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Tour de France Discussion
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 22-12-2016 22:55
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2633
Joined: 20-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Quite the show by Pokerstars! Congrats beagle
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 05:28
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| cio93 |
Posted on 23-12-2016 00:54
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World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
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First of all, I apologize to having gone awol for such a long time, I had important things at university the last month and I knew I had to cut off daily and other internet things for the time to stay focused on that.
Ciolek needs to prove he has it here, although with this opposition, we have to tone down our expectations from the Bennati days (oh, what beautiful times...).
A stage win and some podiums would be awesome, consistency beyond that isn't that important since he won't survive the mountains anyway.
Stages like 5, 15 and 16 look great for Demare, and he should definitely still be around for the Champs d'Elysées unless another GT ending crash happens, let's hope he keeps it at one for the season.
For those instances, Arndt should be able to lead him out like we've already seen it happen. That hopefully ensures Demare is well positioned.
Moreover, he's obviously also here to hopefully lift our train setup above enough other teams to give us the chance to actually put one together at the end of stages.
Lander, Bar and Blythe give us amazing leadout potential with superb secondary stats to make sure no energy is wasted on the way to the sprint.
Nerz provides the GC coverage necessary to make this a balanced team able to bring home the most points possible.
He has one super-domestique in Arndt and one bottle carrier in Chevrier, that has to suffice with our focus definitely being on the flat stuff.
Nevertheless, a Top 15 should be the minimum, with a long shot at the Top 10 if possible and Top 12 being the realistic goal.
On the first two stages:
Nothing in it for us in the TT, unsurprisingly.
But a great sprint in stage 2 already makes Ciolek look very good in this sprinter battle, I feared he might miss the podium completely in the first week, but he proved me wrong!
Pessimists (like I usually am) could say he should've won this based on Mohs being out there for so long, but I say that slipstream got him the opportunity to finish second in the first place. Looking at how tight it was behind, I prefer "second despite a chance of winning" over "7th but at least it was fair and square".
I hope this is a result to build upon.
However, it seems like the game puts Demare in the puncheur role again, making him useless for the flat stages...I wish the AI would improve one day. Does this mean I need to hope for a quick Ciolek DNF??
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| SotD |
Posted on 23-12-2016 06:30
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World Champion
Posts: 12188
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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Very happy with todays result. Mohs isnt exactly the worst winner in terms of keeping yellow for another day. Coppel doing exactly what is needed for him to also keep the points jersey for another day. 140 points for him so far, makes his pre-race goals almost achieved.
A great stage for Pokerstars to get up from the mud, while also Puma had a great result, and can maybe smell the leaders jersey now.
I am sad however, that Becherovka and Bewley didnt perform here, as I really want them to win the overall PT this season.
Great reports!
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| roturn |
Posted on 23-12-2016 06:41
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
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Also my words on the race so far.
Stage 1: Keizer did very well here by being best of the rest behind Coppel and Phinney. Couldn`t have asked for more. Boom with top15 also doing well.
Stage 2: A train. Nice! Better than Qatar already. Van der Sande-Sbaragli also the riders I would have picked (Boom could be added though). Unfortunately VdS was working all day...stupid PCM logic to pick him then. So Swift not as good as I had hoped in the end.
A bit worrying to see Keizer working (late only luckily) and the team in general a lot more than other sprint contenders. Good that the train next year is a lot stronger with Krieger back and VdS, Groenewegen maxing out.
Congrats to SotD and beagle for the first two stages. |
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 23-12-2016 06:51
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Team Leader
Posts: 7366
Joined: 11-07-2014
PCM$: 700.00
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Very nice to see Vantomme in the thick of it, on Swift's wheel no less.  Too bad Aegon couldn't stay ahead with Vantomme falling just short of the top 5 very narrowly today, so aiming to build on that in the next stage, really just pleased to have him in it though. Congrats beagle on the 1-3, seriously amazing (and surprisingly) by Mohs! But stop inspiring Sobota please. 
And thanks Roturn this time on the report, am not sure how I managed to mess that up last stage!
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| Roman |
Posted on 23-12-2016 14:11
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4386
Joined: 29-05-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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TT for us: nothing. König decent, but likely it won't really matter in Paris.
first sprint stage: bad. It really was a mistake to bring Bewley here to face such a strong competition. 
