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

[insideout leadout]

What's Chichi up to by the way? I heard they're going to work for him in the final stage, is he conserving energy now?

Crosswind isn't his best friend.

 

[Andy99]

@AdamBlythe89
Well..... That was disapointing!! #sh*thappens

 

[webbie146]

Any video online of today's stage?

 

[Andy99]

Any video online of today's stage?

was on live about half an hour ago!

cyclingfans.com or steephill.tv will have highlights no doubt...

 

[FF'Wilco]

Any video online of today's stage?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2DSvriw5rA

 

[webbie146]

was on live about half an hour ago!

cyclingfans.com or steephill.tv will have highlights no doubt...

I found the last 5k i think

Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/CanalF10#p/u/0/vhCSUq_0Zik

Edit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2DSvriw5rA

Thanks for this one too

 

[theyoungest]

When they put their faith into an over hyped sprinter, fail is expected.

It seems the only people hyping him work at Cyclingnews.

But I don't mean Renshaw necessarily, I didn't expect anything from him. Here they have no one in the front split, on Mallorca they struggle to make the top 30, in the TDU they put in a lacklustre performance... if this is the way to not peak too early like last year, well okay, but maybe don't overdo it.

 

[trevim]

It seems the only people hyping him work at Cyclingnews.

But I don't mean Renshaw necessarily, I didn't expect anything from him. Here they have no one in the front split, on Mallorca they struggle to make the top 30, in the TDU they put in a lacklustre performance... if this is the way to not peak too early like last year, well okay, but maybe don't overdo it.

All the team is peaking for a race in July that doesn't suit anyone of them

 

[webbie146]

Just watched the last 5k's, Fabian looked very strong and solid. I think he's on track for the classics for sure.

 

[insideout leadout]

It seems the only people hyping him work at Cyclingnews.

But I don't mean Renshaw necessarily, I didn't expect anything from him.

Isn't the general opinion of him something like this:

Mark Renshaw a 'fantastic sprinter' who sacrified himself for Cav when he himself could have won plenty of races.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Let's wait till after Milan-San Remo to make your first verdict lol. They're missing out on big winners, instead of trying to get Renshaw they should have gotten someone who can win a few races. Still bummed Rabo didn't give Freire a decent contract. Now he's with Katusha

According to Nico Verhoeven they learned from last years start and want to peak later in the big races.

I say it will go wrong, but whatever

 

[theyoungest]

According to Nico Verhoeven they learned from last years start and want to peak later in the big races.

I say it will go wrong, but whatever

Personally I don't think last spring went that badly for them, podium in a few WT stage races, winning Omloop, podium in Roubaix, top 5 in Flanders... what more can you reasonably expect from a team without superstars? Putting everything on those big races entails a risk.

They're maybe too obsessed with the Dutch press who think they ought to win Monuments with second rate riders.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

They had wins in february/march and barely any wins rest of the season.

That's what Verhoeven is referring to

 

[El Pistolero]

According to Nico Verhoeven they learned from last years start and want to peak later in the big races.

I say it will go wrong, but whatever

Let's be honest here, who do they have that can win a Grand Tour or win a Monument/big classic? Breschel can win a classic perhaps, but I don't think he's at the same level as Cancellara, Boonen, Gilbert, Valverde, etc

But ok last year Nuyens, Vansummeren and Zaugg won a Monument so everything is possible, but the chance of them repeating is very slim to say the least.

 

[theyoungest]

They had wins in february/march and barely any wins rest of the season.

That's what Verhoeven is referring to

He doesn't say that though, that's what you make of it. He just says "you can never do it right, if you win here you peak too early, if you don't win you're out of form".

Let's be honest here, who do they have that can win a Grand Tour or win a Monument/big classic? Breschel can win a classic perhaps, but I don't think he's at the same level as Cancellara, Boonen, Gilbert, Valverde, etc

But ok last year Nuyens, Vansummeren and Zaugg won a Monument so everything is possible, but the chance of them repeating is very slim to say the least.

Still think Mollema could have won Lombardy, but not this year, no.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah whatever. I'm just saying they are making the wrong choice by trying to peak later.

You can better win what you can win.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Also, Renshaw isn't winning anything because rabo keeps sucking on setting up sprints. I hope they'll get the hang of it by the time Renshaw and Bos are going to do the Giro..... Yet I sincerely doubt they will.

 

[El Pistolero]

What squad is Rabo sending to Oman? Last year they won everything there, perhaps they'll get their first win there. Obviously Gesink won't repeat, but Bos can if he's riding. He's probably not on form because of his operation though.

 

[dlwssonic]

Such a tragedy for blythe he might not have been able to beat boonen but he could have gotten second or third. And got third on the GC. he has really impressed me, I didnt expect him to be so good. Great buy by BMC. Cancellaras attack was awesome. Cant wait to see him and boonen battling it out. Cancellara will just over power everyone on the cobbles. E3 2011 repeat!

 

[theyoungest]

Also, Renshaw isn't winning anything because rabo keeps sucking on setting up sprints. I hope they'll get the hang of it by the time Renshaw and Bos are going to do the Giro..... Yet I sincerely doubt they will.

Which sprints do you think he'd have won if he had a perfect leadout? The one time he really impressed me was when he thought he was leading out Matthews

What squad is Rabo sending to Oman? Last year they won everything there, perhaps they'll get their first win there. Obviously Gesink won't repeat, but Bos can if he's riding. He's probably not on form because of his operation though.

Same squad as Qatar, but without Renshaw and *random other dude*. Will be replaced by Ten Dam and Slagter.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

BROWN Graeme
LEEZER Tom
SLAGTER Tom Jelte
TEN DAM Laurens
TJALLINGII Maarten
VAN WINDEN Dennis
VERMELTFOORT Coen
WYNANTS Maarten

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

What squad is Rabo sending to Oman?.

BROWN Graeme
LEEZER Tom
SLAGTER Tom Jelte
TEN DAM Laurens
TJALLINGII Maarten
VAN WINDEN Dennis
VERMELTFOORT Coen
WYNANTS Maarten

I doubt they'll win anything there

Which sprints do you think he'd have won if he had a perfect leadout? The one time he really impressed me was when he thought he was leading out Matthews

There were several sprints where it seemed to me he had a chance if rabo had done their work properly, like yesterdays stage in Qatar. Not saying he'd have won, but he had to move up himself in the last kilometers and then positioned and bashed himself to a fourth place when he was boxed in, so if he'd been able to sprint properly, I think he would've been able to content.

 

[theyoungest]

BROWN Graeme
LEEZER Tom
SLAGTER Tom Jelte
TEN DAM Laurens
TJALLINGII Maarten
VAN WINDEN Dennis
VERMELTFOORT Coen
WYNANTS Maarten

I doubt they'll win anything there

Would be hilarious if Brown won a stage.

There were several sprints where it seemed to me he had a chance if rabo had done their work properly, like yesterdays stage in Qatar. Not saying he'd have won, but he had to move up himself in the last kilometers and then positioned and bashed himself to a fourth place when he was boxed in, so if he'd been able to sprint properly, I think he would've been able to content.

He was on Cav's wheel!

 

[Thomsena]

Can you imagine.. I forgot about this one again. Pathethic human being I am, really.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Would be hilarious if Brown won a stage.


He was on Cav's wheel!

He was in Cav's wheel after he got himself out of being boxed in, if I remember correctly.

Brown ftw!