, but it's still a bit odd that they look as if they have fifteen more races under their belts than most of the other sprinter's teams.

I agree that Boonen probably isn't going to be competitive against the very top sprinters in the very top races, but somebody has to win all those "s.....y small races".

 

[palmerq]

I think wins at qatar are pretty valuble, a lot of the best sprinters are there and I am pretty sure none of the top guys will be happy with the race unless they win a stage, so in my opinion this is quite a highly contested race even though it's early in the season that many sprinters are trying to get wins in, so a win here is something to be respected...

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Good to see the annual person breathing on a bike in Qatar pictures

 

[El Pistolero]

You are right that they used to be good at it, and they have added a big chunk of the HTC train to their roster, but it's still a bit odd that they look as if they have fifteen more races under their belts than most of the other sprinter's teams.

I agree that Boonen probably isn't going to be competitive against the very top sprinters in the very top races, but somebody has to win all those "s.....y small races".

Yup, Cavendish with his Tour stages while Boonen wins the Ronde and Roubaix

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Yup, Cavendish with his Tour stages while Boonen wins the Ronde and Roubaix

Everyone knows that Boonen's main focus is always the cobbled classics, but that's true regardless of whether or not he's doing well in sprints. What's interesting about him at the moment is that he's winning sprint stages and has a team which seems to be very competently supporting him in those races.

And neither you nor I think that he's likely to be blitzing Cavendish in GT sprints.

 

[El Pistolero]

Everyone knows that Boonen's main focus is always the cobbled classics, but that's true regardless of whether or not he's doing well in sprints. What's interesting about him at the moment is that he's winning sprint stages and has a team which seems to be very competently supporting him in those races.

And neither you nor I think that he's likely to be blitzing Cavendish in GT sprints.

I know, but it sounded a little bit denigrating

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

According to this, the finish was moved because of some roadworks, so that probably explains the disorganised sprint.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Blythe had already ridden his sprint at 500-600m from the finish, when he jumped, in the wind, from 10th to Boonen's wheel.

Thank you for pointing that out.

Cav letting it all hang out in Qatar.

The bands do give the illusion that it is worse than it really is but yes he could lose a few kgs.

 

[Woody22]

Thank you for pointing that out.



The bands do give the illusion that it is worse than it really is but yes he could lose a few kgs.

It's Feb 6th.

Guess the avitar must be growing on you or did you lose another bet??

 

[auscyclefan94]

Haven't had time to remove it. Will do so later.

 

[Kwibus]

Rabo train pulling at 4k to go.

galimzyanov flat? couldn't see who it was.

This is the problem.

I recorded the race so when I got home i watched the last 8km. With 4.4km to go Rabobank hits the front. At the same time I said "Here we go again.. Rabotrain showing up with 4-5km to go which will inevitably fall apart with 2km to go as usual"

Why do they keep on doing that. Try to wait a bit longer. I know it's hard to reach the front later on, but this is the 50th time their train failed. Did it ever really succeed?

 

[Kwibus]

Haha Cavendish! Look at that belly! Well it's a good thing he is ill, maybe he throws up a couple of time and thus loses weight a bit faster than normal.

The finish certainly looked sooner than said. Commentators said the finish was 600m after a roundabout so I was waiting for that roundabout and all of the sudden the finish was there.

Today there will be pretty no wind again. 10-15km/h.
Looks like this year will be without much wind

 

[auscyclefan94]

This is the problem.

I recorded the race so when I got home i watched the last 8km. With 4.4km to go Rabobank hits the front. At the same time I said "Here we go again.. Rabotrain showing up with 4-5km to go which will inevitably fall apart with 2km to go as usual"

Why do they keep on doing that. Try to wait a bit longer. I know it's hard to reach the front later on, but this is the 50th time their train failed. Did it ever really succeed?

Sounds like they have sky's disease. Go too early and then fade dramatically.

Also Kwibus, are you trying to imply that Mr Cavendish is bulimic?

 

[Kwibus]

Sounds like they have sky's disease. Go too early and then fade dramatically.

Also Kwibus, are you trying to imply that Mr Cavendish is bulimic?

No, I was just kidding. If he was bulimic he wouldn't be that fat... well fat.. fat for a pro cyclist that is.

 

[dlwssonic]

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

You probably didn't see blythe using loads of energy in the final km to get on Boonen's wheel from wayback. He was pretty wasted by the end.

 

[theyoungest]

This is the problem.

I recorded the race so when I got home i watched the last 8km. With 4.4km to go Rabobank hits the front. At the same time I said "Here we go again.. Rabotrain showing up with 4-5km to go which will inevitably fall apart with 2km to go as usual"

Why do they keep on doing that. Try to wait a bit longer. I know it's hard to reach the front later on, but this is the 50th time their train failed. Did it ever really succeed?

No. That's why if you do manage to win a bunch sprint as a Rabo rider, you're probably really the strongest

But don't you worry, they now have the world's best leadout man. Oh wait.

 

[personal]

Today BMC will be unbeatable.
This is why

 

[Woody22]

So have they started the TTT yet?

 

[search]

Today BMC will be unbeatable.
This is why

he must have done the same training camp Hushovd did

So have they started the TTT yet?

starts in an hour

 

[Woody22]

he must have done the same training camp Hushovd did

starts in an hour

Thanks.

Go BMC!!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Anyone got a feed yet? Anyone going to watch Tour of Qatar?