|
Paris - Tours Discussion
|
| Atlantius |
Posted on 11-03-2018 08:12
|
Team Leader
Posts: 6795
Joined: 21-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
 Paris - Tours (C2HC)
It's time for one of the big classics of the fall: Paris - Tours.
With a distance of 233 km and a few small hills towards the end it is much more than your standard flat classic. To win this one you need to bee not only fast but also strong as the biggest challenge for many of the fast-men could very well be just making it to the finish line in the right end of the race.
The past editions have seen it raced in every division with a new winner (and winning team every year). This year will see yet another new winner added to the list as no previous winner is here.
Throughout the years it have kept the same route and thus the mechanics of the race are fairly well known.
Most often it is a bunch sprint in the end but often a chaotic one as such due to late attacks/problems catching the break and the peloton torn to pieces by the chase and the length of the race.
That have also on several occasions opened for a strong-man to attack and steal the win right in front of the sprinters as we saw Langeveld do it just last year.
Looking at the pure sprinters we have a couple of names such as Thorsen and Awang who seems unlikely to even make it to the sprint.
The remaining top sprinters seems relatively equal on paper and in a race like this where we're likely to see many late attacks from strong rouleurs the acceleration might prove less important due to the sprint turning in to a relentless surge for the line lasting the final 10 km.
Another group of riders with every chance of doing well here is, as mentioned, the rouleurs who could be strong enough towards the end of the race to outpower the helpers from the sprint teams.
It's a hard race to predict, but one thing is certain: Whoever wins the race will have worked hard to earn it!
Startlist
|
| |
|
|
| tsmoha |
Posted on 11-03-2018 08:16
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
Such a great profile, really hoping for a proper and thrilling AI in this classic!
Thanks for the preview. Looking forward to the actual race. Seeing William Ford amongst the most promising roleurs, I do have my personal favorite for the race  Of course it would be cool to also see Von Hoff or Simon Clarke in the mix.
|
| |
|
|
| jandal7 |
Posted on 11-03-2018 08:20
|
World Champion
Posts: 11392
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1020.00
|
Love this race - would love it even more when Jams wins it 
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
| |
|
|
| tsmoha |
Posted on 11-03-2018 08:22
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
jandal7 wrote:
Love this race - would love it even more when Jams wins it
Clarke will finish 3rd, won't he?
|
| |
|
|
| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 11-03-2018 08:31
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4191
Joined: 13-09-2015
PCM$: 300.00
|
I guess that everyone remember what happened in the two previous flat classics in CT  So same strategy, and hopefully same outcome, though Kneisky should have to finish it off this time, not like in Barcelona when he faded in the last 800 metres...
|
| |
|
|
| jandal7 |
Posted on 11-03-2018 09:00
|
World Champion
Posts: 11392
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1020.00
|
Life, uh, finds a way.
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."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
| |
|
|
| tsmoha |
Posted on 11-03-2018 09:05
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
|
| |
|
|
| Vien |
Posted on 11-03-2018 10:05
|
Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2322
Joined: 16-06-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
Good to see you reporting again Atlantius
Despite having two sprinters here (3 if you count Simon as an outsider with a hill in the final), I don't see a way to go for victory. Meyer's hill stat and Croket's acceleration are too poor compared to Haller and the others. Croket being the leader scares me a bit, though with his better hill stat and stamina it might turn out well. We'll see. |
| |
|
|
| Tamijo |
Posted on 11-03-2018 11:32
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7406
Joined: 14-07-2015
PCM$: 599.00
|
Thanks for the preview Atlantius
With no favorite we can't disappoint Gatto could have the right mix of sprint, top-speed kick and punch to get something within the points.
