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Tour of the Middle East Discussion
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 24-11-2023 12:40
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Classics Specialist
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The 10th edition of Tour of Middle East is right around the corner. The format has been unchanged from last year's - 4 stages with the first 2 being reserved for the sprinters, stage 3 is for riders who love hilly finishes and the final stage is where the real battle will commence between the GC challengers with the 20km clinb of Jebel Shams providing the battleground for it. But what happened last year and what to expect from this year's race?
| 1 | Bjorn Tore Hoem | Tafjord Kraft | 14h40'38 | | 2 | Colin Stüssi | Jura GIANTS | + 39 | | 3 | Michal Schlegel | Tryg - Gobik | + 1'44 | | 4 | Dylan Teuns | Le Creuset | + 1'54 | | 5 | Amaro Antunes | Binance | + 2'19 | | 6 | Nicholas Schultz | BNZ-Superhero Racing | + 3'09 | | 7 | Jordan Schleck | BNZ-Superhero Racing | + 3'14 | | 8 | Pavel Potocki | HelloFresh - Lampre | + 3'50 | | 9 | Lawrence Warbasse | McCormick Pro Cycling | + 4'06 | | 10 | Havard Blikra | Tafjord Kraft | s.t. |
Bjorn Tore Hoem and Tafjord were reigning supreme last year and they're back to defend the crown. The same cannot be said for his podium mates Stüssi and Schlegel as their teams - Jura GIANTS and Tryg - Gobik respectively, had leveled up. But even if these teams took part due to C2 restrictions for PCT teams, both are ineligible to enter. Le Cruset's Dylan Teuns will take part however. And the interesting thing is that 5 riders from Top 10 were riding for teams that got promoted to PCT, but could this year be again a happy ground for promotion aspiring teams?
 Chiarello | 71 | 79 | 75 | 73 | 73 | 74 | 77 | 53 | 63 | 72 | 73 | 69 | 71 |  Garby | 65 | 79 | 70 | 68 | 71 | 76 | 75 | 50 | 52 | 70 | 72 | 63 | 68 |  Ablenado | 67 | 78 | 67 | 72 | 73 | 77 | 77 | 52 | 51 | 65 | 59 | 64 | 72 |  Lunke | 69 | 78 | 72 | 73 | 76 | 74 | 78 | 58 | 60 | 65 | 68 | 69 | 76 |  Alarcon | 63 | 78 | 67 | 61 | 62 | 65 | 64 | 50 | 53 | 69 | 73 | 60 | 60 |  Manfredi | 69 | 78 | 65 | 65 | 68 | 73 | 72 | 54 | 62 | 73 | 77 | 73 | 65 |  Iturria | 71 | 77 | 73 | 72 | 77 | 74 | 76 | 63 | 60 | 61 | 69 | 66 | 73 | | Rochas | 67 | 77 | 74 | 61 | 70 | 70 | 73 | 60 | 61 | 73 | 72 | 66 | 62 |  Gall | 67 | 77 | 76 | 63 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 58 | 61 | 72 | 70 | 64 | 62 |  Grmay | 67 | 77 | 74 | 65 | 71 | 73 | 76 | 58 | 61 | 71 | 58 | 74 | 65 |
Hoem might be back to defend his title, but weirdly he's not the favorite her. In fact he's not even in the Top 10. The honour of the top favorite goes the Crabbe's Chiarello who might try to create a gap in the uphill Stage 3. While Hoem is outside the Top 10 climbers his team has another ace on their sleeve in Garby. Though equal on MO stat, he is a bit weaker on the hills, which could be the difference. In fact, it is Gall who is the closest to Chiarello on MO+HI. The weakest of these 10 IMO is Alarcon - he is still a decent climber, but the decline has really shown everywhere else and that could be a problem in keeping pace with the others on the climb.
