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Tour de Langkawi Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 29-08-2018 18:24
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Directeur Sportif
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 Tour de Langkawi
Asia's ultimate challenge, the Tour de Langkawi, goes into it's 11th edition this year. Definitely a remarkable event on the MG calendar, the race had been reduced to 7 stages (just like it used to be held from 2010 to 2011) last year and almost stays the same for this season's edition: the first mountain stage on third day has seen some changes though, since there had been some frustation with mainly the gap system last year.. The two climbing days remain the key for the GC, but the tour kicks off with a prologue, that may be a difference maker eventually. In addition to climbers and prologue specialists, we still have a sprinter friendly route, as the tour comes with four (almost entirely) panflat stages, where most of the CT's best sprinters will fight for line honours.
Last year's race winner Rafael Valls won't be at the start again, since he's promoted to PCT level with his team. The list of former race winners include names such as Martin Hacecký (2016), Darwin Atapuma (2015), Vitor Rodrigues (2014), Bernhard Kohl (2011 and 2008) or Tom Danielson (2010). We certainly should expect another premium climber to write his name onto this list - or will someone take the chance to repeat his past victory here?
Like it used to be, the race organization is happy to welcome local favorite Sauber Petronas Racing and like last year, they are hoping for premium sprinter Mohamed Harrif Salleh to finally grab his first ever stage-win in the country's most important cycling event. Obviously, the team should do well in the prologue as well, but let's have a look at the startlist first:
The Startlist
The GC contenders | Favorites | FL | MO | PRL | | Outsiders | FL | MO | PRL |  Suaza | 66 | 80 | 73 | |  Potocki | 68 | 77 | 70 | | Pinot | 72 | 80 | 65 | |  Hirschlein | 65 | 77 | 69 |  König | 72 | 79 | 74 | |  Cataldo | 70 | 77 | 68 |  Costagli | 63 | 79 | 70 | |  Hacecký | 67 | 77 | 68 |  Anacona | 69 | 79 | 66 | |  Hoem | 67 | 77 | 67 |  Pomoshnikov | 71 | 79 | 64 | | Grmay | 67 | 77 | 65 |  Diaz | 68 | 78 | 72 | | Pereyra | 64 | 77 | 61 |  Panayotov | 67 | 78 | 68 | | Quintana | 69 | 76 | 70 | | Rodrigues | 70 | 78 | 67 | | Hasta | 65 | 76 | 69 | | Stancu | 67 | 78 | 66 | |  Ahmad Zamri | 70 | 75 | 75 | | Elissonde | 66 | 78 | 63 | | Claerebout | 67 | 75 | 73 |  Brajkovic | 70 | 77 | 74 | | Lemus Davila | 69 | 75 | 70 |
A past race winner amongst the possible GC contenders: Vitor Rodrigues will build a strong duo with Winner Anacona and their Banco de Bogota squad should be considered a force for the two key stages here. While Anacona missed out on the Top-10 (as 11th) last season, Rodrigues definitely knows how to handle the challenging mountain stages and he may be considered the first option for his team here.
The top-favorites are other names though: Jaime Suaza, Thibaut Pinot and Leopold König as probably those riders to beat here. It's kind of a perfect race for Suaza, who's solid prologue skills and outstanding climbing skills (acceleration!) should come well into play with no hills on the menu. It's pretty clear, that he is the biggest gun in the sea here, since all other main contenders definitely should struggle to follow his acceleration - if he shows it, of course. König as the best prologue rider amongst all GC contenders and there with a tiny advantage on first day. It will be interesting to see, how he manages the step down to the CT level and anything but a podium had to be considered a disappointing result. The same goes for Pinot, who may lose some seconds in the prologue, but who's a great stage racer, who simply has to fight for the podium here.
Teodoro Costagli as another possible podium contender, jsut like the already mentioned Rodrigues/Anacona and guys like Pomoshnikov/Stancu, Diaz/Elissonde or a 35 years old Brajkovic. Obviously, a podium probbaly won't be the goal for those riders, but it ain't impossible to achieve at least a Top-5. Brajkovic's prologue should give him an edge over some other climbers and he's still a solid stage racer on this level as well.
