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Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 01-09-2018 18:25
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Directeur Sportif
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 Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne
The cobbles season for the CT teams is on: this iconic cobblec classic has quite a history in the ManGame and now in it's 9th edition since 2008, it kept it's C2 status from last season, where Sam Harrison (WCC) took the win from a bunch sprint - beating Marcos Brus and Yoeri Havik at the line. Other previous race-winners are Mark Cavendish (2016), Pieter Vanspeybrouck (2011), Leif Hoste (2008 and 2010) and Tom Boonen (2009) - as well as a fairly unkown Jens Renders (2012), when the race was held as part of the Continental Division 2 back then. In 2015, the event merged with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and this 3-days-event was won by Pieter Vanspeybrouck.
The profile offers a mix of rather less challenging hills, cobbled sectors and flat roads. With less than 200km of length, the K-B-K surely ain't amongst the toughest cobbled classics, but of course the specialists will try to take the opportunity that come with the new profile this season: more cobbles, tougher cobbles. While we used to have bigger groups contesting for victories through bunch sprint decisions, it may well change this year.
The Startlist
The Favorites | Favorites | FL | CO | SP | | Outsiders | FL | CO | SP |  Ferreira | 73 | 79 | 71 | |  Joseph | 74 | 76 | 66 |  Machado | 69 | 79 | 62 | |  Flaksis | 70 | 76 | 61 |  Jacobs | 73 | 78 | 65 | |  Matthews | 72 | 75 | 76 |  Taubel | 73 | 78 | 61 | |  Breschel | 73 | 75 | 75 |  Kluge | 78 | 77 | 77 | |  Kurth | 73 | 75 | 73 |  Zhupa | 75 | 77 | 74 | | Veelers | 71 | 75 | 73 |  Drucker | 74 | 77 | 74 | |  Van der Haar | 77 | 75 | 72 | | Breen | 77 | 77 | 73 | |  Lebris | 73 | 75 | 71 |  Kulppi | 73 | 77 | 65 | | Lovassy | 68 | 73 | 77 | | Grand | 72 | 77 | 65 | |  Giaux | 73 | 71 | 77 |  Eeckhout | 72 | 77 | 64 | | Gatto | 70 | 71 | 77 |  Domene | 73 | 76 | 74 | | Farrar | 70 | 69 | 77 |
Despite the new profile, it's still a race, that will suit those cobblers with great flat and sprinting skills. It's hard to see past Kluge as the top-favorite, since he combines the three main skills in quite an awesome fashion. There's surely some pressure on him to deliver at least a podium, may it come from a selective race or a sprint from a reduced leading group.
Last year's 4th - Drucker - will probably aim for the podium this year and just like Zhupa, Domene and Breschel, he's amongst the better sprinters amongst the best cobblers here. There's definitely a good chance for any of those names to go for a notable result on a profile like this.
But let's also talk about the best pure cobblers: Ferreira as another top favorite, who combines superior cobbles skills with a decent punch. Just like Kluge, he simply has to aim for the podium or victory here. Machado, Jacobs and Taubel do lack the finishing kick, but with the new route, they certainly should fancy their chances to make it a more selective race than it used to be in the past.
And then there's a promising co-leader duo with Breen and Van der Haar: Breen as another very promising contender for a podium finish and with Van der Haar backing him (or maybe allowed to ride on his own), that's easily two great assets for Delvaux here. Less strong cobblers like Lovassy, Giaux, Gatto (who's part of a very interesting Sauber Petronas squad, that comes with several possible Top-10 options) or maybe even Farrar will hope for the less selective scenario, which seems more unlikely than in the previous editions of the event though.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 01-09-2018 18:29
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
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Joseph gets some leadership again this year, let's see what he can make of it in what will most likely be his last year on the team.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 01-09-2018 18:41
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7593
Joined: 04-07-2012
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Flaksis, Marcos, De Haes, Moulingui. Four opportunities to score points.
