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Tour de Suisse Discussion
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 23-01-2018 08:45
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World Champion
Posts: 11621
Joined: 17-12-2014
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 Tour de Suisse
4 mountain (2MTF) | 2 flat | 1 hilly (HTF) | 1 ITT | 1 TTT
This Tour de Suisse follows a route much more tailored the the climbers, with two hard mountain stages following a relatively short time trial to finish the race, and the TTT coming fairly early on - look out for  Porto-Prio to put their man Machado in a good spot there. Asides from that there is a long hill-rated stage which includes an HC and a Cat.2 rated climb as well as an interesting finish, but is rather flat for some parts, as well as two flat stages, both with a few bumps to potentially spice things up.
This is a strong startlist - not just "ooh yeah Schleck and Pluchkin and a few other strong guys are here this could be interesting". This is a stunningly strong startlist. This is a startlist resulting in all of the organisers of the Dauphine being placed on suicide watch, and their Suisse counterparts being found in Monaco in orange bras with cocaine smothered over their potbellies. These nine stages look like they'll decide who is the best climber in the world - yes I mean it. Potentially the strongest ever climbing stage race startlist ever seen in the history of MG is here. Take a look.
Spoiler Yeah you know your eternally mistake-making jandal forgot to take pics and is now away from PCM!
| Keizer | Martijn | Aegon - Lavazza | | Olivier | Daan | Aegon - Lavazza | | Boom | Lars | Aegon - Lavazza | | Craddock | Lawson | Aegon - Lavazza | | Lovassy | Krisztian | Aegon - Lavazza | | Dumoulin | Tom | Aegon - Lavazza | | Frison | Frederik | Aegon - Lavazza | | Barth | Marcel | Aegon - Lavazza | | Beltran | Eduard Alexander | Aker - MOT | | Hoem | Bjørn Tore | Aker - MOT | | Bugge | Vegard Robinson | Aker - MOT | | Hoelgaard | Daniel | Aker - MOT | | Vangstad | Andreas | Aker - MOT | | Ringheim | Jo Kogstad | Aker - MOT | | Cancellara | Fabian | Aker - MOT | | Gaudin | Damien | Aker - MOT | | Yates | Adam | Ayubowan! | | Ranaweera | Suranga | Ayubowan! | | Dulanjana | Sachin | Ayubowan! | | Bellis | Jonathan | Ayubowan! | | Silva | Nihal | Ayubowan! | | Tharuka | Ashen | Ayubowan! | | Perera | Madushanka | Ayubowan! | | Predatsch | Kevin | Ayubowan! | | Majka | Rafel | eBuddy | | Herrada | José | eBuddy | | Van der Velde | Ricardo | eBuddy | | Castroviejo | Jonathan | eBuddy | | Lammertink | Maurits | eBuddy | | Lammertink | Steven | eBuddy | | Vermeltfoort | Coen | eBuddy | | Kudus | Merhawi | Eritel - Sonatrach | | Berhane | Natnael | Eritel - Sonatrach | | Teklehaimanot | Daniel | Eritel - Sonatrach | | Reguigui | Youcef | Eritel - Sonatrach | | Debesay | Mekseb | Eritel - Sonatrach | | Afewerki | Elias | Eritel - Sonatrach | | Kiflay | Metkel | Eritel - Sonatrach | | Van Heerden | Juan | Eritel - Sonatrach | | Vosekalns | Andris | Evonik - ELKO | | Koch | Michel | Evonik - ELKO | | Sergis | Kaspars | Evonik - ELKO | | Lopez | Miguel Angel | Evonik - ELKO | | Stoltz | Yannick | Evonik - ELKO | | Taubel | Christoph | Evonik - ELKO | | Van Avermaet | Greg | Evonik - ELKO | | Nooytens | Sven | Evonik - ELKO | | Novak | Jakub | Festina - Dexia | | Bayly | Cameron | Festina - Dexia | | Piccoli | James | Festina - Dexia | | Alaphilippe | Julian | Festina - Dexia | | Bouglas | Georgios | Festina - Dexia | | Taramarcaz | Julien | Festina - Dexia | | Jacobs | Pieter | Festina - Dexia | | Madrazo | Angel | Gazelle | | Bibby | Ian | Gazelle | | Agudelo | Jairo | Gazelle | | De Greef | Francis | Gazelle | | Koren | Kristjan | Gazelle | | De Gendt | Thomas | Gazelle | | Campenaerts | Victor | Gazelle | | Gretsch | Patrick | Gazelle | | Alarcon | Jose | Hugo Boss | | Ablenado | Aberlardo | Hugo Boss | | Herrada | Jesús | Hugo Boss | | Benito | Miguel Angel | Hugo Boss | | Navarrete | Segundo | Hugo Boss | | AramendÃa | Javier | Hugo Boss | | Gonzalez Salas | Mario | Hugo Boss | | Ligthart | Pim | Hugo Boss | | Pedrero | Antonio | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Latour | Pierre | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Gallego Martin | Juan Abenhamar | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Brockhoff | Jan | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Aaltio | Risto | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Kosic | Nejc | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Insausti | Jon Ander | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Morton | Lachlan | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Dyball | Benjamin | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Canty | Brendan | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Porte | Richie | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Hepburn | Michael | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Oram | James | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Olman | Miles | Jayco - Cobra9 | | O'Shea | Glenn | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Vysna | Matej | Moser - Sygic | | Kulhavy | Jaroslav | Moser - Sygic | | Stybar | Zdenek | Moser - Sygic | | Vakoc | Petr | Moser - Sygic | | Turek | Daniel | Moser - Sygic | | Vesely | Daniel | Moser - Sygic | | Gough | Westley | Moser - Sygic | | Zhupa | Eugert | Moser - Sygic | | Pluchkin | Aleksandr | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Nepomnyachsniy | Yevgeni | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Kononenko | Mykhaylo | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Avetisyan | Mihran | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Konovalovas | Ignas | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Athanasiades | Marios | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Golovash | Oleksandr | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Young | Darren | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Dombrowski | Joseph | Pendleton's | | Kennaugh | Tim | Pendleton's | | Dees | Tim | Pendleton's | | Copeland | Tom | Pendleton's | | Bravo | Edison | Pendleton's | | Downey | Sean | Pendleton's | | Cheung | King Lok | Pendleton's | | Pereyra | Andres Ignacio | Pendleton's | | Machado | Tiago | Porto - Prio | | Vinhas | Rui Pedro | Porto - Prio | | Oliveira | Nelson | Porto - Prio | | Egidio | Christian | Porto - Prio | | Nascimento | Rodrigo | Porto - Prio | | Fiedler | Jacob | Porto - Prio | | Zmorka | Marlen | Porto - Prio | | Goldstein | Roy | Porto - Prio | | Brown | Nathan | RBC Pro Cycling | | Morizot | Florian | RBC Pro Cycling | | Rosskopf | Joey | RBC Pro Cycling | | Matte | Charles | RBC Pro Cycling | | Cataford | Alexandor | RBC Pro Cycling | | Carpenter | Robin | RBC Pro Cycling | | van Zyl | Johann | RBC Pro Cycling | | Keough | Luke | RBC Pro Cycling | | Wellens | Tim | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Lövkvist | Thomas | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Ludvigsson | Tobias | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Bjelkmark | Jonas | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Blikra | Havard | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Robov | Momchil | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Wetterhall | Alexander | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Stenersen | Sten | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Eyob | Mektel | Strava | | Chhetri | Ajay Pandit | Strava | | Selvaggi | Mirko | Strava | | Fankhauser | Clemens | Strava | | Tulik | Angelo | Strava | | Kozontchuk | Dmitri | Strava | | Fonseca | Armindo | Strava | | De Backer | Bert | Strava | | Herklotz | Silvio | Team Puma - SAP | | Bongiorno | Francesco | Team Puma - SAP | | Bevin | Patrick | Team Puma - SAP | | Dunne | Conor | Team Puma - SAP | | Stüssi | Colin | Team Puma - SAP | | Sütterlin | Jasha | Team Puma - SAP | | Van Baarle | Dylan | Team Puma - SAP | | Blythe | Adam | Team Puma - SAP | | Amador | Andrei | Team UBS | | Schelling | Patrick | Team UBS | | Saggiorato | Mirco | Team UBS | | Frank | Matthias | Team UBS | | Ivars | Sébastien | Team UBS | | Schir | Théry | Team UBS | | Ramos Ticona | Basilio | Team UBS | | Schär | Michael | Team UBS | | Kritskiy | Timofey | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Ignatenko | Petr | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Novikov | Nikita | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Vorobev | Anton | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Malori | Adrian | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Dal Col | Andrea | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Yatsevich | Kiril | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Kovalev | Ivan | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Schleck | Andy | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | König | Leopold | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Goos | Marc | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Heymes | Gilles | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Schleck | Frank | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Jungels | Bob | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Schlechter | Pit | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Kittel | Marcel | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Taaramäe | Rein | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Preidler | Georg | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Mai | Christoph | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Wöhrer | David | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Borisavljevic | Milos | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Dowsett | Alex | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Bolivar | Isaac | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Schädlich | Lucas | Wiesenhof - Andritz |
| Rider | MON | HIL | TT | REC | Rider | MON | HIL | TT | REC |  Schleck | 85 | 75 | 74 | 82 |  Keizer | 81 | 71 | 81 | 79 |  Taaramäe | 85 | 78 | 81 | 79 |  Wellens | 81 | 75 | 72 | 76 |  Pluchkin | 85 | 75 | 79 | 79 |  Herklotz | 81 | 75 | 72 | 76 |  Madrazo | 85 | 76 | 77 | 81 |  Kudus | 81 | 76 | 72 | 79 |  Amador | 84 | 75 | 78 | 79 | Berhane | 81 | 75 | 65 | 73 |  Dombrowski | 84 | 75 | 71 | 78 |  Yates | 79 | 76 | 71 | 76 | | Machado | 84 | 77 | 74 | 74 | Olivier | 79 | 76 | 69 | 77 |  Kritskiy | 84 | 75 | 80 | 78 |  Beltran | 79 | 79 | 66 | 72 |  Alarcon | 84 | 73 | 66 | 73 | König | 79 | 75 | 74 | 72 |  Morton | 83 | 76 | 73 | 78 | Schelling | 79 | 75 | 71 | 73 |
The table of the GC men makes for some reading. On the left is a possible order for the top 10 - the top 10 of a frickin GT doesn't look that strong. All 10 (plus Keizer) riders could win it, but if you want the most likely bets you have to start with the duo of maybe the best two climbers in the world right now - Andy Schleck and Rein Taaramäe. King Andy has been on top for a while but his era may be cut short a year as a new rein looks to begin. The Estonian rider has made the final leap to becoming the top GC rider in the world this past off-season and he made a commanding entrance to 2017 in the GP Liechtenstein, not just beating Schleck in the mountains but in a mountain classic - the Vesuvio man's former monopoly. Now in a stage race Schleck loves and won last year Taaramäe will look to deal a crippling blow. But you sense the Luxembourgian is still in control, if bruising from the coolness with which he was beaten. In terms of this race it's hard to pick a winner - maybe if the TT was longer the pendulum would swing the Estonian's way but it's too close to call for now. Surely a big show here will put even more fear into the hearts of his rivals for yellow next month. Schleck is also fresh off the back of a last-minute Vuelta win, which I'll touch on soon.
Not to be forgotten in this heat of this battle is an even more bruising Pluchkin as well as someone who finished even lower in the Vuelta Madrazo. The Moldovan has gone from the high life of double GT wins plus being World Champ ITT in one season, down to being relentlessly abused for a below par showing in the Vuelta from a manager who probably should've signed someone else if he wanted to not relegate. The Spaniard finished even lower, fourth, in the Vuelta and will also be wanting to prove he's not just going to always be consigned to fourth as arguably the fourth best here. A win is the aim for all of these top four.
