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Tour of Northern Europe - Discussion Thread
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| roturn |
Posted on 01-08-2012 12:25
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 9608
Joined: 24.11.07
Location: Germany
PCM$: 31.00
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I know, it`s still some time until this race will start. But as the final startlist has been announced I will make the presentation already.
(Actually you should check the startlist this way as it`s the first I have done, although I think it should be correct)
Maybe the most unpredictable race for the whole season. There are stages for puncheurs, for Northern classics, for sprinters and for time trialists.
So a combination of all these would be the clear favourite. But as there is no pure combination it might be very interesting to follow. Closest might be  Fabian Cancellara, who could be counted as the big here as he is one of the best on the cobbles and against the clock but the faster the race is on the hills, the harder it will be for him to keep contact.
So in general we might see the best riders on their terrain to ride very aggressive to get time gaps before their weaker part. Then there will be ~20 riders, who are able to win the race.
 Pozzato surely must be named here. Great sprinter, puncheur and cobbler and decent time trialist. So next to Cancellara he might be the favourite if he can gain time in the hills and cobbled stages. With Steurs he will have excellent support on the pavement, where they might be needed the most.
 Spyker`s season might be not that great so far and they must fear to end in the PCT next season. On the other hand they can become the big winner in this race. Stijn Devolder and Vladimir Gusev are both great allrounders, who shouldn`t lose much time on any stage here and so they might surprise with very high finishes here.
 Boonen and  Bewley have a very similar situation. They are the best sprinters here and the time bonuses they can earn there will be important. They are also great cobblers and need to gain time there as they will surely lose time in the time trials and on a hard pace also in the hills. Milka also has another chance in Efimkin, although he is more a pure puncheur and would need to gain lots of time there.
 Ballan is the man for Sony. A good cobbler and shouldn`t lose too much on the hills. But to join the very best he is missing the final kick in the time trial.
 Gilbert on the other hand will be one of the best puncheurs and decent in the cobbles but just like Ballan losing time in the time trial. Expect these two to be aggressive in their area.
 Two riders might be able to do well here. Steegmans is more the Boonen/Bewley kind of rider, just a bit weaker, while Burghardt is an excellent cobbler with decent skills in the other areas.
 Maybe the secret favourite. Posthuma combines excellent time trial skills with good hill and decent cobble skills. As long as the pace is not too high he will have good chances to surprise.
 Baugnies and  Franzoi are excellent cobblers but can`t challenge the best on the other stages, so they might surprise but more likely they will finish somewhere out of the top7-10.
 Van Garderen might have brilliant chances on the hilly stages but then he will have problems everywhere else, so a stage win is possible, a top10 unlikely. They can also go for Summerhill here who is an excellent cobbler but horrible time trialist.
 Kruijswijk combines good skills on every terrain but won`t be able to beat the better riders. His chance will be to attack on some stages and that he is one of the most attacking riders in the peloton should be obvious after this season so far.
The other teams will hope for a stage win or maybe a surprising top10 in a breakaway. Good chances for  Ignatiev/Kolobnev,  Joly,  Hoogerland/Mehr-Wenige and  Fenn.
Startlist
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| Smowz |
Posted on 01-08-2012 14:25
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3676
Joined: 09.04.09
Location: Manchester, England
PCM$: 184.75
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This is the one race where Cancellara will dominate. To give Carmuese their dues - they may majorly suck balls in the mountains and the classics but they know how to win this one.
Should be interesting to see how Boonan races this, because if they really go hell for leather on that cobbled stage the gaps are going to big.
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| Kami |
Posted on 01-08-2012 14:27
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2969
Joined: 19.06.09
Location: Belgium
PCM$: 40.00
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Hope for some good results, although i don't like the fact that PCM made Steegmans my leader instead of Burghardt.
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| SotD |
Posted on 01-08-2012 17:29
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5134
Joined: 29.11.06
Location: Denmark
PCM$: 100.00
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This race is the decisive race for me. If I win, and Pozzato underways gets a stagewin and some good results this could give me a far-out shot at the 5th place. If he doesn't top 10 is the new goal.
