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Geraardsbergen-Bosberg Discussion
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 07-12-2020 18:46
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 Geraardsbergen-Bosberg
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Preview
The cobblestone season continues to chug along and we’re in Belgium again for another HC classic, Geraardsbergen-Bosberg. The race had C2HC status last year, and while defending champion Guillaume Van Keirsbulck returns, he faces much stiffer competition this time around.
The route stayed the same though, a circuit with two short and steep cobbled ascents. We have 11 laps in total and the finish line is atop the second hill. Cobblestone skills are obviously paramount, but if you’re not doing well uphill, you might struggle here.
| FL | HI | CO | ST | RS | AC |  Summerhill | 78 | 73 | 83 | 76 | 72 | 73 |  Altur | 75 | 70 | 82 | 75 | 70 | 68 |  Trentin | 74 | 74 | 81 | 76 | 71 | 76 | | Vanspeybrouck | 75 | 70 | 81 | 77 | 70 | 68 |  Daniel | 73 | 69 | 80 | 76 | 76 | 72 |  Vanbilsen | 78 | 69 | 80 | 80 | 74 | 71 |  Vanmarcke | 76 | 66 | 80 | 77 | 72 | 72 |  Baugnies | 77 | 71 | 79 | 79 | 72 | 72 |  Van Keirsbulck | 72 | 71 | 78 | 75 | 73 | 68 |  Debesay | 75 | 74 | 77 | 75 | 79 | 78 |
The premier cobblestone rider of last year’s PCT season, Summerhill, is here and he has to be the top favorite, even more so after his dominant win of OHN earlier in the month. Of course, Andorra also went and brought in the premier cobblestone rider of last year’s CT season, Vanspeybrouck - with that combination, as in most sub-PT races they enter this year, anything but a win here would likely be a disappointment.
The best odds to topple Andorra’s plans go to Altur and Trentin. While the former simply has to rely on a good day, the latter might have a chance if his superior hill and acceleration stats come into play.
Daniel, Vanbilsen, Vanmarcke and Baugnies are in the next tier of contenders. All of them are rock solid cobblestone riders and decent on hills, although Vanmarcke is the most likely to struggle there.
Finally, we have Van Keirsbulck and Debesay, who are clearly a step below those above but get a nod because of their overall well-roundedness. This is especially the case for the South African, while Van Keirsbulck gets a bonus for being the defending champion.
Outsiders and Top Domestiques | FL | HI | CO | ST | RS | AC |  Ferreira | 73 | 68 | 79 | 74 | 70 | 69 |  Breen | 77 | 70 | 78 | 72 | 72 | 72 |  Moulingui | 74 | 71 | 78 | 71 | 71 | 68 |  Bush | 74 | 63 | 78 | 75 | 73 | 73 |  Benoot | 71 | 78 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 71 |  Zhupa | 75 | 67 | 77 | 78 | 74 | 68 |  Maes | 78 | 65 | 77 | 76 | 71 | 64 |  Richardson | 71 | 67 | 78 | 68 | 68 | 61 | | Orue | 69 | 64 | 78 | 77 | 70 | 58 |  Saber | 75 | 68 | 76 | 74 | 72 | 79 | | Schreurs | 72 | 67 | 77 | 75 | 75 | 71 | | Owen | 73 | 69 | 77 | 73 | 71 | 71 | | Insausti | 70 | 64 | 77 | 76 | 73 | 66 | | Chatarunga | 72 | 67 | 77 | 79 | 72 | 68 | | Kulppi | 73 | 67 | 77 | 73 | 69 | 70 | | Bolivar | 73 | 66 | 77 | 74 | 70 | 69 | | Machado | 69 | 63 | 79 | 72 | 67 | 61 | | Eeckhout | 72 | 61 | 77 | 71 | 71 | 57 |
The long list of second-tier contenders is headlined by Ferreira and Breen, two decently productive riders last year without any obvious weaknesses. That also applies to Moulingui, but less so for Bush, who really has to hope that the hills don’t play as big a role.
The exact opposite is true for Benoot, who is more of a puncheur than a cobblestone specialist, but whose skillset should be well-suited for this race. Maes, the second CT leader next to Baugnies, and Zhupa also have the potential to jump into the Top 10 on a good day.
Azteca comes with a dual leadership to Belgium, but both riders have some flaws. For Richardson, that’s his stamina and resistance, whereas Orue lacks even average flat and hill stats compared to this field. Saber is the final leader in this group, his strengths come into play more on flat races with potential sprint finishes, but he’s still well-rounded enough to get a decent result here.