Below the top four are some interesting names - the winner of the Giro Alarcon is here. The Hugo Boss leader will struggle in the two chrono stages but is always a dangerous customer in the high mountains. Last year's PCT rivals Machado and Amador are both here - the former aiming to break into the podium places to bring in some points, the latter hoping for the former but not the latter - representing the home team of the race but also a PCT wildcard. Could be a big disruptor and spoiler for any teams in dire need of points. Machado will really benefit from the massive TTT strength of his Prio-Porto/Porto-Prio/insert trekbmc spelling here team. The American Dombrowski is here after his Vuelta heartbreak - losing a valiantly earned red jersey to Schleck on the final day. He has proven himself a true contender and shouldn't be counted here. Despite being branded a "cocktease rider" by one of the MG's best managers, Timofey (were his parents four years old when they names him?) Kritskiy is also a contender with his big time trial skills, as is Keizer as the best chrono rider out of the GC men.
In the battle for the white jersey there are five names there:
Morton,
Herklotz, Kudus, Olivier and Yates. The former is obviously the big favourite but all five could win it on their day - or nine. The next two have the advantage of the tied next best TT and climbing ability, but the two underdogs could both do it as well with some luck. Olivier may be disadvantaged as a superdomestique for Keizer though.
There are also other stages to be won, so here are the top non GC TT and sprint men for stage hunting.
| Rider | TT | FL | RES | Rider | SPR | ACC | FLA | | Fiedler | 83 | 79 | 76 | Van Heerden | 82 | 73 | 73 | | Zmorka | 82 | 74 | 75 |  Vesely | 81 | 80 | 73 | | Kittel | 81 | 75 | 70 | Afewerki | 79 | 80 | 73 | | Nascimento | 80 | 71 | 75 |  Van Avermaet | 78 | 78 | 78 | | Sütterlin | 80 | 71 | 77 |  Fonseca | 78 | 77 | 74 | | Gonzalez Salas | 80 | 70 | 76 |  Keough | 77 | 77 | 71 | | Yatsevich | 80 | 70 | 81 | Gough | 76 | 76 | 76 | | Schädlich | 80 | 70 | 71 | Blythe | 76 | 73 | 76 | | Cataford | 79 | 74 | 75 |  Alaphilippe | 75 | 75 | 70 | | Hepburn | 79 | 71 | 77 | Perera | 75 | 76 | 68 |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 23-01-2018 08:59
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11786
Joined: 19-07-2010
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Sick startlist! If Morton gets dropped in the TTT, he should struggle to even make the Top-10 
Anyway. Should have brought Saber here. But didn't really noticed it's better to not go on full TTT Mode... well. Maybe Morton overperforms at some point later in the race. It's pretty clear though, that quite a few premium climbers will go home with a disappointing GC result. As long as he does not crash or fail miserably, I will take any points gained here.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 23-01-2018 09:11
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11786
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Btw: Morton is eligible for the U25 classification as well. I hope this ain't a bad omen to not ne mentioned there.
Other than that: cool preview!
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 23-01-2018 09:16
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World Champion
Posts: 11621
Joined: 17-12-2014
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tsmoha wrote:
Btw: Morton is eligible for the U25 classification as well. I hope this ain't a bad omen to not ne mentioned there.
Nope that's just my oversight, can't exactly recall who won that (I also almost posted it with no Alarcon in the table either, sorry to 21st man Bongiorno  )
Disclaimer: I do 95% of the time remember to do previews before racing
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
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2x  x2
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| cio93 |
Posted on 23-01-2018 09:26
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World Champion
Posts: 10616
Joined: 29-10-2007
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-01-2018 10:01
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Team Leader
Posts: 7366
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Christ, I don't half force Dombrowski to overperform by setting him against all the best riders in the game. Stupid startlist.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 23-01-2018 11:19
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15579
Joined: 16-07-2013
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Fonseca for two podiums, let's go. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| tastasol |
Posted on 23-01-2018 11:20
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3030
Joined: 11-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Wow, insane startlist. A must follow for sure.
