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Tour of America Discussion
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 05-07-2019 20:40
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Grand Tour Champion
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 Tour of America
History
| Year | Winner | Team | | 2017 | Warren Barguil | Team Ticos Air Costa Rica | | 2016 | Domenico Pozzovivo | In-n-Out p/b Carrefour | | 2015 | Natnael Berhane | Eritel - Sonatrach | | 2014 | Andrei Kashechkin | Repsol-Cativen | | 2013 | Andrei Kashechkin | Repsol-Cativen | | 2012 | Robert Kiserlovski | Hollister | | 2011 | Franco Pellizotti | Youtube-Twitter |
The crown event on the pro continental calendar: Tour of America. The race will be split evenly across Canada and the USA for the first time in its history. In the past the race has had its problems with getting big names, as most of them would rather spend 21 racedays elsewhere, but with the increase points on offer this year there might be a chance in that. The winner will go into the history books, though for the winning team it might be a bad sign as the teams of the last two winners went on to relegate that year. Nevertheless, it's a great experience for the teams and riders down here, and we hope to have an exciting and eventful race.
Route designer tsmoha has drawn a truly magnificent route through Canada and the United States. The race starts with a prologue in Edmonton, followed by a few flat stages and a time trial. Then the race really kicks off in British Columbia, with uphill finishes at Mount Norquay, Mount Revelstoke and Apex Mountain Resort. After ten days the riders transfer to the USA, where we have another mountain stage to Beartooth Pass, before a flat stage and time trial around Helena, Montana. From then on there are only hilly or mountain stages in the Rocy Mountains, mostly with uphill finishes. A mountain time trial on Yakima Peak at the second-a-last day will bring the decision. The last stage is a criterium around Ellensburg, Washington. In short, a strong climber with time trial abilities will be the favorite to win.
Startlist
| Favorites | MO | HL | TT | Outsiders | MO | HL | TT |  Berhane | 81 | 75 | 66 |  Squire | 77 | 77 | 65 | | Eastman | 81 | 71 | 76 |  Parra Bustamente | 77 | 74 | 67 |  Suaza | 80 | 65 | 73 |  Hoem | 77 | 72 | 67 |  Talansky | 79 | 77 | 72 | Mannion | 77 | 71 | 64 |  Yates | 79 | 76 | 71 |  Maillet | 77 | 70 | 60 |  Valls | 79 | 75 | 72 | Eyob | 76 | 76 | 66 | | Anacona | 79 | 74 | 66 | Henao | 76 | 76 | 63 | | Atapuma | 78 | 73 | 62 |  Khripta | 76 | 75 | 65 | | Stetina | 78 | 67 | 64 | Affonso | 76 | 72 | 73 |  Manfredi | 78 | 65 | 65 | Brandt | 76 | 69 | 73 |  Medvedev | 78 | 64 | 63 | Sepulveda | 75 | 76 | 75 |
A select group of top climbers settle here, which is a logical consequence of the high-RD-low-reward this race is known for. Nevertheless, the organizers should not be too unhappy about the startlist this year, despite only 14 teams making the trip.
The only former winner to return is Berhane, the winner of the 2015 edition. He is also the highest ranked rider participating from last year's edition, where he finished seventh. He surely is one of the contenders for the victory, though his time trial skills might be his Achilles' heel.
The American fans already know 100% certain who will win: their boy Eastman. It's hard to argue against, he is the best time trialist amongst the top climbers, has the home advantage and the full support of a fully American squad including great climbers like Stetina, Squire and Mannion. Go big or go home.
Suaza is the top CT climber to participate, a good chance for the team to score a lot of points. Teammate Atapuma would also be a solid bet for a top ten.
Another American at the top of the board: Talansky. His secret weapon is his quality on the smaller hills, where he could gain time on his nearest rivals.