|
| |
|
|
| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 11-03-2018 13:03
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11676
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
|
Similar race to GORR where we flopped big-time! Hopefully the sprinters and the rouleurs can ride their own races and not trip over each other. Only PCM knows why Bogdanovics is assigned our leader and Allegaert is second in the team numbers. If they prove me wrong I won't be complaining 
Thanks for the preview
|
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 19:38
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 11-03-2018 13:05
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4191
Joined: 13-09-2015
PCM$: 300.00
|
AbhishekLFC wrote:
Similar race to GORR where we flopped big-time! Hopefully the sprinters and the rouleurs can ride their own races and not trip over each other. Only PCM knows why Bogdanovics is assigned our leader and Allegaert is second in the team numbers. If they prove me wrong I won't be complaining
Thanks for the preview
Number 1 is usually for the rider with the best stat for the race, or the highest average in a stage race, but sometimes is quite random. The rest of the team is ordered in alphabetical order
|
| |
|
|
| Scorchio |
Posted on 11-03-2018 15:51
|
Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2073
Joined: 14-09-2013
PCM$: 4500.00
|
The distance and undulations convinced me to send our two fastest sprinters to the ToB (as both ill-suited if this race ridden hard as I expect), and instead focus on our classics unit. Harrison had a fantastic early season, but was quiet in later months in races I expected him to shine (e.g. Benelux Challenge). This seems like a great opportunity for him to again be at the pointy end of the race given his skill-set. Other hardy flatlanders like Bush, Quintero and Vasyluk should also be on alert for opportunities.
Pre-race it feels like there is a lot of uncertainty as to the potential outcome. Look forward to the report (with some background trepidation!).
Manager of ISA - Hexacta in the MG |
| |
|
|
| Booker |
Posted on 11-03-2018 16:52
|
Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 875
Joined: 03-07-2013
PCM$: 200.00
|
Looking forward to another fantastic report, this time from Atlantius! We're blessed with some quality reporters across all division. Very nice preview firstly.
I left Sam Bennett at home for this one, thinking that his flat and resistance stats would hold him back in comparison to Havik. Hopefully Yoeri can continue his tremendous season in France, our secondary sponsor's home turf.
Really looking forward to this one, like all of the C2HC races, our focus this year.
|
| |
|
|
| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 11-03-2018 18:44
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2809
Joined: 16-04-2013
PCM$: 900.00
|
Praying for a breakthrough performace, but nonetheless very excited, I love Paris-Tours
|
| |
|
|
| tsmoha |
Posted on 12-03-2018 15:48
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
|
| |
|
|
| Atlantius |
Posted on 12-03-2018 15:50
|
Team Leader
Posts: 6795
Joined: 21-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
One of those comments that the reporter was very aware not to comment 
|
| |
|
|
| Booker |
Posted on 12-03-2018 15:57
|
Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 875
Joined: 03-07-2013
PCM$: 200.00
|
Atlantius wrote:
One of those comments that the reporter was very aware not to comment
Yoeri, with his 2nd runner-up in the classics to add to his triumph in Barcelona. What a fantastic season for him so far, and it's not yet over! Always great to largely avoid the crashes (Hochmann wasn't making it the distance anyway) and pick up some more points on our promotion rivals.
Thanks for the report Atlantius, really well done.
And congrats to Aquarius! Those unexpected points on the flats coming in handy yet again
|
| |
|
|
| Vien |
Posted on 12-03-2018 16:35
|
Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2322
Joined: 16-06-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
Ayy, Kneisky did something! Grats Aquarius
13th isn't good, but not much worse than I expected. The lack of support for Meyer is scaring me for the ToA though.
Thanks for the report Atlantius |
| |
|
|
| hillis91 |
Posted on 12-03-2018 16:38
|
Team Leader
Posts: 5897
Joined: 30-11-2006
PCM$: 1500.00
|
Blerh...
|
| |
|
|
| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 12-03-2018 18:16
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2809
Joined: 16-04-2013
PCM$: 900.00
|
Goldstein in the break was good but he was the only rider to finish in the peloton lmao
Congratz Aquarius that was impressive by Kneisky, and thank you Atlantius for the great report!
|
| |
|
