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Tour of Norway Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 02-09-2015 09:19
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 Tour of Norway
Another race that lost it's ProTour-status this year: the Tour of Norway used to be an 8-days-event, but has been cut down to four stages and it's been downgraded to C1 status as well. Former race-winners are Frank Schleck (2014) and Matthias Frank (2013).
The "profile" remains the same though: two hilly stages as the key for the GC-fight, both featuring short uphill finishes. Two flat stages for the sprinters, but especially the final stage should be tricky at least. Punchy sprinters surely as the best odds here.
The Startlist
The Favorites | Rider | HI | SP | | Rider | HI | SP |  Di Maggio | 82 | 63 | |  Pozzato | 77 | 76 |  McCarthy | 81 | 63 | |  Vakoc | 77 | 70 |  van der Hugenhaben | 80 | 68 | | Furdi | 77 | 69 |  Dowsett | 80 | 66 | |  Hoogerland | 77 | 67 |  Klemme | 80 | 66 | |  Juul-Jensen | 77 | 66 |  Ben Nasser | 79 | 70 | |  Zeits | 77 | 64 |  Betancourt | 79 | 67 | | Teklit | 77 | 64 | | Monfort | 79 | 64 | |  Hategeka | 77 | 62 |  Bellis | 78 | 74 | | McEvoy | 76 | 75 | | Meyer | 78 | 72 | |  Vastaranta | 76 | 75 | | Craven | 78 | 67 | |  Rabon | 76 | 72 |  Mehr-Wenige | 78 | 66 | | Reimer | 75 | 77 |
McCarthy (15th) and Meyer (19th) took part last year and will definitely aim for better results this time. McCarthy, Di Maggio, van der Hugenhaben, Dowsett and Klemme as the 80+ puncheurs here. Di Maggio/Dowsett need to bounce back from a disastrous Tour of the Czech Republic.
The usual suspects then: Ben Nasser, Monfort, Betancourt, Bellis, Meyer, Craven. Some decent/strong finishers amongst them, which could be a factor looking at the final stage.
Pozzato/Furdi, Vakoc/McEvoy, Mehr-Wenige, Hoogerland, Zeits, Teklit, Vastaranta, Rabon or maybe even Reimer as some more serious GC-contenders. This race used to produce some unexpected results.
The Sprinters | Rider | HI | SP | AC | Rider | HI | SP | AC | | Van Heerden | 68 | 82 | 73 | Croket | 65 | 79 | 71 | | Ahlstrand | 66 | 81 | 80 | Bennett | 63 | 79 | 79 | | Impey | 73 | 80 | 81 |  Vanderaerden | 61 | 79 | 75 | | Haussler | 70 | 80 | 76 | Hochmann | 54 | 79 | 80 | | Nizzolo | 64 | 80 | 79 | Gatto | 74 | 78 | 72 | | Van der Sande | 70 | 79 | 79 | Gavazzi | 73 | 78 | 74 | | Docker | 68 | 79 | 77 | Kreder | 70 | 78 | 80 |
Some premium sprinters made their way to Norway: Van Heerden, Ahlstrand, Impey, Haussler, Nizzolo or Docker as the most promising. Impey (23rd in the GC last year) as a possible threat for a higher GC-finish, even though the Ben Nasser/Impey card didn't pay off in the Tour of South Africa.
A few more sprinters like Croket, Bennett, Vanderaerden, Hochmann or punchy sprinters like Gatto and Gavazzi could do something, too.
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| Selwink |
Posted on 02-09-2015 09:27
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Not expecting much here. Hoping for a miraculous good result of Hochmann or Rabon, or otherwise it's breaks.
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 02-09-2015 10:01
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Not expecting much either, maybe Zeits can do something though. 
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 02-09-2015 10:18
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Will be a mad dash for a lot of riders from South Africa to get here on time!
On paper I have a team that could challenge for the win on all stages. On season performance so far, that ain't gonna happen. Let's see!
