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[PCT23] Los Pollos Hermanos
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 04-09-2023 09:36
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Classics Specialist
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Fabianski wrote:
I don't like those schedules 
And you may not like mine, either - guess there's still not enough (T)TTs in PCT to avoid each other 
We need to meet each other somewhere in the end, and with your TTT team I can't see why you would 'want' to avoid me Zmorka wouldn't mind some more flat ITT GC's or a classic of course, but can't blame the calendar team for not making a complete calendar tailored to my team's strenghts  And for the reporter's sakes, the less tt's, the better
Leader's calendar pt. 2/3 In part two of presenting you our leader's calendar, we'll let you know where Matti Manninen will be sprinting and where Ruben Zepuntke will be cobbling. No big surprises, I think.
 Matti Manninen| Start | End | Race | Category | | 09-Jan | |  Down Under Classic | HC | | 22-Feb | 26-Feb |  Circulo de Juarez | HC | | 17-Mar | 20-Mar |  Tour of Guadeloupe | C1 | | | 06-Apr | 10-Apr |     Baltic Chain Tour | C1 | | 28-Apr | |  Veenendaal - Veenendaal | PTHC | | 01-Jun | | Hanko Classic | C1 | | 18-Jun | |  Frankfurt Eschborn | C1 | | 01-Jul | |  Torshavn GP | C1 | | 09-Jul | 11-Jul |  Tour of Eritrea | C1 | | 13-Jul | |  Philadelphia International Championship | PTHC | | 20-Jul | |  Paris Tours | C1 | | 02-Aug | 06-Aug | Deutschland Tour | PTHC | | 20-Aug | 22-Aug |  Ras Tailteann | PTHC | | 02-Sep | |  Riga - Jurmala GP | PTHC |
Ruben Zepuntke | Start | End | Race | Category | | 04-Feb | |  Omloop Het Nieuwsblad | HC | | 10-Feb | | Le Samyn | HC | | 26-Feb | | Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne | C1 | | 18-Mar | |  Strade Bianche | HC | | 30-Mar | |  Lillestrom GP | C1 | | 12-Apr | 18-Apr |  Tour de Pologne | HC | | 23-Apr | | Roma Maxima | PTHC | | 28-Apr | | Veenendaal - Veenendaal | PTHC | | 19-May | | 1 Jour de Dunkerque | C1 | | 01-Jun | 02-Jun |  Franceville Classique | PTHC | | 13-Jul | 18-Jul | Benelux Challenge | HC | | 20-Aug | |  GP Kigali | C1 | | 24-Sep | | Chrono d'Arenberg | PTHC | | 26-Sep | | Tour of the Battenkill | PTHC |
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 04-09-2023 09:57
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4670
Joined: 29-09-2018
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Nemolito wrote:
Fabianski wrote:
I don't like those schedules
And you may not like mine, either - guess there's still not enough (T)TTs in PCT to avoid each other
We need to meet each other somewhere in the end, and with your TTT team I can't see why you would 'want' to avoid me Zmorka wouldn't mind some more flat ITT GC's or a classic of course, but can't blame the calendar team for not making a complete calendar tailored to my team's strenghts And for the reporter's sakes, the less tt's, the better
Don't necessarily agree with your last sentence, I like to report TTs - although I agree it's really time consuming
Well, it all depends on how PCM handles TTTs. Your Top 3 TTer average of 80.0 is clearly unmatched in PCT. Considering the (potential) Top 5, you're 2nd, and even with 8 riders you're 3rd (might elaborate on this in my own HQ) - so that's the reason why I'm not really, looking forward to meet you in TTTs
Zmorka should be the outright favorite for Tropicale and Arab Tour, and have some decent chances in Denmark plus Germany & Arenberg, so I think that's not too bad
Clashes between Theuns and Zepunkte will obviously be very frequent - basically in all cobbled races except Franceville and Benelux, which aren't in my bands On the other hand, it looks like avoiding Manninen went pretty well, facing him only 4 times all year long
From what I've seen so far, I think your planning should be smart enough to get you back up to PT - some races where Zmorka or Manninen could/should dominate, some where they have good chances even in PTHC races - and your other leaders should obviously net some nice points, too. Looking forward (or rather not?) to see Higuita's schedule
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 04-09-2023 12:41
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Team Manager
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Zepuntke and Stallaert will obviously be competing a lot, Battenkill (and Arenberg) being the only cobblestone races they don't face each other. Compared to two years ago, Manninen will see much less of Silvestre though (not that Silvestre is that big of a thread anymore anyway, but still). I'm not having nearly as much sprint races in C1 anymore (only Hanko, Torshavn and Guadeloupe) and even rejected Juarez. The big one for us though is obviously the Aular schedule (and to some extent Higuita) and how that compares to Meintjes. Very curious about that.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 04-09-2023 20:02
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Grand Tour Champion
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Every leader so far going to Veenendaal, proving it's the biggest race of the year 
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| redordead |
Posted on 05-09-2023 06:33
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4884
Joined: 18-10-2017
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Looking forward to seeing Zepuntke in Pologne
"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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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 28-11-2024 02:40
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Bot Agent
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 07-09-2023 08:18
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Directeur Sportif
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Lots of clashes with Manninen and Zepuntke as expected, outside of the PTHC band differences. Look forward to those for sure Not too many clashes with your TT guys, since we didn't really pick those races in the bands.
