I've shyed away from posting about cycling on here because there was never much of an audience for it even back in PW's heyday, but given that 50% of the forum is vanity projects these days I figured fuck it - maybe someone out there enjoys reading this. Plus the UCI tour fits perfectly into the NFL offseason!

We've had the typical slow start to 2020 with races in Australia, South America and the Middle East but the European schedule really gets going tonight with the Tour of Andalucía and Tour of the Algarve. The Spanish race looks more interesting to me, with five genuine GC stages, while the sprinters (with Ineos on GC) will dominate in Portugal. 

Vuelta a Andalucía
Stage 1

I expect Jakob Fuglsang to push out to an early lead defending his title from last year but Bahrain have brought a very strong team to this race and will make it difficult for him. Pello Bilbao would be my pick of their riders to win. 

Definitely a stage that lived up to my expectations. Mikel Landa has always been an entertaining rider and he kicked off the attack on the Puerto de las Palomas that shattered the peloton. Fuglsang was the only man that could go with him, and the two crossed the top with about a 30 second advantage, before the Dane pushed away on the final cobbled rise in Grazalema to win comfortably.

SPOILER: Click to show

Stage 2

More of a stage for the puncheurs tonight, my prediction is for Matej Mohorič to take the honours.

Another enjoyable small kick up finish today- Gonzalo Serrano from Caja Rural springing a surprise over the favourites launching an attack at the flamme rouge to win the stage. Mohoric did too much work at the front of the peloton today but I'll back him in for a breakaway win tomorrow. I'll be back on Monday for the final TT stage.

SPOILER: Click to show

This was a great race.

Stage 3

Teuns and Haig looked to have the better of Fuglsang in the finish, only to miss the final corner and leave the win to the Dane.

Stage 4

Fuglsang, Haig and Landa broke away to really cement their spots at the top three on the podium. The Australian Haig won the sprint, while there was an impressive finish by American Brandon McNulty in fourth.

Stage 5

Dylan Teuns turned in an impressive time trial to secure a well deserved stage win for Bahrain - Fuglsang just .8 of a second behind to complete a real domination of the race, never finishing below sixth place on any stage. He looks even stronger than last season and will probably win at least another couple of races this year.



The classics get underway this coming weekend with Zdenek Stybar defending Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Bob Jungles at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne - both of Deceuninck Quick-Step.