The rest of this tier consists of the best domestiques. Podium Ambition, Valio - Viking Genetics and Andorra all flex their depth, but Xero, Lierse and a few more that have been cut for space have some solid riders backing their leaders up as well.
| FL | HI | CO | ST | RS | AC |  Menten | 71 | 73 | 75 | 73 | 75 | 68 | | Salzmann | 72 | 71 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 71 | | Salzmann | 72 | 71 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 71 |  Joseph | 73 | 65 | 75 | 75 | 69 | 69 |  Havik | 73 | 64 | 76 | 74 | 68 | 76 |  Nepomnyachsniy | 73 | 63 | 75 | 72 | 64 | 74 |  Lander | 77 | 69 | 73 | 77 | 72 | 77 |  Martinez | 72 | 68 | 73 | 70 | 67 | 76 |
I also want to mention the teams that come to this race without a leader that would usually be able to challenge for a Top 10 or Top 15 result. But points are given to the Top 30, and these riders could well be capable of that.
Finally, here’s the full startlist:
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 07-12-2020 18:51
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I have many fond memories of this race from my early years. Rooting for Andorra domination here. Summerhill and VSB ride away together, Danny gifts Pieter the win. 
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 07-12-2020 19:03
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Of course hoping Breen can follow up on his Omloop-result, but he tends to do best when there's a few kilometers of flat terrain after the last cobblestone section, so I don't expect a huge result here. Top 10 should be a realistic and feasible target, however 
Also interested in seeing how the Summerhill/Vanspeybrouck pairing works out!
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 07-12-2020 19:10
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Cobbles so far have been underwhelming, but the team is turning things around. Altoro has to be at the sharp end, and even if we can't win i expect him to at least be battling for it.
Full support unit here as well could give use some depth points but at least help Altur battle things
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 07-12-2020 19:18
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Allez Baugnies, time to forget about a crappy February by stunting and getting into the top-5!
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 07-12-2020 19:51
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Crossing my fingers for a top100!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 05:40
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 07-12-2020 19:56
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Just hoping for some decent placing from my few cobbles specialists, the hills may be a serious problem though.
Certainly expect a result from Summerhill, but I'd be very wary of Benoot in this one as his hills may really have more effect than expected since we no longer force all cobbles to be 5star... they may play a lesser role.
AZTECA - NBCSN  |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 07-12-2020 20:05
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I could really use some kind of overperformance at this point..
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| sgdanny |
Posted on 07-12-2020 21:52
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jeez finally another race, that was a long break between races. Dont think the hills will be enough for Benoot to do what he did in Viana, but lets at least get a Top 10. Lets go!
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| redordead |
Posted on 08-12-2020 05:46
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We need a result badly, but I'd surprised if we achieved it here. I hope we send someone in the breakaway and Saber just holds on for as long as he can this time.
"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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| Heine |
Posted on 08-12-2020 06:09
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Come on Trentin, we know you can do it!
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| quadsas |
Posted on 08-12-2020 08:49
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oops. easy win for Ovsya
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 08-12-2020 20:53
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That's my boy! Very happy with a fifth place for Baugnies, but also happy with Coronel doing a great job and landing some minor points after working hard. Future cobble domestique Ulloa a nice 42nd, even ahead of a "real" cobbler like Zhupa, is also nice to see on HC level.
Congratz to Andorra and thank you very much cunego for a very nice and detailed report (and not only saying that because I just scored more points in one race than I did in the whole of February )
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 08-12-2020 21:14
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0 points - nothing to say. At least the veterans did well. Next.
PS: Congrats to the winner and thank you cunego59 for the report
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 08-12-2020 21:29
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If even Vanbilsen is going to disappoint this season..
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 08-12-2020 21:29
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Kentaurus wrote:
Certainly expect a result from Summerhill, but I'd be very wary of Benoot in this one
Well at least my predictions work out, cause the team didn't.
AZTECA - NBCSN |
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| Heine |
Posted on 08-12-2020 21:30
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Really scared when Trentin fell into Group 2, but quite happy with 3rd, nothing to do about Andorra...
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 08-12-2020 22:03
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TheManxMissile wrote:
Cobbles so far have been underwhelming, but the team is turning things around. Altoro has to be at the sharp end, and even if we can't win i expect him to at least be battling for it.
Full support unit here as well could give use some depth points but at least help Altur battle things
I dont want to blame Marcos for our inevitable relegation, but given what we did to train him he really needs to do something better than the low-Top10 area.
Support unit was ok though
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 08-12-2020 22:24
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10th is a bit disappointing, but it's a hilly race, so it kinda makes sense. We need better results from Sep if we want to keep ourselves in the title/promotion fight
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 08-12-2020 22:51
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We appeared way more times than atecipated, which is a victory in itself.
Great report, beautiful pics. Thanks cunego. And congrats YJ!
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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)
