Tour of Qatar *SPOILERS*

[Flying_Monkey]

The Tour of Qatar is not the most interesting in the emerging tradition of early-season desert races, largely because it is flat, flat, flat. Okay, the wind does create echelons and breaks, but it's never exciting to watch.

Anyway, the first stage was won by Nikki Terpstra for OPQS, from a breakaway. OPQS seemed to have half their team in the Top 10 as well, so perhaps this will make up for their inability to get Cav's train working in Dubai...

 

[The Couch]

Didn't see the race, but still it's nice to see that someone managed to avoid the group sprint

OPQS is gonna be a superstrong block in the early season classics

 

[The Couch]

Seems that this year the race is much better than last year's edition (or perhaps better put... it seems the wind this year is making more of a difference)
2nd stage in a row where the peloton gets blown into pieces

 

[Norry1]

Is it on the box?

 

[The Couch]

Cancellara, Kristoff, Devolder, Gatto, Westra, Offredo, Van Avermaet, Haussler ... many "Belgian-type" of riders aren't really putting in much of an effort it seems

OPQS is in 1st, 3rd and 6th place....actually their 2 worst riders (Keisse and Steegmans) are tied for 16th position
(FYI, Stybar and Kwiatkowski aren't even around in this race)

Anybody fancy to bet against them being the most dominating team in about 1 month time?
(Of course, the best all-around team doesn't mean you'll win many/any of the races)

 

[rich p]

3 Sky riders managed to hook onto the OPQS split too. Boonen is looking stronger than he has for a while now he's injury free.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Boonen wins Stage 2 in a sprint, led out by Terpstra, who stays in the overall lead... OPQS continuing to look awesome.

 

[rich p]

Boonen really is back to form, beating Greipel in a proper sprint in stage 4.

 

[montage]

Boonen really is back to form, beating Greipel in a proper sprint in stage 4.

This is shaping up to be a memorable classics season!

 

[rich p]

This is shaping up to be a memorable classics season!

Yep! FabC isn't up to speed yet but I'm sure he'll get there.

 

[raindog]

Yep - Cav said that Boonen was in great shape, and it sure looks like he is

 

[beastie]

Roll on March!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I'm inclined to put this down to relative fitness at this stage in the season. Boonen is a really great rider, but he isn't a pure sprinter like Greipel and never has been. Perhaps they are timing their peak fitness for goals at different times in the season? Or perhaps Boonen really is just going to kill everyone for the whole stretch...

 

[The Couch]

Greipel got the last sprint victory.

I guess today OPQS will have to be content with only getting the 1st place in the final GC
...and 2nd place
...and 7th, 8th and 9th place

 

[jarlrmai]

I saw a 35mph stage average the other day 300m of climbing, this race is flat!