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Tour of the Battenkill Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 11-02-2018 09:37
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 Tour of the Battenkill
The Tour of the Battenkill, part of the MG schedule since 2012, has been downgraded to C2 status this year. The character of the event remains the same though: a hilly cobbled classic. The race around Cambridge (204km in total) will feature 25km of dirt/cobbled roads and 14km of climbing. The hills ain't too challenging, even though we will see slopes up to 13% here. An interesting profile for sure.
Former race winners are Jérôme Baugnies (2016 and 2013), Danny Summerhill (2015), Matti Breschel (2014) and Staf Scheirlinckx (2012). We will definitely get to see a new name on the list this year. And the locals would definitely prefer another US boy following on Summerhill's victory from two years ago.
The Startlist
The Favorites | 70+ HILL | HI | STA | COB | DH | Rest | HI | STA | COB | DH |  Van Keirsbulck | 71 | 75 | 78 | 58 |  Bush | 62 | 75 | 78 | 74 |  Jérôme | 72 | 72 | 75 | 57 |  Vandenbergh | 66 | 74 | 77 | 65 |  Schoonbroodt | 75 | 75 | 74 | 74 |  Drucker | 65 | 75 | 77 | 79 |  Gaday | 73 | 72 | 74 | 63 |  Grand | 65 | 74 | 77 | 60 |  De Vreese | 72 | 72 | 74 | 64 |  Thwaites | 65 | 74 | 76 | 70 |  Kasperkiewicz | 70 | 69 | 74 | 67 | Lindeman | 64 | 72 | 76 | 61 | | Hamilton | 71 | 70 | 72 | 65 | Fouquet | 67 | 72 | 75 | 61 |  van der Poel | 70 | 73 | 72 | 78 | Lebris | 65 | 74 | 75 | 57 |  Konwa | 70 | 68 | 72 | 71 |  Corwin | 65 | 70 | 75 | 65 | | Visconti | 74 | 74 | 71 | 61 | Havik | 64 | 65 | 75 | 69 | | Armee | 74 | 69 | 71 | 76 | Wyss | 68 | 73 | 74 | 57 | | Lampier | 72 | 68 | 70 | 65 | Dahl-Olsen | 68 | 66 | 74 | 65 | | Leezer | 71 | 74 | 70 | 63 | Takenouchi | 64 | 72 | 74 | 68 | | Hugentobler | 76 | 70 | 69 | 68 | Richardson | 64 | 65 | 74 | 65 | | Meurisse | 71 | 71 | 68 | 61 |  Martinez | 68 | 70 | 73 | 68 | | Vliegen | 70 | 70 | 68 | 68 | Harrison | 67 | 73 | 73 | 62 | | Bille | 74 | 73 | 66 | 68 | Van Emden | 67 | 74 | 72 | 64 |
Bush is obviously the biggest hope for the locals to see an US boy taking the victory here. It ain't an easy challenge though, as the hilly character of the event is nothing that would bring Bush an advantage over other top cobblers. His WCC team with an always powerful squad, that looks promising for all kind of possible outcomes of the race: Visconti and Armee as possible threats for a race, where the climbing skills play a big part. Bush as the strongest cobbler and Harrison as the fast sprinter for a bunch sprint.
Of course Van Keirsbulck as the bigger favorite though: combining hills and cobbles with a great stamina, he has everything you need here (well, except of the downhill skills). He dominated the Lillestrom GP last month and would definitely love to repeat this performance. Goldcorp comes with a solid support as well, even though Lebris, Hamilton and maybe Farrar are not amongst the big names here.
Schoonbroodt, Jérôme, Gaday, De Vreese, Kasperkiewicz and maybe van der Poel top the list of the strongest puncheurs amongst the cobblers (behind Van Keirsbulck of course). Looking at the profile, they will surely hope for the less climbing talented cobblers to suffer. Someone like Hugentobler as another dark horse maybe.
Vandenbergh, Drucker, Grand, Thwaites and Lindeman. We have the usual suspects for cobbled CT classics. They will all hope for the hills playing a less important part here. And if it does, those should be the most promising names behind Bush and Van Keirsbulck.
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 11-02-2018 09:54
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I'd really really like a top 10 here, Kaspa got a top 10 back in GB last year and he's better now. I'm not loving Gunnar wearing the #101 though.
imo this time round it's Schoonbroodt's turn, although Hugentobler is a cool option.
Awesome preview tsmoha! Thanks for that. 
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 11-02-2018 10:23
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As usual would be nice for Vandenbergh to get us a result. Fingers crossed for Jams to give em hell!
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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."
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 11-02-2018 10:55
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jandal7 wrote:
As usual would be nice for Vandenbergh to get us a result. Fingers crossed for Jams to give em hell!
