UAE Tour 2020, February 23- February 29

[el chava]

I think it's one of those new WT races where WT teams can still opt out of it. It seems that's what EF chose to do.

Good for them.

 

[Sestriere]

Was watching the feed without commentary. When the Bora guys were shaking hands after the finish, Selig said something along the lines of (towards Ackermann): Dude, sorry, but Gaviria elbowed me away like crazy..

 

[Salvarani]

Was watching the feed without commentary. When the Bora guys were shaking hands after the finish, Selig said something along the lines of (towards Ackermann): Dude, sorry, but Gaviria elbowed me away like crazy..

Gaviria and Morkov had a scuffle too, it looked like.

 

[ThePirate81]

Morkov blocked Gaviria when he was about to launch his sprint.

 

[Faserr]

1km from the finish Selig was guarding Ackermanns wheel and Gaviria was a bit aggressive to get Ackermanns wheel and took with aggressive riding At 400 metres from the finish he was bumping into Morkov or the other way round.

 

[Cinemaniak]

Couldn't watch the sprint but no sign of Bennett? Did his team mess it up or did he?

 

[Faserr]

Quick-Step messed it up. They were too early at the front and Bennett waited too long or rather it was game over when markov bumped into Gaviria.
Bennett won a lot of sprints like Ackermanns sprint today, without a leadout, finding the way on his own. He needs the perfect leadout to win from the front.

 

[Earns1985]

So Ackermann won the first day of the inofficial spring championships of the sprinters..
I´m curious if he can also get up with the bests at Hatta Dam tomorrow. Normally it´s a bit too difficult for him. Last year Ewan got the win here..

 

[yaco]

So Ackermann won the first day of the inofficial spring championships of the sprinters..
I´m curious if he can also get up with the bests at Hatta Dam tomorrow. Normally it´s a bit too difficult for him. Last year Ewan got the win here..

Apparently the lead up to the final is harder than last year - No certainty to be a sprinter's day.

 

[Breezy1985]

Couldn't watch the sprint but no sign of Bennett? Did his team mess it up or did he?

Morkov and Gaviria were pushing each other then slowed up and trapped Bennett behind

 

[Velolover2]

Forget about Angliru and Ventoux.

Pogačar vs. Ewan on Hatta Dam will be the mountain battle of the century. I'm really tempted to go with Pog for the stage win.

 

[johnymax]

Forget about Angliru and Ventoux.

Pogačar vs. Ewan on Hatta Dam will be the mountain battle of the century. I'm really tempted to go with Pog for the stage win.

Nah...
He should win on Jebel Hafeet the next day. Hatta Dam is Ewan, Degenkolb, Lobato territory, for great uphill sprinters.

 

[tobydawq]

Nah...
He should win on Jebel Hafeet the next day. Hatta Dam is Ewan, Degenkolb, Lobato territory, for great uphill sprinters.

It depends a lot on position. It's too steep to just label "an uphill sprint" but Ewan is far and away the biggest favourite. The question is whether the rest of the stage will prove too tough for him.

 

[Velolover2]

Nah...
He should win on Jebel Hafeet the next day. Hatta Dam is Ewan, Degenkolb, Lobato territory, for great uphill sprinters.

Roglic was third last year and it's hillier this time. If anything, Pog should be seen as a bigger favorite than Ewan.

And as witnessed in Valencia, our young Slovenian friend packs a lot of punch.

 

[42x16ss]

So Ackermann won the first day of the inofficial spring championships of the sprinters..
I´m curious if he can also get up with the bests at Hatta Dam tomorrow. Normally it´s a bit too difficult for him. Last year Ewan got the win here..

This will be more like a few years ago when Nathan Haas won rather than a punchy sprint stage

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Bennett will win this one.

 

[Lequack]

They're going all Formula 1 on us

 

[Lequack]

 

[bajbar]

This is looking more and more like TJV is ignoring the first part of the season on purpose. With the exception of Bennet in Australia, none of their top GC riders basically raced anything at all. Hoping that Roglič won't make the same approach. He has always been fired up from day 1 of racing so I believe it won't be any different in Paris-Nice.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Roglic was third last year and it's hillier this time. If anything, Pog should be seen as a bigger favorite than Ewan.

And as witnessed in Valencia, our young Slovenian friend packs a lot of punch.

Ewan won with such ease last year, though.

 

[Velolover2]

Ewan won with such ease last year, though.

Ewan is obviously the favorite if they arrive together but if the stage is raced hard enough I wouldn't count out Pogačar.

Wasn't it something like 3000 metres of climbing? That is basically medium mountain stage without the mountains.

 

[Lequack]

If they take is as easy as they did yesterday even the slowest sprinter will arrive rested up to the final climb.

 

[Lequack]

Stage 2 » Hatta › Hatta Dam (168k)

They're on their way

 

[Salvarani]

This is looking more and more like TJV is ignoring the first part of the season on purpose. With the exception of Bennet in Australia, none of their top GC riders basically raced anything at all. Hoping that Roglič won't make the same approach. He has always been fired up from day 1 of racing so I believe it won't be any different in Paris-Nice.

Or they all peaking for Tour. The Ineos way.

 

[Lequack]

Last km and last 20km