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Benelux Challenge Discussion
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| jph27 |
Posted on 05-06-2020 20:48
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The Benelux Challenge is one of the more unpredictable events on the calendar, combining hills, cobbles and a short prologue. In previous years this has been a race for the puncheurs and before that for the hybrids, but will we see a different result this year?
The Puncheurs
| HIL | COB | PRL | STA | RES | ACC |  Chaves | 79 | 54 | 68 | 74 | 73 | 72 |  Siskevicius | 78 | 50 | 65 | 73 | 72 | 75 |  Hategeka | 77 | 56 | 65 | 74 | 69 | 66 | | Squire | 77 | 65 | 65 | 70 | 70 | 71 | | Teklit | 77 | 59 | 64 | 75 | 72 | 70 | | Lejman | 77 | 51 | 58 | 72 | 64 | 68 | | Besada | 77 | 58 | 54 | 74 | 74 | 77 |  Weiss | 76 | 59 | 68 | 75 | 70 | 74 |  Roche | 76 | 55 | 68 | 72 | 69 | 66 |  Umerbekov | 76 | 56 | 63 | 74 | 67 | 73 | | Nzeke | 76 | 63 | 63 | 72 | 67 | 68 | | Rabitsch | 75 | 54 | 75 | 73 | 73 | 68 |  Anderson | 75 | 58 | 68 | 71 | 67 | 75 | | De Tier | 75 | 66 | 63 | 73 | 72 | 69 |
If the cobbles prove to only have a minor effect, then Chaves and Siskevicius are the likely favourites. However, a selective cobbled stage is likely to trouble all of the top puncheurs, with former winner Squire and De Tier the least likely to lose major time.
The Cobblers
| HIL | COB | PRL | STA | RES | ACC |  Kasperkiewicz | 73 | 79 | 72 | 73 | 75 | 66 | | Van Keirsbulck | 71 | 78 | 51 | 75 | 73 | 68 | | Richardson | 67 | 78 | 63 | 68 | 68 | 61 |  Maes | 66 | 78 | 63 | 78 | 73 | 66 | | Taubel | 65 | 78 | 60 | 69 | 73 | 64 | | Orue | 64 | 78 | 68 | 77 | 70 | 58 | | Corwin | 66 | 77 | 55 | 66 | 64 | 56 | | Jacobs | 63 | 77 | 61 | 75 | 70 | 62 |  Manamalage | 59 | 77 | 57 | 71 | 64 | 56 |  Lagab | 70 | 75 | 74 | 70 | 65 | 72 | | Young | 69 | 75 | 55 | 74 | 70 | 77 | | Kumara | 67 | 75 | 54 | 74 | 70 | 67 |  Abraha | 64 | 75 | 61 | 70 | 71 | 72 | | Kolev | 62 | 75 | 66 | 71 | 70 | 67 | | Ruiz | 60 | 75 | 56 | 76 | 72 | 58 |
Unlike the puncheurs, a few of the cobblers are relatively versatile. Kasperkiewicz, Van Keirsbulck, Lagab and Young are the names to watch.
The Hybrids
| HIL | COB | PRL | STA | RES | ACC |  Kamberaj | 69 | 67 | 70 | 72 | 73 | 76 | | Ngandamba | 69 | 74 | 71 | 73 | 70 | 71 | | Coronel | 68 | 73 | 61 | 71 | 70 | 70 | | Malecki | 67 | 71 | 68 | 68 | 72 | 70 | | Ovsyannikov | 67 | 70 | 64 | 70 | 71 | 71 | | Honore | 69 | 67 | 65 | 70 | 69 | 68 |  Menicucci | 68 | 68 | 63 | 69 | 70 | 67 |
There are also a few riders to watch who while not being brilliant on the cobbles or hills, aren't terrible either. While it is unlikely they will compete for the overall win, they may find themselves well placed at the end due to their all round abilities.
