UAE Tour 2025, February 17-23

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Discussions are part of the love for sports. When things start overheating I tend to stay away, but what's wrong with a litte debating from time to time? And no worries, I enjoy cycling.

Btw, "being lucky to be in this time" is also up for debate. But I'll let that one rest now, haha.

Probably not the time to discuss now, but it will be a topic this spring, and I have thoughts that I will be expressing in future days.

 

[Unchained]

People try and make comparisons of who's better etcetera. Just enjoy it man, we're lucky to be in this time.

He is a mix of Guido Bontempi and Olaf Ludwig..now that's controversial!!

 

[Mayomaniac]

Milan is raw power and perhaps a more complete athlete. But, Merlier also has a patent on long sprint efforts from way back in the bunch while holding his speed.

Milan needs a taller leadout guy who actually offers him a decent drag and doesn't get manhandled by the other, 15kg heavier, leadout guys if things get messy.

 

[Netserk]

Milan needs a taller leadout guy who actually offers him a decent drag and doesn't get manhandled by the other, 15kg heavier, leadout guys if things get messy.

Put Stuyven and Pedersen in front of him, pronto! Maybe Vacek between the two.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Put Stuyven and Pedersen in front of him, pronto! Maybe Vacek between the two.

This, I get that Consonni is a track buddy, but have him work earlier in the sprint train.

 

[Brullnux]

Discussions are part of the love for sports. When things start overheating I tend to stay away, but what's wrong with a litte debating from time to time? And no worries, I enjoy cycling.

Btw, "being lucky to be in this time" is also up for debate. But I'll let that one rest now, haha.

It's a Rio Ferdinand quote about Messi/Ronaldo, it's not really serious, don't worry! I don't actually think Milan and Merlier are the Messi/Ronaldo of sprinting

 

[Unchained]

Explosive equestrian excellence

Procyclingstats says that Tim Merlier has 4 wins in 11 race days!! Impressive

 

[Cookster15]

Another chapter in the worlds champs of sprinting.

Milan is raw power and perhaps a more complete athlete. But, Merlier also has a patent on long sprint efforts from way back in the bunch while holding his speed.

Tim Merlier is on fire, super well deserved win. I like that he can sprint from father back then hold his speed. That means he is strong and not just a guy who needs to be delivered into position by a perfect lead-out.

 

[Red Rick]

This, I get that Consonni is a track buddy, but have him work earlier in the sprint train.

Put Consonni on Milan's wheel and just let him headbut people and accumulate yellow cards cause they get rescinded almost instantly anyway

 

[hayneplane]

Disappointed that the late crash on Friday has put Paul Seixas out of the race when he was looking good.

The battle for the podium will hopefully se some early attacks that shred the group from far out on Jebel Hafeet.

 

[Red Rick]

It's a bit like comparing Kittel and Cavendish. Merlier is more skilled and explosive, but I think Milan has a higher 10" W/CdA, he certainly has for longer efforts.

Sprinting has this big variable in energy wasted before the actual sprint that is quite easy to miss and very hard to quantify.

I would think the flat pace merchants have it on the glycolytic power and guys that can win an uphill sprint like on stage 1 clearly have it on anaerobic power.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Road racing is an endurance sport, doesn't matter if it is on flat or hilly roads. Pure sprinting is on track.

 

[Sandisfan]

Finally we get to Jebel HOTFEET. Hehe Come on You all have thought that name.

 

[search]

Wind conditions still look good to split the field on the flat, I think. Most of the second half is cross/tail - before it turns into a block headwind when heading south for the climb.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Tomorrow pogacar humbled by Pello Bilbao from guernika

 

[Rob5091]

Everyone still in early season form so the final stge might throw up a surprise
Lenny VE talks,
"I was actually thinking my power meter was broken because the power was really not as high as I was expecting it to be, but I was still suffering," he told Cyclingnews. "So in the end, I was really surprised with the result I had because it didn't match my feelings.

 

[Taxus4a]

Today is even more hot and windy than last days.. In all directions, but mostly Crosswind, si the race Will be selective even before the hard last climb, just a little bit shorter than Lagos de Covadonga, but that kind of climb.
Should be just a training for Poggi as he doesnt have here a real rival for GC. It would be normal if he out one minute to the second, but is as well posible someone can beat him for the stage, so we will see.

 

[Rob5091]

NOOOO! Froomey down! Neutralize the stage!

 

[wirral]

Lutsenko in the break has pretty much doomed it unless he drops out of it.

 

[Peyroteo94]

NOOOO! Froomey down! Neutralize the stage!

DNF

 

[wirral]

The ignomious end?

DNF

 

[Salvarani]

The ignomious end?

It was the last crusade

 

[Peyroteo94]

Echelons!

 

[wirral]

It was the last crusade

Appropriate part of the world then.

 

[Salvarani]

Appropriate part of the world then.

You know history