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| viking90 |
Posted on 23-01-2018 11:40
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3836
Joined: 24-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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wow, I hope Wellens can make the timelimit
Top 15 would be a plan, so far this season Wellens have struggled a bit.
Lövkvist for something around 30 maybe.
I hope too see some aggresive racing for our guys now that it will be hard to get top 10.
Insane startlist but that must mean Dauphine Libere is "weaker"?
Abal for another great result there maybe then. |
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 23-01-2018 11:52
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 9137
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van Avermaet will grab the yellow jersey, just wait and see
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 21:17
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| ember |
Posted on 23-01-2018 12:10
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Team Leader
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Joined: 27-03-2008
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That surely must be the startlist of the season in terms of quality GC wise. Just insane!
Quite happy to see it though, as it should mean Galta gets a shot at a decent GC in the Dauphine. Speaking of Beltran here in Suisse, expectations are minimal. Having said that, I must admit I'm hopeful for the hilly stage. Those stages were the reason I bought him, but he has kind of struggled to prove that they're perfect for him so far.
Hopefully that can change here, even in such a world class field.
Looking a lot forward to see the racing start. Just looking at the names here, it surely should be epic when they hit the mountains. |
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 23-01-2018 12:13
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Sprinter
Posts: 1982
Joined: 07-02-2009
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Wow that is a crazy startlist. Great preview. I can't expect Amador to win this obviously but a podium would be a nice surprise.
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| SotD |
Posted on 23-01-2018 12:18
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World Champion
Posts: 12631
Joined: 29-11-2006
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Ohh dear. I'm happy I decided to stay out of this 
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 23-01-2018 12:20
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Team Leader
Posts: 6178
Joined: 20-07-2008
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Brilliant preview. I'd sign up right away if the race becomes half as entertaining.
As jandal put it I'm looking to win the TTT and pounce on that advantage, even though I doubt that will benefit Machado much. A top10 and a stage win would be a good race for us.
I'm curious about the Dauphine startlist now. Theo Bos to win it?
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 23-01-2018 12:28
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11786
Joined: 19-07-2010
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Jack Haig 
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 23-01-2018 13:30
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Team Manager
Posts: 31706
Joined: 08-03-2007
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I've been quite lucky with this double header for the past 2 seasons, with Schleck usually ending up in the 'weaker' startlist. Unfortumate but kinda inevitable that more would pick the Schleck race this year, especially with a few no longer able to do 2 GTs.
With the Vuelta now won, I'm quite looking forward to it. It os still the last race I have a likely chance to win, this season, but theres less pressure - and it will hopefully be fun to watch. Nice in theory that we see him race peak Taaramae in a stage race
Tough race for Eritel's climbers but will be interesting to see Kudus' level against the best. And an opportunity for the sprints too. I'd have picked Afewerki to lead if I knew the competition would be that 'weak'!
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 23-01-2018 13:51
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Team Leader
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That list of GC riders is badass.
Looking forward to this WWIII, got my eyes set on that 96 km stage with 3xHC, yes is downhill to the finish, but I think it is going to be brutal.
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| fjhoekie |
Posted on 23-01-2018 17:59
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4368
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Oh well... Maybe something can happen?
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
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| knockout |
Posted on 23-01-2018 19:03
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8236
Joined: 21-12-2010
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That climber list is massive. Ridicously race.
I screwed up race planning for this double header. Sending GVA without a lead out is a horrible decision and also sending both climbers is very unfortunate. Doubt that was my plan all along so must have changed that to use everybody's RDs entirely
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Heine |
Posted on 23-01-2018 22:04
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4470
Joined: 08-04-2007
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Oh my, oh my, oh my 
This is just crazy, should really be the race to watch this season Crazy GC battle
Hopefully Rein will not loose too much on the TTT, I hope having Lucas here can help a bit at least. Then he just needs to beat most of the best climbers in the world in the mountains...
Really looking forward to this
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