UAE Tour 2022, February 20 - February 26

Page 17 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Jun 6, 2017
6,170
3,703
23,180
No surprised regarding the winner though, Pogacar was clearly the best today and I don't expect anyone to beat him in Jabel Hafeet so if he doesn't lose time in the flat stages the final win should be his.
Pogacar was always going to win these kind of sprint, especially without some other fast guys. But I'm not sure he really is the strongest right now, both Vlasov and Yates look really sharp to me. We'll see, but I won't be surprised if he doesn't win on Jebel Hafeet.
 
Sep 21, 2020
550
379
4,280
Today there is no balance because Pogacar is the master of all. However, they can try to keep it as close as they can by eliminating the first ITT. With it you eliminate all the climbers from the get go. That's what the organizers are trying to avoid.
Of course, Pogacar is the best all-rounder and climber. And he is explosive too. And he has a sprint when arriving in a smalle bunch. But that has nothing to do with the topic. The balance between (to many climbs), hilly stages and TT. The conclusion is that there is no balance. Even Pogacar would have it less easy if there were more time trials.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Doopie
May 9, 2010
11,070
2,540
28,180
Imagine if Kukrle wins this... It looks tough, but it's not entirely impossible.

Edit: Damn, the gap is going down too fast now.
 
Sep 20, 2017
12,411
23,467
28,180
Really want to see Ewan, Jakobsen and Philipsen line up at the same race for once. There definitely isn't anyone else at that level for now.

Also both Kooij and Malucelli look to have stepped it up this year.
 

Wvv

Jan 3, 2019
1,967
2,816
11,180
Really want to see Ewan, Jakobsen and Philipsen line up at the same race for once. There definitely isn't anyone else at that level for now.
Mmm. Merlier in decent shape is a cannonball that can beat them all. Don't count him or good ol Cavendish out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jmdirt
Sep 20, 2017
12,411
23,467
28,180
Mmm. Merlier in decent shape is a cannonball that can beat them all. Don't count him or good ol Cavendish out.
Merlier is up there in terms of speed but his consistency and recovery aren't as good. The same is true for Cavendish right now although he may be suffering from his crashes.
 
Apr 16, 2009
17,600
6,854
28,180
Of course, Pogacar is the best all-rounder and climber. And he is explosive too. And he has a sprint when arriving in a smalle bunch. But that has nothing to do with the topic. The balance between (to many climbs), hilly stages and TT. The conclusion is that there is no balance. Even Pogacar would have it less easy if there were more time trials.
And that is your opinion. For the organizers there is more balance. Less TT and less hard mountains. That's what they call balance.
 
Jul 28, 2015
3,123
447
9,580
And that is your opinion. For the organizers there is more balance. Less TT and less hard mountains. That's what they call balance.
It's not balance, it's the fear of having someone killing the race and thus loosing supposed interest but that generally leads to races that suck because having just sprints for the bonus seconds or the break 10 minutes upfront with the peloton at walking pace are the absolute worst.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Roku
Aug 1, 2016
1,051
1,497
13,680
And that is your opinion. For the organizers there is more balance. Less TT and less hard mountains. That's what they call balance.

Well they could just leave a 5 KM ITT, 19 bunch sprints and a 200 km flat stage with a single iconic climb, like Tourmalet, 150 km far from the finish. That would make for an extremely balanced race!
 
  • Like
Reactions: tobydawq