Abu Dhabi Tour 2018, Feb 21-25

[yaco]

Viviani did it again today - Failed to win after a good lead out - He's more effective surfing wheels.

 

[Sestriere]

Re:

I'll reserve my judgement on Kittel's form seeing this was a short stage - He looked awesome in the last 100 metres, though it could be a false illusion.

The TT could help with that. If on good form he should be able to top 10 there.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Bauhaus the new Kittel.

The new (Goth) kid on the block.
From what I've heard from the team Walscheid is able to produce an even higher wattage than Kittel, but his size/aerodynamics are a bit of a problem for him.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Considering his size it would be weird if he didn't produce higher wattage.

Now, if he could produce higher wattage per frontal area, that would be incredible

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Stage top 10:
1. GER BAUHAUS Phil SUN 3h02'55" 30
2. GER KITTEL Marcel TKA 18
3. GER ACKERMANN Pascal BOH 12
4. ITA VIVIANI Elia QST 7
5. AUS EWAN Caleb MTS 4
6. GER GREIPEL André LTS 2
7. FRA BARBIER Rudy ALM 1
8. NOR KRISTOFF Alexander UAD 0
9. NED VAN POPPEL Danny TLJ 0
10. ITA GUARDINI Andrea BRD 0

powerful collection of fast men right there.

Yep. And I'm enjoying watching the dynamic of no one single super strong rider. Everyone is close to each other. Some might be stronger but don't have teams, others have teams but aren't finishing things off. You can't really predict who will win each day.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Considering his size it would be weird if he didn't produce higher wattage.

Now, if he could produce higher wattage per frontal area, that would be incredible

The numbers were 2100-2200W, really high, but I've seen great numbers from him in the U23 ranks in actual races.
2014 U23 NC when he beat his teammate Bauhaus in the sprint.
Source:
https://www.facebook.com/TeamStoelting/posts/632790356816296
https://www.facebook.com/TeamStoelting/photos/pcb.632790356816296/632784016816930/?type=3&theater
1328W form 25 seconds after an almost 190km long race as an U23 rider who just had turned 22 is really impressive, even for his size.
I think that his size will hold him back, but he could become a world class leadout man.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Thanks for the links, and agreed on the last part.

 

[WheelofGear]

Ok ladies and lads, how will top 10 look like after the ITT?

Some of the sprinters like Viviani and Kittel are usually great in a shortish, flat time trial.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Ok ladies and lads, how will top 10 look like after the ITT?

Some of the sprinters like Viviani and Kittel are usually great in a shortish, flat time trial.

They have no reason to try

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

Ok ladies and lads, how will top 10 look like after the ITT?

Some of the sprinters like Viviani and Kittel are usually great in a shortish, flat time trial.

They have no reason to try

Wearing the leader's jersey for a day.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

Ok ladies and lads, how will top 10 look like after the ITT?

Some of the sprinters like Viviani and Kittel are usually great in a shortish, flat time trial.

They have no reason to try

So the answer is Rohan Dennis?

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

Ok ladies and lads, how will top 10 look like after the ITT?

Some of the sprinters like Viviani and Kittel are usually great in a shortish, flat time trial.

They have no reason to try

So the answer is Rohan Dennis?

Just back from his honeymoon, hasn't been training

 

[Koronin]

I would expect Denis, Dumoulin and Valverde to be in the top 10. Other TT specialists that are there include Sutterlin, Castroviejo, and Dowsett. I Izagirre can do a good TT, although he'll have the same mental issue with it as Valverde being the last either one of them rode an ITT was the Tour where they both had serious injuries. So there is that. There are some sprinters who can do a good TT if and when they choose to.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Jos van Emden to win this.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

Ok ladies and lads, how will top 10 look like after the ITT?

Some of the sprinters like Viviani and Kittel are usually great in a shortish, flat time trial.

They have no reason to try

So the answer is Rohan Dennis?

Just back from his honeymoon, hasn't been training

I guess Caruso is the captain then. Or Bookwalter. Or even young Kilian.

I consider Caruso (and even Bookwalter) to be a better climber than Dennis, so it makes sense.

 

[Samamba]

Re: Re:

Ok ladies and lads, how will top 10 look like after the ITT?

Some of the sprinters like Viviani and Kittel are usually great in a shortish, flat time trial.

They have no reason to try

So the answer is Rohan Dennis?

Just back from his honeymoon, hasn't been training

I guess Caruso is the captain then. Or Bookwalter. Or even young Kilian.

I consider Caruso (and even Bookwalter) to be a better climber than Dennis, so it makes sense.

Kilian lost 4 minutes in yesterdays stage.

 

[Velolover2]

I don't know what kind of shape Dumo is in but I don't think he will win the time trial. I'm hoping for a surprise winner. Why not his teammate, Wilco Kelderman? He is my winner bet.

This ITT was quite similar:
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/binckbank-tour/2016/stage-2

 

[Koronin]

Sutterlin is a TT specialist (not as good as Tony Martin, but still good) and this is his 3rd race of the season, maybe he can actually win the ITT. So I'll go with him for my pick.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

I don't know what kind of shape Dumo is in but I don't think he will win the time trial. I'm hoping for a surprise winner. Why not his teammate, Wilco Kelderman? He is my winner bet.

This ITT was quite similar:
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/binckbank-tour/2016/stage-2

Dumoulin is almost always in good shape when he's just out of training.

However, since this TT is pretty short I expect Rohan Dennis to top him.
You might be surprised, but a short flat ITT is not Dumoulins strong suit.
I expect something like 1 Dennis 2 Van Emden 3 Dumoulin

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

I don't know what kind of shape Dumo is in but I don't think he will win the time trial. I'm hoping for a surprise winner. Why not his teammate, Wilco Kelderman? He is my winner bet.

This ITT was quite similar:
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/binckbank-tour/2016/stage-2

Dumoulin is almost always in good shape when he's just out of training.

However, since this TT is pretty short I expect Rohan Dennis to top him.
You might be surprised, but a short flat ITT is not Dumoulins strong suit.
I expect something like 1 Dennis 2 Van Emden 3 Dumoulin

every cycling fan should know that tom isn't great in prologues or short time trials

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

I don't know what kind of shape Dumo is in but I don't think he will win the time trial. I'm hoping for a surprise winner. Why not his teammate, Wilco Kelderman? He is my winner bet.

This ITT was quite similar:
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/binckbank-tour/2016/stage-2

Dumoulin is almost always in good shape when he's just out of training.

However, since this TT is pretty short I expect Rohan Dennis to top him.
You might be surprised, but a short flat ITT is not Dumoulins strong suit.
I expect something like 1 Dennis 2 Van Emden 3 Dumoulin

every cycling fan should know that tom isn't great in prologues or short time trials

He top 2 every prologue/short TT from Paris-Nice to the Giro in 2016.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yet it isn't his strong suit. Long hilly/rolling time trials are

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

14:21 from Dennis. nobody even close so far. I think he has this

 

[Rollthedice]

Bike problems and change for Dumoulin. Slow.

 

[Velolover2]

My boy Kelderman was only 5th.

Castro 2th behind Dennis. And I think Castroviejo is a better climber so I expect a great GC from him. Maybe even a podium?