UAE Tour 2023, February 20-26 (women's race February 9-12)

[yaco]

You didn’t think stage 1 with all the echelons was interesting?

How you can make that deduction from my post is staggering - My post was referencing one or two bemoaning that there are three upcoming boring sprint stages - I am very interested in making assessments after the next three stages.

 

[KZD]

Good win for Rubio, finally delivering on some of the promise he showed back in the under 23 rankings. Surprised that Remco got a gap on the sprint against the rest of the GC guys which is encouraging and I expected Bilbao to be a bit stronger in the end.

 

[Lequack]

I do like the actual sprint, just not the desert shorts of nothing happening for 150km before. Without wind that is the most probably outcome.
You will see shots of the desert, riders having a laugh, camels, more desert, riders softpedaling trying no to catch the break, riders playing chess and other table games to pass the time, etc.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I do like the actual sprint, just not the desert shorts of nothing happening for 150km before. Without wind that is the most probably outcome.
You will see shots of the desert, riders having a laugh, camels, more desert, riders softpedaling trying no to catch the break, riders playing chess and other table games to pass the time, etc.

Don‘t forget super exciting sky scrapers on the Dubai stage. Don‘t you love seeing massive glass walls reflect the romantic setting of salty seas and really small rocks? It‘s amazing!!!!

 

[Extinction]

I do like the actual sprint, just not the desert shorts of nothing happening for 150km before. Without wind that is the most probably outcome.
You will see shots of the desert, riders having a laugh, camels, more desert, riders softpedaling trying no to catch the break, riders playing chess and other table games to pass the time, etc.

Ah but the lonelyness of the desert is the best company, much better than society.

 

[Didinho]

Sprinter Remco is back! And he's also only at 85% of his best sprint
Good opportunities the next 3 days.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations to Einer Augusto Rubio for taking the stage.

Too bad Vine had to abandon. He would likely be able to prepare the terrain for Yates. Overall the bunch was too big. No real selection made and hence today only some exceptional attack would do. Evenepoel played it smart. With minimum amount of effort took the leaders jersey. The other option was to try harder. Likely with similar outcome. Now others need to attack. Last stage is a bit steeper and i expect bigger reduction of the bunch. Hopefully cyclists like Yates and Kuss going all out. For Evenepoel to lose the jersey. He would need to crack on the last climb. Not sure if his main competitors are capable of achieving that. But i guess there is a slim chance and as such the ultimate climb should be fun to watch.

 

[Oldermanish]

I do like the actual sprint, just not the desert shorts of nothing happening for 150km before. Without wind that is the most probably outcome.
You will see shots of the desert, riders having a laugh, camels, more desert, riders softpedaling trying no to catch the break, riders playing chess and other table games to pass the time, etc.

Don't forget the requisite inattentive rider crash....on a straight road.....with nothing going on.

 

[Oldermanish]

I do like the actual sprint, just not the desert shorts of nothing happening for 150km before. Without wind that is the most probably outcome.
You will see shots of the desert, riders having a laugh, camels, more desert, riders softpedaling trying no to catch the break, riders playing chess and other table games to pass the time, etc.

It was more of a 2 rider sprint since GC points were all that is left. Seeing Kuss roll through casually with a look that said "oh...this is where the stage ends.." was priceless. He and other didn't look particularly taxed.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I hope it’s all of them but Cav will pick up a win over the next three days. Bos would have to be a lot better though on the leadout as Cav doesn’t have his old acceleration to catch up when he’s behind.

 

[search]

today is a sprint into a headwind, so positioning may be less important. But really not sure he has the speed it needs

 

[Lequack]

Meanwhile Froome is on a solo attack in Tour du Rwanda. I wish we had proper coverage of that instead of the desert.

 

[Lequack]

I do like the actual sprint, just not the desert shorts of nothing happening for 150km before. Without wind that is the most probably outcome.
You will see shots of the desert, riders having a laugh, camels, more desert, riders softpedaling trying no to catch the break, riders playing chess and other table games to pass the time, etc.

I was right unfortunately.

 

[Berniece]

I was right unfortunately.

That goes for every flat sprint stage without any wind. Only the environment can change a bit. Old castles instead of desert when comparing TDF with UAE.

 

[Lequack]

That goes for every flat sprint stage without any wind. Only the environment can change a bit. Old castles instead of desert when comparing TDF with UAE.

And yet they generate the most crashes. All that for the last 5km of action.
Risk is just too much for the entertainment value these kind of stages provide.

 

[search]

UAE gets its win. Molano takes it

 

[Aimar16]

 

[Volderke]

I found the photofinish shot, again, very, very close and very hard to see who'se won!

 

[Mayomaniac]

I'll say this, Molano is much better as a sprinter than as a reckless leadout man.

 

[DNP-Old]

Bennett is so bad.

 

[yaco]

Still not impressed with any of the sprinters - It was a messy finish and I feel Groenewegen was the fastest but he couldn't get a clear sprint - Cavendish, Ewan and Bennett nowhere.

 

[Volderke]

It was much closer than most thought. (photofinish in link):
https://www.stickybottle.com/races-...e-battle-royal-as-bennett-gets-swamped-video/

 

[andrew_s]

Looks like they had the photo finish camera lined up on the black line, which is unusual.
Usually it's on the white one side or the other

 

[Netserk]

It was much closer than most thought. (photofinish in link):
https://www.stickybottle.com/races-...e-battle-royal-as-bennett-gets-swamped-video/

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Five Dutchmen in the top-7, that has to be a first at this level.