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Man-Game GT Watch 2018
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 20-08-2018 21:59
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Classics Specialist
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Might post the full lineups later, but for now the most important info is that Madrazo is going to the  Vuelta again.
| Last name | First name | Team | Role | Key Stat | Stat # | | Madrazo | Angel | Gazelle | Leader | Mountain | 85 |
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 20-08-2018 22:15
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Yes! Madrazo ftw at home 
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 20-08-2018 23:44
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Small Tour Specialist
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A bit later this evening, but today's update now enacted.
@Kraftwerk: Re: ToA, we still await clearance from the MGUCI, so please hold off. As far as I can see TMM has not been on Daily this past week or so, so I think we still await finalisation of Podium Ambition's schedule before ToA discussion can begin in earnest.
As for KMM's TdeF appearance, while you may lack a GC contender, a very strong statement of intent made to support Cav as leader with a massively strong lead-out/break-killer contingent lining up by his side. Assuming that in the finalised full roster Cav is considered among the favoured sprinters (by PCM AI), Kraftwerk may well end up being passed the responsibility for controlling and reeling in the break given that other sprint contenders teams likely have a dual-focus and lack strength-in-depth for pulling on those long flat days. Flugel is also a nice wildcard, especially with the parcours in week one.
@Gazelle: Good to have confirmation of one of the remaining '85' club riders GT intentions with the not necessarily unexpected appearance on home roads. Been a bit of a lull the last few years from Madrazo since his stellar form back in the Santander days; his old comrade-in-arms from those times Tenorio is likely to be one of his closest challengers this season. I believe is perhaps time for Madrazo to shine again and expect a more serious title challenge from him than some of the lacksidasical efforts put forward in recent times. One thing is for sure, there is going to be a lot of nervous racing over the first two weeks in this years Veulta before the GC battle really kicks off in the key stages compressed into the final week!
Manager of ISA - Hexacta in the MG |
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 28-08-2018 18:14
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For our latest MG GT update, we are delighted to confirm that the MGUCI has lifted the embargo on discussing the 2018 Tour of America. Therefore (or hence if your prefer!  ), the 'origin' post for ToA has been appropriately updated here: https://www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewth...st_1308437.
Confirmation from PCT and CT managers as to their attendance (or not) at the ToA is most welcome, and we will keep the appropriate spoiler up-to-date. Similar to the PT GT discussions, those who wish to do so can submit details of their leaders or full team line-ups that we will see representing in September. Please use the format requested in the initial post. For the slightly lower standard expected of a non-PT GT, we will list all appropriately flagged '78'+ main stat riders in the appropriate spoilers.
The first ToA specific news hot-of-the-press is that we can confirm that the World Cycling Centre will be in attendance at this year's event, returning after a one-year hiatus. The full WCC line-up will be disclosed at a press event to follow, most likely tomorrow  .
Final more general GT related news today is to highlight that some of the top GT favourites have just commenced their seasons at the PTHC Apex Mountain Classic. In a minor surprise, Rein Taaramae's attempt to ride the entire 2018 unbeaten has fallen at the first hurdle. With this result, Joe Dombrowski has further highlighted that he will be a serious challenger overall for the upcoming Giro. Other PT GT contenders got of to a steady start to their campaigns, although Timofey Kristiy was reported to be delighted to have got his season off to a solid start after sustained criticism in the press both at home in Russia and abroad throughout the winter off-season. Final rider worth highlighting is the most recent Tour of America victor Warren Barguil who appears to have made a massive step forward after significant training efforts across the winter; his first outing indicates that he is now ready to step up to the PT which had previously been in doubt.
Manager of ISA - Hexacta in the MG |
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| Vien |
Posted on 28-08-2018 18:38
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Reddit will be stage hunting at the ToA. Main contenders are sprinter Meyer, who flopped last year but might benefit from the <5km prologue, and Manfredi, who IMO has a chance to attack himself to both the KoM jersey and a good GC when everything goes well.