The Sprinters
| FL | HIL | STA | RES | SP | ACC |  Guillen | 67 | 61 | 66 | 62 | 81 | 82 | | Carsi | 70 | 55 | 66 | 69 | 80 | 82 | | Vingerling | 71 | 62 | 72 | 66 | 79 | 79 | | Krieger | 71 | 62 | 71 | 74 | 79 | 79 | | Bennett | 71 | 63 | 74 | 68 | 79 | 79 | | Manarelli | 72 | 59 | 71 | 65 | 79 | 79 | | Keough | 73 | 62 | 67 | 73 | 79 | 79 | | Young | 74 | 69 | 74 | 70 | 78 | 77 | | Cisse | 74 | 63 | 73 | 67 | 78 | 77 | | Szalontay | 69 | 52 | 64 | 65 | 78 | 77 | | Sobota | 72 | 60 | 74 | 65 | 78 | 78 | | Bogdanovics | 73 | 62 | 74 | 69 | 78 | 77 |  Fonseca | 74 | 61 | 74 | 68 | 78 | 77 | | Vaquera | 71 | 64 | 69 | 65 | 78 | 80 | | Canelon | 77 | 57 | 65 | 69 | 78 | 83 |
With two flat stages on the menu, it's no surprise to see a strong sprinting field here. Guillen and Carsi are the strongest in terms of raw speed, but their weak support stats could hold them back.
The Prologue Specialists
| PRL | | Keough | 80 | | Cruz | 78 | | Hofer | 78 | | Bille | 77 | | Downey | 77 | | Van Baarle | 77 | | Sebright | 77 | | Reus | 77 | | Marchewka | 77 | | Vingerling | 76 | | Dzervus | 76 | | Kukrle | 75 | | Rabitsch | 75 |
With a stage win and at least a day in the GC lead on offer, a number of the top prologue specialists in the division are here. Keough is the big favourite, but expect the first stage to be just as unpredictable as the race as a whole.
Spoiler | First name | Last name | Team | | Xhuliano | Kamberaj | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Hersony | Canelon | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Max | Losch | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Tom | Thill | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Krzysztof | Marchewka | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Valentin | Stoenchev | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Michal | Kukrle | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Adam | Toupalik | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Johan Esteban | Chaves | Azteca - NBCSN | | Robbie | Squire | Azteca - NBCSN | | Luke | Keough | Azteca - NBCSN | | Cesar | Vaquera | Azteca - NBCSN | | Felix Emilio | Besada | Azteca - NBCSN | | Chequan | Richardson | Azteca - NBCSN | | German Anibal | Orue | Azteca - NBCSN | | Dadley | Corwin | Azteca - NBCSN | | Simone | Velasco | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Fernando | Barcelo | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Michael | Storer | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Dmitry | Strakhov | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Alexander | Evans | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Matteo | Sobrero | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Edward | Ravasi | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Narankhuu | Baterdene | BNZ Cycling Team | | Dylan | Sunderland | BNZ Cycling Team | | Munkhtulga | Erdenesuren | BNZ Cycling Team | | Campbell | Flakemore | BNZ Cycling Team | | Joel | Yates | BNZ Cycling Team | | Luke | Mudgway | BNZ Cycling Team | | Samuele | Menicucci | BNZ Cycling Team | | Jimmy | Muhindo | BNZ Cycling Team | | Marco | Guillen | Centovalli - Fiat | | Issiaka | Cisse | Centovalli - Fiat | | Maximilian | Walscheid | Centovalli - Fiat | | Ioannidis | Kiriakidis | Centovalli - Fiat | | Patrick | Gamper | Centovalli - Fiat | | Pascal | Eenkhoorn | Centovalli - Fiat | | Gino | Mäder | Centovalli - Fiat | | Alessandro | Fedeli | Centovalli - Fiat | | Kenny | Elissonde | CYBEX Platinum | | Dylan | Van Baarle | CYBEX Platinum | | Maris | Bogdanovics | CYBEX Platinum | | Kirill | Pozdnyakov | CYBEX Platinum | | Tesfay | Abraha | CYBEX Platinum | | Simon | Geschke | CYBEX Platinum | | Ermin | Van Wyk | CYBEX Platinum | | Dario | Puccioni | CYBEX Platinum | | Evaldas | Siskevicius | DK Zalgiris | | Tesfar | Teklit | DK Zalgiris | | Kai | Reus | DK Zalgiris | | Darijus | Dzervus | DK Zalgiris | | Andreas | Hofer | DK Zalgiris | | Alexandr | Ovsyannikov | DK Zalgiris | | Lucas | Hamilton | DK Zalgiris | | Sulkhan | Akhmaevi | DK Zalgiris | | Nikita | Umerbekov | Eddie Stobart | | Davide | Cimolai | Eddie Stobart | | Gihan | Pushpakumara | Eddie Stobart | | Floris | De Tier | Eddie Stobart | | Salvador | Moreno Hernandez | Eddie Stobart | | Pavel | Sivakov | Eddie Stobart | | Daniel | Ruiz | Eddie Stobart | | Neil | Van der Ploeg | Eddie Stobart | | Michael | Vingerling | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Mustafa | Carsi | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Carlos Alexandre | Manarelli | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Azzeddine | Lagab | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Daniele | Ratto | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Romeo | Quicibal | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Rory | Townsend | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Alain | Quispe | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Armindo | Fonseca | Euskaltel - Elior | | Fabio | Jakobsen | Euskaltel - Elior | | Maral-Erdene | Batmunkh | Euskaltel - Elior | | Andres | Paez | Euskaltel - Elior | | David | Gaudu | Euskaltel - Elior | | Mohammed | Al Murawwi | Euskaltel - Elior | | Jaime | Castrillo | Euskaltel - Elior | | Mohamad Izzat Hilmi | Abdul Halil | Euskaltel - Elior | | Gasore | Hategeka | GCN ProTeam | | Geremie | Nzeke | GCN ProTeam | | Gaetan | Bille | GCN ProTeam | | Geoffroy | Ngandamba | GCN ProTeam | | Pieter | Jacobs | GCN ProTeam | | Gracjan | Lejman | GCN ProTeam | | Sandor | Szalontay | GCN ProTeam | | Bram | Welten | GCN ProTeam | | Sam | Bennett | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Nicolas | Roche | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Freddy | Cruz | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Sean | Downey | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Ian | Richardson | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Aggrey | Sebright | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Adam | Petrie-Armstrong | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Felix | English | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Nipuna Shira | Manamalage | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Daniel | Habtemichael | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Ka Hoo | Fung | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Thomas | Revard | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Noah | Granigan | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Brendan | Rhim | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Connor | Brown | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Alex | Hoehn | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Guillaume | Van Keirsbulck | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Ryan | Anderson | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Amith Udaya | Kumara | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Gatis | Smukulis | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Samuel | Coronel | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Rasmus | Wallin | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Przemyslaw | Kasperkiewicz | Netia - Vonin | | Kristian | Sobota | Netia - Vonin | | Iliyan | Kolev | Netia - Vonin | | Morten | Reckweg | Netia - Vonin | | Kamil | Malecki | Netia - Vonin | | Joanis Albert | Nielsen | Netia - Vonin | | Eric | Young | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Martin | Weiss | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Alexander | Krieger | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Christoph | Taubel | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Marco | Canola | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Stephan | Rabitsch | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Benjamin | Brkic | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Onur | Balkan | OMV Petrom-Albania.al | | Nikolas | Maes | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Hannes | Bergstrom Frisk | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Jannik | Steimle | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Mikkel | Honore | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Max | Kanter | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Casper | Pedersen | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Torjus | Sleen | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | El Mehdi | Chokri | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team |
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| quadsas |
Posted on 05-06-2020 21:53
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2518
Joined: 18-01-2013
PCM$: 300.00
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this seems like one of least predictqble tours considering how random and unpredictabl e pcm18 has been at times? I wouldnt be shocked if all punchers lose dozens of minutes on the cobbled stage. all I need is top 10 GC. pleaze RNG
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 05-06-2020 22:05
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
Joined: 29-09-2018
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After the horrible results we just got in USPCC, I don't expect anything from this one. It may suit Gamper one day, but certainly not now. If we get something out of the sprint stages, that would be nice. But we didn't waste RDs for the puncheurs here, given the uncertainty with the cobbled stage.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 09:18
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 05-06-2020 23:31
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3999
Joined: 26-07-2011
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I've got just a bit of everything here, a weird race for me to actually have both Keough and Vaquera for the sprints (I think this is the only time they ride in the same race). Keough obviously also here for that prologue. A very respectable set of puncheurs in Chaves, Squire and Besada, as well as my cobbles trio of Richardson, Orue an Corwin.
So while this race can vary wildly, our expectations are very high as we have just about every aspect of this race covered.
AZTECA - NBCSN  |
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| cio93 |
Posted on 05-06-2020 23:43
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World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
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5* cobbles might make that stage rather interesting.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 05-06-2020 23:48
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
Joined: 27-07-2011
PCM$: 10438.70
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De Maar always loved this race, so I always loved it. It makes me sad he's gone, but at least I can remember the good times. 
