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

[RedheadDane]

Danish commentators wanted Realini to be given the win, but I suppose there might have been a practical reason for Longo Borghini taking it; bonus seconds.

And apparently Persico was on the startlist for the CX race in Belgium until quite recently.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Realini at the head of the race, and Merino now up there... this is definitely a day for the heavyweights.

Now we just have to wait for Stiasny to have overtaken about 80 riders on the climb.

Persico finishing third like she usually does.

And apparently Persico was on the startlist for the CX race in Belgium until quite recently.

I'm pretty sure that was a mistake. From what I've seen on social media, she was always going to UAE.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Danish commentators wanted Realini to be given the win, but I suppose there might have been a practical reason for Longo Borghini taking it; bonus seconds.

And apparently Persico was on the startlist for the CX race in Belgium until quite recently.

Realini is only 2" behind Elisa on GC before the bonus seconds, so it wouldn't have mattered, they were going to be 1-2 on GC with a big lead regardless. I do think it's a bit unnecessary to give it to Elisa as a result, I assume there's some fear that if echelons go wild tomorrow it's better to have Elisa in the leader's jersey but I don't think the 2" time difference would have been significant.

Elisa confirmed in the interview their plan was to give it to Gaia but they were overruled by the DS.

 

[RedheadDane]

Elisa confirmed in the interview their plan was to give it to Gaia but they were overruled by the DS.

Awww...

 

[TourOfSardinia]

that's not cool of ELB

turns out - it was the team than insisted!

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Persico is real talent, just too good. Longo Borhgini is here after a big training camp at Teide with Slongo as the coach, she is at peak form, no doubt she would have great climbing shape. Meanwhile Periso was 6 days ago in the Belgium doing CX worlds where she was 4th. And now climbing at the top. What a rider.

 

[theyoungest]

Why would the DS not want Realini to win? This just makes Longo Borghini look bad. Realini was the strongest, by far. She literally rode half the climb with a big smile on her face.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Why they think it important that ELB has 1 minute 18 rather than 1:14 with a single sprint stage to go will remain something we can only wonder about. Seems very mean spirited.

The two Trek riders seemed to have slightly different kit: The pattern on the back of the jersey continued much farther up and over Longo Borghini's jersey than it did on Realini's. Odd.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

They probably couldn't find a child sized leader's jersey anyway.

Looks like Zaaf has found a jewel in Meijering. She's mainly been riding flatter Dutch and Belgian races for years, and now that she's finally been given the chance to showcase herself on proper climbs, she's delivered instantly.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Why would the DS not want Realini to win? This just makes Longo Borghini look bad. Realini was the strongest, by far. She literally rode half the climb with a big smile on her face.

And also that Realini has never won a pro race while Longo Borghini has won de Ronde, Roubaix, the Women's Tour, Emakumeen Bira, Giro stages, Strade Bianche, Trofeo Binda... I mean I could go on.

Edit: Armchaircyclist - Realini would be in the leader's jersey if they gave her the win, because not only does Longo Borghini not gain that extra 4" bonus, but Realini would get it instead, so instead of being down 7" she'd be up 1". Not that that changes the baffling lack of necessity in making that decision.

Edit 2: it sounds like Trek wanted Elisa in the red jersey because then they would have Gaia in the white jersey for the photos on the road tomorrow.

 

[awavey]

Why they think it important that ELB has 1 minute 18 rather than 1:14 with a single sprint stage to go will remain something we can only wonder about. Seems very mean spirited.

The two Trek riders seemed to have slightly different kit: The pattern on the back of the jersey continued much farther up and over Longo Borghini's jersey than it did on Realini's. Odd.

ELBs is the skinsuit kit, Gaia is the Jersey + shorts combo, so the fit is different, its the same pattern overall

 

[awavey]

Edit 2: it sounds like Trek wanted Elisa in the red jersey because then they would have Gaia in the white jersey for the photos on the road tomorrow.

I guess that makes sense for them, maybe they were also thinking wearing the leaders jersey might make Gaia feel under too much pressure, as she's still a developing rider. Still, Id have let her take the win, and sort out what problems it might create when they happen.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I guess that makes sense for them, maybe they were also thinking wearing the leaders jersey might make Gaia feel under too much pressure, as she's still a developing rider. Still, Id have let her take the win, and sort out what problems it might create when they happen.

I'm baffled by the idea that they would feel that that four seconds for Elisa is that important. Talk about having no faith in their control over the stage tomorrow. It's a pre-season race in effect, a perfect time for Gaia to learn the pressures of leading in a less stressful environment, and to get her a win in exchange for her loyalty as a domestique later. So many teams do this and it's usually more notable when it goes awry, like Evans riding for his own goals and falling out with Popovych in Paris-Nice in '08. Given the way they won as well, if Gaia did completely capitulate, there's an experienced veteran who is also a minute ahead of anybody else in the GC to pick up the pieces.

But then I'm not in the team car. Maybe even though they made the selection and didn't lose time they didn't like something they saw in the crosswinds and wanted a more experienced and more all-round hand in the lead and, bearing in mind Realini's lack of size, this would not be illogical.

 

[Netserk]

Surely it's a commercial decision only.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Stiasny passing 80 riders uphill may not have been too far off. She finished 19th in the end as the fastest from the Cavalli group,

 

[Mayomaniac]

Surely it's a commercial decision only.

Slongo who was in the team car is also Lisa's coach, that probably played a role.

 

[yaco]

I was surprised at Realini's performance as i suspect that was a high quality climbing stage - She'd shown promise in 2022 and you would expect natural improvement stepping up to the WT level

 

[Lequack]

"Here is you winner, oh no wait, it's me!"

 

[Samu Cuenca]

"Here is you winner, oh no wait, it's me!"

Realini hasn't quite mastered the shark celebration yet.

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1624518721048813569

View: https://twitter.com/UCI_WWT/status/1624518721048813569?s=20&t=2hivOtPx5BS3Fp3jxeE-eA

 

[RedheadDane]

This might be one of the only cases - if not the only - of "Accidental Strava Cheating" I've heard about:

British rider takes Jebel Hafeet QOM, deletes Strava file | Cycling Weekly

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Movistar playing a game of bridge.

 

[RedheadDane]

Kool!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Guarischi didn't exactly nail the leadout, and both Kool and Consonni were able to get past Wiebes.

 

[yaco]

It was never going to be wine and roses for Wiebes switching teams, when you consider that DSM had the leadout dialled in - In saying that, Wiebes did go too early in a finish where you had to be patient - My biggest concern for Wiebes is that her leadout Guarischi can be reckless and can cause crashes.

Finally, the parcours gave different types of conditions from cross-winds, to a steep climb and flat sprints. Also the TV coverage was top class, and i especially loved the live on-board coverage in the last 10kms which gave an insight into the chaos in the peleton.