Lanterne Rouge Cycling Podcast UAE Tour 2026 - Stage 3
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Feb 18, 2026 A lively recap of Stage 3’s brutal Jebel Mobra climb and the steep gradients that reshaped the race. They debate who could spring a surprise and unpack on-climb tactics, pacing plans, and moment-to-moment attacks. The conversation highlights Remco’s struggles, Del Toro’s strategy, and Tiberi’s decisive finish. They finish by teasing Stage 4’s sprint versus breakaway possibilities.
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Masterclass In Negative-Split Pacing
- Isaac Del Toro executed an extreme negative-split pacing strategy on Jebel Mobra and rode flat watts to avoid blowing up early.
- The approach nearly succeeded and showcased how pacing can beat impulsive surges on very steep climbs.
Two-Rider Break For Miles And Prize Money
- Patrick and Benji note a small two-rider break (Delier and Ricard) that rode mainly for race miles and prize money.
- The peloton largely expected to catch them, so the break never threatened GC outcomes.
Trust Pacing, Ignore The Noise
- Trust your pacing and ignore surrounding surges on very steep climbs to preserve energy for decisive efforts.
- Negative-splitting avoids hitting O2 max too early and reduces risk of cramping or blowing up.