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 08-09-2023 10:16
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3367
Joined: 20-04-2020
PCM$: 425.00
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@Fab and @cunego: Since you guys are so anxious to see the schedule of Higuita and Aular, I won't make you wait any longer
@Marco: Obviously Higuita and Aular will also go to Veenendaal, even though it might not show on their schedules yet.
@red: He deserves to know what non-cobbled races feel like as well
@Abhi: Guess for you with Benootski and Choiski this update might also be more interesting than the two previous ones
Time to give the schedule of our remaining two leaders, Sergio Higuita and Orluis Aular!
 Sergio Higuita| Start | End | Race | Category | | 25-Jan | 27-Jan |  Hong Kong Challenge | C1 | | 04-Feb | |  Viana do Castelo | C1 | | 18-Mar | | Strade Bianche | HC | | 22-Mar | 27-Mar |  Tour of South Africa | HC | | 12-Apr | 18-Apr | Tour de Pologne | HC | | 20-Apr | |  Badaling International | C1 | | 04-Jun | |  Pro Hallstatt Classic | HC | | 09-Jul | 11-Jul | Tour of Eritrea | C1 | | 28-Sep | | Milano - Torino | C1 | | | | 01-Oct | 06-Oct |  Tour of Japan | HC | | 18-Oct | | Giro dell'Emilia | HC |
 Orluis Aular| Start | End | Race | Category | | 25-Jan | 27-Jan | Hong Kong Challenge | C1 | | 01-Feb | 08-Feb | Volta a Portugal | PTHC | | 27-May | 31-May | Tour of Norway | HC | | 04-Jun | | Pro Hallstatt Classic | HC | | 14-Jun | 20-Jun | Criterium du Dauphine Libere | PTHC | | 09-Jul | 11-Jul | Tour of Eritrea | C1 | | 25-Jul | 29-Jul |  Tour d'Andorra | C1 | | 10-Aug | 15-Aug |  Tour du Maroc | C1 | | 28-Sep | | Milano - Torino | C1 | | 18-Oct | | Giro dell'Emilia | HC |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 08-09-2023 10:19
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World Champion
Posts: 11395
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1020.00
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Well I hate that
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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| roturn |
Posted on 08-09-2023 10:42
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
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Not a big surprise really to say we will have lots of Manninnen vs. Groenewegen and Zepuntke vs. Van Hooydonck this year.
A bit more surprising maybe to have quite a lot of Higuita vs. Olivier as well.
Surely a very clashing team schedule by the look of it. |
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 08-09-2023 12:11
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4670
Joined: 29-09-2018
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Well, I'm not too happy to see Higuita in so many races - but not overly surprised, either
At least in Hong Kong, I hope we'll be able to beat him, whereas Poland should be a great race for him. Same for Hallstatt, and Japan is a nice try as well.
So is Viana do Castelo - we'll see if 60 Co is enough.
Aular has far less "clashes" with our team, although it looks like you went for a similar strategy in Norway sending a strong climber
Will be interesting to follow you on your way back up, anyway
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| KaiserAdler |
Posted on 09-09-2023 19:53
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Domestique
Posts: 570
Joined: 13-07-2022
PCM$: 5800.00
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keep these monsters away from me you bastard  no kidding, if theres anyone I expect to bounce back immediately...
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 11-09-2023 11:59
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3367
Joined: 20-04-2020
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@guys: We'll see about that bounce back/promotion. Do not sell the bear before it has been shot.
Time to present our team's season goals. Unlike the previous two seasons where we went for an 'all-win-strategy', we decided to took a slightly more calm approach this time.
