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

[Vesica]

Kristoff, Degenkolb and also Sagan doesn't need their team to control everything. They can ride it not completely on their own, but they are strong enough to survive without teammates.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

What is it with people on this site and really really bad nicknames.... i still haven't forgiven whoever came up with "froomedawg"..(barf)

Uhmm... I think it was Froome's girlfriend who came up with froomedog.

 

[Jerkovin]

Sagan actually looked pretty quick there. He just timed his sprint wrong.

 

[wirral]

Terpstra, Stannard, Van Avermaet lose 5 seconds in a split.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

A nice long sprint by Kristoff.
Sh!te weather will help him at MSR.

 

[Murungaru]

San Remo is often unpredictable and Kristoff will have his team under a lot of pressure to keep things under control. I think he's the favourite at this point specially because Degenkolb is yet to find his sprinting legs. Also keep in mind that guys like Cancellara, Sagan, Nibali, Gilbert or Van Avermaet will turn things upside down, creating havoc even if they don't have the legs to win.
It's far from a done deal for Kristoff.

Ben Swift hope to be a part of it too! Third last year.
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/ben-swift-milan-san-remo-one-thing-im-thinking-156795

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Cross wind / No crosswind
Boom / Bust

Stage 5:

Kristoff again. Why not.

 

[Tournesol]

Dont fancy Kristoff for MSR. Difficult race in recent times to win two years on the trot plus with the finish back on the Via Roma it means attacking riders like Gilbert and Cancellara will light it up earlier instead of waiting for a group sprint where their chances would be diminished against Kristoff/Sagan/Degenkolb.

It is however a long race and as is mentioned upthread, the worse the weather is the better chance Kristoff has of doing a good race.Likeable rider, really pushed on from his bronze at the Olympics.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Dont fancy Kristoff for MSR. Difficult race in recent times to win two years on the trot plus with the finish back on the Via Roma it means attacking riders like Gilbert and Cancellara will light it up earlier instead of waiting for a group sprint where their chances would be diminished against Kristoff/Sagan/Degenkolb.

It is however a long race and as is mentioned upthread, the worse the weather is the better chance Kristoff has of doing a good race.Likeable rider, really pushed on from his bronze at the Olympics.

Gilbert is not the rider he used to be and Cancellara will wait for a bunch sprint as he usually does. Besides, ffter 290 km, Kristoff is by far the strongest rider in the peloton, and I don't think they'll be able to get rid off him easily.

 

[Jspear]

Gilbert is not the rider he used to be and Cancellara will wait for a bunch sprint as he usually does. Besides, ffter 290 km, Kristoff is by far the strongest rider in the peloton, and I don't think they'll be able to get rid off him easily.

Are you talking about MSR only or classics in general? Fabian ain't the type to "usually" wait for a sprint. That isn't were he is strongest and he knows that.

Back to Qatar. Hard to look past Kristoff for the win...hoping Guardini can pull a win off though.

IMO this race has shown how one dimensional Kittel is. Any sort of obstacles and he is paralyzed. Hopefully Cav and his team learn how to monopolize on this later in the season.

 

[Tournesol]

Gilbert is not the rider he used to be and Cancellara will wait for a bunch sprint as he usually does. Besides, ffter 290 km, Kristoff is by far the strongest rider in the peloton, and I don't think they'll be able to get rid off him easily.

Yes,if a dozen riders come to the finish then he's the guy to be on.The problem is that i don't think a dozen will come to the finish if the gruppeto disintegrates on the Poggio.

Hope someone who hasn't won in Qatar so far this year can get a win tomorrow or Friday,would be happy for new resilient Guardini or Sagan to take the win.

 

[Netserk]

Please Boonen, attack and win solo!

 

[trevim]

Please Boonen, attack and win solo!

I would be happy if Boonen could take only three victories this year: San Remo, Het Volk and Paris-Tours! He could retire after that

 

[Murungaru]

Please Boonen, attack and win solo!

That would love it too but i think too risky for Terpstra in case of split.

 

[kiilike]

Bodnar gained 5 seconds because of split at finish, and now he is loosing only 6 seconds. Maybe tomorrow sprint for him with Sagan leading?

 

[Roude Leiw]

Bodnar gained 5 seconds because of split at finish, and now he is loosing only 6 seconds. Maybe tomorrow sprint for him with Sagan leading?

certainly not, bodnar haz not enough sprint against this field, better go for a stage with sagan

 

[Krebs cycle]

Yes,if a dozen riders come to the finish then he's the guy to be on.The problem is that i don't think a dozen will come to the finish if the gruppeto disintegrates on the Poggio.

Hope someone who hasn't won in Qatar so far this year can get a win tomorrow or Friday,would be happy for new resilient Guardini or Sagan to take the win.

We've got permission to ride the race route on friday so I'm planning on winning the local expat bunch sprint. Does that count?

 

[peloton]

Race has blown apart from the start, 3 groups, Wiggo and Gilbert dropped

edit. Cance and Bodnar also dropped

 

[veji11]

live ticker somewhere ?

 

[Wallenquist]

live ticker somewhere ?

https://twitter.com/tourofqatar_

 

[peloton]

live ticker somewhere ?

https://twitter.com/tourofqatar_

 

[veji11]

cheers guys.

 

[indianfanboy]

Saxo leading the chase they are bringing the gap down

 

[Murungaru]

Bodnar, Cancellara, Kittel, Demare, Bouhanni, Gilbert, Wiggins aren't in the first group.

For the live i go on twitter #tourofqatar, for now.

 

[LosBrolin]

Ruffoni FTW pleaase.