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News in October
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 20-10-2015 21:54
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3507
Joined: 06-10-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Brace yourselves... I am about to serve up some praise of a Tour de France route design 
This has to be one of the best Tour routes in recent history (admittedly that is not much of an accolade, but my god is it an improvement on last year's idiocy). We have some descent finishes, and some good ones too (Joux Plane always delivers, especially so on the last day - the profile of that stage is a) almost the same as the epic Vuelta stage 20 this year, which cannot be a bad thing, and b) remember what happened ten years ago on stage 20 into Morzine?)
Here are some profiles:
Pau - Luchon is classic Tour fare, but instead of the classic Aubisque-Tourmalet-Aspin-Peyresourde combo we have Tourmalet-Ancizan-Azet-Peyresourde which I think is probably better. Descent finish gains plus points for me, and even if it is the goddammed Tourmalet again it's far away enough from the finish not to bother me too much.
We knew there was going to be an MTF in Andorra, and it was always likely to be Arcalis given the Tour's history there and the fact that it probably pays better than the other ski resorts in the area. Arcalis itself is a dismal climb but they've done about as best a job as they could making the run-in interesting, and there's certainly possibility of attacks there.
ITT is too short and too hilly and comes the day after Ventoux. Bleh.
I'm not sure this is the best utilisation of a Grand Colombier double combo, but nevertheless let that not detract from an excellent stage. It's pretty much the Maratona dles Dolomites stage crossed with the Cividale del Friuli stage of this year's Giro, and they're both excellent stages. The fact that there are six or so climbs before Grand Colombier is excellent, even if they don't tackle the climb in full from the correct side. Nevertheless a vast improvement on the abomination of 2012 and a stage I'm looking forward to.
Forclaz-Finhaut combo I really like; it was good in the Dauphiné and I think it can deliver in the Tour. Interesting to see that, after departing in France, we have two full mountain stages outside France!
Very meh apart from Signal de Bisanne! Awesome climb, glad to see it making its debut in the Tour, even if it's completely wasted in an otherwise pretty boring stage.
Spoke about this above, excellent stage and I'm really pleased they've finally figured out that a descent finish is the way to go on the last stage (something I've been harping on about for ages and was happy to be proved correct in the Vuelta).
Overall, apart from an interesting-looking stage to Super-Lioran and the Pyrenees warm-up with Aspin, it does severely lack medium-mountains once again - a key component of a good route, as the Giro keeps reminding us, and because of that there are slightly too many flat sprinty stages after a pleasingly small number this year. ITT wise the 'flat' one is a bit meh, but thankfully we do actually have an ITT to balance the mountains! The hilly/MTT Sallanches - Megeve stage looks interesting, could be like that exciting 2013 TT which would be good, although I fear it will further hamper action on the Le Bettex stage.
Lacks a queen stage actually, but I do like what I've seen so far. There, I said it!
We knew this for many months 
Riis123 wrote:
I feel like the two last stages are relatively lackluster
Joux Plane is never lacklustre 
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| Shonak |
Posted on 20-10-2015 21:58
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Contador for the win.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Dusen |
Posted on 21-10-2015 00:03
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1173
Joined: 30-07-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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@Stromeon
ASO going even further to secure a green jersey for an actual sprinter, instead of Sagan  |
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| Strydz |
Posted on 21-10-2015 01:55
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Team Leader
Posts: 5894
Joined: 02-08-2011
PCM$: 1625.00
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tsmoha wrote:
Australian Conti team African Wildlife Safaris (one of the best domestic teams down under) won't race in 2016 - due to lack of another prime sponsor. The article also says, that similar news will follow, so I guess this won't be the only team folding/stepping back. Obviously bad news for cycling in Australia and surely an indicator of how hard it is to keep smaller teams running on a professional level. Wonder what will happen to the National Road Series then: Drapac didn't race it anymore, AWS and at least a few more seem to follow..
That's sad news for me, obviously 
Yeah they were a fun team but seeing them fold isn't a surprise, they knew that the funding for what they wanted to do wasn't there yet kept pushing on trying to be a bigger team than what they were ready for and they were warned about this. On the local scene as a whole, it's always been dominated by only a couple of teams like Drapac, Avanti, Budget and there are always a couple of others who come along and do well but then it drops right away as the teams that do well down here are the only ones who are putting in actual $$$. Tell me any local scene around the world which is any different? Our location does makes things harder than in Europe so our local teams find competing outside the country cost prohibitive. I hope Avanti and even Budget keep getting bigger and compete less in the NRS as that opens up the local races more which makes the spread of winners larger and hopefully helps teams find local sponsors.
One rider from AWS this year I'd like to mention because he will come onto people's radar in a few years is Cyrus Monk, he's only 18 and been competing and winning in open senior level races down here for a couple of years now, the kid flys up hills/mountains and is a big talent.
Edited by Strydz on 21-10-2015 02:06
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald
https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/ |
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| roturn |
Posted on 21-10-2015 10:00
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
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Well. Not that it comes unexpected but Brailsford now confirms it.
Will be interesting to see if Landa can repeat his 2015 Giro performance or even improve.
Landa-Nibali could be interesting.
