2013 Tour of Qatar (3rd-8th February), 2.HC

[will10]

seems to be confusion as to Stage 2. Some say Team Time Trial, others say Time Trial.

I think it's the latter.

On the official site it says TTT

http://www.letour.fr/2013/TQA/LIVE/us/le_parcours.html

 

[BlenJones2]

its a TTT but using road bikes to keep costs down

 

[the asian]

As for Blanco, aren't they invited or are they just ignoring this race? I hope for the latter, as European and US based teams (Aussie teams too tbh) should be ignoring snoozefests like these. Wanna race on the other side of the world? Then give Australia some more races, they actually have been producing top cyclists for some time now. I can't imagine one team being really happy about having just to cycle this race knowing they're Pat's b**tch.

You can't be more wrong. The race is not a boring snoozefest as you suggest and Cobbed classics contenders love to ride here as a build up for the cobbled races.

 

[KarottenKarl]

Who will win?

Are there bonus seconds? Will a sprinter be winner in the end?

 

[maltiv]

Are there bonus seconds? Will a sprinter be winner in the end?

Yes. Probably a strong, surviving sprinter who can get some bonus seconds and never lose out in the crosswinds. E.g. Degenkolb, Haussler, EBH or Bennati. The purer sprinters, like Cavendish or Guardini, are usually dropped in the crosswinds on one or several stages.

 

[Pentacycle]

Yes. Probably a strong, surviving sprinter who can get some bonus seconds and never lose out in the crosswinds. E.g. Degenkolb, Haussler, EBH or Bennati. The purer sprinters, like Cavendish or Guardini, are usually dropped in the crosswinds on one or several stages.

He doesn't get dropped all the time, and he showed good form in San Luis.

It's clear to me who's gonna win MSR, if you see this next week:

 

[Dazed and Confused]

He doesn't get dropped all the time, and he showed good form in San Luis.

It's clear to me who's gonna win MSR, if you see this next week:

A man on a mission, no doubt.
Minimum two stage wins in the desert.

 

[burning]

He doesn't get dropped all the time, and he showed good form in San Luis.

It's clear to me who's gonna win MSR, if you see this next week:

MSR is somewhat unpredictable these days, Cav was red hot favorite last year nad last over Le Maine

 

[karaev]

Sagan will win MSR! It is known!

 

[gruppeto993]

Sagan will win MSR! It is known!

the race is tailor made for him. He can drop everyone apart from cancellara in the descent and whoever he arrives to the finish with will get cooked in the sprint. For the likes of cavendish and boonen, they ll probably get dropped during the poggio.

back to qatar now.

 

[karaev]

Some intersting odds for Tour of Qatar winner

17.00 Degenkolb

41.00 Modollo

3.75 Cav

5.50 Hagen

101.0 Breaschel

51.00 Bouhani

101.0 Viviani

Any sugestions for who I should spend my money on?

Also some stage 1 duels look good like Guardini 2.60 odss to beat Viviani

Phinney to beat Gearint 1.95

Bennati 2.10 to beat Haussler

Hagen 2.50/Degenkolb 1.50

Cav1.30 /Modolo 3.40

This are the most intersting but here are the complete list http://www.bet365.com/home/FlashGen4...&cb=1088164932 and http://ro.unibet.com/betting#/group/.../category/1235

 

[Der Effe]

You can't be more wrong. The race is not a boring snoozefest as you suggest and Cobbed classics contenders love to ride here as a build up for the cobbled races.

It's not like they have so many other options, isn't it? It's all about the money, in 10 years they'll be racing on the moon. The rule should always be that in order to get races, you will have to produce decent athletes first.

 

[the asian]

It's not like they have so many other options, isn't it? It's all about the money, in 10 years they'll be racing on the moon. The rule should always be that in order to get races, you will have to produce decent athletes first.

You wont get athletes without the races and above all you wont get races without money.

 

[MagnusMagnussen]

Veelers was verry good here last year.

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

Here we go again

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Mark Cavendish‏@MarkCavendish

Qatar. 2:45am. After Argentina, Europe & here within 3 days, I'm a **** for sleeping on the flight. My body doesn't know what's happening!

 

[Leadbelly]

Any sugestions for who I should spend my money on?

Well, for what it's worth, I'm wasting my money on Breschel (101ew) and Offredo (201ew). They'll both probably lose 10-20 secs in the TTT and it's their first races of the year (Offredo's first in a year) - so there's two reasons not to follow me, but they're both talented guys. Looking forward to see if Riis can weave his magic and get Matti back to where he once was.

 

[HiCadence]

I would love to see Degenkolb and Modolo do well here

 

[El Pistolero]

It's not like they have so many other options, isn't it? It's all about the money, in 10 years they'll be racing on the moon. The rule should always be that in order to get races, you will have to produce decent athletes first.

Qatar has a warm climate, but unlike your precious TDU it's not TOO WARM.
Qatar is only a few hours difference with Europe, unlike your precious TDU. You won't feel the jetlag.
Qatar is raced HARD because of the echelons, unlike the TDU which is boring. An uphill sprint on Willunga hill doesn't change that.
In Qatar the big names like Cancellara, Boonen, Cavendish, etc race to win. In the TDU they barely do anything.
Qatar didn't pay MILLIONS for Lance Armstrong to come to their event, TDU did.
Qatar has been the ideal preparation for the spring classics for years now. Much better preparation race than the TDU. Results don't lie.

Without loads of money the Tour Down Under would be nowhere. At least Qatar didn't buy WT status. They let the race grow over the years. Now teams come to them asking for invitations, not the other way around.

 

[the asian]

Lol, amazed at El Pisti praising an race held in a country without a cycling tradition.

Is it because of Boonen's dominance?

 

[will10]

Nice post Pisti. Qatar is one of the best early season races. Even the Giro stage starting on the freaking Gavia won't be split into 10 groups after 3km like one of the Qatar stages last year.

 

[theyoungest]

Lol, amazed at El Pisti praising an race held in a country without a cycling tradition.

Is it because of Boonen's dominance?

Hint: compared to Qatar, Oman gets surprisingly little praise from El Calimero

 

[Kwibus]

Hint: compared to Qatar, Oman gets surprisingly little praise from El Calimero

True, but Oman is a different race than Qatar.

Pisti has a point in his post and for once I have to agree with him. Classic riders love it, because if there is enough wind than it's a real tough mens race.

Stage 4 from last year was pretty damn good! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_5Q8sQumrc

 

[Kwibus]

I agree with him that Qatar is a good preparation race for classics riders.

Personally I'm glad the TDU and Oman also exist. Definately not the most prestigious races, but I was happy with the racing I got to see in Down Under this year.

 

[El Pistolero]

Hint: compared to Qatar, Oman gets surprisingly little praise from El Calimero

Oman isn't live and wind barely plays a big role.