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| beagle |
Posted on 23-12-2016 14:37
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4200
Joined: 06-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Amazing, mighty +5 Mohs was clearly unbeatable today  Good to see my team have tried to build own train, eventhough a bit messy one.
Thanks roturn for report!
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 24-12-2016 02:11
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8059
Joined: 22-06-2009
PCM$: 650.00
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Mresuperstar wrote:
Fantastic preview, although including Maksimov as a possible sprint winner is pure comedy. 
Ok Roman. I see you. I knew that would fire him up. 
Congrats on that lengthy sprint win beagle. Mohs was determined not to get beat.
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 24-12-2016 08:16
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2666
Joined: 31-12-2007
PCM$: 450.00
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Looking at the results you can blame Vorobev/Tinkoff/Orange for the split
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| ember |
Posted on 24-12-2016 09:13
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Team Leader
Posts: 6849
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 700.00
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Congratulations, roturn! Really interesting to see how the battle between the top sprinters develop. Judging by the first two sprint stages, even Bewley seems to struggle quite a bit, eventhough I'm sure he'll bounce back. But the fight for green should be a great one.
Not much to say about Kristoff, it's just disappointing. Can only continue to hope he strikes lucky in the fight for positions on one stage. Nevertheless, this looks set to be a Tour we won't get any points from.
And thank you for the report, roturn |
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| SotD |
Posted on 24-12-2016 09:47
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World Champion
Posts: 12188
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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Racking up some nice points here. Only Swift of the sprinters can take yellow before the hills now. And he needs to win to do so.
The crashes really suck, and I really hope Sicard gets back. Crue doesnt need another GT rider failing...
Novak an Vasyliv lost contact, but I'm getting used to then being unatentive by now... Instead Lecuisinier got lucky from all those losing time to take the U25 jersey. I just hope that Spilak will attack on stage 5 now...
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| beagle |
Posted on 24-12-2016 10:39
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4200
Joined: 06-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Aaa, too early, but 2nd is still good. Congrats roturn!
Merry X-mas to all!
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| matt17br |
Posted on 24-12-2016 11:10
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 10525
Joined: 28-09-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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The fight for the green jersey definitely looks as exciting as ever! Pokerstars' train not perfect at all while Aegon had a nice show of strength. Meanwhile, Bewley keeps Saganing his way to top 10s, and he'll have a really hard time in this Tour if both the 2 main trains keep forming a successful one.
Congrats and thanks for the report roturn! Happy Christmas to everyone who is celebrating it right now
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 24-12-2016 13:30
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2633
Joined: 20-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Damn, my entire team was behind the split. Oh well, guess that makes it easier for my riders to go for breakaway success.
Congrats on winning the stage roturn!
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| cio93 |
Posted on 24-12-2016 13:51
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World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
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Ugh, there was a ton of space to the left of Guardini, but Ciolek tried to go through that small hole... Could've been another podium or at least 4th place.
At least Nerz made that split.
Congrats on a nice christmas present there, roturn! And Merry Christmas to all!
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| Raziz |
Posted on 24-12-2016 14:00
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Domestique
Posts: 552
Joined: 22-12-2016
PCM$: 200.00
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It's christmas in Australia |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 24-12-2016 14:59
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World Champion
Posts: 13915
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 300.00
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Here it's been during the Vuelta. Not so much now.
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| Roman |
Posted on 24-12-2016 16:11
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4386
Joined: 29-05-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Merry Christmas to all!
Bewley with an improvement to podium, I take that in a stage with failed sprint train!
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 24-12-2016 19:05
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Team Leader
Posts: 7366
Joined: 11-07-2014
PCM$: 700.00
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Merry Christmas everyone!
Love to have such a visible stage, Bernas in the break when I thought Vantomme's sprinter status would prevent that is something to enjoy, then (despite me writing off his terrible positioning), Vantomme pulls a fourth place out of the hat!
Franczak hitting the deck was the only grimace, but guess it isn't too bad given he doesn't seem to be needed for Vantomme.
The split was interesting to say the least, other than Vantomme, LLS was the only man there for us, hopefully this doesn't mean he starts targeting the GC instead of breaks given he's 25th now.
Congrats Roturn on the win from Swift! Surely deserved after writing another great report!
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 24-12-2016 22:16
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2433
Joined: 07-07-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks and congrats to Roturn.
Good to see Degenkolb racking up the points for Beagle (and my bet )
And a very Merry Merry Christmas to all.
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