Additionaly, Hamza has a 79PRL stat. Not included with the maverics, but interesting to note nevertheless.
| Last name | First name | Team | Role | Key Stat | Stat # | | Meyer | Cameron | Team Reddit | Sprinter | Sprint | 80 | | Manfredi | Andrea | Team Reddit | Free Role | Mountain | 78 | | Schoonbroodt | Bob | Team Reddit | Free Role | | Smit | Willie | Team Reddit | Free Role | | | Riesebeek | Oscar | Team Reddit | Free Role | | Kiflay | Metkel | Team Reddit | Free Role | | | Hamza | Faycal | Team Reddit | Free Role | | Frankiny | Kilian | Team Reddit | Free Role |
Looking forward to see if the HC points scales made any differences in the level of appearing riders |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 22:52
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| jph27 |
Posted on 28-08-2018 19:45
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Ayubowan! are going to America with last year's white jersey winner at Le Tour as leader, hoping to add a GT win to his already impressive palmares. Atkins hopes to be one of the stronger TTers in the race, and Chatarunga offers an interesting breakaway option as he takes time off from being our cobbles leader. Silva is unlikely to offer much in the sprints but is here just in case the field is weaker than expected, while Tharuka, Prasad and van den Berg are very much squad fillers. No mountain support here for Yates, with Ranaweera and Dulanjana having to use their limited racedays elsewhere to level up.
| Last name | First name | Team | Role | Key Stat | Stat # | | Yates | Adam | Ayubowan! | Leader | Mountain | 79 | | Atkins | Josh | Ayubowan! | Maverick | TT | 78 | | Silva | Nihal | Ayubowan! | Sprinter | | Chatarunga | Sameera | Ayubowan! | Domestique | | Tharuka | Ashen | Ayubowan! | Domestique | | Prasad | Darshana | Ayubowan! | Domestique | | van den Berg | Julius | Ayubowan! | Domestique |
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 28-08-2018 19:49
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Classics Specialist
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Azteca-NBCSN will take on it's home GT with significant firepower. An all US rider lineup led by Ryan Eastman for the GC. The ambitions don't end there though, with Luke Keough and his 80 PRL stat hoping to take the lead on day 1 and hold it until the mountains.
Riding for Eastman will be mountain goats Peter Stetina and Gavin Mannion, while Ethan Weiss will help look after Eastman on the hills he struggles with. Robbie Squire also joins in the support, able to tackle nearly anything.
Clearly the Objective is for Azteca to dominate this race from start to finish and earn a large enough amount of points to survive relegation.
| Last name | First name | Team | Role | Key Stat | Stat # |  | Eastman | Ryan | Azteca | Leader | Mountain | 81 | | Barta | Williams | Azteca | Developmental | | | Keough | Luke | Azteca | Sprinter | Sprint | 79 | | Mannion | Gavin | Azteca | Domestique | Mountain | 77 | | Powless | Neilson | Azteca | Developmental | | | Squire | Robbie | Azteca | Free Role | Mountain | 77 | | Stetina | Peter | Azteca | Domestique | Mountain | 78 | | Weiss | Ethan | Azteca | Domestique | |
AZTECA - NBCSN  |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 28-08-2018 23:50
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Team Manager
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Vien wrote:
Additionaly, Hamza has a 79PRL stat. Not included with the maverics, but interesting to note nevertheless.
Hopefully can repeat his prologue victory from last year!
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 29-08-2018 11:16
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Tour de France Champion
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Well, Podium Ambition makes it's return to the ToA after a two year break! With the release of the C1/C2 selection data it might well work ou positively for the team who don't care about stage races.
What riders are we bringing to bear?
| Last name | | First name | Team | Role | Key Stat | Stat # | | Talansky | Andrew | T3A | Leader | Mountain | 79 | | Nelson | Ricki | T3A | Sprinter | Sprint | 81 |
The Pitbull is well aware he can't compete with the PCT's best in the bigger HC events, but at this slightly overlooked level? He should be competitive on the long climbs, but his 77HL and 72TT will keep him threatening across the whole race... we think...
