UAE Tour 2024, February 19-25

[shadowrider]

Would you mind linking or citing the rule in question regarding wins?

When I check the UCI website, I can only find what points a team has scored (Quick-Step's points tally), not its number of wins.

The rules also only mention points:

If anything, the tie-breaker indicates that those wins count for the WT team:

So, Lecerf being a member of the proteam Soudal-Quickstep (I checked it on the website of Soudal-Quickstep), but this race participating to devoteam of Soudal-Quickstep (after already participating in races as a "pro" within the Soudal-Quickstepteam) is considered as a pro by UCI. The UCI-points are counting for the rider as well for the proteam. I guess it's the same with the victorys. So, 10 victorys for Soudal-Quickstep at this time.

 

[Berniece]

I think Merlier got it again, not sure

EDIT: Merlier is sure though, 3/3. But he is wrong, since Jumbo is celebrating

 

[DNP-Old]

Ah, yes, great finish camera.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Morkov's leadout was very good but Cavendish just stopped for some reason

I think Olav got it

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Cav ran out of steam 500 metres from the line.

 

[DNP-Old]

Did Melier just come 2nd whilst on a flat?

 

[Faserr]

Finally a nice sprint. Koooij got it.

 

[Wvv]

Merlier came from really far, almost got it, but Kooij was too far gone already.

 

[scribers]

Ah, yes, great finish camera.

Lol. At least we got to see right of center

 

[Netserk]

Did Melier just come 2nd whilst on a flat?

Looks like it. At least the second best sprinter in the world.

 

[Red Rick]

They're gonna show us 5 more pictures where the winner isn't clear aren't they

 

[scribers]

Cav ran out of steam 500 metres from the line.

Almost as hard as watching Froome still going at it. But hey, it’s only February.

 

[Berniece]

They're gonna show us 5 more pictures where the winner isn't clear aren't they

I always thought the red lines to make clear what the line is, is drawn automatically by the computer. Now I'm wondering if this is added later by hand

 

[DNP-Old]

Bennett is a thief btw.

 

[Salvarani]

Bennett is a thief btw.

Snitches get stitches

 

[Red Rick]

Almost as hard as watching Froome still going at it. But hey, it’s only February.

Cav simply did an elite leadout which is more than Froome has done the last 2 years.

 

[repre]

Let's calm down haha. He definitely ain't winning. A top 3 would be insane, and I don't believe in that either. It's not like he has ever proven to be top in a WT stage race.

The boni's were welcome tho. He now doesn't have to drop Valter and Storer anymore to get top 10.

He is improved and looked like one of the best climbers in this race and can be the best at Hafeet. He is young, he doesn't need to be 'proven' to score top-3 here and maybe surprise everybody with better result, that's what great talent do early in the breakout season.

I didn't tell he will win, chances are slight even for top-3, but his climbing form is impressive in the early season

 

[shadowrider]

I think a flat for Merlier. Even if he came from far, with huge speed, it was not normal he couldn't make the difference at the end.

 

[repre]

Merlier is insane to do this with a flat tire, he comes for Phillipsen's crown

 

[Penninepeddler]

Cav ran out of steam 500 metres from the line.

My guess is he could have kept going and maybe finished ~7-10th...

but seems like when Kooij blew past him when Cav was probably already maxed out and knew had some way still to go? He just sat up as knew that even a podium was not on the cards.

He will probably win a few more races this year, maybe even a GT stage, but he just can't compete with Philipsen, Kooij and a few of the other sprinters at the absolute top in a straight drag...

good 2nd tier sprinter still but needs more technical finishes to be able to compete amongst the very best.

Giro stage 21 2023
Milan-Torino 2022
Giro stage 3 2022
UAE stage 2 2022

Biggest 4 wins for Cav in last 2 years really... 3/4 had corners/curves ~250-400m from the finish... and all kind of "technical" last few kms. In those situations can use his positioning and "smarts" to bring the pure power gap back vs the top guys.

 

[scribers]

Cav simply did an elite leadout which is more than Froome has done the last 2 years.

I think he’s been hanging around about 3 or 4 years too long, for a sliver of glory he used to regularly revel in

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

So LVE jumped to the 9th overall with 6 sec bonus. Probably will jump Carr and Foss on sunday as well, has a shot at top-3 too, need collapse of Vine and O`Connor to win.

His form is great so far, but he doesn't just have to hope for both O'Connor and Vine to blow up, but then he also needs to drop Van Wilder, Poole and Bilbao. I rate all three of them higher (so far) as far as pure climbing goes, but Van Eetvelt has shown great form this early. But hoping for all 5 of those riders to be MIA on Jebel Hafeet seems more like wishful thinking.

 

[Red Rick]

I think he’s been hanging around about 3 or 4 years too long, for a sliver of glory he used to regularly revel in

Won a Giro stage last year and was a mechanical away from a TdF stage.

Also the 2021 Tour is only like 2.5 years ago

 

[Netserk]

Won a Giro stage last year and was a mechanical away from a TdF stage.

Also the 2021 Tour is only like 2.5 years ago

2½ years is a lot when you are past 35.

 

[shadowrider]

It has been confirmed. Merlier sprinting on a flat. Just missing the victory for a tyre. Strong performance.