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Arab Tour Discussion
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| redordead |
Posted on 13-03-2024 07:18
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Grand Tour Specialist
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 Arab Tour 
The race is reported by AbhishekLFC
Welcome to the 4th edition of the Arab Tour. No climbing in this Middle East race, it's all about sprints and time-trials. Or I should say a time-trial. There are two sprint stages that feature just enough bumps in the road to justify a KOM classification to start the race. Stage 3 is a 19 km time-trial that is the be all and end all for the overall classification. Maybe if a sprinter dominated the first two stages he can hold on to a decent GC as the TT isn't too long. Then there is one more sprint stage to end the race.
With that said let's look at some of the favourites:
| FL | TT | RS | PR | | FL | TT | RS | PR |  Zmorka | 74 | 82 | 75 | 82 |  Haugard | 72 | 79 | 77 | 79 |  Paillot | 70 | 80 | 74 | 80 |  Beniusis | 71 | 79 | 73 | 78 | | Gonzalez Salas | 70 | 80 | 76 | 80 |  Rekita | 72 | 79 | 73 | 78 | | Sütterlin | 71 | 80 | 77 | 80 | Dillier | 69 | 79 | 76 | 78 |  Dunbar | 69 | 80 | 77 | 77 |  Norsgaard | 73 | 79 | 75 | 77 |
There is one clear favourite for every time-trial in PCT, and that's Marlen Zmorka, coming off a recent overall victory at Amissa Bongo. Los Pollos will look to repeat their 1-2 from there with Sütterlin. The main contenders for the other podium spots are the Assa duo of Paillot and Gonzalez Salas and hybrid specialist Dunbar. The listed 79 TTers and the 'army' of 78 TTers at the race will all try to go above and beyond their stats to break into the top 5.
| Sprinter | FL | RS | SP | AC | Lead out | FL | RS | SP | AC |  Groenewegen | 73 | 71 | 82 | 81 | Vingerling | 70 | 65 | 78 | 78 | | Abdul Halil | 70 | 68 | 81 | 79 | Gani | 75 | 73 | 76 | 77 |  Degenkolb | 73 | 66 | 81 | 76 | Boudat | 73 | 74 | 79 | 78 |  Bonifazio | 79 | 75 | 80 | 80 | Sajnok | 74 | 76 | 73 | 72 |  Haller | 72 | 71 | 80 | 79 | De Buyst | 73 | 75 | 76 | 76 |  Coutinho | 72 | 74 | 79 | 80 | Thwaites | 72 | 68 | 77 | 74 | | Rodenberg | 74 | 77 | 79 | 79 | Kump | 70 | 67 | 77 | 74 |  Perera | 71 | 73 | 79 | 80 | Scott | 72 | 71 | 78 | 78 |  Walscheid | 73 | 74 | 79 | 79 | Boivin | 72 | 67 | 77 | 77 |  Silvestre | 77 | 69 | 79 | 79 | Willems | 68 | 73 | 72 | 72 |  Kennett | 75 | 76 | 79 | 78 | Bennett | 70 | 67 | 78 | 78 |  Kamberaj | 75 | 73 | 79 | 78 | Merlier | 73 | 72 | 78 | 74 |  Hayakawa | 73 | 68 | 79 | 79 | Kulikovskiy | 72 | 73 | 76 | 77 | | Van Asbroeck | 74 | 71 | 79 | 77 | Bohli | 74 | 75 | 74 | 68 |  Welten | 76 | 71 | 79 | 75 | Walls | 72 | 70 | 78 | 76 | | Page | 75 | 72 | 78 | 79 | Stocker | 75 | 73 | 76 | 77 |
The field of sprinters is also very deep, featuring arguably the #1 of the division in Dylan Groenewegen. Given the riders below him it would be nice to see the clear favourite do well. Abdul Halil and Degenkolb are still 81 sprinters, but they do lack a bit in the other stats. Bonifazio is often maligned, but this could be a good field for him and Haller is usually a solid choice to do well, also it's getting closer to ToA time for him.
The 79 sprinters are a really good group though. Coutinho and Perera both bring some pedigree and that 80 acceleration. Rodenberg, Walscheid and Kennett are all riders that I like, that could follow the wheels well. Also a quick mention to Kamberaj who's been having an outstanding season for Stela-Vita.
Full startlist:
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 13-03-2024 07:36
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Thank you for the preview, red. Our goal here is the same as at the start of Bongo. Win, top-5 and top-10. Most important obviously the win for our sponsor goal. Not counting Sütterlin I assume Zmorka has three riders wanting/really able to dethrone him, so let's see if he's able to defend that throne succesfully. Good luck to all!
