Wednesday 6 February – Stage four: Camel Race Track to Al Khor Corniche – 160km
The famous Camel Race Track sees the peloton head in the direction of Umm Al Qahab and north via a feed zone at Al Otouriya. Exposed roads and 90-degree direction changes could again play their part ahead of another brief drag along North Road. The picturesque Al Khor Corniche should be more straightforward than 2011, which saw only 14 riders finish on the same time. Mark Cavendish won this stage in 2012 and Edvald Boasson Hagen will no doubt be keen to make it two in a row for Team Sky.
Leaderboard After Stage 4 of the Tour of Qatar
1)BRECHIN WIND : 336pts
1)fluffed up : 298pts
3)dean michael : 288pts
4)North East Titans : 284pts
5)Chappers67 : 0pt
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 906pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 831pts
3)fluffed up : 698pts
4)North East Titans : 568pts
5)Chappers67 : 424pts
Thursday 7 February – Stage five: Al Zubara Fort to Madinat Al Shamal – 154km
The penultimate stage starts in the north-west corner of Qatar and heads south-east for almost 50km, before heading back in exactly the same direction. The road is straight but exposed, so teams will have to be on their guard should the gusts build up. Once back at the Al Zubara Fort, the route heads towards the northernmost town in the country for three laps of a 13km circuit that ends in a sprint to the line.
Leaderboard After Stage 5 of the Tour of Qatar
1)fluffed up : 469pts
1)BRECHIN WIND : 444pts
3)dean michael : 427pts
4)North East Titans : 362pts
5)Chappers67 : 66pts
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 1045pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 939pts
3)fluffed up : 869pts
4)North East Titans : 646pts
5)Chappers67 : 490pts
Friday 8 February – Stage six: Sealine Beach Resort to Doha Corniche – 116km
The final stage is the traditional run north along the coast into Doha. Once on the Corniche, the riders must complete 10 laps of a 6km loop. With a sprint finish almost guaranteed, extra spice could be added if the leaderboard is close enough for bonus seconds to come into play.
Final Standings after Stage 6 of the Tour of Qatar
1) fluffed up : 617pts
1)BRECHIN WIND : 581pts
3)dean michael : 543pts
4)North East Titans : 468pts
5)Chappers67 : 121
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 1161pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 1076pts
3)fluffed up : 1017pts
4)North East Titans : 752pts
5)Chappers67 : 545pts
Well done fluffed up in winning the Tour of Qatar.
In the Overall standings dean michael leads BRECHIN WIND by 75pts. The next race is the Tour of Oman which starts 11th Feb - 16th Feb.
Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Cadel Evans, Vincenzo Nibali and Joaquim Rodriguez are all expected on the start line for six days of racing that should give an accurate barometer of the early-season form of riders who will challenge at Grand Tours later in the year.
This year marks the fourth edition of the race and the stature of the event has risen yet again. All eyes will be on the stage four and the ascent of the now famous ‘Green Mountain’.
Like Qatar, there are bonus seconds up for grabs throughout the race, with intermediate sprints offering three, two and one seconds to the first three riders over the line and ten, six and four seconds available for the first three finishers.
Monday 11 February: Stage 1 – Al Musannah to Sultan Qaboos University, 162km
The opening day of the race is tailor-made for a bunch sprint, but the route is far from pan flat. A stage of two halves, the riders will start on the coast and climb gently inland to an altitude of more than 450 metres at Al Awabi, with King of the Mountains points up for grabs on the way. After a 90-degree left turn, the road heads back downhill and the sprinters will need to be on their game straight away for an intermediate sprint. They will then head all the way back down into central Muscat, where a couple of tight turns could prove tricky for lead-out trains.
Leaderboard after Stage 1 of the Tour of Oman
1) fluffed up : 135pts
1)BRECHIN WIND : 126pts
3)dean michael : 61pts
4)North East Titans : 0pts
5)Chappers67 : 0pt
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 1222pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 1202pts
3)fluffed up : 1152pts
4)North East Titans : 752pts
5)Chappers67 : 545pts
Tuesday 12 February: Stage 2 – Fanja in Bidbid to Al Bustan, 146km
Although another sprint stage on paper, the second day is likely to prove far more testing courtesy of a couple of short, sharp climbs inside the last 25 kilometres. Both come with King of the Mountains points on offer, and there are also two intermediate sprints – at 32km and 135km – to keep the sprinters on their guard. The route starts inland, heads up a valley for 30km before doubling back towards the finish line in east Muscat.