Final team standing - Top 5 The goal with this team is still to promote of course, and that's also an official goal. We finished top 5 in PCT two years ago, and hope to repeat that trick this season as well.
Ras Tailteann (PTHC) - Top 5 Going for a sprint goal might be considered a bigger guess than other terrains, but that's life. Manninen can hopefully deliver us some consistency in Ireland, resulting into a top-5 in PTHC.
Deutschland Tour (PTHC) - Top 5  Zmorka should theoretically be among the five best time trialists in the world, and we hope he can prove that in the PTHC time trialing race that is the Deutschland Tour. I guess Sütterlin could also possibly give us a top-5 in the GC, if he has an amazing day during the time trial. Last year both of them finished outside of the top-10.
 Arab Tour (HC) - Win The Ukrainian is the best time trialist in the division by two points, and the German is the shared second best time trialist. A win goal here is logical, let's hope our time trialists perform like they should/could.
La Tropicale Amissa Bongo (C1) - Win Ctrl C Ctrl V what I just said.
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| MacC |
Posted on 11-09-2023 12:58
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Sprinter
Posts: 1594
Joined: 15-07-2008
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I do love a team committed to Time trialling for goals
By the way, saw a guy wearing a Los Pollos t-shirt and the first thing I thought was that he must know about the game!
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 11-09-2023 13:26
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4670
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I did correctly guess 3/4 of your race goals plus the team standings - guess they were pretty easily predictable
Zmorka and Sütterlin should make sure to reach the HC/C1 goals, failing either of them would be surprising, or rather bad luck. Top 5 in Germany should be pretty safe as well - I did however expect Arenberg Top 10 as your final goal instead of betting on Matti. Which is perfectly reasonable though given his track record of the last two years riding in your colours.
You're obviously heavily relying on your Top 6 riders in terms of scoring - but that's 6, not 3 like we can see in other teams. Your uphill riders obviously lack some TT skills and vice versa, which isn't great given the PCT calendar, but I'm pretty sure they'll find enough scoring opportunities elsewhere. I said it before, and I'll happily repeat it - I'd be surprised (or even disappointed) if you didn't bounce back right away
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| seancoll |
Posted on 11-09-2023 23:58
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Domestique
Posts: 481
Joined: 20-12-2022
PCM$: 500.00
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Wishing Higuita was sporting a SEE Turtles jersey, but happy to see him in a few common races to see if he wants to return to a South American team at some point. If he wasn't with me, happy he's with you though.
While still learning the ropes, goals seem some of the most secure of those I've seen - at least in theory, which is a better spot to be in. Hoping promotion is just a season away!
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| redordead |
Posted on 12-09-2023 07:46
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4884
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It's always nice when you can plan your goals ahead of time with old reliables like Zmorka and Manninen
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 12-09-2023 12:26
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Directeur Sportif
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Those are quite achievable goals I think with Zmorka and Manninen being among the best in the division in their respective categories
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 12-09-2023 14:45
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3367
Joined: 20-04-2020
PCM$: 425.00
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@MacC: That guy was definitely wearing the lph shirt because of MG, has nothing to do with the show itself
@Fab: Hadn't even thought of Arenberg before you mentioned it actually. Zmorka was 12th there last time, so I guess top 10 could be possible. Ras goal was picked with Gaviria in mind, with all of the other goals for Zmorka. At least if Zmorka left, Gaviria would be able to do his thing in Ras. As you know by now, Zmorka didn't leave, so at least that should be good for our goals
@sean: How about you send me a SEE Turtles shirt? I'll make sure Higuita does a training ride in it 
@Abhired: Hope both of them keep performing like they did in the previous two seasons
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 25-09-2023 12:16
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3367
Joined: 20-04-2020
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Down Under Classic (HC) - Preview | Manninen | Matti | | Ulloa | Jose Gerardo |  | Ruiz | Robinson Steven | | Quispe | Alain | | Galvan Ramirez | Oscar Samuel | | Hollmann | Juri |  | Abolaji | Fatiu | | Aguilar Mendez | Jose Pablo |
We won't be writing previews for every race this season, but we had to make one for our first one back in PCT. Manninen is our man going for a top-5 result in the shortest classic of the season, as Peruvian rouleurs Quispe and Ruiz have to guide him towards that result. We also see three Mexicans in the squad. First race in Los Pollos colours also for loanee Hollmann and Nigerian champion Abolaji.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 25-09-2023 12:24
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World Champion
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So basicaly you win every sprint race and every TT? Will be hard to beat you then
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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Betonexpressz GP
