Well Hinault wasn't dropped on the flat and he attacked to win the Crit Int, so i would say REC is more important (especially with the effect of FTR being somewhat questionable). Also looking at averages of stats is a bit off considering you are looking at two types of rider, climbers and stage races. It would be like comparing Cobbles and Sprinters at the same time, the Cobblers will affect the average CB whilst the Sprinters affect the average SP.
I also inadvertantly seem to have made one of the higher HL rated EPIC riders which is cool. But goes to show how it's not worth spending points on low secondary stats etc etc old arguments.

Full startlist added to the preview https://pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread....st_1020136. Should not be any mistakes, but do tell if you spot one.

UK youth gets rated higher then Novo

This race is going to be awesome

This race is going to be awesome

First stage played, report coming up shortly.

the current PCM14-db at the fourth post is the one from last year

Weird. I had all the riders correct when setting up the startlist for Down Under.

No.

The file is namec EPIC_2.1_PCM14.cdb.
That is season 2, part 1

Welcome to Gabon everyone. We are at the start of the first stage of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo. All 146 riders have made it to the start line and are eager to kick off the season. It is a nice and sunny day here.




Iker Camano (NetApp) is the first rider to try and create a breakaway group. Berhane (MTN), Molard (Cofidis) and Kochetkov (RusVelo) follow. Malacarne (Bretagne) tries to bridge the gap. CCC Polsat tries to shut it down.


More riders trying to create a gap to the peloton now, with Kusnezov (Movistar), Gastauer (AG2R), Kiendys (CCC), Wynants (Belkin) and Kohler (Bardiani) reaching the 5 riders in front. The 10 riders in the break got a 30 second lead over the peloton, where Colombia is chasing. They must be very confident in the skills of Bernard. At the front Kohler attacks from the breakaway. It does not look like these 10 riders will stay away.




Iker Camano surprises his companions, winning the first intermediate sprint. Kiendys and Kohler come through in 2nd and 3rd. The peloton is still chasing, 40 seconds behind.

Sprint 1
1. Camano (NetApp) - 6 points
2. Kiendys (CCC) - 4 points
3. Kohler (Bardiani) - 2 points




20 kilometers into the race, the breakaway of 10 riders is reeled back in by the peloton.
Ilja Kusnezov from Movistar tries it again. Kiendys (CCC), Fernandez (Champion System) and Hagg (NetApp) follow.
Bravo (Euskaltel), Augustyn (MTN) and Gerard (Bretagne) are looking to jump across.




At 1 km from the first KoM sprint, Hagg is in front, with Fernandez and Augustyn a few seconds back. Gerard and Bravo are further back and are about to be caught by the peloton. Team Novo Nordisk has all their riders hanging on at the back.


Hagg comes first at the KoM sprint, Augystyn and Fernandez follow as 2nd and 3rd. Gerard and Bravo follow at 40 seconds, the peloton reaches the top at 1'23 from the 3 leaders.

KoM 1
1. Hagg (NetApp) - 5 points
2. Augustyn (MTN) - 3 points
3. Fernandez (Champion System) - 1 point




The 2nd sprint of the day is won by Hagg, in front of Augustyn and Fernandez. Gerard and Bravo follow at 45 seconds. The peloton has slowed down which gives Gerard and Bravo a chance to reach the front group.

Sprint 2
1. Hagg (NetApp) - 6 points
2. Augustyn (MTN) - 4 points
3. Fernandez (Champion System) - 2 points



Bravo and Gerard finally reach the front group. They must have spend an awful lot of energy to achieve this. The peloton follows at 3'50.




Augustyn is the first one over the 2nd classified hill. Hagg comes 2nd and Gerard is 3rd.

KoM 2
1. Augustyn (MTN) - 5 points
2. Hagg (NetApp) - 3 points
3. Gerard (Bretagne) - 1 point


The breakaway have reached their maximum lead of 5'20.
Several teams in the peloton are now chasing and our cameras have also spotted Krista Marcus at the front. With such a beautiful face, it is easy to see why everyone wants a camera to focus on her. She is working for Delfi Cervero, who is hoping to get a better result here than last year.


Hagg wins the 3rd sprint the day. Fernandez and Augustyn follow. The peloton, with Colombia, Androni and Sky chasing, is 4 and a half minute back.

Sprint 3
1. Hagg (NetApp) - 6 points
2. Fernandez (Champion System) - 4 points
3. Augustyn (MTN) - 2 points



Many sprinters and domestiques are hanging on at the back of the peloton, where Androni has taken control of the chasing. They are still 3 minutes behind the 5 leaders.