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 21-10-2015 12:44
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5075
Joined: 07-08-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Stromeon: There can't be different opinions on that one, I just mean, neither of those can be considered queen stages, both are relatively short and both have a decent amount of flat between all the climbs. I mean, those are not bad by any means! I just like the other stages more. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 22:59
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 21-10-2015 16:48
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Looks like another Tour de France climbers party |
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| krisa |
Posted on 22-10-2015 18:09
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3962
Joined: 12-04-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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WAW -> Dynamo Pro Team
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 24-10-2015 23:32
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Not really news but worth watching. ProCyclingStats U23 stats 
https://procyclingstats.com/rankings.p...p?id=23100 |
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| cio93 |
Posted on 24-10-2015 23:42
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World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
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Alak orgasm incoming 
Just 79 places left to gain next season!
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| Shonak |
Posted on 25-10-2015 02:47
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Latour did faboulous in his first pro year, boy will go places. Also hoping that bonifazio continues his great development, should have “won“ the ranking
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 25-10-2015 08:12
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Shonak wrote:
Latour did faboulous in his first pro year, boy will go places. Also hoping that bonifazio continues his great development, should have “won“ the ranking
Hate to disagree but Benoot rightfully "won" it |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 26-10-2015 07:26
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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The absence of eastern european talents in top30 of that rankings is absolutely shocking. And when someone liike Budyak does well, he is caught with doping
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| Strydz |
Posted on 26-10-2015 23:00
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Team Leader
Posts: 5894
Joined: 02-08-2011
PCM$: 1625.00
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tsmoha wrote:
Australian Conti team African Wildlife Safaris (one of the best domestic teams down under) won't race in 2016 - due to lack of another prime sponsor. The article also says, that similar news will follow, so I guess this won't be the only team folding/stepping back. Obviously bad news for cycling in Australia and surely an indicator of how hard it is to keep smaller teams running on a professional level. Wonder what will happen to the National Road Series then: Drapac didn't race it anymore, AWS and at least a few more seem to follow..
That's sad news for me, obviously
In kind of related NRS news Team Downunder TDU is merging with Kenyan Riders to form Kenyan Rider Downunder, they are applying for Conti status under an African licence and will be racing NRS next season. They explain it on there Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theteamdownu...mdownunder
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald
https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/ |
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| CountArach |
Posted on 27-10-2015 03:11
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8290
Joined: 14-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
The absence of eastern european talents in top30 of that rankings is absolutely shocking. And when someone liike Budyak does well, he is caught with doping
Is it that shocking though? Western Europe is where 1) all the races are 2) all the money is. U23s don't have the same ability to travel to races that the professionals do, whereas if you are French, Belgian, Italian or Dutch there are a heap of races under an hour away from you. There are also more established development squads who are going to be better funded and equipped than the eastern European ones. Those teams will also get invites to .2 and possibly .1 races which get more top level experience for these guys.
So this isn't shocking at all - it is exactly what I would expect.
(Denmark's dominance is the only slight surprise to me, but they have such a thriving domestic scene that it really shouldn't be a surprise at all)
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 27-10-2015 23:33
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Team Leader
Posts: 7357
Joined: 22-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Loïc Vliegen (BMC) will undergo a heart surgery next month. Should be able to ride again next season.
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| Forever the Best |
Posted on 28-10-2015 18:34
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3803
Joined: 27-06-2014
PCM$: 400.00
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The Tour route
Contador for the win?But there are all good and bad parts for all of Contador/Froome/Quintana
My critisizms of the route:
Plus:
Le Lioran stage and Lac de Payolle stages are good
Mont Bisanne
Forclaz-Finhaut Emosson combo (Could have been better with a few more climbs before them though)
Minus:
Tourmalet-Anciazn-Azet-Peyresourde
Andorra stage finishing at Arcalis stage(At least it has 2 pretty hard climbs before the final climb)
And why the mountain stages are short
The ITT should have been 55-60 km
And what a way to waste Mont Bisanne
And Grand Colombier is not properly used (Plus the 9km flat is not good)
And why no Joux Verte on Morzine stage
The Giro route
If Nibali is on his 2014 TdF form Landa would be dropped by Nibz on the mountains unless he ups his game.But Landa will probabaly up his game and be a dangerous rival for Nibz.But Nibz will win because of being the better allrounder(That is what me thinks unless Landa turns into 2009 Contador or Nibz isn't on 2014 TdF level)
My critisizms of the route
Plus:
There might be echelon in Netherlands
The stage to Arezzo is pretty good
Sestola stage is good
The stage to Cividale del Friuli
Stage to Corvara
Stage to Andalo
Vars-Bonette-Lombarde-Sant'Anna di Vinadio
Minus:
The stage to Roccaraso should have finished in Pescocotanzo 2008 style(its still a good stage by the way)
The TT should have been 50-55 km
The MTT to Siusi
Agnel getting wasted and Risoul
Edited by Forever the Best on 28-10-2015 19:34
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 29-10-2015 14:12
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Wonder where Thomas would go to fulfil his ambition.....
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/thoma...nce-glory/ |
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 29-10-2015 14:16
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World Champion
Posts: 11971
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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seems that delusional effect of thinking that people are stage racers after being high up in the overall for a while before dropping out of the GC like a stone is contagious
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| Strydz |
Posted on 29-10-2015 15:43
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Team Leader
Posts: 5894
Joined: 02-08-2011
PCM$: 1625.00
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He's not leaving and just wants more money, he said the same thing to the media in both 2013 & 2014 so you can take him seriously if you want but he's not leaving Sky
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald
https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/ |
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