Ricki could be a real wildcard. On the real flat days he'll be a proper threat but can he survive the rolling roads of the North West?
Also former ToA stage winner Momchil Robov returns with 76HL as a potential stage threat if he can get a good break move going on.
Should be fun!
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| roturn |
Posted on 29-08-2018 11:23
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Team Manager
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Let`s see how this one plays out in the ToA. Could make a good train, could fail due to JvH and Hochman`s acc. 
But with 5 pretty good CT sprinters, I had to part them somehow and ToA suited the best for that.
| Last name | First name | Team | Role | Key Stat | Stat # | | Van Heerden | Juan | ROT | Sprinter | Sprint | 82 | | Markus | Barry | ROT | Leadout | Sprint | 79 | | Hochmann | JÃri | ROT | Leadout | Sprint | 79 |
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 29-08-2018 19:25
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Small Tour Specialist
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Here is Kraftwerk's ToA squad.
Looking to Maillet, Tartarinov and Shushemoin for breakaway chances and Haller to compete in the sprints. Is this 21 race days well spent? Only time will tell.
| | | | | | | Last name | First name | Team | Role | Key Stat | Stat # | | Haller | Marco | Kraftwerk Man Machine | Sprinter | Sprint | 80 | | Maillet | Jocelin | Kraftwerk Man Machine | Free Role | Mountain | 77 | | Park | Sang Hong | Kraftwerk Man Machine | Leadout | Sprint | 75 | | Shushemoin | Alexandre | Kraftwerk Man Machine | Free Role | Hill | 75 | | Tatarinov | Gennadiy | Kraftwerk Man Machine | Free Role | Mountain | 75 | | Terasaki | Takero | Kraftwerk Man Machine | Domestique | Sprint | 73 | | Walsleben | Max | Kraftwerk Man Machine | Domestique | Flat | 72 | | Irvine | Martyn | Kraftwerk Man Machine | Domestique | TT | 74 |
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 29-08-2018 20:39
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Small Tour Specialist
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World Cycling Centre bring a two-pronged approach to the ToA, with a previous winner Berhane (2015) for the GC and JAC a potential contender for the sprint stages:
| | | | | | | Last name | First name | Team | Role | Key Stat | Stat # | | Berhane | Natnael | WCC | Leader | Mountain | 81 | | Koshevoy | Ilia | WCC | Domestique | Mountain | 76 | | Affonso | Murilo | WCC | Domestique | Mountain | 76 | | Brandt | Tyler | WCC | Domestique | Mountain | 76 | | Feng | Chun Kai | WCC | Domestique | Flat | 78 | | Juarez | Daniel | WCC | Domestique | Hill | 74 | | Castañeda | Jaime Alberto | WCC | Sprinter | Sprint | 80 | | Cisse | Issiaka | WCC | Lead-out | Sprint | 78 |
We will bring strong support to assist Berhane's attempt to return to the GC podium after an underwhelming 7th overall in 2017. He will have 3 dedicated mountain domestiques (Koshevoy, Affonso + Brandt), and shares the benefit of all-rounder Feng's skill-set, whose flat-beast and multi-terrain competency should assist both Berhane and JAC. Juarez will potentially feature as part of JAC's lead-out in week 1 before switching to shepherding Berhane through the hilly stages. With a 2nd on GC also on his palmares (2015), alongside a brace of previous stage victories, Natnael can be said to be a bit of a specialist for this event. He is excited by the new route announced for this season, and has got off to a solid start to the year with 14th @ the [PTHC] Apex Mountain Classic and 4th @ [C1] Classique Pico Basile demonstrating he has had laid the foundations over the winter for a good season in 2018!
