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

[Dk one]

Good to see Norsgaard up there even though she probably spent a few % on bridge adventure.

 

[awavey]

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.

yes world class sprinter moves to another team without the leadout train & finds winning not so simple anymore, sounds familiar funny also she found herself on Georgis wheel there.

though tbf Kool had some work to do to take that win, could be a very interesting season long battle between those two

tv coverage was great pictures wise, not so keen on the commentary

 

[Lequack]

Powerful sprint for Kool, too early for Wiebes. But the overall goes to Elisa Longho Borghini.

 

[Lequack]

And now we have to wait a week till Remco and the others start racing.

 

[Lequack]

 

[Lequack]

 

[Lequack]

Will teams even bring their TT bikes here, apart from UAE?

 

[Lequack]

Cavendish in his recognizable Dutch national champs jersey.

 

[Samamba]

Should be some echelon action tmrw. +30km/u wind expected, not perfect crosswinds but should be enough.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Are they looking at Remco? They are. Aren't they.

 

[Lequack]

Should be some echelon action tmrw. +30km/u wind expected, not perfect crosswinds but should be enough.

All the teams have sprinters an no interest in creating echelons, even steppers will be working for Merlier and won't do their usual wind shenanigans.

 

[yaco]

All the teams have sprinters an no interest in creating echelons, even steppers will be working for Merlier and won't do their usual wind shenanigans.

Th eteams with sprinters will use every opportunity to force in the echelons, especcially if its in the last 30 or 40kms of a stage.

 

[Berniece]

All the teams have sprinters an no interest in creating echelons, even steppers will be working for Merlier and won't do their usual wind shenanigans.

Why do you think sprinter teams won’t want to create echelons? Because it takes too much effort? I can definitely see quickstep try to create echelons. Good for the GC as well as less people for Merlier to sprint against

 

[search]

there are some chances to split it (from 30-20k to go, for example), but apart from that it's mainly cross-/headwind, and most of the final 10k into a 30kph block headwind even. So I guess it's not super likely

 

[Faserr]

Livestream with enthusiastic arabic speaking guys and a lot of wind.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhxPI_t5XME

 

[Faserr]

Splitting all over the place

 

[Faserr]

Second group looosing ground. Cerny crashed. Merlier and Ewans (puncture) left behind.
Some action.

 

[search]

Quickstep missing a 50 men split in the wind is rather unusual

 

[Lequack]

Hah this is great aciton. Multiple echelons now! And the commentator is so excited.

 

[Faserr]

Front group exploding. Bahrain doing some damage

 

[Lequack]

Sepp Kuss crashes

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1627587450435432449

View: https://twitter.com/BHRVictorious/status/1627587450435432449

 

[Faserr]

I still think it comes back at the headwind part.

 

[Lequack]

Which group is Remco in?

 

[Faserr]

I think first group

Yes, first for sure