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Tour of Japan - Discussion
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 26-02-2022 09:40
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 Tour of Japan - Preview
It's time for riders within the CT and PCT to meet in Japan for 6 days of what should be rather entertaining racing.
We open with a prologue of only 6.4km before a stage for the sprinters. It's then a bit of a change up as we head into more hilly terrain on Stage 3 which could be the first GC decisive stage. Stage 4 no doubt the one many are eyeing up as an 11.8km TT straight up Mount Fuji which will favour the more pure climbers. Stage 5 is then very similar to stage 3 although more ups and downs. We then finish in Tokyo with a pancake flat 112km stage.
Difficult to know what the best combination is going to be this year. George Bennett has won the last 2 editions but the hill stages may have more of an impact than previously.
In terms of pure climbing ability,  Alarcon is the man to watch but he will lose time on the opener and may also lose time on the hilly stages.
 Quintana is a much more well-rounded rider and really should be going after a big result here.
 Padun,  Carthy and  Warchol aren't quite the same level as Alarcon for Stage 4 but they should fare better on Stages 3 and 5.
We have 4 well-rounded riders of varying ability spearheaded by  Shikai but closely followed by  Faglum Karlsson and  Bernal. Dunbar is of less pure ability but he's a name to watch too, assuming he gets the freedom from his team boss.
| | | MO | HIL | TT | PRO | | Jose | Alarcon | 83 | 72 | 66 | 65 | | Nairo | Quintana | 82 | 74 | 71 | 71 | | Mark | Padun | 81 | 77 | 65 | 65 | | Hugh | Carthy | 81 | 75 | 67 | 65 | | Chen | Shikai | 81 | 71 | 76 | 76 | | Bartosz | Warchol | 80 | 74 | 67 | 67 | | Marcus | Faglum Karlsson | 79 | 73 | 73 | 79 | | Egan | Bernal | 79 | 72 | 76 | 74 |  | Kilian | Frankiny | 78 | 76 | 64 | 67 |  | Jarlinson | Pantano Gomez | 78 | 70 | 53 | 53 |  | Andy | Schleck | 78 | 68 | 67 | 66 |  | Takeaki | Amezawa | 77 | 77 | 64 | 60 | | Eddie | Dunbar | 77 | 76 | 77 | 77 |
There are a number of pure puncheurs here who will be most likely to battle it out on Stage 3 and 5, along with some of the GC favourites. If it comes to a reduced group sprint on one of the stages then the focus would have to be on  Van Stayen, Edmondson and  Juul-Jensen.
| | | HIL | SPR | ACC | FTR |  | Carlos | Betancourt | 80 | 67 | 74 | 75 | | Jan | Bakelants | 80 | 69 | 72 | 70 | | Mario | Vogt | 80 | 62 | 63 | 63 | | Joshua | Edmondson | 79 | 70 | 76 | 68 | | Alex | Dowsett | 79 | 65 | 70 | 74 | | Christopher | Juul-Jensen | 78 | 66 | 79 | 80 | | Calvin | Watson | 78 | 62 | 72 | 73 | | Michael | Van Stayen | 78 | 83 | 76 | 72 |
A great opportunity for the prologue specialists to win the opening stage and maybe even wear the leaders jersey until Stage 3. We've highlighted the best 5 here with GC favourite, Faglum Karlsson and his team mate Gonzales Salas as two of the men to beat.
| | | PRO |  | Luke | Keough | 80 | | Mario | Gonzalez Salas | 80 | | Marcus | Faglum Karlsson | 79 | | Matthias | Brändle | 79 | | Lasse Norman | Hansen | 79 |
Last, but never least, are the Sprinters. To be fair, it's not actually the strongest sprinter field but there are a mix of riders here which should make it interesting.
Van Stayen and CT King  Kump are the best pure sprinters but they may also stick around to fight it out on the hilly stages too.
