American Taylor Phinney in the overall lead, flanked by not-your-usual podium girls. (Photo: AP)

As the XXII Olympic Winter Games get underway, while Jay Leno bids farewell (again) to “The Tonight Show”, a uniquely different event has been taking place this week that’s truly a first:  The inaugural Tour of Dubai is underway for a whopping total of… well, four days. Sixteen professional cycling teams are braving the region’s flat, sandy terrain for a cumulative distance of 417 kilometers, not even 65 miles per day!  Hmmm, I wonder is they’ll even break a sweat?  Maybe best they don’t; the cycling season is young yet, after all.  Next up after Saturday: The six-stage Tour of Qatar.

Meanwhile, back to Sochi and/or Jay’s next gig.