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Oh nice, we were just wondering about that in the tour of Oman thread:

Oops I missed that. I thought it still didn't have a thread (and honestly it didn't deserve one if there wasn't any live broadcast).
 
I'm sorry... what?
Samu is right, after he won the Taiwan KOM Challenge at Wuling La he posted a victory celebration photograph posing with his bike, reclining on what he thought was a scenic bench near the summit to try to do a whole "the king of the mountain on his throne" kind of picture, only to find out that he had actually been seated on the altar of a sacred family tomb and that this act was considered a grave (no pun intended) personal insult to both the deceased and their descendants.

In reality, it was largely understood that it was a gaffe of cultural ignorance, not undertaken knowingly and so apologies were issued and little real offence was taken, but it turned a lot of local heads in horror and got a bit of press in Taiwan at the time.
 
18 year old neo pro (?) Estela Domínguez passed away after being hit by a truck in training

 
There are lots of cool things about helicopter coverage for bicycle racing.. Oman getting dangerous stuff blown all over, possible injuries worst, delays at best. Loved cyclocross worlds with pesky little drone chasing the race..I hope that there can be expanded coverage for smaller races using drones, many are pretty big..as big as a bicycle.. Creates another list of problems, but can be an alternative to moto and car coverage for smaller races and doesn't create the tornado conditions seen in Oman

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj4thX3OUbI
 
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Itzulia route is out.

No MTF, no ITT

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slighty a-typical route, no 'real' MTF and no ITT (can't remember this race without ITT).

Last stage clearly seems the most difficult, and will for 90% decide the race. Considering that the last hard climb is quite far from the finish, it could be most likely a small group finishing together (2-5 riders). So best classified of them will win.

Stage 1: difficult to judge. Are those very small hills in the last 35k of the stage difficult enough to trouble sprinters?
Stage 2: interesting part between 120-150k, but far from the finish, will any team make the race hard in this phase. Last hill/mountain is not steep at all, so probably reduced bunch sprint.
Stage 3: Puncheur stage. A little bit hard to judge how difficult the hills are. But considering the dark green they will be at least steep. Second most important stage of the race.
Stage 4: All about that 2nd cat climb. Probably looking at the profile first few km will be around or above 8%. Difficult enough for the favorites to try something, but not difficult enough for big time differences.
Stage 5: Puncheur stage light. Could have some impact on the GC as those small hills seems rather steep.
Stage 6: The most important stage. Strong team could help with tactical movements.
 
slighty a-typical route, no 'real' MTF and no ITT (can't remember this race without ITT).

Last stage clearly seems the most difficult, and will for 90% decide the race. Considering that the last hard climb is quite far from the finish, it could be most likely a small group finishing together (2-5 riders). So best classified of them will win.

Stage 1: difficult to judge. Are those very small hills in the last 35k of the stage difficult enough to trouble sprinters?
Stage 2: interesting part between 120-150k, but far from the finish, will any team make the race hard in this phase. Last hill/mountain is not steep at all, so probably reduced bunch sprint.
Stage 3: Puncheur stage. A little bit hard to judge how difficult the hills are. But considering the dark green they will be at least steep. Second most important stage of the race.
Stage 4: All about that 2nd cat climb. Probably looking at the profile first few km will be around or above 8%. Difficult enough for the favorites to try something, but not difficult enough for big time differences.
Stage 5: Puncheur stage light. Could have some impact on the GC as those small hills seems rather steep.
Stage 6: The most important stage. Strong team could help with tactical movements.
Stage 3 doesn't look too hard, I think it's mainly down to the final 500m. Hills on stage 5 look very short.

Very underwhelming route
 
Stage 8 is fantastic. What a great tribute to Bernard Hinault's first big win after a career defining near death experience. :hearteyes:

stage 8 alone is better than every design of the mountain stages in the tour this year.

The whole route is not bad, but neither super great. For my feelings it takes a while before the import GC stages arrives. A few identical stages in the beginning that most likely are too difficult for pure sprinters, but clearly not difficult enough for GC actions. Although, they could be entertaining, like stage 1, can all the sprinters get back in the peloton or not, and are teams with better climbing sprinters drilling it on the hills.

Second half is more difficult, ITT with decent length for a one week race. A stage with a tricky 2nd category (almost 9%) near the finish. A punchy mountain stage to crest-voland. And 2 real mountain stages with opportunities. Although the combo mollard + croix the fer will mostly be ridden as a kind of unipuerto MTF. Last stage is great.
 
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