UAE Tour 2026, February 16-22

[Potomac]

Artem Shmidt is the first Ineos rider when ranked alphabetically after surname. I wonder if that's a WT record for latest in the alphabet.

This is the kind of analysis I love.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Oxenberg one of those rare non-ai generated young Nordics who is apparently showing a good level in training and is their leader here, 11th a really good showing. I refuse to do a that O with a line through it.

That Swede doing well in Jaen yesterday was too far though, as was Johansen dropping the entire group in the crosswinds. We are one step away from Icelanders wining stuff, I don’t think anyone wants to see that.

We had an Icelandic alpine skier celebrating like he had won yesterday despite only finishing 25th.
He could be a perfect points hunter for Astana.

 

[Potomac]

Oxenberg ... I refuse to do a that O with a line through it.

Thanks to this forum I learned that Ø is after T alphabetically.

 

[KenFiamingo]

For tomorrow, if I was UAE, I wouldn't set a high pace on the climb. You want to create chaos, give more riders from other teams the possibility to go for it. RBH doesn't have the team to control this, which means Evenepoel has to do it himself. Which makes room to make mistakes tactically, Paris-Nice 2024 is a great example of this.

Unless Evenepoel is much stronger and drops everyone himself with a high pace, but in that case tactics don't matter anyway.

Based on UAE's past performances, that'll result in total disarray. IMO they're better of with the Pogacar recipe: rocket launching Del Toro after setting high pace.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Based on UAE's past performances, that'll result in total disarray. IMO they're better of with the Pogacar recipe: rocket launching Del Toro after setting high pace.

Pogacar tactics are basically keep the race close, hold a tight pace, safeguard Pogacar and blast off at the hardest part of the race in the knowledge that no one will be able to follow. Del Toro's numbers need to have been very good in training to just think that will work.

I think Del Toro benefits more from multiple stop and go climbing, using his acceleration to wear down opponents.

 

[Berniece]

Based on UAE's past performances, that'll result in total disarray. IMO they're better of with the Pogacar recipe: rocket launching Del Toro after setting high pace.

That’s assuming he’s better than Evenepoel. If they truly think that, it’s the right call. If then Evenepoel’s is slightly better he’ll surpass you and take even more time on everyone. Which means you can’t play the chaos card on Saturday anymore. It’s basically over then.

 

[Cycling111]

It's UAE Tour. UAE will take the lead because they're racing at home.

 

[Salvarani]

Oxenberg one of those rare non-ai generated young Nordics who is apparently showing a good level in training and is their leader here, 11th a really good showing. I refuse to do a that O with a line through it.

That Swede doing well in Jaen yesterday was too far though, as was Johansen dropping the entire group in the crosswinds. We are one step away from Icelanders wining stuff, I don’t think anyone wants to see that.

Nah, that Swedish kid is good.

 

[RedheadDane]

Artem Shmidt is the first Ineos rider when ranked alphabetically after surname. I wonder if that's a WT record for latest in the alphabet.

Thanks to this forum I learned that Ø is after T alphabetically.

Not according to AC, who insists on listing Øxenberg under 'O' in the rider thread index.

 

[Red Rick]

For tomorrow, if I was UAE, I wouldn't set a high pace on the climb. You want to create chaos, give more riders from other teams the possibility to go for it. RBH doesn't have the team to control this, which means Evenepoel has to do it himself. Which makes room to make mistakes tactically, Paris-Nice 2024 is a great example of this.

Unless Evenepoel is much stronger and drops everyone himself with a high pace, but in that case tactics don't matter anyway.

I think they should soft pace the easy part and then blast the lowest part of the steep section, basically pray you're better on the steep slopes. Either way, I think going hard on a section with shallower bits and then a descent just favors Evenepoel more.

 

[Unchained]

I think they should soft pace the easy part and then blast the lowest part of the steep section, basically pray you're better on the steep slopes. Either way, I think going hard on a section with shallower bits and then a descent just favors Evenepoel more.

I agree, Remco putting @42 seconds into Del Toro sent a message.
It also took pressure off of UAE, they can counter attack instead of constant burning on the front. TT also puts pressure on Del Toro because standing on the final podium is going to be real work. As far as any team having horsepower to burn Remco off your wheel, good luck, and with only 2_climbing stages that's really all you got. Remco cracking is the only hope.. Isaac should stay positive and happy that guys like Wellsford, Milan and others sh%% the bed and he was gifted a surprise sprint victory.
Other stages are dead flat, GC guys are not going to risk slamming bodies and bars trying for a long shot win in flat out sprint.. Too risky.

