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Torshavn GP Discussion
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 07-04-2021 15:25
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Grand Tour Champion
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 Torshavn GP
The empty box above suggest it's the first edition of the Torshavn Grand Prix, the first ever professional cycling race on the Faroe Islands. The race is immediately placed in the C1 category and has a flat rating, but also attracts some puncheurs and notorious attackers. 147 riders take to the North Atlantic archipelago, which is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and Tórshavn (Thor's harbor) is the capital. Its national football team is not as bad as you'd think, beating former European Champions Greece twice in in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, and finishing above them in the standings! Another fact Wikipedia mentions in the lead is that the Faroe Islands have the highest number of Nobel laureates per capita, despite having only one laureate. The more you know!
Profile
Looking at the profile you can count thirteen hills. The hills look awfully alike, so we can assume the race has thirteen laps. Take 173.9 kilometer and divide it by thirteen leaves approximately 13.4 kilometer per lap. The finish is downhill, in the harbor of Tórshavn. It's hard to make an exact estimate from the profile but the hill appears to be difficult enough to bring some riders into trouble, but an experienced rider should be able to survive this.
Startlist
| Team | Sprinter | SP | ACC | HL | FL |  Andorra Cycling Project | Awang | 79 | 83 | 52 | 64 |  Aramco DP | Avelino | 82 | 77 | 63 | 70 |  Bakkafrost | Guarnieri | 81 | 80 | 65 | 75 |  Berg Cycles | Swift | 83 | 81 | 67 | 73 |  Bralirwa - Stevens Bikes | Naesen | 77 | 76 | 72 | 75 |  Duolingo | Havik | 79 | 76 | 64 | 73 |  Eddie Stobart | Thorsen | 79 | 80 | 51 | 58 |  Kraftwerk Man Machine | Cavendish | 81 | 78 | 63 | 71 |  Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | Gaviria | 81 | 84 | 72 | 76 |  Mapei | Zabel | 81 | 79 | 69 | 74 |  Nordstrom - CA Technologies | Kump | 81 | 80 | 77 | 74 |  Philips | Boev | 78 | 78 | 65 | 72 |  Podium Ambition | Ewan | 83 | 81 | 71 | 75 |  Strava | Kreder | 77 | 78 | 75 | 73 |  Swisslion Cycling Team | Saber | 81 | 79 | 68 | 75 |  Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | Ackermann | 77 | 80 | 77 | 72 |  Trans Cycling team | Modolo | 77 | 79 | 72 | 73 |  Tryg - Ritter Sport | Krieger | 79 | 79 | 62 | 71 |  Xero Racing | Rowe | 79 | 80 | 66 | 78 |
Since this race is not mandatory for anyone and every team comes here voluntarily, obviously everyone brings a sprinter.
We'll start with the local teams who have lobbied extensively to get this race on the calendar: Bakkafrost. Guarnieri might not be the one most likely to survive the hill but if he is still in the peloton after the final hill, count him in as contender.
Looking at obvious survivors of the hill we can't look past a rider who won a World Championship on a similar course: Kump. He has the quality to ride away from the other sprinters on the hill, and even when he doesn't use that he is capable of finishing it off in the bunch sprint. A rider similar to the Slovenian is Ackermann, though considered to be the inferior sprinter. He does have to use his advantage in a particular discipline to get rid of his rivals.
Many riders can handle a hill, though not to the extent of the previous two. Ewan and Gaviria are not particularly frightened and are favorites either way the race plays out.
The experience of riders like Swift, Avelino and Cavendish has seen them in many race situations, so there isn't much which would surprise them. They know to have to be at the front before the climb in order to not lose much ground, make it back on the downhill and sprint for victory!
Rowe is a sprinter who sometimes goes for a late attack, given he is very good on the flat. This race though doesn't give him much opportunity to do given there is not much flat, but he might be able to do it over a hill as well.
Zabel, Saber and Havik deserve mentioning, even though I can't think of a nice bridge right now. Did you know the Faroe Islands are connected by a system of tunnels instead of bridges? It even has a underwater roundabout. This was the bridge I needed to fit this piece of trivia in.
