Dubai Tour 2018

[The Barb]

OK, please don't crucify me for not even attempting to do an Eshnar standard opening post. I'm just wanting to start a discussion if anyone's interested.

I do so acknowledging that the Dubai Tour is a pretty mediocre race, but at least:

(a) It is cycling when there has been very little for months;
(b) There's a super strong field of sprinters this year;
(c) The Hatta Dam stage is always good for a minute or so of entertainment;
(d) I never get tired of seeing shots of Burj Khalifa.

Obviously the GC seems to be Kittel's for the taking and even at $2.10 I think he's backable. He should be super motivated kicking off with a new team and he only lost 4 seconds the last time he went up Hatta Dam.

Degenkolb is the second favourite but I don't see him picking up many times bonuses other than on Hatta Dam, where I think he'll win.

I prefer Viviani as the main threat to Kittel. His form in Australia looked fabulous. I'm thinking he could even surprise at Milan San Remo.

Overall, a good race to record and watch the final 3 kilometres each day.

 

[Nirvana]

Teuns is in good shape? The last 200 meters of Hatta are perfect for him.
Anyway the overall will likely be for a sprinter.

 

[hammerthaim]

Keen for some sprints!

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Andy Fenn in the break at 1m38s

 

[Squire]

I'd forgotten how frustrating Kirby is to listen to. "Kristoff is the kind of sprinter who hits the wind and then goes backwards". Really, the guy with the most beastly 300m sprints in the peloton? Especially in February.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re:

I'd forgotten how frustrating Kirby is to listen to. "Kristoff is the kind of sprinter who hits the wind and then goes backwards". Really, the guy with the most beastly 300m sprints in the peloton? Especially in February.

Surely AI can come up with
a sure fire way to filter out any given commentator
- Kirby could be the test case.

Edit:
Even Brian Smith describes Kirby's commentary as a drone

 

[fauniera]

 

[MartinGT]

Viviani FTW QS look impressive

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Is that Nibali down?

 

[MartinGT]

Looks like it

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Viviani squashed a bit there

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

Is that Nibali down?

No it wasn't Nibs

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

If prov is right, Jacob Hennessy 6th is v.impressive

 

[DFA123]

W/hat was Viviani doing there trying to get through on the inside? Probably cost himself a win; there was never going to be enough space.

 

[Der Effe]

Thought Cort Nielsen had it in the bag...

1) Groenewegen
2) Cort Nielsen
3) Viviani
4) Kristoff
5) Bouhanni
6) Hennessy
7) Young
8) Colbrelli
9) Peron
10) Vliegen

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Wow, impressive sprint by Nielsen. Didn't think he was that fast.

 

[Squire]

Also impressive from Peron and Novo Nordisk, getting a top10 in such elevated company.

 

[Velolover2]

Who has the best chance of the sprinters on the "micro-Mur"?

It's only really a 200 metre effort on steep gradients.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Who has the best chance of the sprinters on the "micro-Mur"?

It's only really a 200 metre effort on steep gradients.

Both Cort Nielsen and Groenewegen have a nice uphill kick. Cort can survive harder stages but I don't think that's an issue here since the stage itself is rather easy.

We all know that Valverde is the king of the 1k uphill sprint but who is the king of the 200m uphill sprint?

 

[Squire]

Re: Re:

Who has the best chance of the sprinters on the "micro-Mur"?

It's only really a 200 metre effort on steep gradients.

Both Cort Nielsen and Groenewegen have a nice uphill kick. Cort can survive harder stages but I don't think that's an issue here since the stage itself is rather easy.

We all know that Valverde is the king of the 1k uphill sprint but who is the king of the 200m uphill sprint?

Lobato is the king of the 200m uphill sprint. He's not here though. Degenkolb was quite convincing when he won on the Hatta dam in 2015. Nizzolo was 2nd after Lobato in 2016. In general I'd look for the slightly lighter riders who can produce a lot of power. Viviani should do well. He'll benefit from his team too, as positioning is very important for that stage.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

Who has the best chance of the sprinters on the "micro-Mur"?

It's only really a 200 metre effort on steep gradients.

Degenkolb has won here on Hata Dam before but both Kittel and Groenewegen has a good chance of winning as well.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

Who has the best chance of the sprinters on the "micro-Mur"?

It's only really a 200 metre effort on steep gradients.

Both Cort Nielsen and Groenewegen have a nice uphill kick. Cort can survive harder stages but I don't think that's an issue here since the stage itself is rather easy.

We all know that Valverde is the king of the 1k uphill sprint but who is the king of the 200m uphill sprint?

Lobato is the king of the 200m uphill sprint. He's not here though. Degenkolb was quite convincing when he won on the Hatta dam in 2015. Nizzolo was 2nd after Lobato in 2016. In general I'd look for the slightly lighter riders who can produce a lot of power. Viviani should do well. He'll benefit from his team too, as positioning is very important for that stage.

Yeah, it's a shame that Lobato isn't here. He is really specialized in those types of finishes.

There is also Colbrelli who is great uphill. And as you said, I wouldn't be surprised if Viviani wins Hatta Dam. He isn't a heavy weighter like some of the bigger engines. Bouhanni is also very light for a sprinter. He could win it too.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Teuns is in good shape? The last 200 meters of Hatta are perfect for him.
Anyway the overall will likely be for a sprinter.

It's almost too easy for him. If it was a 500 m effort, it would be different.

 

[silvergrenade]

Katusha did an awesome job IMO. Did kittel get a mechanical or something?
And where was Cav?
Great sprint by Dylan and Elia.

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

Katusha did an awesome job IMO. Did kittel get a mechanical or something?
And where was Cav?
Great sprint by Dylan and Elia.

Yeah Kittel had a mechanical. Cav i don't know what was his problem...