The Lead Out: February 2019 - Sprinter's special, UAE Tour & Omloop Het Nieuwsblaad preview

The first month of the season is in the books, but the professional cycling scene has thrown up a number of stories for our pundits to delve in to.

In the February episode of The Lead Out, Paul Knott, Alex Ballinger and former pro rider Yanto Barker analyse the two big stage races of the year so far; the Tour Down Under and Vuelta a San Juan. In Australia, Richie Porte secured a sixth win on Willunga Hill, while there a controversial week for Deceuninck – Quick-Step at the Vuelta a San Juan.

We also take a look at how the major sprinters in the pro peloton have fared over the first month, including an rider focus interview with Fernando Gaviria.

Returning to our monthly ’30-second effort’, the question is 'Will Mark Cavendish break Eddy Merckx’s Tour de France stage win record?'

>>> The Lead Out: January 2019 - Season Preview

Before the guys look ahead to the inaugural UAE Tour, where a loaded field is expected to line up before the first major European races begin on opening weekend at Omloop Het Nieuwsblaad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.

Let us know your predictions for the month ahead on our social media channels @cyclingweekly on Facebook and Twitter or @cyclingweeklymagazine on Instagram.