Other names which we might see on the final podium are Anacona, Valls and Yates.
| Sprinters | SP | ACC | Time trialists | TT | PRL |  Van Heerden | 82 | 73 | Sterobo | 78 | 78 | | Nelson | 81 | 81 | Atkins | 78 | 77 | | Castañeda | 80 | 79 | Barth | 77 | 77 | | Haller | 80 | 79 | Hamza | 76 | 79 | | Nizzolo | 80 | 79 | Kiflay | 76 | 77 | | Meyer | 80 | 76 | Bookwalter | 76 | 76 | | Hochmann | 79 | 80 | Bouet | 76 | 76 | | Keough | 79 | 79 | Goddaert | 76 | 76 | | Matthews | 79 | 79 | Cheyne | 76 | 75 |  Colbrelli | 79 | 75 | Eastman | 76 | 73 | | Boev | 78 | 78 | Sepulveda | 75 | 76 | | Cisse | 78 | 77 | Tzortzakis | 75 | 76 | | Puncheurs | HL | ACC | Keough | 58 | 80 | | Zaini | 80 | 70 | Meyer | 73 | 78 | | Mendes | 77 | 64 | Irvine | 74 | 75 | | Robov | 76 | 71 | Hochmann | 65 | 75 |
A lot of flat stages, especially in the beginning, so no surprise to see some of the best sprinters of the divisions.
Rothaus brings Van Heerden and Hochmann, a dangerous duo for the CT-outfit. World Cycling Centre bets on the duo Castañeda - Cisse, while Telia brings Nizzolo and Boev.
Nearly every team brings at least one sprinter, as the list continues with Nelson, Haller, Matthews and Colbrelli.
Special mentions for Meyer and Keough, who are also very good on the prologue beside the sprinting. These two might be a favorite to gain the yellow jersey on the early stages due to bonus seconds. Azteca places a lot of faith in Keough, leaving ToA-legend Granjel Cabrera at home.
Speaking about prologue and time trial specialists, there are four of those this race. One prologue, two flat TT's and one mountain TT. This did not tempt the big names to participate, leaving a chance for the likes of Atkins and Sterobo to have a chance at a stage win. Hamza another rider with a very good prologue, though lacking a bit on the longer distance.
Compal decides to bring Zaini for the few hilly stages, a costly endeavor with 21 RD spend on only a handful of opportunities, but there is no real competition in this discipline.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 05-07-2019 21:03
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 17833
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A big race? Yeah, it's a pretty f*cking big race! Pitbull has big hopes in the GC. He's proven against top PCT, and even against good PT, competition. That ability in the hills could be crucial as he's very hard to drop on the long climbs. He'll hold his own in the TT's, very even with Eastman for honor of best all-round GC rider.
Ricki to rock the sprints? Been a while since he did, but plenty of opportunity to free lance it here. Unlikely to last the whole race distance he has to deliver early.
Waaaay back in our debut season Momchil Robov won in the ToA. He's back and has all the skills to do so again. And don't ignore Ivanov, a solid climber, and De Vos as a local mini-GC man. Then there's Bridges, a nice all-round attacker helper.
Plus Kim and Kristin, the two female MG riders here for publicity 
Gif? Yes, gif!
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 05-07-2019 21:15
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World Champion
Posts: 10231
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I miss the days when I brought Granjel Cabrera here and he dominated the sprints.
Good days |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 05-07-2019 22:01
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16557
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Not being here means that we have no chance to avoid relegation. Too many race days for everyone else, even if we would have had no shot.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 06-07-2019 01:38
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Grand Tour Specialist
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I'd support Valls, but a great performance from him here could put Kulczyk into promotion spots and leave us with nothing, so tough choice 
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 06-07-2019 02:03
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Team Leader
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We are just here hoping for a top 10 and maybe a stage win 
Good luck everybody!
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 06-07-2019 05:49
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3991
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Well all of Azteca's hopes are here. Need a massive race from Eastman and early points from Keough, and if some of the support riders could find their way into the top 10 would be useful too.
The plan here is simple... Yellow from Start to Finish. Keough opens up as the top prologue specialist at the race, takes the lead on stage 1. His ability to sprint allows him to hold or even expand the lead for the next 3 days. The least likely day for us to have the race lead is the Stage 5 timetrial where Eastman puts himself at the top of the list of climbers and GC contenders.
Once we hit stage 6, its time for Eastman to take over, taking the lead and never relinquishing the spot. He has multiple guys who can give support over the mountainous terrain with Mannion, Squire and Stetina. Weiss to help on the hills with Powless and Barta capable on the flats to lead the peloton.
