UAE Tour 2024, February 8-11 (women's)

[theyoungest]

Wow, impressive stuff from Kopecky. I don't think Realini or Longo Borghini are really in the same form as they were last year in UAE, but nonetheless... still gotta beat them all.

 

[Netserk]

I think Kopecky was ~1'30" faster than Longo Borghini and Realini last year.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Maybe Bradbury should have attacked a little earlier, but you can't blame her for waiting, considering she's usually not part of these finals. Another great ride by Bunel, too. Rooijakkers is alive as well, and I assume she will have been one of the fastest in the final part of the climb, as she probably started it in a horrible position. A bad day for UAE.

 

[Netserk]

I guess her best chance was for a more uneven rhythm, but the rest all seemed to prefer a steady pace.

 

[theyoungest]

I think Kopecky was ~1'30" faster than Longo Borghini and Realini last year.

Perhaps, but that kind of comparison is always difficult to make. I think those two actually indicated they weren't in the same form, and if what you're saying is true, they're both faster than they were least year as well...

 

[yaco]

Vollering may need to worry about Kopecky when the TDF rolls around. I bet Van Vleuten is happy to have retired.

Kopecky could not podium with the route of the 2024 TDF and she's probably not riding the race.

 

[yaco]

The first three all rode tactically astute races - Will add that Bradbury was treated disgracefully by Australian selections when not selected for the Wollongong World's in 2022 when she was eligible for the under 23 category.

 

[rghysens]

Vollering may need to worry about Kopecky when the TDF rolls around. I bet Van Vleuten is happy to have retired.

Kopecky more than likely won´t participate in the tdff. She´ll focus on the olympics and probably will pull some stuff like winning the madison on her own or so...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Perhaps, but that kind of comparison is always difficult to make. I think those two actually indicated they weren't in the same form, and if what you're saying is true, they're both faster than they were least year as well...

I think the wind conditions were more favourable this time around, and last year the GC battle also started before the climb.

 

[Lequack]

I wonder why other teams even show up to races, when they know they have nothing on SD Worx. They're just cannon fodder.

 

[awavey]

IT seems to be a Mexican standoff - Teams want SD Worx to work and so be it - The commentators have not picked up on this yet.

That requires the commentators to actually pay attention to the racing in front of them and not fallback on their clichés and set views about what's happening

 

[sam6]

Wow! Amazing that she is the best Omnium rider and also probably top 5 climbers. I guess it's not even that big a shock after the Tourmalet

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Wow! Amazing that she is the best Omnium rider

That is certainly debatable since she's never actually won a championship title in the discipline. She's had bad luck at times and can obviously be a monster on her best days, but it would still be a slap in the faces of Archibald and Valente to put her ahead of them.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Cândido Barbosa rides again

 

[Netserk]

Cândido Barbosa rides again

The Belgian Geraint Thomas.

 

[Izzyeviel]

Of course Lotte can do mountains now. Of course.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

She's like the female Van Aert who actually wins stuff!

 

[Netserk]

And she's gone. Nice to see some crumbs left to the rest.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Amber's doing a Kraaking job here. SDW won't be too bothered about not winning though.

 

[KZD]

One of the closest finishes I've seen, great win for Kraak.

 

[Netserk]

That ended up way closer than expected. Thank Lord, it would have been unbearable otherwise.

 

[yaco]

Teams are learning to play poker with SD Worx. You make SD Worx do all the work in races and you back this up with trying to get riders in the break.

Noticed that nearly the whole Liv Jayco team crashed in the last 200 metres - The team will be hoping that Garcia is OK because she due to ride the Setmana Femeinina starting on Thursday.

 

[Lequack]

A worthy stage today, and a great win in the end. SD Worx not having it all their way.