Jams + Kaspa, U23 breakaway to win it. 
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| Vien |
Posted on 11-02-2018 10:57
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We have our win goal here. Judging by the previous results, GvK looks unbeatable though. Still, I'd be heavily disappointed without a top 5. Go Schoonbroodt! |
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 11-02-2018 17:23
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For CT this is an interesting parcour setting the cobblers up vs. those who can cobble and climb a bit. In this instance, GvK must be big favourite as a PCT level quality rider hiding out in CT (i.e. very capable in more than one opposing terrain). For the win, Bob 'Shoebox' is the only credible threat in my eyes unless PCM AI goes bonkers. Behind that a real lottery. Hoping one or two of my WCC squad have a good ticket on the day; we have depth potential on our side at least!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 21:24
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 11-02-2018 17:49
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Just sending out a small prayer for good AI for all the CT teams racing.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 11-02-2018 18:36
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This is much like Bosberg a race profile that has GVK written all over it. Furthermore it as a goal race and one of the reasons why I persued GVK so hard in the transfer period. Honestly if we dont get at least top 5 I will be very dissapointed.
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| Booker |
Posted on 11-02-2018 23:03
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Can't wait! Hopefully Jerome will have something to say, but I have a feeling that this will be another GVK domination. Would love to see the young Pole, Kaspa, have a positive result, but not to the detriment of the Kulczyk bunch.
I'd also love to see Gaday get a nice result for Ian's SanCor side, but with the same aforementioned caveat.
Thanks for the preview tsmoha, you're essentially the PCT gatekeeper with all of these races under your supervision.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 12-02-2018 05:40
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Judging by the preview, I shouldn't be getting my hopes up too much for this race. Would be a big hit for our promotion chase in that case!
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 12-02-2018 09:59
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Drucker should be beating those who finished ahead of him in the hard cobbles. In the end, not much to complain about in terms of points. A top 5 and a top 10 is good despite missing out on our targeted podium. Good attempt by Matzka with the early break. Per might have been in the running till the end too if not for that crash! Too many of those for us recently!
Congrats Goldcorp on that surprise (rider) victory! Thanks for the report tsmoha
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 12-02-2018 10:16
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Quite strange to watch a 36 rider mass sprint in a race like this one. Leading to a very unpredictable result.
Congrat's to Goldcorp and thanks for the report tsmoha
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| Booker |
Posted on 12-02-2018 10:19
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Ooof, so close! Congrats to whitejersey for yet another cobbled win.
As close as the final result was, 2nd and 11th was well above my expectations, so I can’t be anything but pleased with our points haul. Surprised Havik and so many other sprinters remained in the group, but that was perhaps down to Jerome’s savvy pacemaking. Onto Bulgaria, but this is yet another solid result for Kulczyk, and we’ll savour this like all the others.
Cheers for the report tsmoha, doing justice to the New England classic
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 12-02-2018 10:23
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What a rubbish race. 
Thanks tsmoha for the reporting.
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 12-02-2018 10:34
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Strange, but well. WCC has been so lucky in these type of races, that had to stop somewhen. Big one for Goldcorp, the win was possible anytime but the names have been changed.
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| ryant |
Posted on 12-02-2018 10:42
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One of the worst races ever!  take this race off the calendar 
Happy with 4th considering what is the lottery of a PCM unorganised sprint, shame really as Thwaites had a real shot if he was better positioned
 John St Ledger in Team Bunzl-Centrica and Team U25Red Bull Driver in RFactor
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| Vien |
Posted on 12-02-2018 10:46
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Wow, the AI has been terrible in the hilly cobbled classics so far I'm gonna need that to change in the Benelux. All things considered I'm glad with a 3rd place.
Grats to Goldcorp for your surprising not so surprising win And thanks for the report tsmoha.
Edited by Vien on 12-02-2018 10:52
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 12-02-2018 11:25
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Goldcorp is acing it on the cobbles this year. But Farrar winning a cobbled classic? I call BS
Edited by Ollfardh on 12-02-2018 12:50
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 12-02-2018 12:28
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Glad I wasn't in on this one, Flaksis would have no chance on a sprint.
Surprised but happy to see Farrar win, congratz whitejersey, that's surely one you werent't counting on
Feel bad for WCC tho, many riders in the bunch but they just couldn't do better, maybe to balance out the amazing dominance they've had in Faso
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| Shonak |
Posted on 12-02-2018 12:31
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Tour de France Champion
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Cobbles really underwhelming this season across all divisions. Too bad. Nice quality report tho tsmoha & gratz to whitejersey, new cobble dynasty on the horizon imo.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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