The 2019 UAE Tour (24/02 - 02/03)

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re: Re:

So what exactly were Lotto Soudal thinking?

They went up way too early and got lost. Cant really blame Ewan for that either. He trusted his team mates.

I never understand those teams who set up the full train and try to keep it up with 4km to go.

Full trains are dying out imo.

Full trains just need the entire team to participate, especially when teams consist of fewer riders, and need all of those to know exactly what to do, and be able to manouvre in tight spaces and go full gas for miles, while doing so. It's just not worth it for most teams, unless you have specialists in the team and only one guy, a super sprinter, to take the victory.

As for Lotto, it's probably the team i've followed the most, ever since i was a kid (late 80's to now) and let's just say i don't think much of them when it comes to tactics and strategy.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Re:

Planet, for frick's sake! You can't get in the breakaway in every (non (T)TT) stage!
Obviously, he... can...

It's his only tactic, he has no Plan B

(works better if you impose a bad French accent on his name)

 

[Lequack]

Re: Re:

Planet, for frick's sake! You can't get in the breakaway in every (non (T)TT) stage!
Obviously, he... can...

It's his only tactic, he has no Plan B

(works better if you impose a bad French accent on his name)

Like I said, these stages are predetermined to end in a sprint finish, so only the wildcard teams are forced into a breakaway, basically to provide some fake entertainment value. But since everyone knows it's a sprint finish you will not see a WT team punishing their riders.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Planet, for frick's sake! You can't get in the breakaway in every (non (T)TT) stage!
Obviously, he... can...

It's his only tactic, he has no Plan B

(works better if you impose a bad French accent on his name)

Wouldn't it be a bad English accent?

 

[search]

Re: Re:

Planet, for frick's sake! You can't get in the breakaway in every (non (T)TT) stage!
Obviously, he... can...

It's his only tactic, he has no Plan B

(works better if you impose a bad French accent on his name)

Like I said, these stages are predetermined to end in a sprint finish, so only the wildcard teams are forced into a breakaway, basically to provide some fake entertainment value. But since everyone knows it's a sprint finish you will not see a WT team punishing their riders.

well, with the load of points Kuriakov and Planet score in those breakaways, they'll probably finish 1-2 in the sprints ranking at least - and not just the intermediate one. So that's a bit of a reward at least (and in terms of financials even a better one than winning a stage)

 

[Lequack]

The rare spectator in UAE:

 

[Lequack]

Watts comparison for the final sprint:

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Watts comparison for the final sprint:

Only 1210 watts max in a bunch sprint after a completely uneventful stage?? Doesn't that sound way too low?

 

[Velolover2]

Gaviria 1. Viviani 1.

It's the Cav vs. Kittel battle of 2019.

 

[Koronin]

Nice win for Viviani.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Also, I think Gilbert and Alaphilippe are hoping for a different outcome. A lot will depend on Sagan, as usual.

I wouldn't be surprised if QS is riding for Gilbert as if he can win MSR that leaves only Paris-Roubiax as the only monument that he hasn't won.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Also, I think Gilbert and Alaphilippe are hoping for a different outcome. A lot will depend on Sagan, as usual.

I wouldn't be surprised if QS is riding for Gilbert as if he can win MSR that leaves only Paris-Roubiax as the only monument that he hasn't won.

Strive for five is never happening and only a fool would sacrifice 1% of chances of winning for that.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Also, I think Gilbert and Alaphilippe are hoping for a different outcome. A lot will depend on Sagan, as usual.

I wouldn't be surprised if QS is riding for Gilbert as if he can win MSR that leaves only Paris-Roubiax as the only monument that he hasn't won.

Strive for five is never happening and only a fool would sacrifice 1% of chances of winning for that.

With QS riding for one rider in a one day event doesn't prevent their other riders from actually winning it. Much will depend on how the race plays out and who their best option at the end is, which may not be who they were originally riding for.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Watts comparison for the final sprint:

Only 1210 watts max in a bunch sprint after a completely uneventful stage?? Doesn't that sound way too low?

Not really. If you look at the numbers Gaviria held a high wattage longer than Viviani for them to have the same average power in the sprint.

I think Gaviria might be slightly lighter as well.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Watts comparison for the final sprint:

Only 1210 watts max in a bunch sprint after a completely uneventful stage?? Doesn't that sound way too low?

Not really. If you look at the numbers Gaviria held a high wattage longer than Viviani for them to have the same average power in the sprint.

I think Gaviria might be slightly lighter as well.

But 1210? Shouldn't they be pushing above 1500? Even I can get close to 1100 on a good day...

 

[Lequack]

In the slow motion you could already see Viviani losing grip on his backwheel, so it would probably be impossible to put more watts in even if he had them.

 

[Lequack]

Jumbo setting pace at front of peloton. Good breakaway group including Viviani with 3 min time gap. #UAETour

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Watts comparison for the final sprint:

Only 1210 watts max in a bunch sprint after a completely uneventful stage?? Doesn't that sound way too low?

Not really. If you look at the numbers Gaviria held a high wattage longer than Viviani for them to have the same average power in the sprint.

I think Gaviria might be slightly lighter as well.

But 1210? Shouldn't they be pushing above 1500? Even I can get close to 1100 on a good day...

I think we underestimate the difference between a sprint when you're 100% fresh and a sprint at the end of a flat stage after a 5km drag race at the end. Also these guys aren't even tall and they're still pretty lean.

Also, 23 seconds is looong. The phosphogen system responsible for sprint like efforts depletes in a matter of seconds.

 

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

Watts comparison for the final sprint:

Only 1210 watts max in a bunch sprint after a completely uneventful stage?? Doesn't that sound way too low?

Not really. If you look at the numbers Gaviria held a high wattage longer than Viviani for them to have the same average power in the sprint.

I think Gaviria might be slightly lighter as well.

But 1210? Shouldn't they be pushing above 1500? Even I can get close to 1100 on a good day...

For 0.5 second maybe and with fresh legs :lol:

 

[Lequack]

Re: Re:

Planet, for frick's sake! You can't get in the breakaway in every (non (T)TT) stage!
Obviously, he... can...

It's his only tactic, he has no Plan B

(works better if you impose a bad French accent on his name)

 

[Robert5091]

Look forward to see if Tom Dumoulin gives it a go today. Go Tommy D!

 

[Robert5091]

Nibs has sent 2 men into the break - meaningful or not?

 

[Lequack]

The peloton is fractured after a crash in the bunch. @GianniMoscon went down but is back up and riding. The wind is whipping up a bit out there with 81km to go #UAETour

Video of the crash:
https://twitter.com/dubaisportstv/status/1101427706095435777

#UAETour - Due to the road shape, Viviani can now see his former breakaway teammates on the other side.

 

[Robert5091]

The break*s at 8 mins from the peloton with 60 km to go. Taking it easy.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

This climb barely goes above 5%.