ProTour Pundit 2016 *no spoilers please*

[SWSteve]

GC Kristoff
Sprint Cav

1 Kristoff Cav Modolo

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Etixx aren't even bothering to show up to defend the title.

They were not invited. Sheikh Khalid Bin Ali Al Thani sounds like a complete nobber:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/02/news/qatar-organizers_394824

 

[rich p]

GC Cav
Sprint Cav
1. Cav, Kristoff, Guardini

 

[smutchin]

They were not invited. Sheikh Khalid Bin Ali Al Thani sounds like a complete nobber:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/02/news/qatar-organizers_394824

Good to see race organisers playing hardball with these primadonna cyclists. I expect Terpstra is crying himself to sleep every night about not getting the chance to take part in Sheikh Khalid's highly illustrious and always thrilling race. That'll learn him.

 

[simo105]

Gc kristoff
Sprint cav
Stage 1 cav hofland kristoff

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

GC Kristoff
Sprint Kristoff

1 - Kristoff, Cav, Bennett

 

[Berk on a Bike]

GC - Jos van Emden
Sprint - Kristoff

Stage 1 - Cav, Kristoff, Bennett

 

[SWSteve]

Why do I think we've all made a mistake picking Katusha riders. Aren't they banned?

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Why do I think we've all made a mistake picking Katusha riders. Aren't they banned?

You'd have thought so, but apparently not. The UCI appear to be waiting the B result before deciding what to do.

 

[smutchin]

The decision may come through in the next few days, which could mean Katusha being kicked out of the race, I guess, but I thought I'd take a chance anyway.

 

[rich p]

GC - Jos van Emden

Good call. I nearly picked him too as the ITT may prove as crucial as it was last year and I couldn't see any obvious TT specialists.

 

[rich p]

2. Cav Guardini Modolo

 

[smutchin]

Good call. I nearly picked him too as the ITT may prove as crucial as it was last year and I couldn't see any obvious TT specialists.

Anyone who didn't come in with the small front group today (which includes Van Emden and Hofland) is already nearly two minutes down. Given how small the margins usually are in this race, I suspect that means they're already out of GC contention.

 

[rich p]

Anyone who didn't come in with the small front group today (which includes Van Emden and Hofland) is already nearly two minutes down. Given how small the margins usually are in this race, I suspect that means they're already out of GC contention.

Oh, good job I didn't go with him then!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I am also not at all interested in this race; wake me up when the interesting races start...