We maintain hopes that Castañeda will merit a sprint lead-out in week 1, but acknowledge that the competition might have something to say about that! In Cisse he has the perfect pilot-fish, and Juarez is dependable enough to get the sprint going if called upon. Feng can assist either in break-killing, or if that task falls to other teams, ensuring that JAC and/or the lead-out train is dropped off in good position in the closing few kilometres.
After a seasons absence while focussed on the 'push-for-promotion' campaign, WCC are very keen to make-up for a fairly lacklustre ToA debut in 2016, that was only saved by a final stage break-away victory by development rider Clement Venturini (spending this season on loan with Desigual to Max out). The outcome of this year's event will have a large bearing upon whether or not this race becomes a fixture of life for WCC, or necessarily has to be sacrificed as too much of a drain on ppRD accumulation; so come on guys, show your stuff! 
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| Vien |
Posted on 29-08-2018 20:41
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Small Tour Specialist
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So many strong sprinters confirmed so far! Must have something to do with the crazy competition in the PCT sprints this year |
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| dominox |
Posted on 29-08-2018 20:53
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Banco de Bogota goes full retard mode! I don't know if anyone will fight for a decent GC place. But at least we will attack! I hope so! I don't know who our leader will be. Anacona for sure is the best climber, but his other stats are not worth being a leader for 3-week race. Parra Bustamente is not the best climber, but his recovery might be the reason he will be our leader for GC. We also have Sepulveda. He can do anything.
| | | | | | | Last name | First name | Team | Role | Key Stat | Stat # | | Sepulveda | Eduardo | Banco de Bogota | Free Role | Hill | 76 | | Parra Bustamente | Heiner Rodrigo | Banco de Bogota | Free Role | Mountain | 77 | | Anacona | Winner | Banco de Bogota | Leader | Mountain | 79 | | Cheyne | Jordan | Banco de Bogota | Domestique | TT | 76 | | Wallays | Jelle | Banco de Bogota | Free Role | Hill | 75 | | Camargo | Jonathan | Banco de Bogota | Domestique | Mountain | 75 | | Lemus Davila | Luis Enrique | Banco de Bogota | Domestique | Mountain | 75 | | Moyano | Enzo | Banco de Bogota | Domestique | Mountain | 75 |
Edited by dominox on 29-08-2018 21:36
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 29-08-2018 21:29
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Small Tour Specialist
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ToA spoilers now up-to-date . Within 24 hours we have more than half the start-list confirmed. Only 1 more PCT team to be identified, whereas the CT is a wee bit slower in uptake (2/7). Thanks to all respondents!
Already we can see the potential for a great tussle in both the GC and sprints emerging. Exciting for the race organisers to see a couple of serious home contenders in the shape of Eastman and Talansky intending to mount a title challenge. Eastman has finished 2nd before (2014) and also took out stages, the KoM and youth jersey in that edition. After that stellar performance as an emerging young rider, his 9th place overall in 2016 was a bit of a dsappointment that he will be looking to expunge from memory. Azteca have been significantly investing in his development, time for him to demonstrate a good return on that input. For Talansky, this may well be a ToA debut (please correct me if you know otherwise!). He will be hoping to utilise the fact that he is the best puncheur thus far to have confirmed his attendance; alongside his mountain and TT abilities, he is perhaps the most well-rounded contender to date?
Vying with Eastman as early bookies favourite is Adam Yates who has demonstrated potential in the 21-day race format, strongly underlined by a 7th place GC finish in the 2017 Tour de France. Individuals in Sri Lanka that support Yates' Ayubowan! team are believed to have already placed substantial bets on him securing victory, although rumours that his team manager has re-mortgaged his house remain unconfirmed internet speculation . Dark horse thus far is the only returning victor (2015) confirmed to date in the form of WCC's Natnael Berhane. After a frustrating outing for him in the 2017 edition, he is hoping to be back on the podium, although cycling insiders highlight that his lack of TT prowess might hobble his chances at challenging for the top spot given the number of TT kilometres on this years route.