Highlights on Eurosport 2 on Feb 13 between 0900-0930, 1830-1900, 2200-2230 and 2330-0000 (BE1).
Leaderboard after Stage 2 of the Tour of Oman
1)fluffed up : 198pts
1)BRECHIN WIND : 146pts
3)dean michael : 117pts
4)Chappers67 : 92pts
5)North East Titans : 52pts
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 1278pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 1222pts
3)fluffed up : 1215pts
4)North East Titans : 804pts
5)Chappers67 : 637pts
Wednesday 13 February: Stage 3 – Nakhal Fort to Wadi Dayqah Dam, 190km
The longest stage of the race by some 28km, day three starts at a hill fort south-west of Muscat, before rolling down towards the outskirts of the city and then over an undulating route that runs parallel to the coastline. The only serious climb of note is the short and sharp Bousher Alamrat, where King of the Mountains points are on offer, meaning this is another day for the sprinters. There are two intermediate sprints, after 37km and 143km.
Highlights on Eurosport 2 on Feb 14 between 0900-0930, 1830-1900, 2200-2230.
Leaderboard after Stage 3 of the Tour of Oman
1)BRECHIN WIND : 266pts
2)fluffed up : 256pts
3)dean michael : 184pts
4)Chappers67 : 171pts
5)North East Titans : 89pts
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 1345pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 1342pts
3)fluffed up : 1273pts
4)North East Titans : 841pts
5)Chappers67 : 716pts
Thursday 14 February: Stage 4 – Al Saltiyah in Samail to Jabal Al Akhdhar, 152.5km
After three days in the shadows, it’s time for the climbers to come to the fore for the only true mountainous stage of the race. The day starts inland of Muscat and heads deep into the Hajar Mountains to a steep summit finish on Jabal Al Akhdhar, or “Green Mountain”, which tops out at 1,235m. There are three gentler ascents earlier in the day, as well as intermediate sprints after 55km and 141km, but it is the final climb that should have a big impact on the general classification.
Highlights on Eurosport on Feb 15 between 0000-0030, 0755-0830, 0900-0930 (BE2), 1830-1900 (BE2) and 2200-2230 (BE2
Leaderboard after Stage 4 of the Tour of Oman.
1)fluffed up : 318pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 307pts
3)Chappers67 : 274pts
4)dean michael : 271pts
5)North East Titans : 165pts
Overall Standings.
1)dean michael : 1432pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 1383pts
3)fluffed up : 1335pts
4)North East Titans : 917pts
5)Chappers67 : 819pts
Friday 15 February: Stage 5 – Al Alam Palace to Ministry of Housing in Boshar, 144km
The race returns to Muscat for a rolling stage that revisits Bousher Alamrat for another three ascents, all coming in the final 50km. Two of them will offer King of the Mountains points, with the third climb counting as an intermediate sprint. From there, it’s a lightning-fast 13km descent to the finish line, which won’t come quick enough for breakaway riders looking to hold on for victory.
Leaderboard after Stage 5 of the Tour of Oman.
1)fluffed up : 464pts
2)Chappers67 : 382pts
3)dean michael : 378pts
4)BRECHIN WIND : 320pts
5)North East Titans : 230pts
Overall Standings.
1)dean michael : 1539pts
2)fluffed up : 1481pts
3)BRECHIN WIND : 320pts
4)North East Titans : 917pts
5)Chappers67 : 927pts
Saturday 16 February: Stage 6 – Hawit Nagam Park to Matrah Corniche, 144km
The race reaches its finale with another bunch sprint on the seafront in Muscat. The modest climb of Qurayyat will offer a last chance to pick up King of the Mountains points, but otherwise it is all about collecting vital bonus seconds on the flat. There are intermediate sprints after 32km and 129km, the latter coming in the first of three crossings of the finish line as the peloton is taken on a three-lap circular circuit culminating in a final sprint.
Leaderboard after the final stage of the Tour of Oman.
