UAE Tour 2024, February 19-25

[Lequack]

It's nice of UAE to have these boring stages so we can watch Gran Camino and Omloop undisturbed.

 

[DNP-Old]

It's nice of UAE to have these boring stages so we can watch Gran Camino and Omloop undisturbed.

You can do that regardless because UAE finishes before other races even have live images.

 

[DNP-Old]

Merlier is off the charts.

 

[KZD]

Merlier's performance in this UAE Tour is one of the best I've seen a sprinter doing in years. 3 wins in 4 stages and a second place with a flat tyre.

De Kleijn with another second place, looking fast once again.

 

[DNP-Old]

It might be time to start the Jakobsen is a thief movement.

 

[Didinho]

De Kleijn always from behind but really fast.

Merlier with ease again.

 

[scribers]

Well, we’ve survived threes days of sprint processions

 

[skippo12]

De Kleijn looks like prime Cav minus the raw watts to finish it once he hits the wind. Jumping from wheel to wheel. Finding even the smallest gaps to slip through. But he doesn't have the raw power output to win against someone like Merlier.

 

[Samamba]

De Kleijn looks like prime Cav minus the raw watts to finish it once he hits the wind. Jumping from wheel to wheel. Finding even the smallest gaps to slip through. But he doesn't have the raw power output to win against someone like Merlier.

He's a draft merchant. So good at following wheels and jumping from one to another, but yeah in the wind it's different.

 

[Berniece]

Merlier was so much better than the rest, Syritsa from Astana can be disqualified imo. He steered away a lot of his line

 

[Andre]

It will be very interesting when Merlier and Jasper face off...whenever that will be.

 

[search]

Tomorrow the conditions look quite good to split the race before the climb. But hard to see who could be interested. Maybe Bahrain

 

[Samamba]

Tomorrow the conditions look quite good to split the race before the climb. But hard to see who could be interested. Maybe Bahrain

Yesterday the prediction was 8km/u and northerwind (so tailwind on Hafeet), completely changed it seems.

Not good for the climb I guess, but yeah possible there will be echelons before that. If the wind is strong enough and it's open you don't even have to try it will split a bit anyways.

 

[Samamba]

Everyone speaking about echelons before Jebel Hafeet today.

Wind is indeed strong and from the perfect direction in the last 60kms. There will be a full on bunchsprint towards a roundabout at that point. Not in the first 40 and you're probably done for.

 

[Samamba]

Wind looks a bit too perpendicular to the road to me for echelons.

Not gonna lie, I have no idea what that word means.

 

[Samamba]

Perpendicular means it crosses in a 90 degree angle. So normally you want cross/tailwind to create echelons and I think this time it's perhaps too much cross and too little tailwind.

Oh ok, I just checked Windy. It's borderline yes. It is changing a bit more towards perfect SE wind. It might be changing a bit too late.

On the other hand, if a team really tries with this kind of strong full crosswind I think it will still split pretty quick. Think problem is more than a full S wind would also mean more of a headwind 15kms long after the first 20km stretch of crosswinds. Also full on block headwind in Jebel Hafeet, not that great either.

 

[Netserk]

It wouldn't surprise me if some try to split it up soon.

 

[Samamba]

More stress in the peloton now

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

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

 

[Samamba]

Its starting

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Arne Marit says: So long suckers.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Meintjes only casualty?

 

[Samamba]

At 60km they do a 180 turn. Wind should slightly better, but not sure if it's enough. There's also random trees alongside the road.

 

[DNP-Old]

August is in that group of stragglers. He desperately needs to improve his handling and positioning if he ever wants to be an elite rider.

 

[DNP-Old]

Meintjes only casualty?

Hardly a casualty in regards of the stage win, but Jakobsen being in this group is very telling of his form.