With 20 km remaining the 5 leaders still hold a 3 minute lead. It is looking good for them. Sky has joined Bardiani at the front, but it might be to late to get back the breakaway.




Heimdal Hagg attacks from the front. This could be the decisive move. Bravo and Gerard can't follow, while Augustyn goes after Hagg, leaving Fernandez behind.




Augustyn joins Hagg at the front. Fernandez is already 35 seconds behind them, while Bravo and Gerard are over 1 minute behind the leading duo. The peloton seems to have given up and follows at 3 and a half minute.



Hagg and Augustyn will decide in the sprint who will win today. Fernandez is trying to hold of Bravo and Gerard for the 3rd place.



Augustyn has put himself on the wheel of Hagg, but it is still guessing who will win here. Hagg is the better sprinter, but Augustyn has the African advantage.




Hagg is the first one to start his sprint, either Augustyn does not have any energy left, or he is leaving it really late.




Hagg wins the first stage of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo. A great win for him and his team. Augustyn came back in the sprint, but did not have the strength to overtake the Swedish youngster.

Delio Fernandez comes 3rd, over a minute back. Gerard and Bravo cross the line a minute later for 4th and 5th. Weschenbach wins the sprint of the peloton, in front of Verboven. This is almost 4 minutes behind winner Hagg though.

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Heimdal Hägg	Team NetApp - Endura	3h40'57
2	John-Lee Augustyn	MTN - Qhubeka	s.t.
3	Delio Fernández	Team Champion System	+ 1'07
4	Arnaud Gérard	Bretagne - Séché Environnement	+ 2'15
5	Garikoitz Bravo	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.
6	Benedikt Weschenbach	Sky Procycling	+ 3'53
7	Rudy Verboven	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.
8	Scott Thwaites	Sky Procycling	s.t.
9	Jackson Rodríguez	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	s.t.
10	Dylan Teuns	Astana Pro Team	s.t.

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Heimdal Hägg	Team NetApp - Endura	3h40'25
2	John-Lee Augustyn	MTN - Qhubeka	+ 12
3	Delio Fernández	Team Champion System	+ 1'27
4	Arnaud Gérard	Bretagne - Séché Environnement	+ 2'47
5	Garikoitz Bravo	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.
6	Tomasz KiendyÅ›	CCC Polsat - Polkowice	+ 4'21
7	Martin Kohler	Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox	+ 4'23
8	Benedikt Weschenbach	Sky Procycling	+ 4'25
9	Rudy Verboven	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.
10	Scott Thwaites	Sky Procycling	s.t.

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Heimdal Hägg	Team NetApp - Endura	37
2	John-Lee Augustyn	MTN - Qhubeka	28
3	Delio Fernández	Team Champion System	20

Rank	Name	Team	Mountain
1	John-Lee Augustyn	MTN - Qhubeka	8
2	Heimdal Hägg	Team NetApp - Endura	8
3	Delio Fernández	Team Champion System	1
4	Arnaud Gérard	Bretagne - Séché Environnement	1

Young rider: Heimdal Hagg
Team: MTN - Qhubeka

So close. So close. So close. Excellent debute for John-Lee for MTN, hopefully he'll keep that up.

Many congrats to Atlantius and Shonak, attacking spirit is not only appreciated, but also rewarded now.

Holy shit, what a season opener!! Hägg continuing things right where he left off!!

Great that EPIC has started again. Quiet stage for Cervero, and almost as quiet for Bardiani, if it wasn't for Kohler then I doubt we would have been noticed.

NetApp

WT teams

Great start for the AI there.

Also, looking at Krista's nice new goatee, I suspect testosterone usage but I won't tell the UCI.

in the ones I download it gives Nokkvason, Kim, Silvestro still at Europcar. not that I mind that of course

Good to see the season started again, but wtf was that Belkin? You're not even trying to score points?

Nice report!

Good to see the action back, interesting start. ;0

Congratz NetApp & Hagg.

Brilliant ride by Hägg. Giving him some sprint points to make him more capable of finishing attacks payd off. Though it's nice to see such a strong comeback to the sport from Augustyn as well.

As for Euskaltel two guys in top ten is very much apprioved as well.

NetApp leading the rankings, who would've guessed?

Well Gastauer at least tried to get in the break, but unfortunately couldn't get it done. Apart from him that was a very quiet performance from our boys.

Anyway congrats Shonak on a great season start and thanks mvh for a nice report