Manager of Team Festina |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 01-08-2012 17:32
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8779
Joined: 05.08.08
Location: Romania
PCM$: 10.50
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Come on, Posthuma! Time to repeat the performances from the last 2 years 
Manager of Project 1t4i ● HQ |
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 01-08-2012 19:09
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Domestique
Posts: 651
Joined: 07.02.09
Location: Colorado, USA
PCM$: 100.00
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This isn't going to be very pretty for us.
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 02-08-2012 17:53
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Team Manager
Posts: 28559
Joined: 20.10.06
Location: Greve, Denmark
PCM$: 10.00
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GC 1-2 for Gusev and Devolder 
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| roturn |
Posted on 08-08-2012 13:05
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 9608
Joined: 24.11.07
Location: Germany
PCM$: 31.00
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Actually I planned to have already finished this race by now when claiming the race.
But due to the problems with the FBD Eire Tour I haven`t started yet and now I am not at home until Monday. I doubt the FBD Eire Tour will be finished by then.
Nevertheless I will start this race next week to have some progress again just like it at the moment happens in the CT.
I could also make 1 report today and 1 report tomorrow and then continue on Monday. Depends on you, what you prefer.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 19-05-2013 22:50
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Bot Agent
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| Heine |
Posted on 08-08-2012 14:19
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Sprinter
Posts: 1796
Joined: 08.04.07
Location: Norway
PCM$: 100.00
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I like to see reports as early as possible (then I'm not in the race), I hate when we get hold up... And I love to check the site and see new reports 
Volkswagen-Mapei |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 08-08-2012 14:50
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Team Leader
Posts: 6606
Joined: 19.02.08
Location: England
PCM$: 20.00
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Yeah, if you can, get em up. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 08-08-2012 18:28
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8779
Joined: 05.08.08
Location: Romania
PCM$: 10.50
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Posthuma is looking good
Manager of Project 1t4i ● HQ |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 08-08-2012 18:30
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Team Leader
Posts: 6606
Joined: 19.02.08
Location: England
PCM$: 20.00
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What a great start! Great report as well, just a shame the victory photo is mostly lapped riders. |
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| Roman |
Posted on 08-08-2012 18:52
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2328
Joined: 29.05.07
Location: Czechia
PCM$: 110.00
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That was close! But still happy with that 2nd..
Good stage for Bewley as well, that cobble stage should be hard enough to make big gaps in GC, so I feel pretty confident for that 2nd place overall.
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 08-08-2012 22:46
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Domestique
Posts: 651
Joined: 07.02.09
Location: Colorado, USA
PCM$: 100.00
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Really exciting report. That's about all I can expect though, is a breakaway here and there. I'm gonna go feel sorry for myself now.
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 08-08-2012 22:50
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5219
Joined: 18.05.08
Location: UK
PCM$: 91.25
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About the worst start I could have to this race.
Oh well, here's hoping for the lucky breakaway.
Team Santander Media Thread
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 09-08-2012 11:21
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4788
Joined: 06.12.06
PCM$: 255.75
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Good start to the race for us in terms of the teams winning here. |
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| dave92 |
Posted on 09-08-2012 21:56
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3090
Joined: 21.04.07
Location: Maryland, USA
PCM$: 100.00
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big disappointment to see TVG go down after looking so strong. Was decent enough all around to do well in the overall if he could have finished well today.
On the flip side Summerhill rode well compared to the other cobblers and is well positioned.
Manager of Wikipedia, 2008 Continental Tour Champions
Team Page: http://pcmdaily.c...ad_id=3992
Media: http://pcmdaily.c...ad_id=3791 |
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| SotD |
Posted on 12-08-2012 21:05
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5134
Joined: 29.11.06
Location: Denmark
PCM$: 100.00
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Good start, though Pozzato should not have come 3rd in thar group. Both him and Steurs are where they should be, so it is going to be touch and go in the cobbles
Manager of Team Festina |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 14-08-2012 17:21
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4788
Joined: 06.12.06
PCM$: 255.75
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Good enough for us. |
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| Kami |
Posted on 14-08-2012 17:30
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2969
Joined: 19.06.09
Location: Belgium
PCM$: 40.00
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Steegmans really useless.
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