Other riders with ToA pedigree already identified include Winner Anacona (4th 2015), leading the challenge for CT newcomers Banco de Bogota who also provide a deep mountain 'train', and previous stage winner Peter Stetina who is included in a very strong all-American support team formed around Eastmans's GC challenge.
On the sprint front, recent dominator and stage victory record holder Raúl Granjel Cabrera (Azteca) is absent. hence the field is open with a number of candidates throwing their hat in the ring in particular for the flat stages in the opening week. Included in this list are 80+ sprinters Juan van Heerden (Rothaus), Ricki Nelson (T3A), Cameron Meyer (Reddit), Marco Haller (Kraftwerk) and Jaime Alberto Castañeda (WCC). More contenders are likely to be added to this list as the rest of the race line-up is confirmed. Hence it looks like we are in for a more competitive battle in the sprint finishes than in recent editions when Granjel Carbrera proved dominant for his previous now disbanded Aeropostal team.
Spoiler dominox: Hope you do not mind, but in the spoiler threads, I've re-badged Anacona as 'leader' to reflect his previous strong showing at the event, given the rider you identify as leader doesn't meet the prescribed minimum criteria to be included in the list. Additionally, although the Wallays half of the Wallays/Jelle twosome may well benefit from his awesome fighter stat during the ToA, that was not identified as a 'main' stat that would be included in the 'mavericks' spoiler list, sorry!
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| dominox |
Posted on 29-08-2018 21:37
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Scorchio; Well, I didn't look closely at riders previous results, so no. I do not mind. I didn't know Anacona was 4th once in his career so I might expect something more than few breakaway's. I edited that post with Anacona leading our team and Wallays main stat being hills. Thanks! |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 29-08-2018 21:41
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Great write-up, Scorchio. Really enjoying this initiative and analysis!
Indeed an interesting ToA shaping up quickly. Yates an obvious contender for still an upsetting overall victory, with stronger MO riders attending. Would love to see an US rider taking the win and both Eastman as well as Talansky should fancy their chances to fight for the podium. Obviously hard to predict, how much someone like Talansky will benefit from his HIL stat, but it's certainly a nice advantage in a few possible key stages. Berhane with another attempt: cool stuff as well! Would be nice to see him doing significally better than last year..
Aside from that: I definitely have some love for Aztecas "full US" approach and it looks like a strong support team for Eastman.. the fact that Granjel Cabrera has to be absent that way still hurts me bit 
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 29-08-2018 22:43
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Cabrara was an unfortunate casualty of needing points. And with an opening prologue Keough is the better option as he might be able to take the leader's jersey from the start, and hold onto it for several days. Obviously he won't be the best pure sprinter here, but we had to give that a shot.
AZTECA - NBCSN |
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| Booker |
Posted on 30-08-2018 23:19
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Final PCT team reporting for duty. Really looking forward to this race, especially with more opportunity for scoring with the HC point scale, and the 'lessened' competition seeing as only 7 PCT teams saw fight to contest this one. Looking for a big result from our guys, and possibly a breakaway win or two from our time trialists, if possible (though I'd be fine if they were protecting our main man on the flats):
| | | | | | | Last name | First name | Team | Role | Key Stat | Stat # | | Valls | Rafael | Kulczyk - DMTEX | Leader | Mountain | 79 | | Eyob | Metkel | Kulczyk - DMTEX | Domestique | Mountain/Hill | 76 | | Pozzo | Mattia | Kulczyk - DMTEX | Domestique | Mountain | 76 | | Cieslik | Pawel | Kulczyk - DMTEX | Domestique | Mountain | 75 | | Barth | Marcel | Kulczyk - DMTEX | TT / Pacer | TT | 77 | | Goddaert | Kristof | Kulczyk - DMTEX | TT / Free | TT | 76 | | Tzortzakis | Polychronis | Kulczyk - DMTEX | Sprinter (lol) | Acceleration | 75 | | Paluta | Michal | Kulczyk - DMTEX | Warm body | Acceleration | 71 |
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 30-08-2018 23:22
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Valls to ToA
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