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| roturn |
Posted on 01-09-2018 18:56
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
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Kluge probably most complete but Ferreira is an interesting rider here and as top cobbler I hope to see him podium here. |
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| viking90 |
Posted on 01-09-2018 19:05
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4032
Joined: 24-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Yey! Time for littlebrother Per too learn how to handles does cobbles!
Dont expect anything for B&O squad here just relaxing as long as possible in the peloton or maybe an early attack.
Put some money for Drucker. |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 01-09-2018 19:06
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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Will be fun to see Matthews taking the reigns here, the Caribbean revolution is slowly building 
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| Vien |
Posted on 01-09-2018 19:14
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2322
Joined: 16-06-2008
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Filler race for us. All we can hope for is the hills having a higher impact than expected. Then Schoonbroodt could do quite well, like last season. |
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 01-09-2018 19:16
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2809
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It hurts to see Ferreira up there but I'm praying for Eeckhout to perform well, will be vital to start of the classics season on a role.
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 01-09-2018 19:21
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Team Leader
Posts: 6795
Joined: 21-07-2010
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A tough one, but I hope to see Kulppi get a good start in what is deemed to be his best season in his entire career after training hi cobbles and before he gets stuck in a lieutenant role.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 18:01
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 01-09-2018 19:22
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2073
Joined: 11-07-2010
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Excited to get to the cobbles! Kluge obviously the big favorite here, but I'm optimistic we can land a podium with Breen if things go our way. Van der Haar and maybe even Verbist have scoring potential as well, so hope we can get some nice points out of our first home race of the season.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 01-09-2018 19:59
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Tour de France Champion
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Look at the insanity of a C2 field these days. In my first season in CT Ostergaard was tied for the top cobbler in CT. He'd barely be top 20 or 25 now.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 01-09-2018 20:13
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Classics Specialist
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Originally had big hopes for Breschel here, but not so sure anymore, that's a strong field indeed. No idea how this will end, hoping for a top 10 and dreaming for a top 5 maybe.
Thank you for the preview tsmoha! |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 01-09-2018 20:20
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World Champion
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baseballlover312 wrote:
Look at the insanity of a C2 field these days. In my first season in CT Ostergaard was tied for the top cobbler in CT. He'd barely be top 20 or 25 now.
I was thinking exactly the same, 79 cobblers in the CT!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| beagle |
Posted on 01-09-2018 20:47
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4200
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Would be nice to grab few points from first cobble classic of the season, new signing Domene should be the right man. From obvious reason, I´m rooting for Roger Kluge.
Thanks tsmoha for preview, looking forward to entertaining report.
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| redordead |
Posted on 01-09-2018 21:23
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4881
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Glad to see Zhupa is a realistic option for a top 5 spot. Where he may be undone is that our team is probably lacking a bit of support for our leader, compared to the other teams.
"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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| tastasol |
Posted on 01-09-2018 21:43
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2889
Joined: 11-09-2010
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Hope we can get inside the top 30 here. A couple of decent cobblers who would have done very well in C2 when Risa-Ergon actually raced in CT, but no so much anymore!
Would love to see Breen up on the podium here.
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| Roman |
Posted on 01-09-2018 22:15
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4386
Joined: 29-05-2007
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Don't really have an expactation to see Batman, Stybar or Coronel mentioned in the report, but surely looking forward to see what can my former rider Zhupa do here. And also looking forward to see the new profile in the action, more cobbles should hopefully help to make the race more interesting.
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 02-09-2018 00:53
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3634
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No preview love for the only cobbled monument winner on the startlist?
Hopefully the squad I've brought is strong and varied enough to get us a nice haul of points no matter how it's raced.
Dream scenario would be a Surprise Spartacus Solo win to tick off one of the missing boxes on his palmares as he gets his final season underway.
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 02-09-2018 16:26
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
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Pieters will be the man for us and looking forward to see how he will go. Hoping for it to be a cobblers race given the new route rather than a sprinters race. Top 5 and I will be happy
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 02-09-2018 17:07
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Team Leader
Posts: 7406
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First race for Drucker at Campari-Super dry, looking forward to see what he can do, anything inside top 10 acceptable, top 5 the dream.
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
