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

[maltiv]

Also, the field of Qatar is actually really amazing. I read on the Sporza ticker that the riders competing here have won a total of 23 Monuments and 7 world title between them. (And mountains of other wins of course.)

Cancellara+Boonen cover almost all of these wins though

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Cancellara+Boonen cover almost all of these wins though

Well I think Boonen has 7 monuments and Cancellara has 7 monuments, then there's still 9 left. Gilbert has 3, Valverde has 2 and Kristoff, Terpstra, Pozzato and Ciolek each have 1. There's also two GT winners in Wiggins and Valverde. And we're not even counting Sagan and Van Avermaet yet because they've never won anything big.

So basically, yeah, over half of those monuments come from two riders, but the field is still amazing

 

[indianfanboy]

Etixx and Tinkoff have sent Vandenbergh and Breshel up the road.They are looking to set up something for Boonen,Terpstra and Sagan.

Break has 10 minutes over the peloton and 7:30 over the chasers

 

[wirral]

Well I think Boonen has 7 monuments and Cancellara has 7 monuments, then there's still 9 left. Gilbert has 3, Valverde has 2 and Kristoff, Terpstra, Pozzato and Ciolek each have 1. There's also two GT winners in Wiggins and Valverde. And we're not even counting Sagan and Van Avermaet yet because they've never won anything big.

So basically, yeah, over half of those monuments come from two riders, but the field is still amazing

Yes, agree.

Qatar has become a very important season opener for the big names. Not too far to travel (cf : Australia, Argentina or Malaysia). Riders like it as they are well looked after and don't have to change hotels and as stated it attracts the classics hunters who are 2 months away from their big prizes for the most part.

Oman can get insanely good startlists. Look at 2013. Not so great this year but okay.

 

[pastronef]

Yes, agree.

Qatar has become a very important season opener for the big names. Not too far to travel (cf : Australia, Argentina or Malaysia). Riders like it as they are well looked after and don't have to change hotels and as stated it attracts the classics hunters who are 2 months away from their big prizes for the most part.

Oman can get insanely good startlists. Look at 2013. Not so great this year but okay.

some riders can get 20 days of racing (Dubai, Qatar, Oman) in warm conditions, nice hotels, no big tranfers (just from one race to another)

sad to say, but that is hard to match for the early euro races

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

1st intermediate sprint:

1. Jarl Salomein
2. Luca Sterbini
3. Nikias Arndt

Tom Boonen was 4th. Arndt stealing boni seconds from Boonen?

Why would he do that? It's not as if Giant have anyone that's going to do anything in the GC.....

 

[Wallenquist]

1st intermediate sprint:

1. Jarl Salomein
2. Luca Sterbini
3. Nikias Arndt

Tom Boonen was 4th. Arndt stealing boni seconds from Boonen?

Why would he do that? It's not as if Giant have anyone that's going to do anything in the GC.....

They have Kittel. If wind won't be strong enough this week, he may survive and win GC.

 

[indianfanboy]

Peloton led by FDJ and Alpecin trailing by 4 minutes

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

An average of 30 km/h for the first two hours because of the headwind.

 

[trevim]

An average of 30 km/h for the first two hours because of the headwind.

That's lovely, I would hate ride in those exposed roads

 

[indianfanboy]

Its getting faster as the gap is down to 30 sec

 

[DFA123]

An average of 30 km/h for the first two hours because of the headwind.

At those speeds they're probably ony doing about 50 watts in the middle of the peloton. Could be a very fast sprint with a lot of fresh legs if it stays that way.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Apparently the wind's decent and the last 20km will have crosswinds. I kind of figured from the weather forecast and the map, but the Sporza ticker says confirms it.

 

[indianfanboy]

Boonen splitting the peloton!!

 

[indianfanboy]

looks like all the favourites have made the split

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Bout 45 people in the first group including Boonen, Tersptra, EBH, Kittel, Sagan, Kristoff, Cancellara en D?mare.

But if there's already somewhat of a selection, it will be easier to force more selection during the last 20km with crosswinds if they lost of domestiques.

 

[TourOfTexas]

Silly French feed is still showing the women's race!

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Lars Boom is in the second group! Astana chasing.....

There's three big groups btw. But so far it seems like the favourites except Boom made the first one and Boom is in the second one.

 

[peloton]

Wiggo and Bouhanni in the second group, Haussler and Boom in 3rd group

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I just love this race so much.

Not a single climb, no cobbles, nothing. Still they race from like 60km's out all the time with an amazing field.

For all those silly artificially made races for the sake of globalization, this one at least is a great success as far as I'm concerned.

 

[peloton]

all together again

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Sporza ticker indicating that the 2nd and 3rd group have come together and they're only 14 seconds behind the first one.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

I just love this race so much.

Not a single climb, no cobbles, nothing. Still they race from like 60km's out all the time with an amazing field.

For all those silly artificially made races for the sake of globalization, this one at least is a great success as far as I'm concerned.

It would be great if it had little bergs that also have no protection. They could build them like the VAMberg.

 

[Netserk]

Does somebody have an English stream?

 

[indianfanboy]

all back together