 Jensen | 71 | 70 | 80 | 67 | 77 | 73 | 71 | 55 | 66 | 76 | 81 | 73 | 70 |  Vogt | 73 | 62 | 80 | 66 | 78 | 71 | 65 | 58 | 62 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 66 | | Edmondson | 70 | 69 | 79 | 64 | 75 | 72 | 67 | 54 | 70 | 76 | 68 | 72 | 64 | | Teuns | 68 | 75 | 78 | 64 | 73 | 73 | 76 | 50 | 66 | 72 | 70 | 65 | 60 | | Dyrnes | 68 | 72 | 78 | 61 | 73 | 73 | 70 | 54 | 65 | 77 | 78 | 74 | 66 | | Watson | 70 | 65 | 78 | 68 | 76 | 72 | 70 | 57 | 62 | 72 | 73 | 61 | 67 | | Morin | 70 | 65 | 78 | 63 | 75 | 73 | 68 | 63 | 69 | 76 | 67 | 67 | 65 | | Paret-Peintre | 72 | 76 | 77 | 72 | 73 | 75 | 73 | 63 | 72 | 74 | 72 | 70 | 72 | | Paulus | 69 | 74 | 77 | 64 | 71 | 68 | 73 | 56 | 62 | 71 | 73 | 67 | 64 |  Grossschartner | 67 | 74 | 77 | 67 | 72 | 73 | 72 | 50 | 62 | 72 | 71 | 68 | 69 |
While the 4th stage would be decide the GC, a good Stage 3 could give chances to hilly riders with decent MO stat. Ekoi - Le Cruset has no less than 3 riders that could in theory fit the description: Teuns, Paret-Peintre and Paulus. Teuns is however the strongest climber of the three and perhaps he'd be the team's main hope for the GC. The strongest hilly riders however are Jensen and Vogt. But they are unlikely to make a GC push since they aren't great climbers (Vogt is with 62 MO) meaning that they'd be more interested in the stage win than anything else
| Degenkolb | 73 | 58 | 66 | 64 | 68 | 66 | 69 | 69 | 81 | 76 | 67 | 58 | 64 |  Minali | 73 | 52 | 58 | 57 | 70 | 74 | 79 | 59 | 79 | 79 | 62 | 74 | 70 | | Rojus | 75 | 59 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 74 | 75 | 57 | 79 | 78 | 60 | 64 | 75 |  Riabushenko | 76 | 63 | 68 | 62 | 71 | 74 | 76 | 66 | 79 | 77 | 66 | 68 | 67 | | Eislers | 76 | 65 | 64 | 56 | 72 | 73 | 70 | 56 | 79 | 73 | 61 | 59 | 58 | | Guerao | 70 | 53 | 61 | 53 | 65 | 58 | 75 | 64 | 79 | 70 | 67 | 74 | 53 | | Reinhardt | 70 | 56 | 66 | 66 | 71 | 64 | 75 | 61 | 78 | 82 | 50 | 61 | 66 | | Cisse | 74 | 53 | 63 | 67 | 73 | 67 | 78 | 63 | 78 | 77 | 73 | 59 | 65 | | Altanzul | 72 | 65 | 69 | 70 | 68 | 73 | 78 | 55 | 78 | 75 | 59 | 63 | 75 |  Colbrelli | 73 | 55 | 60 | 59 | 72 | 70 | 74 | 58 | 78 | 73 | 54 | 69 | 65 | | Tivani | 70 | 63 | 67 | 63 | 68 | 78 | 76 | 56 | 77 | 78 | 72 | 68 | 72 |  Major | 74 | 50 | 66 | 57 | 74 | 70 | 74 | 70 | 77 | 78 | 62 | 66 | 64 | | Guardini | 69 | 52 | 61 | 56 | 69 | 64 | 66 | 57 | 77 | 77 | 71 | 57 | 56 | | Aregger | 72 | 63 | 70 | 67 | 70 | 69 | 75 | 61 | 77 | 75 | 64 | 66 | 77 | | Matthews | 72 | 61 | 66 | 70 | 70 | 67 | 71 | 75 | 76 | 76 | 74 | 66 | 74 | | Selig | 68 | 50 | 62 | 62 | 68 | 63 | 69 | 60 | 76 | 76 | 61 | 56 | 62 | | Itami | 71 | 59 | 57 | 59 | 65 | 61 | 69 | 60 | 76 | 76 | 50 | 50 | 59 |  Räim | 74 | 62 | 67 | 61 | 73 | 72 | 75 | 71 | 76 | 75 | 76 | 68 | 74 | | Dzervus | 72 | 53 | 65 | 70 | 71 | 70 | 73 | 56 | 76 | 75 | 70 | 64 | 75 | | Molano | 70 | 61 | 66 | 61 | 65 | 71 | 75 | 62 | 75 | 77 | 63 | 65 | 62 |
Sprints have been unpredictable these days, so we were compelled to include not 10, but 20 riders in this list. And since sprints have been chaotic, we at IESN don't have any favorites here. Degenkolb is here with the best SPR stat, while Reinhardt has the best acceleration. But then again - stats don't really matter in sprints.
