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

[the asian]

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

Certainly. It's unfairly labeled as a snoozefest by people just looking at the profiles.

 

[theyoungest]

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

I know, but 6 stages of echelons is a bit too much IMO. It's like Eneco Tour in overdrive. Oman offers a bit more variety.

 

[El Pistolero]

I know, but 6 stages of echelons is a bit too much IMO. It's like Eneco Tour in overdrive. Oman offers a bit more variety.

Can't remember the last time the Eneco Tour had echelons. Eneco Tour resembles the Tour of Oman more.

Normal sprint stages + 1 decisive stage(usually the Ardennes stage, but this year the cobbled hill stage) + time trial.

 

[Ferminal]

Did they clone Mur de Huy three times and stack them on top of the existing hill?

Wait, but even then they would climb it with 80km to go.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Shouldn't this be live on Eurosport? Can't find anything about it.

 

[the asian]

Shouldn't this be live on Eurosport? Can't find anything about it.

Not this time.

 

[postmanhat]

Shouldn't this be live on Eurosport? Can't find anything about it.

Some sort of contractual issue means ASO haven't taken it apparently, so not on Eurosport. It is on Al Jazeera Sports so should be available 'somewhere'

Really looking forward to this race. A real test for Omega/Cav. Degenkolb to inflict the first round of Germanic pain on The Missile?

 

[Gloin22]

Haussler saying first stage should be the most selective of all, wind predictions are highest for it. Then for the rest are quite mild, but it's just a forecast for now.

 

[manafana]

how is modolo in with handling these winds, maybe still has alot to learn.

degenkolb stands out as someone that should go well here.

 

[Der Effe]

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

I disagree. If the UCI really cares about cycling they set up a program with the national cycling federations of all these countries to develop talent. Infrastructure in sport is very important. Once you've really helped a country sportwise you can set up some nice races and make cycling grow in a non-traditonal cycling area.

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.

Some fair points, but I do not care much about the TDU as well. It's just that Australia has produced some excellent cyclists, so they deserve 'home' races. Same for the USA and even Canada to a lesser extent. Snoozefest is not the course particularly, but more so the atmosphere. Everything about racing there is plastic, like a party full of people with smiles painted on.

 

[manafana]

Tour of Qatar preview for people interested.

For me all races have their place, if race has the money to help cycling we can not be too choosee in the times we are in, but at same time this money needs to be used to protect the races with a great history going through hard times.

 

[Orbit501]

Anyone know who's likely to be team leader for Sky - EBH or Thomas ?

 

[manafana]

Anyone know who's likely to be team leader for Sky - EBH or Thomas ?

has to EBH, much better in flat sprint

 

[Orbit501]

has to EBH, much better in flat sprint

Wondering if Thomas is carrying more form than EBH at this very early stage of the season. TDU suggests that and EBH rode a very long season last year.

 

[maltiv]

Wondering if Thomas is carrying more form than EBH at this very early stage of the season. TDU suggests that and EBH rode a very long season last year.

Note that Thomas had been in Australia for almost a month when TDU started. EBH had been there for 4 days. That's not even long enough to get rid of the jetlag, and at least not long enough to get used to the climate.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

http://www.en.aljazeerasport.tv/Schedule/channel/global/tab/2

says there will be 2hrs live TV online (not Eurosport) from 14:30 - but what time-zone CET?

 

[gruppeto993]

14 30 local time is 12.30 CET

 

[TourOfSardinia]

14 30 local time is 12.30 CET

Merci, Grazie, Thanks Mate

 

[hughmoore]

14 30 local time is 12.30 CET

Sweet, thanks, thats 9pm in Adelaide, South Oz!


Hugh

 

[Hugo Koblet]

It's Guardini time.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

It's Guardini time.

he sucks in the wind

anyone know where we will have streams?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Al Jazeera are breaking off from an Al Qaeda mega mix for 2 hours from 1130 UK time.

 

[HiCadence]

http://www.en.aljazeerasport.tv/Schedule/channel/global/tab/2

As stated in the page before this one but i guess you were far too lazy to bother looking through the thread properly.

 

[jens_attacks]

it's starting right now..

allahu akbar to everyone

nice studio talking.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Al Jazee chit chat.
They do this.................quite a bit.