Tour of Qatar

RichN95.

fish156 wrote:

Cav wins a stage and there's barely a ripple in BikeRadar.

I dare say we've become blasé about what's an exceptional talent.

It's only Qatar.

More surprisingly, there's been little comment on Andy Fenn's impressive double in Spain.

iainf72

fish156 wrote:

Cav wins a stage and there's barely a ripple in BikeRadar.

I dare say we've become blasé about what's an exceptional talent.

My scientific analysis during last years Tour showed that Cavendish victories tend to generate less posts than other people winning. Or Cavendish losing in what should be a sure fire win.

Art Vandelay

Text book from Cav and great work from Eisel just before the kick to find some room. Farrar is in a good position but gets baulked a little but goes backwards at a rate of knots - not good after all the work Garmin did. Degenkolb looking fast but doesn't find a good line. Boonen and Steegmans made their efforts perfectly but Cav is just too good.
Video of the last few minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDeClt3VYW4

Art Vandelay

RichN95 wrote:

More surprisingly, there's been little comment on Andy Fenn's impressive double in Spain.

Great news about Fenn. Who knows what his calendar is like for Spring?

ddraver

Art Vandelay wrote:

Text book from Cav and great work from Eisel just before the kick to find some room. Farrar is in a good position but gets baulked a little but goes backwards at a rate of knots - not good after all the work Garmin did. Degenkolb looking fast but doesn't find a good line. Boonen and Steegmans made their efforts perfectly but Cav is just too good.
Video of the last few minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDeClt3VYW4

For a sprinter, Farrar does nt seem to win that often does he.....

Doobz

RichN95 wrote:

fish156 wrote:

Cav wins a stage and there's barely a ripple in BikeRadar.

I dare say we've become blasé about what's an exceptional talent.

It's only Qatar.

More surprisingly, there's been little comment on Andy Fenn's impressive double in Spain.

Not a fan of the early season races.....

The podium girls are not scantily clad enough

Art Vandelay

Still no spectators at the race but there were ostriches, echelons an a good sprint finish.

rick_chasey

iainf72 wrote:

fish156 wrote:

Cav wins a stage and there's barely a ripple in BikeRadar.

I dare say we've become blasé about what's an exceptional talent.

My scientific analysis during last years Tour showed that Cavendish victories tend to generate less posts than other people winning. Or Cavendish losing in what should be a sure fire win.

rick_chasey

Qatar is basically glorified training.

I only pay attention to it since a) I'm desperate, b) Boonen does well in it and c) Qatar is a reasonable indicator on how he'll do for the rest of the classics season (i.e. if he wins it overall he'll probably be there or there abouts come April)

gsvbagpuss

durhamwasp wrote:

Renshaw's sprint was fast as owt, but from totally too far back...

Dd I also spot some use of the head on his way through?!

ddraver

Rick Chasey wrote:

b) Boonen looks fit in it

FTFY

Art Vandelay

Rick Chasey wrote:

Qatar is basically glorified training.

Only 19 days until Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Tusher

Thrilled for The Man of course, but Renshaw must be at least a little disappointed.

You'd think Tommeke could at least have pretended in the last metres that he was trying. He just sat up when he caught a glimpse of Cav going past.

rick_chasey

Tusher wrote:

Thrilled for The Man of course, but Renshaw must be at least a little disappointed.

You'd think Tommeke could at least have pretended in the last metres that he was trying. He just sat up when he caught a glimpse of Cav going past.

He's never been a good loser...

iainf72

Rick Chasey wrote:

He's never been a good loser...

A good loser is still a loser.

rick_chasey

iainf72 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

He's never been a good loser...

A good loser is still a loser.

I imagine that's his philosophy too.

Pross

I assume the peloton split to pieces in the crosswind as there can't be more than 40 odd in the leading bunch in the last 5km. Sky and Garmin did well to get so many riders in the lead group. Surprised the other teams didn't force Sky to lead out though, they seemed to play right into Cav's hands.

rick_chasey

Pross wrote:

I assume the peloton split to pieces in the crosswind as there can't be more than 40 odd in the leading bunch in the last 5km. Sky and Garmin did well to get so many riders in the lead group. Surprised the other teams didn't force Sky to lead out though, they seemed to play right into Cav's hands.

Oui.

I think Cavendish did a good job of looking f*cked.

blazing_saddles

Boonan and the Barracuda boys have blown out Cav.
He's stuck in the 2nd, larger echelon which is struggling to close a 20" gap.

rick_chasey

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Boonan and the Barracuda boys have blown out Cav.
He's stuck in the 2nd, larger echelon which is struggling to close a 20" gap.

35 secs now.

durhamwasp

How many KM's to go?

blazing_saddles

8kms.
Looks like Sky have gone with..................Eisel? :?

durhamwasp

Boonen and Farrar both in the breakaway group then? What about Liquigas, have they got anybody in today?

rick_chasey

Pwnage.

TMR

Tom Boonen is on fire at the moment! Great to see

Doobz

proper racing that..

rick_chasey

Group split up again in the wind (they were doing laps)

3QS guys, Cancellara and a another guy left.

Canc goes very early, Boonen responses,another guy guy tries to follow but Boonen out sprints enough that there's no-one else on the photo.

durhamwasp

Top 10/20?

frenchfighter

Top ten split by 36 seconds!! Nice job Veelers.

rick_chasey

frenchfighter wrote:

Top ten split by 36 seconds!! Nice job Veelers.

You'd have thought more than one Dutchie would do well when the wind picks up....