Keough, Boudat, Zhao and Dzervus will be hoping for a good prologue time and a strong sprint result on Stage 2 which could put them in the leaders jersey going into Stage 3.
| | | HIL | SPR | ACC | PRO | | Michael | Van Stayen | 78 | 83 | 76 | 59 | | Marko | Kump | 76 | 80 | 79 | 69 | | Luke | Keough | 62 | 79 | 79 | 80 | | Thomas | Boudat | 68 | 79 | 78 | 78 | | Kazushige | Kuboki | 73 | 77 | 77 | 78 | | Jingbiao | Zhao | 65 | 77 | 81 | 78 | | Darijus | Dzervus | 66 | 77 | 77 | 76 | | Pascal | Ackermann | 77 | 77 | 80 | 68 |
Start List
Spoiler | Takeaki | Amezawa | Aker - MOT | | Davide | Ballerini | Aker - MOT | | Edison | Bravo | Aker - MOT | | Lasse Norman | Hansen | Aker - MOT | | Jesse | Kaislavuo | Aker - MOT | | Vegard Stake | Laengen | Aker - MOT | | Geoffroy | Ngandamba | Aker - MOT | | David | Wohrer | Aker - MOT | | Thomas | Bonnin | Assa Abloy | | Marcus | Faglum Karlsson | Assa Abloy | | Jan-Andre | Freuler | Assa Abloy | | Mario | Gonzalez Salas | Assa Abloy | | Leopold | Konig | Assa Abloy | | Robbie | Squire | Assa Abloy | | Arthur | Vichot | Assa Abloy | | Nickolas | Zukowsky | Assa Abloy | | Joshua | Edmondson | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Rhys | Gillett | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Jake | Marryatt | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Andy | Schleck | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Nicholas | Schultz | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Cameron | Scott | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Calvin | Watson | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Sascha | Weber | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Jan | Bakelants | Carrefour - ESPN | | Alberto | Dainese | Carrefour - ESPN | | Thomas | Faiers | Carrefour - ESPN | | Taylor | Gunman | Carrefour - ESPN | | Kazushige | Kuboki | Carrefour - ESPN | | Jakub | Novak | Carrefour - ESPN | | Jakub | Skala | Carrefour - ESPN | | Michael | Van Stayen | Carrefour - ESPN | | Jose | Alarcon | Cedevita | | Andres Camilo | Ardila | Cedevita | | Santiago | Buitrago | Cedevita | | Alexander | Evans | Cedevita | | Olivier | Le Gac | Cedevita | | Juan Pedro | Lopez | Cedevita | | Matej | Vysna | Cedevita | | Andrea | Zordan | Cedevita | | Jonathan | Bellis | cycleYorkshire | | Hugh | Carthy | cycleYorkshire | | Dimitrios | Christakos | cycleYorkshire | | Matthew | Holmes | cycleYorkshire | | Tim | Kennaugh | cycleYorkshire | | Javier | Romo | cycleYorkshire | | Matt | Rowe | cycleYorkshire | | Anders | Skaarseth | cycleYorkshire | | John | Archibald | Eurosport x GCN | | Simon | Carr | Eurosport x GCN | | Michael | Cuming | Eurosport x GCN | | Alex | Dowsett | Eurosport x GCN | | Conor | Dunne | Eurosport x GCN | | Morten | Hulgaard | Eurosport x GCN | | Jarlinson | Pantano Gomez | Eurosport x GCN | | Jonas | Rutsch | Eurosport x GCN | | Joao | Gaspar | HelloFresh | | Amith Udaya | Kumara | HelloFresh | | Marko | Kump | HelloFresh | | Savva | Novikov | HelloFresh | | Salvatore | Puccio | HelloFresh | | Heiko | Redecker | HelloFresh | | Matthew | Walls | HelloFresh | | Muhammad | Abdurrahman | Indosat Ooredoo | | Dealton Nur | Arif Prayogo | Indosat Ooredoo | | Muhammad Imam | Arifin | Indosat Ooredoo | | Eddie | Dunbar | Indosat Ooredoo | | Sergey | Luchshenko | Indosat Ooredoo | | Andreas Odie Purnama | Setiawa | Indosat Ooredoo | | Bartosz | Warchol | Indosat Ooredoo | | Justin | Wolf | Indosat Ooredoo | | Thomas | Boudat | Jura - Fiat | | Andrea | Manfredi | Jura - Fiat | | Fausto | Masnada | Jura - Fiat | | Emmanuel | Morin | Jura - Fiat | | Hermann | Pernsteiner | Jura - Fiat | | Nairo | Quintana | Jura - Fiat | | Mirco | Saggiorato | Jura - Fiat | | Cyrile | Thiery | Jura - Fiat | | Noah | Granigan | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Gage | Hecht | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Luke | Keough | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Jakob | Rathe | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Adomaitis | Rojus | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Maximilian | Walscheid | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Anthon | Charmig | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Asbjorn | Hellemose | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Julius | Johansen | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Christopher | Juul-Jensen | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Darshana | Prasad | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Mario | Vogt | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Cyril | Barthe | Polar | | Egan | Bernal | Polar | | Joni | Brandao | Polar | | Robin | Carpenter | Polar | | Cesare | Di Maggio | Polar | | Artem | Nych | Polar | | Michael | Rodriguez Galindo | Polar | | Marc | Soler | Polar | | Muhamma