Edited by Kentaurus on 06-07-2019 05:57
AZTECA - NBCSN  |
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| Vien |
Posted on 06-07-2019 06:06
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2241
Joined: 16-06-2008
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Here we gooo! So excited to be part of the ToA once again, And after last year's flop (except a KoM jersey), I've decided to change things around a bit. No more GC aspirations, it's now time to stage hunt.
We start off with Kiflay hoping to repeat last year's prologue win. Then Meyer can hopefully do one or two decent sprints and perhaps even get the yellow jersey, though the field of sprinters is stronger than I expected. We have some decent puncheurs here too for a stage win, and then it's all up to Manfredi who will likely be far behind in the GC so I hope he will attack and win either a stage or make a comeback in the GC. I'm pretty much looking forward to every day.
As for the GC, I find it so hard to decide who I want to win... First name I'd like to mention is Eastman simply because I feel lie his manager deserves a massive points haul and some confidence in the CT next season. Suaza winning would be a massive meme, Berhane could become the new king of ToA and Yates is just awesome and jph's decision to spend his race days here will hopefully be rewarded. Also hoping Anacona will do well as he was in my team last season and I regret not sending him here.
Mad props to Marco for reporting this 
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 06-07-2019 06:09
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3991
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Would be nice to go down on a good note. This whole year has been about building for next year and the years to come with young talents. Would be nice to see the veteran guys have one last success.
AZTECA - NBCSN |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 08-12-2025 16:36
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 06-07-2019 06:56
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I'm pretty sure that Yates is the favourite for the title. I can only see Valls coming close, maybe Suaza if he somehow survives the flat. Eastman sadly looks more like the good result but no win rider, same for Berhane and Talansky. Others may fight for lower Top10s.
Not bringing Granjel is a crime.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 06-07-2019 13:36
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Tour de France Champion
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Hoping that the team go out and enjoy themselves do |
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| Booker |
Posted on 06-07-2019 16:25
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Protected Rider
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Aquarius97 wrote:
I'd support Valls, but a great performance from him here could put Kulczyk into promotion spots and leave us with nothing, so tough choice
C’mon you know you want to
In all seriousness, I’m hyped for this! Been waiting for this one for a looooooong time and really happy that we’ve got Marco for the reports on this.
It’s gonna be a shootout in the mountains - good luck to all, but please refrain from getting in Rafael’s way. I brought an excellent TTT contingent as well, I’m so glad that there’s one on the route
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| Vien |
Posted on 06-07-2019 16:37
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2241
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There's a TTT? 
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 06-07-2019 16:45
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7775
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Maybe you're confused with last year's route? There's no TTT in this edition
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| Booker |
Posted on 06-07-2019 16:46
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Sorry lads, should’ve made that sarcasm a bit clearer
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| knockout |
Posted on 06-07-2019 20:35
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Grand Tour Champion
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Love to see Faycal Hamza winning the prologue. Nearly signed him as a stagiaire a couple seasons back and have a sweetspot for him. Congrats vien!
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 06-07-2019 21:43
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Small Tour Specialist
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I made a late signing of subtop sprinter Marco Haller with an idea of bringing him to ToA. Also needed some opportunities for Maillet to use his Acc, hoping he targets the KoM.
But could be a massive waste of race days, time will tell.
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 06-07-2019 22:11
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Classics Specialist
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Awesome to see WCC take the stage win here, one of the teams I really hope stays up, most definitely one of the most interesting projects in the PCT, should they be able to reduce the wage bill on Lutsenko next year!
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 07-07-2019 04:27
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3991
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Didn't get the lead I wanted, but 2nd is the next best thing. Now just need to nip some seconds in the sprint tomorrow and take over the top spot.
AZTECA - NBCSN |
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| Vien |
Posted on 07-07-2019 05:19
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2241
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whitejersey wrote:
Awesome to see WCC take the stage win here, one of the teams I really hope stays up, most definitely one of the most interesting projects in the PCT, should they be able to reduce the wage bill on Lutsenko next year!
I'm not sure if you made a typo or if you were upping Booker's level of sarcasm here
But WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT HAMZA! The perfect start of the ToA and our first stage win here. Hope he can keep the leader's jersey for a few more days. Or if not, Meyer can keep it in the team.
Thanks for the report marco
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