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

[Vesica]

@tourofqatar_ 4m4 minutes ago

Peter Sagan himself leads the peloton as the breakaway is caught. #TourofQatar


Sax a little too eager?

Probably working for Bodnar.

 

[Netserk]

Probably working for Bodnar.

That makes zero sense in a stage like this.

 

[Vesica]

That makes zero sense in a stage like this.

well, if everything should make sense in cycling, cycling would be very boring

 

[Roude Leiw]

Why, oh why is the tv coverage ~20km behind. I want *live* pictures.

Censorship?

 

[wirral]

The stage finishes 30 min earlier today but the tv channel is probably locked into a schedule and they want to show as much as possible.

 

[Netserk]

well, if everything should make sense in cycling, cycling would be very boring

Not to me.

 

[Netserk]

Sam Bennett wins!

Terpstra for the overall.

 

[BeagRigh]

Well that's unexpected!

 

[ICanTearYourLegsOff]

DFL yesterday. First today

 

[grizzlee]

DFL yesterday. First today

punctured in the last few k yesterday, never regained contact. Great result today hopefully the first of many wins this season. Bora have a lot of faith in Bennet, First year with a dedicated sprint train so expect a lot more as the season progresses. Konig going to sky has been a big benefit to him, now the main man on the team.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

DFL yesterday. First today

He had a puncture a few kms out yesterday.

Bora-Argon18 will be feeling pretty happy given that their season to a large extent depends on Bennett turning out to be as good as they think he is. Having lost their main leader and everyone else who can climb, and signed Bennett up to a long term contract when he still had a year's neopro contract to go, they need him to get wins.

That's his career best win so far, at least as far as bunch sprints go.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

punctured in the last few k yesterday, never regained contact. Great result today hopefully the first of many wins this season. Bora have a lot of faith in Bennet, First year with a dedicated sprint train so expect a lot more as the season progresses. Konig going to sky has been a big benefit to him, now the main man on the team.

Beat me to it!

 

[grizzlee]

beat me to it!

hehehehe!!!!!!!!!

 

[inthepink]

First of many for Sam ...he has great speed & power

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Nice mix of raw acceleration and clever positioning in the sprint.

There's a key moment when Sagan's lead out opens up and as the front of the field stretches, Bennett neatly bumps Blythe off Guardini's wheel (at 15:10 in the video). Sagan just didn't have the pace of Guardini and then Bennett turns on the jets and flies around Guardini. Everyone is still losing ground to him at the end except Bouhanni. Also, both Guardini and Bennett have nice, low, sprinting positions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yie3YhUc9M4

I'd be a bit worried about Sagan's pace in a field sprint at the moment. He had the best leadout but just didn't have the same top speed as Bennett, Guardini or Bouhanni.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Great sprint by Bennett! Also, I'm really impressed by Guardini's improvement this season. He has worked on those exact things needed to become a top sprinter.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Great sprint by Bennett! Also, I'm really impressed by Guardini's improvement this season. He has worked on those exact things needed to become a top sprinter.

Yes the win has to be coming soon for Guardini. Three second places and a third so far this season. Maybe he's finally turning into the sprinter everyone thought he would be after his first season breakthrough.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Nice fifth place for Reguigui, by the way.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Nice fifth place for Reguigui, by the way.

Well, he wasn't satisfied at all

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Well, he wasn't satisfied at all

No? As far as I can see on Wikipedia it's his second best career result! What did he say?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

No? As far as I can see on Wikipedia it's his second best career result! What did he say?

He was slamming his handlebar as he crossed the line.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

He was slamming his handlebar as he crossed the line.

Ah, ok. I suppose it makes sense. With all those sprinters on MTN, he probably won't find himself with an opportunity to sprint for the win himself all that often.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-...asy-but-i-didnt-need-to-kick-a-second-time-2/

Bennett interview

 

[The Hegelian]

What was the deal with Kristoff not contesting the final sprint and coming 19th?

I would have assumed an all out war between EQS and Katusha for GC. Gentleman's agreement perhaps??

 

[Akuryo]

What was the deal with Kristoff not contesting the final sprint and coming 19th?

I would have assumed an all out war between EQS and Katusha for GC. Gentleman's agreement perhaps??

Probably, as he was coming in next to Terpstra. They crossed the line together.