Last, but not least, there's local hero Ahmad Zamri as his team's main option for the GC. Not amongst the best climbers, but he may benefit from a strong prologue, if he's living up to his skillset on the opening day. The support of the spectators should be motivating for sure and the local hero did quite well as 13th in the final GC last year.
The Stage Hunters | Sprinters | FL | SP | AC | | Prologue Specialists | PRL | | Guillén | 67 | 81 | 82 | | Chavanne | 82 | | Manninen | 74 | 80 | 80 | | Aregger | 78 | | Salleh | 70 | 80 | 80 | | Kovalev | 78 | | Vanoverschelde | 72 | 80 | 75 | |  Downey | 77 | | Coutinho | 72 | 79 | 80 | | Johansson | 77 | | Hochmann | 70 | 79 | 80 | |  Kreuziger | 76 | | Matthews | 75 | 79 | 79 | | Manninen | 76 |  Von Hoff | 71 | 79 | 77 | | Pökälä | 76 | | Mezgec | 71 | 79 | 77 | | Bouet | 76 | | Vanderaerden | 72 | 79 | 75 | | Van Poppel | 76 | | Wippert | 70 | 78 | 82 | | Beukeboom | 76 |  Korzh | 74 | 78 | 80 | | Dzervus | 76 |
The goal for Sauber Petronas is to win the prologue and well, it's doable, right? Chavanne did win the prologue already last year and he's the overwhelming favorite again. His teammate Aregger add another option for Sauber and Kovalev seems to be the most promising contender for an upsetting victory (or more probably, the first place behind Chavanne). Downey, Johansson, Kreuziger or Pokala amongst the other promising prologue specialists and with Manninen, there's maybe the most interesting name for the first two days.
The sprinter is also amongst the top favorites for the flat stages and with a good prologue and bonifications on the first sprint stage, Manninen may target for the leader shirt. What may be more important though, is to be in the mix for stage-wins and he should be a favorite for those days.
The same goes for local favorite Salleh, who has yet to win a stage in his home race. He's (yet again) amongst the most promising sprinters here and of course it's a big target for him and his team.
Guillén as the fastest sprinter on paper and at least the rather short first flat stage may actually be quite a chance for him to shine. He did not do too shabby on the CT level in the past and should be considered a possible threat for the bunch sprints. Also Vanoverschelde, Coutinho/Hochmann/Wippert and other fast men like those Aussies Matthews and Von Hoff will fight for line honours. The big task for them all: deny the breakaways a chance to stay clear until the end: two out of four flat stages were won by early escapees last season and there are surely some teams, who will try to fool the sprinters again.
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 29-08-2018 18:40
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Classics Specialist
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Damn the races keep pouring in Im amazed 
Well looking at the startlist I'm happy not to have bringed neither Kiserlovski or Warbasse here, many rd's and plenty of competition.. Instead a three-pronged approach to try and get minimal points on GC with Hirschlein (who did great in Pico Basile), Baltazar (strong in Tachira) and Uwizeyimana (for the U25). Laizer for a minimal hope of a great prologue result, similar to last year's Bayern - Rundfahrt. The rest, well just try and get in breaks and hope for the best, that is what we do mostly after all 
After seeing Pinot in Tachira I'm struggling to imagine him being beaten, specially has Konig didn't seem in his best legs in Pico, and well Suaza is a big joker there's no knowing what he'll do. There are plenty of riders strong enough to fight for win/podium tho, very open race and with few stages to put in time bad luck can kill someone´s chances.
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 29-08-2018 18:56
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Had to send Vichot here to be able to field a team, so yeah... No real ambitions, though excited to see how Korzh will do in the sprints. The flat stages should suit him well, but he will of course face very tough competition.
Pinot the big favorite here imo.
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 29-08-2018 19:26
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My team is far from favorites for big things in Malaysia
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| dominox |
Posted on 29-08-2018 19:39
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I hope Rodrigues as a former winner will deliver again. Not a final victory, but at least top 10? In final ranking? Maybe with Anacona too? Who knows? Our sprinters are not a big deal, but maybe they will score some points too. Could be fun race for us! |
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| roturn |
Posted on 29-08-2018 19:57
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No GC expectations but maybe a stage win by my sprinter trio. Not sure who is the leader but think all but Hochman might work well and even a train of them maybe?