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 13-03-2024 07:38
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World Champion
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Please, don't give him extra pressure!
But yeah, we need at least 2 good sprints and a few good time trials. Thanks for the preview!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 16-11-2024 18:28
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 13-03-2024 07:59
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Good that I didn't send Bol here, what a sprinter field 
Page will need some luck to do well, but it will eventually be our turn again to be lucky in sprints ^^
But our main goal here is the GC anyway. Obviously hoping for Rekita to show another Tropicale-like performance, maybe sneaking into the Top 5. But even a Top 10 isn't a given... We do have 4 riders who should be competitive, though, so hopefully one or two of them will have a great day on stage 3. One Top 10, two more Top 20 and a Top 30 would be fine.
Furthermore, with Gjensidige not here I defnitely have to expect a 1-2 in U25. And I suppose we should be fighting for 2nd in teams against UBS, with LPH obviously out of reach by far.
Thanks for the preview, good luck to all!
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| MacC |
Posted on 13-03-2024 10:47
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Sprinter
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Thanks Red.
Looks like Kennett will be an also ran but maybe he can get some points. He's actually a good prologuer but I guess that won't count over 20km?
We have Eaton, O'Loughlin and Oram who could all, on a good day, be top 20- at least
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 13-03-2024 11:48
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Big race for us. Abdul Halil has been very hot and cold (like most sprinters this season really), so I’m really hoping that we’re not one of the ‘lead out’ teams and he can wheel surf his way to some good results.
Dunbar absolutely has to finish in the top-5, anything else would be a huge disappointment. Zmorka already has the top spot on the podium locked down of course, so 2-5 is a must.
Thanks for the preview 
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| quadsas |
Posted on 13-03-2024 15:33
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Dunno what happened during planning, maybe just didnt have anymore RDs for Losch. Beniušis needs to get that top 5 big time
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 13-03-2024 18:38
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Small Tour Specialist
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All in for Haller here, hope he can get some good positioning.
Thanks for the preview Red.
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 13-03-2024 21:57
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Not expecting much here, the first of many races in the last few months that are why I think we have hit our season high point already.
Amissa Bongo was more our level. I think Walscheid is a bit too far down the sprinter pecking order this time to do anything and feel like we used up our luck in Gabon.
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 14-03-2024 09:27
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An uneventful stage, perfect for us. Congratulations to DuckDuckGo! Thanks for the detailed sprint report, Abhi
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 14-03-2024 09:37
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Well, if we intend to miss out on the sprint anyway (which I can't be too mad about, with Page about in 15th position of pecking order), why don't we at least join the breakaway? Having one of the TTers getting some bonus seconds would actually be a decent strategy 
But as long as we don't miss out on any random splits, I'm actually fine.
Congrats to DuckDuckGo, and Glanbia also keeping their scoring up!
Thanks for the report.
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 14-03-2024 09:40
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Congrats Gustav!
Will take a third from Coutinho, as long as he stays active in these sprints and bags himself another good greenjersey finish we will be very happy!
Thanks for the report!
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| MacC |
Posted on 14-03-2024 10:11
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Sprinter
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That man Kennett! (he's not a terrible TTer you know...)
Thanks for great report
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 14-03-2024 20:59
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God I hate sprints so much.
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| KaiserAdler |
Posted on 14-03-2024 21:18
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Domestique
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7th is not bad for how good the competition is, i'll take it.
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 15-03-2024 06:55
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Honestly happy with the start of this race. Perera with a 5th and 6th is definitely not bad. And now a TT so hopefully Erdenebat can prove himself and get up the order. It will be interesting! But definitely not bad points with this performance as long as it keeps going!
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| redordead |
Posted on 15-03-2024 07:14
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Loanee Selimovic is doing a great job in the breakaways
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 15-03-2024 07:43
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RD's well spent
Unfortunately this will be the last day in Top 3 and as U25 leader for Selimovic as the next stage is a TT one. But it was fun while it lasted - at least he'll keep the KoM jersey
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| KaiserAdler |
Posted on 15-03-2024 09:09
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Domestique
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Hoowee. El Sabbahi adding to the overperforming Sprinters list in Colombini. 3rd after 7th in the first stage lets go!
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 15-03-2024 12:08
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That’s better from AH, no lead out this time and with good legs finishes the job! Groenwegen was right there in a great position, surprising he couldn’t do better - mustn’t have been having the best day.
Now onto the most important stage - we desperately need Dunbar to land somewhere in the top-5 tomorrow. Good luck to all
Thanks for the report again!
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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