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| quadsas |
Posted on 06-06-2020 18:24
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2518
Joined: 18-01-2013
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Hofer dont care
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 06-06-2020 20:01
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3634
Joined: 03-07-2012
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One of my favourite races so a shame we couldn't be here this year, at least we should be back again to rejoin the fun next season.
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 06-06-2020 20:34
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Team Leader
Posts: 7406
Joined: 14-07-2015
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cio93 wrote:
5* cobbles might make that stage rather interesting.
With that orange it more like 3* cobbles, but with this edition it will by tough enough I am sure.
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 06-06-2020 21:19
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3999
Joined: 26-07-2011
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Perfect start for us, as Keough secures the top spot, and should be a reasonable favorite for the flat stages coming up to maintain the race lead until he can safely hand it off to Chaves/Squire/Richardson/Orue ... well someone later on.
AZTECA - NBCSN |
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 07-06-2020 18:36
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
Joined: 29-09-2018
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Guillén gets two KoM points - are you serious? 
Tremendous work once again from our sprint preparation squad - if Stocker is absent, it's simply Walscheid who takes over. And as soon as the competition isn't too hard, Guillén is in the mix once again - win number 3 for him. Well done, guys! Seems like expecting nothing definitely suits the boys better...
The only bad thing is seeing Mader lose 2 minutes here, but maybe we'll see him in the breakaway for once.
Thanks for the report, nice read obviously.
Edited by Fabianski on 07-06-2020 18:42
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 08-06-2020 06:46
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3999
Joined: 26-07-2011
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Good ride from out team, who was able to keep our GC lead, and kept most of our potential favorites from losing any time. Need to keep up the hard work going forward to continue to lead this race from start to most importantly finish.
AZTECA - NBCSN |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 08-06-2020 10:35
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Team Leader
Posts: 5533
Joined: 12-06-2013
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An anonymous first 2 stages but wow
PAEZ almost taking a stage win from a reduced peloton sprint is madness. Always great to see talents do well when they've got a couple years of development ahead of them! Up to 5th in the GC too.
Didn't expect anything from this so hopefully we keep fighting as a team!
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 08-06-2020 10:42
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World Champion
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Haven't seen founding Xero rider Nzeke around for a hot second, nice to see him Zubeldia-ing his way to a stage top 10 
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| quadsas |
Posted on 08-06-2020 10:46
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2518
Joined: 18-01-2013
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that was a good stage for us I guess. Reus losing time is suboptimal but ay, thats alright. absolutely no idea how PCM18 is gonna handle stage 4. Teklit being one of the best cobblers and not losing time yet gives me hope of him finally scoring decently
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 08-06-2020 13:21
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2933
Joined: 09-05-2011
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I think Stage 3 was my team's peak - I expect my team to struggle in the next two stages. But stranger things have happened
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 08-06-2020 16:53
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3999
Joined: 26-07-2011
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Thrilled to still hold a GC lead, and still have at least some of my riders in contention. My cobbles squad may be out of play now, but that does give some promise as now all three with their 78/78/77 cobbles skills can be used on tomorrows stage to help our more punchy riders or even Keough survive another tough stage.
AZTECA - NBCSN |
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 08-06-2020 17:19
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
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Although I do of course appreciate the result, with Guillén taking over the green jersey, there definitely should be no way for him to finish 4th on this stage. He must have had a +25 daily form - well, in the US PCM hated him, now it's the other way round - I guess it just happens and probably shouldn't ask why. Anyway, these are much needed and completely unexpected points - I'll take them nonetheless.
Thanks for the report - was really surprised to see the results here!
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 09-06-2020 12:12
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Team Leader
Posts: 5533
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Bit of a strange stage that. Not near as aggressive as you’d expect from the cobbled specialists which could be due to the GC gaps?
Regardless, great stage for us! Paez another stage Top 10 and moves to 3rd in the GC! Unfortunately looks like stage 5 will be more selective in the hills but, if it isn’t, he’s definitely in with a shot of a huge GC result!
We shall hope for the best from the youngster!
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 09-06-2020 15:14
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Directeur Sportif
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Joined: 02-11-2010
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Yes. Was thinking we would see strong cobblers in the break. They really should have been. This race will yield us no points but good to see two of our young guys fighting to stay vaguely in contention.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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Benelux Challenge
