Eneco Tour 2016
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Shonak |
Posted on 18-09-2016 10:09
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Gold Van Avermaet and 2agan lead the startlist, which boasts an impressive amount of names including Tommeke, Major Tom and Geraint Thomas. Also guys who don't have T(h)om in their names are present but start with a K, like Kristoff, Kittel or Kwiatek. Benoot, Gaviria, Stuvyen and Van Baarle lead the youth bloc.. it should be an exciting race despite that the lack of hills hurts Wellens three in a row-chances.
So with a real ardennes type stage missing, the cobblez are still there. Stage 4 and the final stage to Geraardsbergen will see the classic guys at the front, whilst a TT (10k) and TTT(!) favors the likes of Tony Martin.
Is just it down to the in-form beasts GVA vs Sagan? Will Gaviria top Kittel, what ca Etixx generally do? Can Benoot finally make Alak happy by getting a win?
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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Selwink |
Posted on 18-09-2016 10:40
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If I have the time for it I'll probably go check along the route (so if you see someone with more hair than body in Sneek (around 60km from the finish) it's probably me
Van Avermaet massive favourite for me. Strongest TTT squad I think, not a bad ITT, plus Geraardsbergen as well. Think Dumoulin and indeed Tony Martin could do well here, Stybar as well I think. Dark horse for me is Van Emden. Sagan I think lacks the TTT squad to really be a contender.
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Aquarius97 |
Posted on 18-09-2016 12:03
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Sagan will lose around 30 seconds in TTT against van Avermaet, but you should remember that in this race we have lots of bonus time, with that golden km. And i think he can do it better than GVA in the ITT. He has always been good in ITT shorter than 10 km, and this one is 9,5 km.
And the sprints here in Eneco are not Tour's sprints. Narrow roads in the last km, where Sagan is always really impresive (like in Tour de Suisse).
IMO, if someone different to Sagan, GVA and Dumoulin wins this, will be a big surprise |
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Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 20:59
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Selwink |
Posted on 18-09-2016 12:40
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No Cav and Viviani this year, Viviani is ill, don't know about Cav.
Just realized that stage 1 could have been improved very easily. In Sneek they could've easily passed the Waterpoort (our main monument, in IJlst De Rat is skipped. Stavoren seems to be skipped altogether unfortunately. Hindeloopen is just passed, while the town center is very interesting, same with Workum. This extra distance could easily have been compensated by removing one of those stupid local laps.
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Riis123 |
Posted on 18-09-2016 14:11
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They made the right call to lure the sprinters (5 stages) from a marketing POV, but it will hurt the racing with only 1 hard stage excluding the time trials.
Unfortunately Gavaria isn't going to show up, Boonen and Kittel getting the call there, so thats a bummer. As for the overall, I think Izagirre will have good chances and might be a real dark horse with the ITT and TTT.
Hoping for GVA to win. |
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Shonak |
Posted on 18-09-2016 14:42
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No Gaviria? Sad face.. I already bet on another rider cuz of him damn it
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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Riis123 |
Posted on 18-09-2016 21:19
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Yeah, he was my big interest for this race now that they have screwed Tim Wellens and the Ardenne-types over.
#GaviriaForDoha |
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DiCyc |
Posted on 18-09-2016 21:25
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Sprinter
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Tim Wellens to do another legendary move to win Eneco Tour
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Spilak23 |
Posted on 18-09-2016 22:36
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Riis123 wrote:
Yeah, he was my big interest for this race now that they have screwed Tim Wellens and the Ardenne-types over.
Stage 4's final lap is quite hilly. It's the old Brabantse Pijl lap with Bruineput and Alsemberg. Also has some cobbles right before the first hill on the lap. Really looking forward to that one.
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Aquarius97 |
Posted on 19-09-2016 15:45
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Groenewegen wins stage 1. Bouhanni second, Sagan third |
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TimoCycling |
Posted on 19-09-2016 18:22
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Groenewegen BEAST |
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Dusen |
Posted on 19-09-2016 18:30
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Great win from Groenewegen in a messy sprint.
I'm always suprised how Sagan always gets in the mix in these messy sprints, compared to Kittel and Greipel who often gets caught and loses their sprint chance. |
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Aquarius97 |
Posted on 19-09-2016 19:13
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Dusen wrote:
Great win from Groenewegen in a messy sprint.
I'm always suprised how Sagan always gets in the mix in these messy sprints, compared to Kittel and Greipel who often gets caught and loses their sprint chance.
And the fact that in 90% of sprints he is on the wheel of the winner, or he wins |
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Riis123 |
Posted on 19-09-2016 21:29
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Dusen wrote:
Great win from Groenewegen in a messy sprint.
I'm always suprised how Sagan always gets in the mix in these messy sprints, compared to Kittel and Greipel who often gets caught and loses their sprint chance.
Because Sagan is the much superior bike rider to Kittel who needs a train to be competitive. Greipel is much more versatile, but I definitely do think he is on the decline as of now. He seems to get scared on occasions and is at times a no-show.
Its funny how all the best sprinters are present apart from Cav and then Groenewegen, of all people, wins. |
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Dusen |
Posted on 19-09-2016 21:32
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Riis123 wrote:
Dusen wrote:
Great win from Groenewegen in a messy sprint.
I'm always suprised how Sagan always gets in the mix in these messy sprints, compared to Kittel and Greipel who often gets caught and loses their sprint chance.
Because Sagan is the much superior bike rider to Kittel who needs a train to be competitive. Greipel is much more versatile, but I definitely do think he is on the decline as of now. He seems to get scared on occasions and is at times a no-show.
Its funny how all the best sprinters are present apart from Cav and then Groenewegen, of all people, wins.
Yeah, but there is a bit of "chance" involved in sprints like these. But that's what you get when you have 10-12 top sprinters in a race, that all have a lead out train they want to sit behind, shit gets messy |
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TimoCycling |
Posted on 20-09-2016 05:17
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@Riis: It's Groenewegen's 10th win this season, he beat the big riders already on different occassions. Not the biggest surprise when you watch cycling regularly. He was definitely up there as a stage contender. |
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Strydz |
Posted on 20-09-2016 11:48
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TimoCycling wrote:
@Riis: It's Groenewegen's 10th win this season, he beat the big riders already on different occassions. Not the biggest surprise when you watch cycling regularly. He was definitely up there as a stage contender.
Yep Groenewegen's a sprinter on the up in a late season WT race so no surprise to see him come out in front of the established top shelf sprinters. He's good enough to compete against these guys
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
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David Hill Rd Monbulk
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https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
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Riis123 |
Posted on 20-09-2016 11:55
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Strydz wrote:
TimoCycling wrote:
@Riis: It's Groenewegen's 10th win this season, he beat the big riders already on different occassions. Not the biggest surprise when you watch cycling regularly. He was definitely up there as a stage contender.
Yep Groenewegen's a sprinter on the up in a late season WT race so no surprise to see him come out in front of the established top shelf sprinters. He's good enough to compete against these guys
Nah, it was a huge surprise seeing who he was going up against. He didnt beat one or two, he basically beat everyone. Wins doesn't really matter, many lesser sprinters can win 10-12 wins a year. Groenewegen's so far are relatively minor - look no further than the Tour where he had a really hard time. |
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Aquarius97 |
Posted on 20-09-2016 13:10
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I can't believe this. Kiryienka has done a Delgado in Luxembourg.
He has arrived 45 seconds late at the start
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Dusen |
Posted on 20-09-2016 13:19
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Kiriyenka has been a disgrace this season, never have we had a time trial champion who has showed of his jersey this badly. |
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