Afif | Ahmad Zamri | Red Bull Zalgiris | | Carlos | Betancourt | Red Bull Zalgiris | | Matthias | Brändle | Red Bull Zalgiris | | Aime | De Gendt | Red Bull Zalgiris | | Matthias | Krizek | Red Bull Zalgiris | | Andreas | Leknessund | Red Bull Zalgiris | | Yevgeni | Nepomnyachsniy | Red Bull Zalgiris | | Luca | Forcellini | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Kilian | Frankiny | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Felix | Grossschartner | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Nawuti | Liphongyu | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Mohammad Saufi | Mat Senan | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Mushin | Misbah | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Simon | Pellaud | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Riccardo | Putti | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Pascal | Ackermann | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Zouzou | Andriafenomananiaina | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Darijus | Dzervus | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Oleksandr | Golovash | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Mark | Padun | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Martin | Papanov | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Wojciech | Pszczolarski | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Artem | Topchanyuk | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Yudai | Arashiro | Voyagin - Bird | | Shoi | Matsuda | Voyagin - Bird | | Rei | Onodera | Voyagin - Bird | | Tushantha | Rajapakshage | Voyagin - Bird | | Jacob | Salcone | Voyagin - Bird | | Chen | Shikai | Voyagin - Bird | | Yamato | Shirota | Voyagin - Bird | | Jingbiao | Zhao | Voyagin - Bird |
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 26-02-2022 10:21
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Team Manager
Posts: 6508
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We got a nice little bet for y'all 
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| quadsas |
Posted on 26-02-2022 15:30
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2518
Joined: 18-01-2013
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pretty favorable startlist for us. Brandle and Betancourt could definitely do some damage here
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 26-02-2022 15:37
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
Joined: 27-07-2011
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Interesting startlist. Guldhammer probably could have done well here, but he has other assignments. Quintana and Padun are the two I think should fight this out.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 26-02-2022 16:15
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3262
Joined: 02-11-2010
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A little gamble in planning terms here, going for the prologue and then figured we might be able to pick up some points in the sprints. No interest in the GC.
But worried on both the PRL and the sprints. We made all the prologues longer so 20 riders don't finish on the same time but think we went too far and over 6k the TT stat becomes important which isn't good for Keough. But he is due for a good day in a PRL so can hope for great daily form.
Then the sprint field is too weak which worries me on the chasing on the last stage which is the best for Keogh.
Looking forward to our adventure among the big boys.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 26-02-2022 16:36
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4505
Joined: 05-10-2010
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After a disaster in Norway, we need points here. A little bit of luck could go a long way.
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 26-02-2022 20:18
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
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Had to come back for this race. Gone are the years we can win this race, but hoping to contest every stage. Not really sure PCM handles teams well in that regard though, so might end up being a waste of racedays.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 20:38
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 26-02-2022 23:46
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Ulrich Ulriksen wrote:
A little gamble in planning terms here, going for the prologue and then figured we might be able to pick up some points in the sprints. No interest in the GC.
But worried on both the PRL and the sprints. We made all the prologues longer so 20 riders don't finish on the same time but think we went too far and over 6k the TT stat becomes important which isn't good for Keough. But he is due for a good day in a PRL so can hope for great daily form.