1)fluffed up : 535pts
2)dean michael : 454pts
3)Chappers67 : 450pts
4)BRECHIN WIND : 374pts
5)North East Titans : 249pts
Overall Standings after the Tour of Oman
1)dean michael : 1615pts
2)fluffed up : 1552pts
3)BRECHIN WIND : 1450pts
4)North East Titans : 1001pts
5)Chappers67 : 995pts
Well done fluffed up winning the Tour of Oman
Overall dean michael leads fluffed up by 63pts.The next race is the Paris-Nice 3rd March-10thMarch.
Leaderboard after the final stage of the Tour of Oman.
1)fluffed up : 535pts
2)dean michael : 454pts
3)Chappers67 : 450pts
4)BRECHIN WIND : 374pts
5)North East Titans : 249pts
Overall Standings after the Tour of Oman
1)dean michael : 1615pts
2)fluffed up : 1552pts
3)BRECHIN WIND : 1450pts
4)North East Titans : 1001pts
5)Chappers67 : 995pts
Well done fluffed up winning the Tour of Oman
Overall dean michael leads fluffed up by 63pts.The next race is the Paris-Nice 3rd March-10thMarch.
Comments
The famous Camel Race Track sees the peloton head in the direction of Umm Al Qahab and north via a feed zone at Al Otouriya. Exposed roads and 90-degree direction changes could again play their part ahead of another brief drag along North Road. The picturesque Al Khor Corniche should be more straightforward than 2011, which saw only 14 riders finish on the same time. Mark Cavendish won this stage in 2012 and Edvald Boasson Hagen will no doubt be keen to make it two in a row for Team Sky.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 336pts
1)fluffed up : 298pts
3)dean michael : 288pts
4)North East Titans : 284pts
5)Chappers67 : 0pt
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 906pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 831pts
3)fluffed up : 698pts
4)North East Titans : 568pts
5)Chappers67 : 424pts
The penultimate stage starts in the north-west corner of Qatar and heads south-east for almost 50km, before heading back in exactly the same direction. The road is straight but exposed, so teams will have to be on their guard should the gusts build up. Once back at the Al Zubara Fort, the route heads towards the northernmost town in the country for three laps of a 13km circuit that ends in a sprint to the line.
Should've swapped him.for Markus yesterday like I almost did.
Oh and unlimited transfers available for last stage, I think I read in an email.
1)fluffed up : 469pts
1)BRECHIN WIND : 444pts
3)dean michael : 427pts
4)North East Titans : 362pts
5)Chappers67 : 66pts
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 1045pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 939pts
3)fluffed up : 869pts
4)North East Titans : 646pts
5)Chappers67 : 490pts
The final stage is the traditional run north along the coast into Doha. Once on the Corniche, the riders must complete 10 laps of a 6km loop. With a sprint finish almost guaranteed, extra spice could be added if the leaderboard is close enough for bonus seconds to come into play.
1) fluffed up : 617pts
1)BRECHIN WIND : 581pts
3)dean michael : 543pts
4)North East Titans : 468pts
5)Chappers67 : 121
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 1161pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 1076pts
3)fluffed up : 1017pts
4)North East Titans : 752pts
5)Chappers67 : 545pts
Well done fluffed up in winning the Tour of Qatar.
In the Overall standings dean michael leads BRECHIN WIND by 75pts. The next race is the Tour of Oman which starts 11th Feb - 16th Feb.
This year marks the fourth edition of the race and the stature of the event has risen yet again. All eyes will be on the stage four and the ascent of the now famous ‘Green Mountain’.
Like Qatar, there are bonus seconds up for grabs throughout the race, with intermediate sprints offering three, two and one seconds to the first three riders over the line and ten, six and four seconds available for the first three finishers.
Monday 11 February: Stage 1 – Al Musannah to Sultan Qaboos University, 162km
The opening day of the race is tailor-made for a bunch sprint, but the route is far from pan flat. A stage of two halves, the riders will start on the coast and climb gently inland to an altitude of more than 450 metres at Al Awabi, with King of the Mountains points up for grabs on the way. After a 90-degree left turn, the road heads back downhill and the sprinters will need to be on their game straight away for an intermediate sprint. They will then head all the way back down into central Muscat, where a couple of tight turns could prove tricky for lead-out trains.
