Dubai Tour 2018

[Strawberry_Jams]

Glad to see Cav win. Also Dylan rightly getting a 20" penalty for that outrageous abuse of sitting behind a speeding car for about 2km

 

[Der Effe]

Re:

Glad to see Cav win. Also Dylan rightly getting a 20" penalty for that outrageous abuse of sitting behind a speeding car for about 2km

Yep - even Groenewegen himself said that penalty was totally justified.

 

[skippo12]

Cavendish said that he doesn`t care about his result as long as he isn`t winning. He stated that finishing 4th or 2nd makes no difference to him.
I wonder if his teammates and sponsor think the same when it comes to World Tour points and prize money.
He could have finished second today but gave up early and finished 4th.

On the other hand

Confirmed...Cav is following the threads on this forum.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Cavendish said that he doesn`t care about his result as long as he isn`t winning. He stated that finishing 4th or 2nd makes no difference to him.
I wonder if his teammates and sponsor think the same when it comes to World Tour points and prize money.
He could have finished second today but gave up early and finished 4th.

True sportsman and professional would always aim to place himself as high as possible. I don't buy that "win or nothing" crap!

I'm sure a certain Alberto Contador would have to disagree with you there! :lol: :lol:

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Some kudos to skippo12 though:

Cav said http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/dubai-tour-2018/stage-3/results/
after today's win:

The thing I'm disappointed about is that yesterday, when I realized I couldn't win, had I kept going, I would have come second and be in the lead now. It's my own fault. But I'll try and get the blue jersey in the next two days."

 

[Velolover2]

The micro-mur up next. I'd go for Bouhanni. What about you?

 

[Frankschleck]

Re:

The micro-mur up next. I'd go for Bouhanni. What about you?

Drucker or Cort is my guess

 

[SHAD0W93]

Hopefully Cav

 

[LaFlorecita]

Anxious to see how Minali will perform

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Hopefully Cav

Although Cav is more versatile, I honestly think that Kittel has a better chance in an uphill sprint.

But there should be better riders than both of them in such a finale. Bouhanni, Viviani, Cort, Colbrelli.

I think it's too steep for semi-heavy Kristoff. He would have been better if it was 400m at 4-6% or something like that.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Anxious to see how Minali will perform

Cort is their leader for overall, I think. And he should be better in such a finale.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Anxious to see how Minali will perform

Cort is their leader for overall, I think. And he should be better in such a finale.

Yes, doesn't mean Minali can't perform though. They were both sprinting today and yesterday.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re:

The micro-mur up next. I'd go for Bouhanni. What about you?

Bouhanni is the favorite, for sure. He only weights 66 kg. Remember Arcos de la Frontera? He survived in an elite group where only Matthews, Martin and Rodriguez got a tiny gap in the sprint.

But Viviani is motivated since he is in the leader's jersey.

 

[Jagartrott]

Seeing Groenewegen's interview where he flat out blames his mechanics, I can see why Oliver Naessen once called him an idiot. People may make mistakes, but you don't throw them under the bus in the media. That's just wrong.

 

[Krokro]

How can you favour Kittel or Cav for tommorow's stage when there's Colbrelli, Cort or even Degenkolb for that finish?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Degenkolb, Cort, Colbrelli, for the uphill sprint tomorrow

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

How can you favour Kittel or Cav for tommorow's stage when there's Colbrelli, Cort or even Degenkolb for that finish?

Wow, now I feel dumb I didn't read your post before writing

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

I hope Teuns will show the sprinters his back.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Re:

How can you favour Kittel or Cav for tommorow's stage when there's Colbrelli, Cort or even Degenkolb for that finish?

Because Cav is my favorite active rider so I want him to win.

 

[The Barb]

Re: Re:

The micro-mur up next. I'd go for Bouhanni. What about you?

Bouhanni is the favorite, for sure. He only weights 66 kg. Remember Arcos de la Frontera? He survived in an elite group where only Matthews, Martin and Rodriguez got a tiny gap in the sprint.

But Viviani is motivated since he is in the leader's jersey.

You mean Arcos de la Frontera in the 2014 Vuelta? As in a climb of about 1.5km at 4% or thereabouts? Sure, Bouhanni did well that day but I don't think it means anything for today. Hatta Dam is less than a quarter of the length and about three times steeper.

Don't get me wrong, I think Bouhanni will do just fine, but Degenkolb has to be the favourite. Colbrelli, Viviani and Bouhanni the dangers.

 

[WheelofGear]

I'm taking his weight into consideration. Bouhanni should be good at these types of finishes, but let's see. I don't think Degenkolb have looked 100% in this race but maybe he is just focusing on this stage. We never know.

 

[WheelofGear]

If Deg wants to win, Trek need to make the stage very hard. Full gas on the small climbs before Hatta Dam.

Baharin should do the same for Colbrelli. The more tired pure sprinters, the better for them.

 

[Jagartrott]

I'm wondering how the BMC youngsters will fare here. Both Van Hooydonck and Vliegen have some punch.

 

[Baldinger]

Weird tactics from Astana.

The break might take this.

 

[WheelofGear]

Only Trek are really working.

Baharin should help.