Two riders who get afraid of a speedbump are Awang and Thorsen, and the hill is definitely higher than a speedbump. Their respective managers probably should have taken a closer look at the actual profile rather than assume it would be a straightforward sprinters race, although the son of Thor in the harbor of Thor is a natural fit.
A few Continental teams hope to upset the Pro Continental teams, though Thorsen doesn't appear to be the one to do that. Kreder is a dangerous outsider given he is a prototypical punchy sprinter. Naesen also knows how to handle a hill and sprint, but the race doesn't contain cobblestones so a part of his trifecta is missing. Krieger, Boev and Modolo are all decent sprinters but should not be counted amongst the favorites.
Good sprinters who are not their team's goto sprinter for this race are Haller, Boeckmans, Kupfernagel, Aberasturi, Boivin and Perera. Their work as leadouts is valued highly though.
| Hilltackers | HL | SP | ACC | Flattackers | FL | SP | ACC | | Borges | 80 | 71 | 81 | Maes | 78 | 60 | 64 | | Barbin | 78 | 71 | 76 | Vanbilsen | 78 | 72 | 71 | | Hugentobler | 78 | 56 | 76 | Veyhe | 78 | 56 | 78 | | Bratashcuk | 77 | 62 | 67 | Biermans | 77 | 66 | 67 | | Kanepejs | 77 | 62 | 71 | Van der Haar | 77 | 72 | 70 | | Roux | 77 | 56 | 74 | Broers | 76 | 65 | 69 | | Umerbekov | 76 | 70 | 73 | De Bondt | 76 | 74 | 76 | | Vichot | 76 | 66 | 80 | Gough | 76 | 76 | 76 | | Favilli | 75 | 76 | 74 | Kortsidakis | 76 | 67 | 72 | | Molard | 75 | 70 | 75 | Kuznetsov | 76 | 72 | 75 | | Trillini | 75 | 73 | 76 | Novardianto | 76 | 73 | 79 | | Gallopin | 74 | 70 | 73 | Oss | 76 | 72 | 71 | | Oliveira | 74 | 74 | 76 | Reckweg | 76 | 68 | 72 | | Pushpakumara | 74 | 70 | 74 | Van Niekerk | 76 | 61 | 67 |
We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves and assume the race will end in a sprint. The hill provides opportunities to attack while there's also a whole breed of riders who can disrupt the sprint.
Considering the former first, Borges has the best papers there. With Havik not being amongst the top sprinters (though recently victorious in Franceville), a different strategy might be wise for them. Barbin and Hugentobler also don't have a top favorite in their team, and as riders for Continental teams might be more inclined for a do-or-die attempt. The list also contains some punchy sprinters like Favilli.
On the flat beast side we have two Belgian cobblestone specialists who might throw a spanner in the works: Maes and Vanbilsen. It also contains riders with a huge acceleration like Novardianto, or riders capable on any terrain like Kuznetsov. We also shouldn't underestimate the only Faroese riders on the startlist, and the favorite for all locals: Veyhe.
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 07-04-2021 16:14
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Really hoping to snatch the win here, parcours is close to perfectly lined up for Kumpi.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 07-04-2021 16:51
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
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We need some kind of result to avoid a relegation fight we don't deserve (or do we?), but a win will probably result in too much wage next year. Let's settle for a 4th place.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| DarkWolf |
Posted on 07-04-2021 16:57
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Very nice presentation, Marcov!
I've seen this race on stage editors somewhere. I can't remember where but I'll find it someday and added to my PCM game because I love the looks of it and I dream to visit Faroe Islands in the future.  Until then, I'll follow this race with interest (as I follow the entire man-game around here). Good luck to all! |
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| redordead |
Posted on 07-04-2021 17:34
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This is the last flat classic with both Boeckmans and Saber. Boeckmans has always been the leader, with Saber as a late attacker or leadout. Interested to see how it plays out. Looking at the profile it could easily go to an attacker, but I hope we find a way to do well, because we need the points.