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| tastasol |
Posted on 02-09-2015 10:40
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Huge race for us. Hope Meyer/Juul-Jensen can challenge for top 5. Docker should like the sprint stages fairly good as well. Certainly a very open race this, hopefully we'll come out good.
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 02-09-2015 13:47
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Well the Ben Nasser/Impey combo didn't work in South Africa, but I've got to hope it works here.
A top 5 should be possible from Ben Nasser, and I really hope Impey at least contests the sprints this time. |
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 02-09-2015 14:26
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Looking forward to racing in our neighbouring country. Hopefully Vastaranta will make the most of his status as underdog and do something here.
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 02-09-2015 15:19
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We are not fielding one of our strong squads here, but hopefully Mehr-Wengie saved something for Norway. Grillo might compete for a podium on stage 2.
This looks like we need to jump into a couple of break.
=========================================
Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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| ember |
Posted on 02-09-2015 15:21
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Really hope the AI can give this one a better go than the last two years in the PT. Hopefully the hilly riders are all alert and up for it with a tough hilly stage on the first stage and a pretty different look for the race in general.
Obviously rooting for Risa-Ergon as a Norwegian team, and Meyer looks like he has got the stats to do well, if he get to use his sprint on the hilly stages he could be right up there in the top 6.
Looking forward to the reports! |
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| knockout |
Posted on 02-09-2015 16:02
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This was supposed to be the low scoring counter part of Nelspruit. Weak lineup with Geschke, Smukulis and talents so I should not expect too much fireworks. I just hope that I can see them often in the reports.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 02-09-2015 17:55
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This race should suit Bellis down to the ground but I expect him to get top 5 at best probably |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 07:27
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| viking90 |
Posted on 02-09-2015 18:29
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Top 5 goal here, maybe not so clever sending Ahlstrand here.
Reimer could be strong himself sprinting to bonus second at least on stage 4...
Will be exciting to see how the team handles Ahlstrand/Hoogerland/Reimer... |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 02-09-2015 20:51
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Let's get in some breakaways for the Scandanavian fans!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 02-09-2015 21:11
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Either Monfort or Pozzato should be able to do well here. In the case of this tour Pozzato might even be the better choice.
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| Margh Norway |
Posted on 02-09-2015 22:38
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Funny pressmen calling the result of Di Maggio at the Tour of the Czech Republic disastrous. At Vontobel we've already wiped away our tears and started looking forward.
No, Cesare most likely won't make the 800+ points we've hoped for, but if he keeps on getting top 5 results (like in the Czech Republic) it'll be a huge step out of relegation battle.
A more problematic case is Oscar Gatto. Will he participate in his first sprint this season? It's about time.
Edited by Margh Norway on 03-09-2015 00:15
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 02-09-2015 23:47
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Margh Norway wrote:
Funny pressmen calling the result of Di Maggio at the Tour of the Czech Republic disastrous.
Ah, fun fact: wrote this preview with "my" first run of Czech Republic in mind. The "mountain" edition Actually forgot how Maggio/Dowsett finished in the second run.
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| Margh Norway |
Posted on 03-09-2015 00:05
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tsmoha wrote:
Margh Norway wrote:
Funny pressmen calling the result of Di Maggio at the Tour of the Czech Republic disastrous.
Ah, fun fact: wrote this preview with "my" first run of Czech Republic in mind. The "mountain" edition Actually forgot how Maggio/Dowsett finished in the second run.
Lol, seems I can consider myself lucky your run didn't count... though it is a real pity about the work done with the reports.
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 03-09-2015 07:46
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 2nd, way above my expectations, but so close to first s almost frustrating. 
Hopefully the gaps were big enough for Stachowiak to be a top 5, podium or victory challenger.
Thanks for the report tsmoha,  and congrats to nutresa.
Edited by trekbmc on 03-09-2015 08:33
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| roturn |
Posted on 03-09-2015 07:46
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One word only: Awful! |
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| sgdanny |
Posted on 03-09-2015 07:49
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Nice performance from Stachowiak and Del Nero has returned from his hiatus after a strong start to the season.
I had this race checked on and dunno why I chose not to be here :/
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