And the full start list:
Spoiler | Last name | First name | Team | | Aregger | Marcel | Adidas - Eurocash | | Gradek | Kamil | Adidas - Eurocash | | Laton | Eryk | Adidas - Eurocash | | Osborne | Jason | Adidas - Eurocash | | Reinhardt | Theo | Adidas - Eurocash | | Tracz | Szymon | Adidas - Eurocash | | Vogt | Mario | Adidas - Eurocash | | Watson | Calvin | Adidas - Eurocash | | Askey | Lewis | Babymetal Cycling | | Deelstra | Huub | Babymetal Cycling | | Dzervus | Darijus | Babymetal Cycling | | Itami | Kenji | Babymetal Cycling | | Johnson | Cooper | Babymetal Cycling | | Niu | Yikui | Babymetal Cycling | | Riabushenko | Aliaksandr | Babymetal Cycling | | Welch | Patrick | Babymetal Cycling | | Armirail | Bruno | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Berthet | Clement | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Doubey | Fabien | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Guerao | Oscar | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Iturria | Mikel | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Rochas | Remy | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Tatarinov | Gennadiy | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Wackermann | Luca | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Ablenado | Aberlardo | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Adriamihajanarivo | Herizo | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Barbero | Carlos | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Barcelo | Fernando | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Domene | Ramon | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Ezquerra | Jesus | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Garcia | Jhojan | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Guardini | Andrea | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Altanzul | Maani | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Berckmoes | Jenno | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Chiarello | William | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Edmondson | Joshua | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Fagundez | Eric Antonio | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Kireva | Albert | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Rubenis | Pauls | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Zana | Filippo | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Affonso | Murilo | DK Zalgiris | | Bereznyak | Aleksandr | DK Zalgiris | | Hagen | Carl Fredrik | DK Zalgiris | | Herrada | Jesus | DK Zalgiris | | Pszczolarski | Wojciech | DK Zalgiris | | Räim | Mihkel | DK Zalgiris | | Rodriguez | Brandon | DK Zalgiris | | Sossa | Juan | DK Zalgiris | | Chevrier | Clement | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Gall | Felix | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Hopkins | Dylan | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Lammertink | Maurits | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Paret-Peintre | Aurelien | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Paulus | Daniel | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Teuns | Dylan | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Thompson | Reuben | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Bourgoyne | Lucas | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Della Lunga | Francesco | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Loland | Sakarias Koller | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Lunder | Eirik | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Lunke | Sindre Skjostad | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Rojus | Adomaitis | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Tjotta | Martin | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Wandahl | Frederik | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Aebi | Antoine | Hilcona Racing Team | | Banzer | Gordian | Hilcona Racing Team | | Grmay | Tsgabu Gebremaryam | Hilcona Racing Team | | Kuypers | Gerben | Hilcona Racing Team | | Martinelli | Alessio | Hilcona Racing Team | | Morin | Emmanuel | Hilcona Racing Team | | Nitu | Adrian | Hilcona Racing Team | | Richardson | Alexander | Hilcona Racing Team | | Degenkolb | John | JEWA TIROL | | Grossschartner | Felix | JEWA TIROL | | Heymes | Gilles | JEWA TIROL | | Laurance | Axel | JEWA TIROL | | Muhlberger | Gregor | JEWA TIROL | | Pernsteiner | Hermann | JEWA TIROL | | Selig | Rüdiger | JEWA TIROL | | Taubel | Christoph | JEWA TIROL | | Bulux | Fredy Domingo | Manada Coyote | | Cadena | Edgar | Manada Coyote | | Gomez | German Dario | Manada Coyote | | Jensen | Kristian Haugaard | Manada Coyote | | Lemus Davila | Luis Enrique | Manada Coyote | | Murillo | Luis Esteban | Manada Coyote | | Ruiz | Bredio | Manada Coyote | | Samudio | Joseph Ivan | Manada Coyote | | Canty | Brendan | Podium Ambition | | Hopkins | Kaden | Podium Ambition | | Le Court | Kim | Podium Ambition | | Major | Jay | Podium Ambition | | Marte | Jesus Roniel | Podium Ambition | | Matthews | Darren | Podium Ambition | | Morales Ortega | Jacob | Podium Ambition | | O'Connor | Ben | Podium Ambition | | Aru | Fabio | Saeco | | Ciccone | Giulio | Saeco | | Colbrelli | Sonny | Saeco | | Silva | Pedro | Saeco | | Skivild | Robin Juel | Saeco | | Verre | Alessandro | Saeco | | Zambanini | Edoardo | Saeco | | Zordan | Andrea | Saeco | | Alarcon | Jose | SEE Turtles | | Cepeda | Jefferson Alexander | SEE Turtles | | Ganjkhanlou | Mohammad | SEE Turtles | | Huera | Richard | SEE Turtles | | Molano | Juan Sebastian | SEE Turtles | | Obando | Bryan Raul | SEE Turtles | | Tivani | German Nicolas | SEE Turtles | | Vermaerke | Kevin | SEE Turtles | | Blikra | Havard | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Cisse | Issiaka | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Jaramillo | Daniel Alexander | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Koshevoy | Ilia | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Kritskiy | Timofey | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Manfredi | Andrea | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Rota | Lorenzo | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Van Heerden | Eddie | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Bardet | Romain | Tafjord Kraft | | De la Cruz | David | Tafjord Kraft | | Dyrnes | Kristian | Tafjord Kraft | | Eislers | Ingus | Tafjord Kraft | | Garby | Marc Christian | Tafjord Kraft | | Hoem | Bjorn Tore | Tafjord Kraft | | Laengen | Vegard Stake | Tafjord Kraft | | Vangstad | Andreas | Tafjord Kraft | | Grosser | Aaron | Team Würth MODYF | | Heinrich | Nicolas | Team Würth MODYF | | Hindley | Jai | Team Würth MODYF | | La Lavandier | Mathieu | Team Würth MODYF | | Lehtinen | Sakari | Team Würth MODYF | | Minali | Riccardo | Team Würth MODYF | | Stalberg | Albin | Team Würth MODYF | | Vangheluwe | Warre | Team Würth MODYF |
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 24-11-2023 12:51
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 808
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Thanks for the preview!
With Iturria and Rochas, we have two good options, so I hope that'll payoff. Decent support as well.
Would love to see Wackerman or Doubey try something on S3 also.
Not much hope for Guerao, he's here on chasing duties also, any point will be good.
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 24-11-2023 13:04
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Thanks ivan for the preview! 
Ofcourse we're hoping for another points haul with Chiarello. Top 5 would be a minimum goal I guess. With these large groups in some mountain stages, you never know.
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 24-11-2023 14:07
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
Joined: 29-09-2018
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No Berhane here  Pretty surprised, given that this is C2's only mountainous stage race without any (T)TT.
Was expecting another close fight with Chiarello, who therefore should be the outright #1 favourite now. Then it depends how relevant the hilly stage is; Teuns showed last year that a good puncheur with solid climbing skills can do really well. This year, however, I'd expect APP to be Ekoi's #1 - and I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up on the podium. Lunke should be a solid bet for a GC podium as well. But any 77+ climber could have his "Hoem moment" here and take the GC, even though daily form restrictions probably lower the chances of such an upset win.
