UAE Tour 2025, February 17-23

[Brullnux]

I don't really remember many other uphill sprints from Milan (apart from the one Bauhaus won last year), but I'd think with a couple more race days in already Philipsen could have beaten him today. He didn't look that special to me

The first stage he won at Tirreno-Adriatico last year was also uphill, very close between him and Philipsen.

I think today it was the fact Milan did 200m+ in the wind and uphill, Philipsen did about 50m and ran out of legs. Philipsen was better positioned so I agree I think he'd win this stage in July, but straight drag race? Milan takes it.

Edit: there was also actually a stage in last year's Benelux tour, where he beat Philipsen again, which was about 5% uphill, and his win in Saudi in 2022, which was more in the drag category. So, tbf, four wins is pretty good going.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Jesper Philepsen starting off the season with relegation lol.

 

[titan31]

Philipsen ruining my fantasy score

 

[Lequack]

1070 average watts for the final 45s. Not bad.

 

[Samamba]

Almost every good rider is starting early tomorrow (less wind). So boring.

 

[RedheadDane]

I'm gonna need you guys to do me a favour.
Keep an eye - or two - out for Price-Pejtersen (if they show him) to see what kit he's wearing.
In other words: whether DCU have remembered to inform UCI (and Alpecin) about the change in ITT National Champion.

Apparently, they didn't tell Price-Pejtersen and Skjelmose about it...

 

[Monsi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891505560874340528

View: https://x.com/laflammerouge16/status/1891505560874340528


As Samamba said, the starting order for the ITT is not the reverse order of the GC. Almost every GC rider starting early. Tarling starting 31st.

 

[Lequack]

Apparently the reason Molano crashed was that his back tire violently exploded, while he was holding onto a bidon. Another victim of tubeless tires.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891470836013404191

View: https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/1891470836013404191

 

[RedheadDane]

Apparently the reason Molano crashed was that his back tire violently exploded, while he was holding onto a bidon. Another victim of tubeless tires.

Would have been much better if it had just gently exploded.

 

[saunaking]

Apparently the reason Molano crashed was that his back tire violently exploded, while he was holding onto a bidon. Another victim of tubeless tires.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891470836013404191

View: https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/1891470836013404191

How does a tyre explode with only 70 psi or whatever?????

 

[Devil's Elbow]

EDIT: well nvm, apparently everyone (apart from Milan) can just choose when they start. Almost all the GC candidates early again (just like last year). Annoying.

That's allowed under UCI rules?!

Speaking of bad UCI rules, what's the point of a yellow card system if you need to accumulate them faster than Vingegaard's wife accumulates calls from her husband for them to mean anything AND you're not even going to hand them out for cases like Philipsen's today? Would be surprised if even a single rider faces a suspension all year because of them.

 

[Ripper]

How does a tyre explode with only 70 psi or whatever?????

Have you ever seen a tubeless tire at 60-80 psi suddenly decompress (lose its seal)? It is pretty much an instant tire off the rim situation. On the road and going over 40 kph would be a touch explosive

 

[search]

did this happen, though? Can't see any of it in the video, and Lukas is not a particularly trustworthy source

 

[Lequack]

did this happen, though? Can't see any of it in the video, and Lukas is not a particularly trustworthy source

You can clearly see the tubeless sealant spraying out. It's very typical of these kind of blowouts.

 

[Netserk]

That's allowed under UCI rules?!

Speaking of bad UCI rules, what's the point of a yellow card system if you need to accumulate them faster than Vingegaard's wife accumulates calls from her husband for them to mean anything AND you're not even going to hand them out for cases like Philipsen's today? Would be surprised if even a single rider faces a suspension all year because of them.

It's the first year with the system in force. Better to start gentle and then after a year or two adjust the sanctions.

 

[tobydawq]

That's allowed under UCI rules?!

Speaking of bad UCI rules, what's the point of a yellow card system if you need to accumulate them faster than Vingegaard's wife accumulates calls from her husband for them to mean anything AND you're not even going to hand them out for cases like Philipsen's today? Would be surprised if even a single rider faces a suspension all year because of them.

Agreed, but I think that was evident already when they were announced. But yeah, not handing them out left and right makes them even more pointless.

 

[Red Rick]

It's beyond obvious they wanna look like they're doing something without actually doing something.

 

[Monsi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891547625393922385

View: https://x.com/vismaleaseabike/status/1891547625393922385?s=61&t=ZKEjWhZs_lhx6xYjfM44ig


Unsurprisingly, Kooij is out due to illness. Best wishes to him. Would have loved to see how he would’ve fared against the top 3 sprinters.

 

[search]

That's allowed under UCI rules?!

no, it's not:

There's a "The starting order shall be determined by the organiser of the event in accordance with objective criteria" rule, but that only applies to one day races, as "The starting order of time trial stages during stage races shall be governed by article 2.6.023", which says:

"The starting order for individual time trial stages shall be the reverse order of the general time classification. Nevertheless, the commissaires panel may modify that order to avoid two riders of the same team riding consecutively."

But they did the same last year already, so UCI seems to be fine with it. Not that it makes much of a difference, but the teams had to decide their order yesterday already, btw.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

well, stage 2 is an ITT or should I say a delayed extended prologue. Maybe Price can show us something or perhaps Tarling.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

no, it's not:

There's a "The starting order shall be determined by the organiser of the event in accordance with objective criteria" rule, but that only applies to one day races, as "The starting order of time trial stages during stage races shall be governed by article 2.6.023", which says:

"The starting order for individual time trial stages shall be the reverse order of the general time classification. Nevertheless, the commissaires panel may modify that order to avoid two riders of the same team riding consecutively."

But they did the same last year already, so UCI seems to be fine with it. Not that it makes much of a difference, but the teams had to decide their order yesterday already, btw.

So basically, the UCI rules are like Calvinball. Great.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

So basically, the UCI rules are like Calvinball. Great.

This is the same organisation that changed the rules about 48 hours before their own official World Championships. I wouldn't expect anything less.

 

[MyFTP5.9w/kg]

I guess it has to do with the fact that the race is quite far away from Europe and the teams are not there with their stuff, the team cars are provided by the organisers. With limited personnel or cars, it makes more sense to place teammates as far apart as possible.

 

[Netserk]

So basically, the UCI rules are like Calvinball. Great.

There's the representation of the thing (e.g. words in a document) and then there's the reality of the thing (e.g. what gets enforced). Rules are not their representation, but their reality.

 

[RedheadDane]

well, stage 2 is an ITT or should I say a delayed extended prologue. Maybe Price can show us something or perhaps Tarling.

So long as he can remember to stay off the sidewalks...