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The international road season has been going on around the globe for quite some time, from Australia and Argentina in January to Africa and Asia in February, before moving into a more predictable Europe-based season for much of the remainder of the season. Center schedule.
But before turning to Western Europe, trip to the uae The first part of the season comes to a close as the world champion arrives remco avonpool The top racers in the Middle East’s only WorldTour event overall ranking.
as we are at inaugural women’s competition Aside from crashes or crosswinds earlier this month, the overall battle was likely to be decided in two summits and a team time trial, returning after a four-year hiatus, with more to come in the seven-day stage race. pleasure.
As the Astana Sprinter, four super-flat sections on mostly wide, well-paved highways Mark Cavendish It has been observed, “It’s kind of like a world championship for sprinters.”
In addition to Cavendish himself, there are many top fast players including Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny), Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla) and Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) and Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) all but ensured some epic sprint battles.
before the game, cycling news Take a look at some of the stories that could emerge from the Middle East’s only WorldTour.
Remco Evenepoel look forward to first win in rainbow jersey
Remco Evenepoel has been in the media spotlight since he turned pro, as in back to spain Last year a small group of Belgian cycling journalists were expected to take part in the UAE circuit to satisfy their compatriots’ voracious appetite for Evenepoel stories. Of course, their dream home scenario is if the Emirates see Evenepoel earn his first win under the Rainbow.
How likely that is to happen, though, is hard to predict. Evenepoel, who was last on the UAE Tour in 2019 as a new professional, made a splash at Jebel Hafeet but pulled out after a bad crash and his one race so far is in back to san juana mixture of the team’s success and a miscalculation of his own efforts at Alto Colorado.
But then again, in San Juan, his role was equally to help the interior sprinters Tim Merrill Stage your victory because it is finding your own victory. In the UAE, his GC targets will likely receive higher priority.
An individual time trial, rather than the TTT now scheduled for stage 2, is ideal for Evenepoel to claim his first victory in the rainbow jersey. But regardless, the two long, steady, smooth climbs of Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet are a perfect fit for Evenepoel’s climbing talents, as he’s not a huge fan of super-steep climbs, and is likely to be where he raised his arm first this year Second-rate.
If not, then the next opportunity will be at Return to Catalonia, over the course of a month he will take on Giro d’Italia competitor Primož Roglič. If Evenepoel can claim the UAE title to match Roglic’s title at the 2019 race, no one in Belgium, at least all of the cycling media, will be complaining.
Who will win the team time trial?
upon returning to Spain and Tyrrhenian-Adriatic, team time trials are becoming less and less common on the WorldTour schedule. For that reason alone, the UAE TTT’s return to the event for the first time since its opening edition in 2019 is worth a look for its relative rarity.
It may also have some interference and knock-on effects on GC. The TT specialists will be held on a very flat, very fast course with few big bends and they will be on the course at Khalifa Port, the UAE’s main maritime trade deepwater facility.
But before setting foot on the 17.2km circuit, it’s worth remembering that TTT teams are only as good as their weakest drivers, and at such high speeds, there’s certainly nowhere to hide for the unlucky or vulnerable GC specialists bell.
Thus, this year’s Stage 2 TTT may create a hierarchy among the GC racers, which may be crucial to the different teams’ subsequent mountain strategies.
arrive Take 2019 as an example, Jumbo-Visma won on a slightly shorter 16km track in which the fastest and slowest WorldTour teams were separated by a minute, with Primož Roglič taking the lead – which he then successfully defended until the closing stages. Will something similar play out in 2023?
No Pogacar but Adam Yates makes UAE debut
absence Tad Pogachar For the first time since 2019, there is a vacancy on the UAE Tour.But if someone else proves he is capable of measuring the GC battles of this game over the years, it will be adam yatesmaking their debut for Team Pogačar in their home race.
Winner of the 2020 cut, Yates has finished second behind Pogačar in the past two editions and has a notable single win at Jebel Hafeet, the most decisive before Slovenia three years ago climbing.
It’s a logical choice to have Yates leading the UAE team, the Brit can be counted on. In theory, this is one of the strongest lineups in this year’s game. Jay Vine and Brandon McNulty are also important options for GC should he shake. ?
But it also means the UAE tour will be his first test of his fitness with his new team, with Evenepoel just one of many potential rivals – keep an eye out for Bahrain’s opponents, to name just two Pelo Bilbao And Jumbo-Visma’s Sepp Kuss – it won’t be easy.
Mark Cavendish hones his Astana lead-out train
after low-key debut Mark Cavendish will go from famine to feast with Astana Qazaqstan in the Oman tour due to a lack of sprint, with as many as four chances for the quicker – so four chances to test the fledgling Astana leaders .
While succeeding in the UAE, Cavendish has scored some important accomplishments. He has seven victories so far in his career, including the Tour of Dubai (which he also won in 2015), the Tour of Abu Dhabi and his first UAE tour under the current format last year.
So, in addition to his undoubted sprint talent, he also has enough experience and local knowledge to help him excel in the game.
However, his team is still on a steep learning curve when it comes to the sprint battles, where he will work with his number one leader, Polfor the first time this season.
As ever, the UAE’s sprint lineup is formidable and likely the strongest lineup ahead of the Spring Classics and/or the Grand Tour. A good start to the season will be a huge morale boost for Cavendish’s new side, but regardless, it means they will really feel the scale of the challenge at the Emirates. for the rest of the season.
The rise of Jay Vine
can’t seem to stop Jetten at the moment. The Australians at the UAE team take part in their home race, which his team’s chief sporting director Joxon Fernandez Matesin described as second only to the Tour de France in importance as the rate at which the Australians are rising in the UAE rankings. Another sign of how fast.
victory In one WorldTour stage event on home soil so far this year tour australiaand the Australian time trial title, was the dream start of Vine’s inaugural season in the UAE.
Teamed up here with Brandon McNulty – fresh out of Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana – and Adam Yates, this team will be spoiled for choice when it comes to GC contenders for home games and their opponents will likely end up thanks Their lucky star, Pogačar, did not choose to participate.
In terms of other fast-rising talents to watch, Thomas Glogg Has been part of the UAE Jumbo-Visma lineup. But after his stellar performance in Valencia on his debut for the Netherlands, where he finished sixth and made some excellent breakthroughs and attacks on the hilly stage, look at the Englishman’s performance in Valencia. It will be interesting to see what happens on the tougher UAE circuit. Follow this space.
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