Saudi Tour 2022 (February 1st - 5th)

[Devil's Elbow]

Stage races are back! This one will be available on both Eurosport and Youtube.

Startlist

The route
Haven't seen a roadbook anywhere and the official site doesn't give too much information... other than these profiles, which have a colour scheme that's only marginally better than the Bessèges one I put in the worst profiles thread. Still more than we have for Oman next week though - the offseason is over ASO, please wake up from your hibernation

Stage 1

The gravel road is 7.5 kilometres in length at a width of 8 metres, as per the official site.

Stage 2

I've seen different numbers quoted for the climb to the finish, it should be 1.6 km at 7.7% with the final 500 metres at 9%.

Stage 3

This and the final stage share the same finish line.

Stage 4

From the race site:

The 4km long climb includes 2.7km at 12% and a part with a gradient of 22%.

Stage 5

 

[Red Rick]

Looks like 4 sprints and one murito style climb with 10km from the finish?

 

[Escarabajo]

Are we looking at Geologic cross sections or stage profiles?
LOL. Nice touch!

 

[Samamba]

Bagioli will win
Top 5 for Uijtdebroeks

7km grind section tmrw btw and that Murito on day 4 is ridiculous.

 

[armchairclimber]

Bagioli will win
Top 5 for Uijtdebroeks

7km grind section tmrw btw and that Murito on day 4 is ridiculous.

Come on Weatabix

 

[repre]

And Bora scratched Bennett from startlist. What happened?

 

[tobydawq]

Come on Weatabix

Who?

 

[Wvv]

And Bora scratched Bennett from startlist. What happened?

Patrick's voodoo.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

And Bora scratched Bennett from startlist. What happened?

He wants to go back to Quickstep.

(i'm kidding)

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Looks like 4 sprints and one murito style climb with 10km from the finish?

Stage 2 finishes with 1.6km at 7.7%.

 

[Earns1985]

GC wise the field doesn´t look that strong here, although there are two stages for the puncheur/climbers. Agree that Bagioli can win the overall. I am also curious about Kämna´s comeback and Uijtdebroeks performance. Fabbro is also in their squad. Because Bennett is out, Ewan and Groenewegen will be favourites for the sprints and also for today..

 

[Mayomaniac]

The unpaved road that they are using today:

Not a big fan of these desert races with no fans.
On the other hand Saudi Arabia has multiple climbs that are harder than the Zoncolan, with nice roads that are in perfect condition, so one would almost have to hope that this race will grow...

 

[Earns1985]

The unpaved road that they are using today:

Not a big fan of these desert races with no fans.
On the other hand Saudi Arabia has multiple climbs that are harder than the Zoncolan, with nice roads that are in perfect condition, so one would almost have to hope that this race will grow...

Ewan said before the stage, that the gravel section could have a significant impact in the stage finale..

 

[manafana]

GC wise the field doesn´t look that strong here, although there are two stages for the puncheur/climbers. Agree that Bagioli can win the overall. I am also curious about Kämna´s comeback and Uijtdebroeks performance. Fabbro is also in their squad. Because Bennett is out, Ewan and Groenewegen will be favourites for the sprints and also for today..

Be interesting if Kamna comes back, Meurisse on my radar too, had win at tail end of last year in sprint with Trentin, his previous win was in Murcia in '20 ahead of kamna

 

[Ricco']

The Mareczko's rise to the sprinting elite will start here.

 

[SafeBet]

Santi Buitrago will win this bike race (I mean the whole Tour, not today's stage).

 

[yaco]

If only we could see live pictures - Issues with the plane picking up signals from the motorbikes.

 

[Earns1985]

If only we could see live pictures - Issues with the plane picking up signals from the motorbikes.

We see live pictures now from the ten year old saudi arabian next super talents..

 

[zigzag wanderer]

If only we could see live pictures - Issues with the plane picking up signals from the motorbikes.

Because the plane hasn't taken off?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1488479742202425350

View: https://twitter.com/Domestique___/status/1488479742202425350?s=20&t=J4kb7Im1M3hcY5qQ7CKTmQ

 

[yaco]

Strange as there is not a cloud in the sky.

 

[Savant12]

We've probably just watched the most exciting part of this race.

 

[Earns1985]

Bagioli crashed in the gravel sector..

 

[Mayomaniac]

Because the plane hasn't taken off?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1488479742202425350

View: https://twitter.com/Domestique___/status/1488479742202425350?s=20&t=J4kb7Im1M3hcY5qQ7CKTmQ

Italy approves!

 

[Tim Cahill]

Too easy for Brother Caleb.

I'm glad he's recovering well from the traumatic knee pain picked up in last years giro.

 

[Samamba]

Easiest win of Ewans career, LTS worked on their leadout and it immediately pays off.