Then the sprint field is too weak which worries me on the chasing on the last stage which is the best for Keogh.
Looking forward to our adventure among the big boys.
With a 6.4 km pro, I don’t think we will notice the TT impact.
Interesting race, with a little betting to top the excitement.
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 27-02-2022 03:16
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Directeur Sportif
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Tamijo wrote:
Ulrich Ulriksen wrote:
A little gamble in planning terms here, going for the prologue and then figured we might be able to pick up some points in the sprints. No interest in the GC.
But worried on both the PRL and the sprints. We made all the prologues longer so 20 riders don't finish on the same time but think we went too far and over 6k the TT stat becomes important which isn't good for Keough. But he is due for a good day in a PRL so can hope for great daily form.
Then the sprint field is too weak which worries me on the chasing on the last stage which is the best for Keogh.
Looking forward to our adventure among the big boys.
With a 6.4 km pro, I don’t think we will notice the TT impact.
Interesting race, with a little betting to top the excitement.
I think/hope you are right. When it gets to 8 and 9k it is a bigger deal.
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 27-02-2022 06:54
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@Ulrich Ulriksen
As i understands it 6.4 should be 95,6% PRO
8 km = 88%, 9 km = 84%, So yes now you will notice if the gap between PRO & ITT is huge.
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| redordead |
Posted on 27-02-2022 14:15
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I guess the damage done today will show on the other stages to see how important it is. I won't be surprised if Alarcon wets the bed here, but we can probably handle a bad result at this point.
"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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| Eden95 |
Posted on 27-02-2022 15:14
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Good to see a favourite get up in a TT! Congrats!
Dunbar did ok, a better effort than Norway at least. Arif Prayogo doing so well though is wonderful! Happy for him to achieve a result like that. 4 riders in the top ~20 is great and something I never thought I’d experience in the MG
Warchol doing well to limit his losses too! Only negative is that Bernal is here to fight for white as well.
Thanks for the report!
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 27-02-2022 16:02
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Ugh.
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| ember |
Posted on 28-02-2022 07:18
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Must admit I hoped for Amezawa to lead us when selecting riders here, as his mo/hi combination should make for fun here. Though, as it stands with the season so far, I'm happy we sent Stake also here, as I fear Amezawa will be rather passive, not being rated high enough by the AI.
Really looking forward to the race, as the startlist should make for fun stages on the hilly days. GC wise, we can't expect much, I think, as Amezawa showed his struggle in the prologue, getting a bottom 10  Fingers crossed Stake can overperform on the mountain time trial, if so, this could get interesting!
For the prologue, what a crazy performance by Ngandamba. Had hoped to see Norman up there fighting for the win, but Ngandamba was out of nowhere. Stake indeed seems to be our GC option, fingers crossed he can keep up on the hills. |
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 28-02-2022 17:13
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Very nice race by Carrefour - ESPN, don't often see two at the podium in sprinter stages.
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| ember |
Posted on 28-02-2022 21:18
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Really wonder how stage 3 will play out. Encouraging to see Ballerini be in the front group on stage 2, as stage 3 was the reason he was brought to this race. Fingers crossed we get some sort of a group sprint where he's present, as I doubt the stage is difficult enough to make it a GC stage. |
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| maxime86 |
Posted on 01-03-2022 00:43
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Great result for the squad! really could not be happier with the way these first two stages have played between kuboki today and gunman yesterday... excited to see how the rest goes |
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 01-03-2022 02:41
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Hills a little too much for Keough today so we can excuse his no show on S2. But not a good look when his understudy is winning in Vancouver.
Thanks for the reports.
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| ryant |
Posted on 01-03-2022 07:46
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Carthy lost more time than we would have wanted in the prologue and now we find our selves quite a ways off, luckily for us Kennaugh had a stellar prologue and he sits in a nice position ahead of some of the tougher stages.
 John St Ledger in Team Bunzl-Centrica and Team U25Red Bull Driver in RFactor
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 01-03-2022 12:17
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I really don’t understand what our race tactics were there…sending my 2 top hill climbers to the breakaway. Cause that makes a lot of sense…
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