 

[Sciatic]

Evenepoel should be spending the night watching Primoz Roglic finest victories compilations, in fact I’m convinced it’s a big mistake not to bring the old man himself to some of these races to bequeath the ways in person to the kid.

Isn’t Roglic busy with the Olympics right now?

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

there is an official profile. Or what exactly are you looking for?

Thank you, I couldn't find it n the official site yesterday.
Pretty hard climb, first half is also irregular with some hard parts. One can definitively claw back the time lost in the ITT. Remco seemed pretty confortable on the steeper parts in Valencia and today he had a pretty good performance, but still the climb is probably more suited to Del Toro

 

[buddy buddy buddy]

Oxenberg one of those rare non-ai generated young Nordics who is apparently showing a good level in training and is their leader here, 11th a really good showing. I refuse to do a that O with a line through it.

That Swede doing well in Jaen yesterday was too far though, as was Johansen dropping the entire group in the crosswinds. We are one step away from Icelanders wining stuff, I don’t think anyone wants to see that.

i remember and miss when all of the british islands cycling presence was two medium level nationalized italians + the fish and chips salesman guy who once got fifth place in roubaix. LITERALLY not an exaggeration

then mark cavendish happened. and wiigins. and SKY and today it's like contracts are handed out to every kid from the great british island with a racing bike. but sadly all are the same fourth to tenth place overall in mountainos stage race-type. with names like will quinn, harry shaw, finlay holmes, bobby robinson. sean hamilton i see you-

meanwhile before and through this era danish cyclists exist and are interesting. norwaygias on the other hand appear in numbers for the same reasons as british do cause of sprint star + investment but are not interesting

that, interesting/notinteresting, is an easy way to distinguish and get nationality right

 

[Pantani_lives]

Today: Red Bull vs. Mexican Bull - Part III.

 

[Berniece]

They started, broadcast can be followed live here:

شبكة أبوظبي للإعلام - أبوظبي الرياضية

تعدّ قنوات أبوظبي الرياضية من أكثر القنوات التلفزيونية الرياضية شعبية في العالم العربي، لما تقدمه من برامج وتغطيات متميزة لأبرز البطولات والمنافسات العالمية عبر قنواتها الأربع.

www.admn.ae

 

[Cycling111]

Today: Red Bull vs. Mexican Bull - Part III.

And the cat wins (Tiberi) 😅

My prediction:
Remco
Del Toro
Tiberi
Gee

 

[KoopaCycling]

Tarling conclusion after yesterday isn't wrong, and has the right mentality but the TT also had no rolling terrain.
Only time Tarling stands a chance imo is if the TT is pancake flat. Ofcourse Pogacar can claim he'd win every mountain TT, but mountain TT are just different than regular TT.

 

[Berniece]

Tarling conclusion after yesterday isn't wrong, and has the right mentality but the TT also had no rolling terrain.
Only time Tarling stands a chance imo is if the TT is pancake flat. Ofcourse Pogacar can claim he'd win every mountain TT, but mountain TT are just different than regular TT.

What was his conclusion?

 

[Berniece]

And the cat wins (Tiberi) 😅

My prediction:
Remco
Del Toro
Tiberi
Gee

I find it really hard to make predictions because we have no clue in what form most riders are. It's basically the first race for Gall, Gee, Van Wilder, Storer, Johannessen, and Van Eetvelt. LVE also rode TDU, but due to crash not a real metric.

 

[Cycling111]

I find it really hard to make predictions because we have no clue in what form most riders are. It's basically the first race for Gall, Gee, Van Wilder, Storer, Johannessen, and Van Eetvelt. LVE also rode TDU, but due to crash not a real metric.

We've seen Remco and Tiberi in good shape in several races, and Del Toro seems to be too. Gee´s shape is more unknhown.

It's just a prediction on a forum.

 

[Cycling111]

I wasn't expecting collaboration between several teams. I was surprised that Soudal also was pulling.

 

[Berniece]

We've seen Remco and Tiberi in good shape in several races, and Del Toro seems to be too. Gee´s shape is more unknhown.

It's just a prediction on a forum.

Sure, I'm just saying that I have difficulties making proper prediction because it's hard to gauge the form. Tiberi was indeed decent in Valencia.

 

[Rob5091]

So how do we gauge a good, bad, middling Remco performance? A win? Good. A win by last meters sprint, middling? A win by more then 15 seconds really good? No win, bad?
Of course it's only February, but the pressure is all on him.

 

[KoopaCycling]

What was his conclusion?

That he can beat remco in a TT if he finetunes some more.