Great Ocean Road Classic Discussion
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roturn |
Posted on 29-08-2018 06:24
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It`s the 6th edition of the Great Ocean Road Classic and while on paper a clear sprinter race, the outcome was not always that easy. On a good day, the breakaway can make it difficult for the top riders and also the roleurs are a solid bet with a late attack as sprinter teams use to suffer in the end after a long day of work, when those flat beasts still have pretty good legs.
Nevertheless it`s a sprinter race and hence they are top favourite.
Guarnieri is THE big favourite. Basically a potential PT or at least PCT sprinter, it was a huge shock, when new team Delvaux brought him to the CT. Now it`s time for him to deliver! His team is one of the strongest here and has the duty to control everything!
Thorsen, Guillén and in parts even Carsi are fast sprinters but lack quite a lot of all other backup stats. Still I wouldn`t count them out completely on a mostly pan flat stage neither. Sure, on paper 200+km should make them struggle, but nothing guaranteed and for first it`s a home race.
Van Heerden, Vanoverschelde or Vanderaerden more sprinters with a good speed but often struggling due to their acceleration. Still must be named here and in especially first would have the pace and has one of the strongest teams behind him as well. Question is if one of his leadouts could do better without him really.
Back to the most likely more consistent sprinters and those riders, that might be even more of a challenge for Guarnieri!
Keukeleire, Salleh, Nizzolo, Manninen are good sprinters and should show something here, fighting for the win or a top5.
Matthews, Colbrelli, King, Kreder to name some outside bets.
| Sp | Acc | | Sp | Acc | Guarnieri | 82 | 81 | Mezgec | 79 | 77 | Thorsen | 82 | 85 | Colbrelli | 79 | 75 | Van Heerden | 82 | 73 | King | 78 | 73 | Guillén | 81 | 82 | Angarita | 78 | 77 | Carsi | 80 | 82 | Kreder | 78 | 80 | Vanoverschelde | 80 | 75 | Kruopis | 78 | 77 | Keukeleire | 80 | 79 | Krasnov | 78 | 77 | Salleh | 80 | 80 | Szalontay | 78 | 77 | Nizzolo | 80 | 79 | Wippert | 78 | 82 | Manninen | 80 | 80 | Aregger | 78 | 77 | Vanderaerden | 79 | 75 | Manan | 78 | 78 | Matthews | 79 | 79 | Boev | 78 | 78 | Hochmann | 79 | 80 | Liepins | 78 | 79 |
And to complete the favourites, some riders, that surely are supposed to attack on the final 10km and then stay ahead of the sprinters!
Kluge as standout rider here as he has a solid sprint as well.
Breen might be hindered due to Guarnieri being his leader. Though strength shows as both are in top5 flat beasts as well!
| Fl | Sp | Acc | Mundle | 79 | 59 | 69 | Kluge | 78 | 77 | 75 | Breen | 77 | 73 | 72 | Aaltio | 77 | 61 | 61 | Guarnieri | 76 | 82 | 81 | Van Wyk | 76 | 69 | 68 | Kangangi | 76 | 62 | 65 |
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SportingNonsense |
Posted on 29-08-2018 07:55
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So much stronger than the Tachira sprint field, perhaps a cause for regret for some. Could be a frustrating day for some of the 'stronger' sprinters if some of the more 'flawed' sprinters get preference.
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jandal7 |
Posted on 29-08-2018 07:58
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Of the top 6 there, I could very easily see only one in the finish group if it goes like last year Hoping for a nice Manninen showing here!
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Heine |
Posted on 29-08-2018 08:01
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Guarnieri should take this, but who knows what PCM decides to do? Got a good train as well.
I have a feeling that Guillen+Mezgec could work out here, would be awesome of Guillen won as a draftee
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roturn |
Posted on 29-08-2018 08:20
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Guarnieri will take it imo. Too strong and his team is great, too.
For Rothaus not sure as I don`t know how Van Heerden will perform. At least having all the sprinters with him including some, that have better full package as him, so interested how the game goes for it. |
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Atlantius |
Posted on 29-08-2018 09:01
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First outing for a maxed Manninen. Looking forward to it!
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dominox |
Posted on 29-08-2018 09:05
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I don't know how my sprinters will perform. Probably after flat debut I'll know what to expect in future with those four. Really looking forward to this! |
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Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 19:38
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Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 29-08-2018 09:25
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A key race for us this season, seeing as it's both the first real test for Guarnieri and our train, as well as our only win goal. My team absolutely needs to deliver here.
As mentioned in the preview, wind and late attacks have been a factor here before, so I've brought Breen and Verbist along who hopefully can help control the peloton for the final third of the race.
We'll see how it goes!
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ivaneurope |
Posted on 29-08-2018 10:34
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Honestly I don't fancy my chances
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jaxika |
Posted on 29-08-2018 10:39
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Cheering for KObe |
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Jakstar22 |
Posted on 29-08-2018 10:42
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Pan flat...one of the strongest sprinters here...come on Carsi!!! Make us proud!!!
Good luck everyone!
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Vien |
Posted on 29-08-2018 11:06
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Go Thorsen as always |
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sammyt93 |
Posted on 29-08-2018 11:50
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This is our opening day of the season so we are looking forward to it, however we have never gone well here in the past so we don't really have any expectations.
Mundle is here to try a late attack in case our sprinters get dropped as they have done in previous editions, assuming he doesn't drop to try and pace them back.
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Bjartne |
Posted on 29-08-2018 12:58
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Matthews first chance to prove himself and he's given it on home soil.
A top 5 here would be awesome, but he have weak support so we won't keep our hopes up.
Looking forward to our first sprint race this season |
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redordead |
Posted on 29-08-2018 13:50
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Interested to see what the Guillen/Mezgec combo can do here. Could be great, but probably has an equal chance of going tits up
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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hillis91 |
Posted on 29-08-2018 14:41
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Glad i sent Modolo to Tachira now
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Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 29-08-2018 16:35
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Time-trialists and classics men unite!
Last year had a surprise Top15 by Rinner, the same this season would be amazing, otherwise just expecting a break and hoping for the best.
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roturn |
Posted on 29-08-2018 16:53
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Really? I feel like this was all but a good decision really as it's 10rd with very, very small scoring. |
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AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 29-08-2018 17:30
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This race has mostly preferred the strongmen rather than the out and out sprinters with strong cross-winds. Let's see if that trend continues.
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hillis91 |
Posted on 29-08-2018 18:01
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roturn wrote:
Really? I feel like this was all but a good decision really as it's 10rd with very, very small scoring.
Meh, chasing that stage win. Where should he have been sent instead then?
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