Thanks for the preview to ivan, looking forward to the reports
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| quadsas |
Posted on 24-11-2023 15:57
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2518
Joined: 18-01-2013
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Mainly an xp race for us, but maybe the vets can get some points for us here
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 24-11-2023 17:50
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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Ha, forgot how weird the team line-up for this one was. Breaks & random chance to get anything.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 05:05
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 24-11-2023 19:53
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Posts: 1119
Joined: 07-07-2013
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Thanks to ivan for the preview.
This race isn't just one of our goal races (Top 10), it leaves the team (= me) with some pretty unfamiliar feelings as it's maybe the first time in the teams history that I start a race with really high expectations and a more than realistic chance to actually meet them (and thus a chance for a really huge disappointment).
So what do I expect? Well, given that half of our squad is mentioned in the GC relevant parts of the favourites section everything beyond at least one rider in the GC Top 10 wouldn't just be a mere disappointment, but more of a disaster. In fact I hope for a GC podium by APP, Teuns or Gall (even a win could be in reach if really everything works out in our favour, like a reasonable gap in stage 3 to Chiarello and Lunke), at least another rider in the Top 10, one stage podium and Gall should have a reasonable chance to win the Youth jersey. Not to talk about the points classification (if the sprinters split the points well). As I said, really high expectations (and the fear that our captains finish 12th, 15th and 22nd overall) ...
In any case, I'm really thrilled!
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 24-11-2023 21:12
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Posts: 5896
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Great Preview!
Good luck all
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 25-11-2023 11:03
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2907
Joined: 15-07-2007
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Thank yo for the superb preview Ivan, interresting to see how the race has become more and more stacked over the years.
Hoem 1st and Blikra 10th wouldn't stand a chance this year 
Hopefully Garby can prove useful instead. Hyped for this! |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 25-11-2023 16:12
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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Yoooo Major 4th in this field?! Hell yeah, thank you busted PCM!
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 25-11-2023 18:19
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1119
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Congrats to Adidas for the win. Stage 1 done without a time loss, let's keep it this way in stage 2 and then it'll get really interesting for us.
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| Blasing |
Posted on 25-11-2023 21:45
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 278
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Degenkolb with a good result, I like it. Now here's hope for something similar in stage 2 and a good puncheur result for Großschartner in stage 3.
Manager of JEWA TIROL Cycling Team
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| TheUlamog |
Posted on 26-11-2023 09:14
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Under 23
Posts: 97
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Riabushenko not shining in the last few km again, glad to see Dzervus pick up the pace though, very unexpected. |
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 26-11-2023 17:26
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Breakaway Specialist
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Satisfying sprint stages for us, with Guerao participating, even though it leads to nearly nothing, with the 9-10 yesterday veing just outside the points.
Tomorrow's finish too hard for Wackermann. Maybe Doubey can try something, but I'd prefer everyone to be with Rochas and Iturria and avoid another Catalunya situation.
Thanks for the reports! Looking forward to what happens next.
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
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| quadsas |
Posted on 26-11-2023 22:40
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2518
Joined: 18-01-2013
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Good stuff from Raim, now lets if our hills vets can pick up the slack and score some extra
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 26-11-2023 23:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Good race thus far! Not a ton of points but much improved and ahead of expectations
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 27-11-2023 08:32
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Congrats to Adidas and Caja Rural with their stage wins For us the race really starts from now. Game on!
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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| Caspi |
Posted on 27-11-2023 08:45
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Fully agree, but hope he will have a positive impact on our team regardless, as the race is one of our sponsor goals
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 27-11-2023 10:56
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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Is there a reason the KOM standings are getting left out of the results? C'mon, it's all I got going for me at the moment!
Chiarello, a monster at this level.
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 27-11-2023 13:21
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2907
Joined: 15-07-2007
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Although we didn't get a podium, this was a very promising stage. Excited to see Garby finishing without time loss today, as that sets him in a good position for tomorrows final stage.
Really looking forward to that queen stage
Thank you so much 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)