Thanks for the extensive preview Marco
"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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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 07-04-2021 17:52
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Same as Berlin basically, mid to low Top10 from Ewan would be ideal. Keep enough points coming in for survival but keep him going backwards in ranking for the renwal cost drop.
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 07-04-2021 19:18
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No idea what to expect from Naesen here, so I tend to expect nothing. The course suits him, but the competition is really hard and there's no priors to go to how this will play out. Looking forward to it either way!
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 08-04-2021 05:54
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Just here to be a nuisance factor. Surprise me Boev 
Thanks for the preview Marco!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 03:02
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 08-04-2021 10:06
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Summoning my old CX: AND tactics requests (used to annoy Ian ):
ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK
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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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 08-04-2021 23:35
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Came here just to learn that there is an underwater roundabout in the Faroe Islands. That's enough for us. Thanks for the race Marco and congrats on the win WJ!
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 08-04-2021 23:54
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Team Leader
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Awful result for Avelino yet again.
How has De Bondt done so well 
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 09-04-2021 01:41
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World Champion
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Obviously dissapointed not to win given the race position a few km out, but Rowe has done fantastically given they got caught to hold onto second, and certainly a result I'd have taken pre-race. Thanks for the exciting report Marco and congrats to Kump, good to see him deliver for you WJ!
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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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 09-04-2021 05:52
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11676
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Well it didn't work out. Nice to see Kump winning and great ride again from Rowe. Congrats guys
Thanks for the report Marco!
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| redordead |
Posted on 09-04-2021 06:17
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4881
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Stepan Kurianov our savior?! 
I was pretty worried when I read Saber got dropped pretty early and we only had Boeckmans in the front group. Luckily Saber was able to come back, but then Kurianov coming out of nowhere with a late attack?! Looks like he brought that Gjensidige vibe to us on loan, thanks Hillis 
I kinda feel Boeckmans should've done better than 18th, but I'll admit this wasn't the best race for him and with everything going on, he probably just got caught behind the shuffle. Getting 5th, 12th and 18th is still very good as a whole. Another important result in our bid to survive
If I wasn't competing with Nordstrom to stay in PCT, I would appreciate this Kump victory a lot more, but congrats anyway WJ
Thank you for an exciting report Marco
"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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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 09-04-2021 08:27
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Yes yes yes!! Great win by my man Kump
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 09-04-2021 10:07
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I guess I can be happy with a breakaway appearance. I'm really glad that we get those regularly. A bit unfortunate that we had 3 riders in the Top 35 but none in the Top 25, but I don't think that matters in the grand scheme of things.
Congrats to WJ and thanks for the nice report!
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 09-04-2021 10:44
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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TheManxMissile wrote:
Same as Berlin basically, mid to low Top10 from Ewan would be ideal. Keep enough points coming in for survival but keep him going backwards in ranking for the renwal cost drop.
Happy with that! 5th place is on point, even more so given how aggressive the race got at the end. We were in danger of even blowing the Top10. But this is good for survival points and dropping down the Indi Rankings
Overall i have to say i really liked the new course and i hope it can become a fixture. Tough enough to be attacking but easy enough to allow most sprinters to stay in contention.
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 09-04-2021 11:12
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2905
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Thanks for the report! Reallin intense race, so many storylines still at play even with 5-10 to go. Thanks for all the congratulations! Fantastic lead out by Boivin, and fantastic sprint by Kump
Obviously my set up this year fits parcours like this one incredibly well, but I do hope that more of these races to join the calendar next year since they offer really animated racing!
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 09-04-2021 11:13
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World Champion
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Oh wow, so we will have towatch out to go back to the CT.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 09-04-2021 22:34
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Given the undulating profile, I would probably not have sent Guarnieri here if it wasn't for this being our home race, so 8th is a perfectly fine result with that in mind. Would have been nice if the attack was reeled in, but just happy that he had enough left in the tank to be involved in the final.
Exciting race and a nice win for Nordstrom! Congrats and and thanks for the report
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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)