Cheers mate:)
1) fluffed up : 135pts
1)BRECHIN WIND : 126pts
3)dean michael : 61pts
4)North East Titans : 0pts
5)Chappers67 : 0pt
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 1222pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 1202pts
3)fluffed up : 1152pts
4)North East Titans : 752pts
5)Chappers67 : 545pts
Although another sprint stage on paper, the second day is likely to prove far more testing courtesy of a couple of short, sharp climbs inside the last 25 kilometres. Both come with King of the Mountains points on offer, and there are also two intermediate sprints – at 32km and 135km – to keep the sprinters on their guard. The route starts inland, heads up a valley for 30km before doubling back towards the finish line in east Muscat.
Highlights on Eurosport 2 on Feb 13 between 0900-0930, 1830-1900, 2200-2230 and 2330-0000 (BE1).
1)fluffed up : 198pts
1)BRECHIN WIND : 146pts
3)dean michael : 117pts
4)Chappers67 : 92pts
5)North East Titans : 52pts
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 1278pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 1222pts
3)fluffed up : 1215pts
4)North East Titans : 804pts
5)Chappers67 : 637pts
The longest stage of the race by some 28km, day three starts at a hill fort south-west of Muscat, before rolling down towards the outskirts of the city and then over an undulating route that runs parallel to the coastline. The only serious climb of note is the short and sharp Bousher Alamrat, where King of the Mountains points are on offer, meaning this is another day for the sprinters. There are two intermediate sprints, after 37km and 143km.
Highlights on Eurosport 2 on Feb 14 between 0900-0930, 1830-1900, 2200-2230.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 266pts
2)fluffed up : 256pts
3)dean michael : 184pts
4)Chappers67 : 171pts
5)North East Titans : 89pts
Overall Standings
1)dean michael : 1345pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 1342pts
3)fluffed up : 1273pts
4)North East Titans : 841pts
5)Chappers67 : 716pts
After three days in the shadows, it’s time for the climbers to come to the fore for the only true mountainous stage of the race. The day starts inland of Muscat and heads deep into the Hajar Mountains to a steep summit finish on Jabal Al Akhdhar, or “Green Mountain”, which tops out at 1,235m. There are three gentler ascents earlier in the day, as well as intermediate sprints after 55km and 141km, but it is the final climb that should have a big impact on the general classification.
Highlights on Eurosport on Feb 15 between 0000-0030, 0755-0830, 0900-0930 (BE2), 1830-1900 (BE2) and 2200-2230 (BE2
1)fluffed up : 318pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 307pts
3)Chappers67 : 274pts
4)dean michael : 271pts
5)North East Titans : 165pts
Overall Standings.
1)dean michael : 1432pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 1383pts
3)fluffed up : 1335pts
4)North East Titans : 917pts
5)Chappers67 : 819pts
The race returns to Muscat for a rolling stage that revisits Bousher Alamrat for another three ascents, all coming in the final 50km. Two of them will offer King of the Mountains points, with the third climb counting as an intermediate sprint. From there, it’s a lightning-fast 13km descent to the finish line, which won’t come quick enough for breakaway riders looking to hold on for victory.
1)fluffed up : 464pts
2)Chappers67 : 382pts
3)dean michael : 378pts
4)BRECHIN WIND : 320pts
5)North East Titans : 230pts
Overall Standings.
1)dean michael : 1539pts
2)fluffed up : 1481pts
3)BRECHIN WIND : 320pts
4)North East Titans : 917pts
5)Chappers67 : 927pts
The race reaches its finale with another bunch sprint on the seafront in Muscat. The modest climb of Qurayyat will offer a last chance to pick up King of the Mountains points, but otherwise it is all about collecting vital bonus seconds on the flat. There are intermediate sprints after 32km and 129km, the latter coming in the first of three crossings of the finish line as the peloton is taken on a three-lap circular circuit culminating in a final sprint.
1)fluffed up : 535pts
2)dean michael : 454pts
3)Chappers67 : 450pts
4)BRECHIN WIND : 374pts
5)North East Titans : 249pts
Overall Standings after the Tour of Oman
1)dean michael : 1615pts
2)fluffed up : 1552pts
3)BRECHIN WIND : 1450pts
4)North East Titans : 1001pts
5)Chappers67 : 995pts
Well done fluffed up winning the Tour of Oman
Overall dean michael leads fluffed up by 63pts.The next race is the Paris-Nice 3rd March-10thMarch.
Where is it you look for the calendar/itinerary?