Downey maybe a podium in the prologue. No way to beat Chavanne unfortunately. Small hope our early GC lead was there but simply not realistic setting him here. |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 29-08-2018 20:03
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Looking for a decent result out of Hoem here, and hopefully some breakaway success.
Good luck errrrrrrrrybody
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 29-08-2018 20:03
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He has let the bookies down before, but Suaza must be favourite for this in my book:
* No hills: check
* Short stages: check (only stage 6 presents a little danger)
* No downhills: check
* No crashes: check
Perhaps the biggest danger for him is inattentiveness (or some strong winds) on the flat stages. Pretty sure Konig and Pinot should squabble over the other two podium places as well. Below these three is then a bit of a crap-shoot for the rest of the top 10. The top 3 really stand out head-and-shoulders for me.
A home victory for Sauber in the prologue seems a near certainty, but the sprints should prove a good battle with a number of contenders and various strengths of potential lead-out trains. With the short stage lengths, interested sprint teams will have to pay attnention to keep the BotD on a short leash!
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 29-08-2018 20:22
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Grand Tour Champion
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Very much looking forward to this after Tachira and Pinots performance. Iirc it is the same team minus Opie and Cuming. Hard will be a sprinter for the race but no expectations.
Limit loses in the PRL and go hard in the mountains.
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| quadsas |
Posted on 29-08-2018 21:17
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even though we shouldnt have much of a chance here, I am expecting a flukey result in here
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| quadsas |
Posted on 29-08-2018 22:10
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Tamijo wrote:
Dario Cataldo 4th on this stage and 3rd overall, Sota Ikibe also with some small points from KoM hunt, and top 20. That is just an unbelievable great result for us, glad I decided to use those 10 days here.
And then maybe some of the domestics join a break to make just one of all those flatty interesting
oops
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 29-08-2018 22:29
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quadsas wrote:
Tamijo wrote:
Dario Cataldo 4th on this stage and 3rd overall, Sota Ikibe also with some small points from KoM hunt, and top 20. That is just an unbelievable great result for us, glad I decided to use those 10 days here.
And then maybe some of the domestics join a break to make just one of all those flatty interesting
oops
Yes was ment to post this:
Hope Dario Cataldo can keep it up and make a top 10 here, and Johansson have great legs on that short time trail. And then maybe some of the domestics join a breakaway And then maybe some of the domestics join a break to make just one of all those flatty interesting
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 29-08-2018 23:02
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Should be an interesting race...I’ve brought a bit of a weaker team here with Aasvold our leader so all our cards are going into Von Hoff I think. I’m hoping for a stage win but a lot of strong sprinters here! Should be an interest race!!
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 30-08-2018 07:02
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Hoping for a podium every day.
The prologue will be tough if Chavanne performs to his stats, but the hope was that Manninen would be in contention to take the race lead on stage 2.
The 4 flat stages looks good for Manninen and hopefully König will perform in the mountains with the goal being a GC podium.
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 30-08-2018 10:41
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Finally we can release Suaza into the Man-Game action and see him in the Compal-jersey for the first time!
We expect a great rivalry with Pinot here so we're looking really forward to the two climbing stages. This is gonna be fun! |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 30-08-2018 11:16
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Maybe Afoa can find some breakaway love here  As Scorchio explained, a nice race for Suaza. Would love to see Pinot bring the fight to him, or Hacecky performing like he did here in 2016!
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 30-08-2018 11:38
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Can't see Suaza losing this race. Impossible. If not even Krasnoperov suffered last year in the flat stages, Suaza won't
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 30-08-2018 19:58
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Great start to the race for us, even if I think Gabby could have gone a bit quicker, was expecting a 6'30" or under from him after seeing the opening time.
Hopefully now we can use the flat stages to get Salleh his long awaited stage win here, it would be even better if he could do it on the next stage to keep the leaders jersey in house.
And with Gabby not being the worst sprinter there's a small chance he could hang onto the points jersey another day even if we do expect him to lose the Leaders jersey due to bonus seconds.
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| quadsas |
Posted on 30-08-2018 20:01
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Dzervus brilliant. hopefully he can do something in sprint stages and try to bring home the green jersey
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 30-08-2018 20:30
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Good start for Suaza. Let's keep those seconds for the rest of the race <3
I enjoyed the graphics on the rankings tsmoha, thanks for the report as well! |
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