Tour of Qatar (2.HC) 8/2 - 13/2

[Hugo Koblet]

Kristoff is crazy. He opens up these really long sprints and noone gets past him.

 

[LosBrolin]

Sagan I thought?

Nope, it was Kristoff by inches. Sagan started his sprint too late once again.

 

[classicomano]

Sax again second by a thread, too bad.

 

[TourOfTexas]

Great camera work on the final. TDU could take some pointers.

 

[pink_jersey]

Kristoff with a 300m sprint again..
1.Kristoff
2.Sagan
3.Arndt

 

[Bushman]

Sagan did everything right but Kristoff is just incredibly strong.

 

[Netserk]

Very impressive by Boonen how he bridged across with 5km to go. He and Keirsbulck did very well to make sure that it was impossible for the first group to take turns. Saved Terpstra's a$s today.

 

[indianfanboy]

Watch out for Kiersbluck during the cobbles,he is a big future prospect

 

[Wallenquist]

Amazing job by Katusha. Dropped Terpstra and almost managed to hold it off.

 

[Jancouver]

Sagan was once again knocking on Kristoff's doors but all he heard was: "You are late again my B!TCH!"

BTW super awesome Luca Paolini once again!

 

[Netserk]

Amazing job by Katusha. Dropped Terpstra and almost managed to hold it off.

Yes, very well done. I would've thought it would be Etixx who would force a selection in the end after Boonen accelerated when the peloton turned left to the exposed part. In the end it cost them that they couldn't take turns but only had one man at a time to lead their group.

 

[Dr. Juice]

Sagan was once again knocking on Kristoff's doors but all he heard was: "You are late again my B!TCH!"

BTW super awesome Luca Paolini once again!

Well, if the one in front of you opens the sprint at -250 m and you are in the wheel and there is no way past...then that guy is simply the strongest
Kristoff is able to do these impressive long sprints without slowing down at the end. He does it in progression.

Was there headwind? If yes then it's even more impressive to hold everyone behind.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Those really long sprints by Kristoff after a hard day of racing are so crazy.

Hopefully Kristoff will fight for the GC tomorrow. He could get it if he gets some boni seconds along the route. Terpstra was also super strong in that TT so I'm happy with both as a winner, but it would be nice if they fight over it in the last stage.

 

[Dr. Juice]

If Bodnar was in the Kastusha-induced split at the end ...Terpestra would have lost the jersey. Saxo boys were just waiting for the sprint ...if Bodnar was at the front they would've helped and the group would never have made it back.

Kristoff for bonus seconds tomorrow?

 

[cineteq]

Sagan was once again knocking on Kristoff's doors but all he heard was: "You are late again my B!TCH!"

BTW super awesome Luca Paolini once again!

Looking forward to watching those 2 in the Tour fighting for green!

 

[Netserk]

If Bodnar was in the Kastusha-induced split at the end ...Terpestra would have lost the jersey. Saxo boys were just waiting for the sprint ...if Bodnar was at the front they would've helped and the group would never have made it back.

Kristoff for bonus seconds tomorrow?

They couldn't get to the front. The two Etixx boys locked the group so they couldn't rotate.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Kristoff moves up the 3rd (GC):
1 1 Niki TERPSTRA ETIXX-QUICK STEP 15:12:45
2 22 Maciej BODNAR TINKOFF-SAXO 00:00:06
3 61 Alexander KRISTOFF TEAM KATUSHA 00:00:11
4 106 Ian STANNARD TEAM SKY 00:00:12
5 46 Greg VAN AVERMAET BMC RACING TEAM 00:00:19
6 21 Peter SAGAN TINKOFF-SAXO 00:00:31
7 105 Luke ROWE TEAM SKY 00:00:33
8 151 Heinrich HAUSSLER IAM CYCLING 00:00:39
9 94 Andriy GRIVKO ASTANA PRO TEAM 00:00:41
10 2 Tom BOONEN ETIXX-QUICK STEP 00:00:42

The Norwegian could still win the race overall. Sixth and final stage:

Boom or bust, but Kristoff will likely win again.

 

[BeagRigh]

Is that finishing circuit actually a circle?

Pretty sure Etixx can stop Kristoff taking the intermediate, but I agree he looks likely to win the stage again.

 

[indianfanboy]

Kristoff is single handedly doing what Renshaw and Cav do in the last km

 

[Alexandre B.]

Love the Katusha lead-out man (Marco Haller, I think) who celebrate the win with 100m to go.

http://youtu.be/HHzYkWLriyg?t=14m25s

 

[neineinei]

https://twitter.com/tourofqatar_/status/565915902751698944

Lars Boom is eliminated from the 2015 #TourofQatar for sheltering for a long time behind a vehicle.

 

[neineinei]

Love the Katusha lead-out man (Marco Haller, I think) who celebrate the win with 100m to go.

http://youtu.be/HHzYkWLriyg?t=14m25s

Was it Guarnieri? Paolini seems happy with him.

https://twitter.com/Ilgerva77/status/565906700608102400

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Was it Guarnieri? Paolini seems happy with him.

https://twitter.com/Ilgerva77/status/565906700608102400

Could very well have been. Haller was in the break, so it probably wasn't him.

 

[jens_attacks]

crazy that once a time, forum's lovely meme TGAK actually now does sprints as alejet at his best. my favourite sprinter right now

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Is that finishing circuit actually a circle?

Pretty sure Etixx can stop Kristoff taking the intermediate, but I agree he looks likely to win the stage again.

Most likely an US style crit finish around the apartment or office blocks.