|
Pro Hallstatt Classic Discussion
|
| redordead |
Posted on 14-02-2024 06:32
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4865
Joined: 18-10-2017
PCM$: 200.00
|
 Pro Hallstatt Classic 
The race is reported by kandesbunzler26
Welcome to the 6th edition of the Pro Hallstatt Classic. A unique climbing race. It isn't just one big climb to decide the winner but rather several attempts up the same climb with repetition being the deciding factor. The finish comes on top of a 3 km steep hill, which is sure to test the limits of the riders, having already tackled the six previous climbs. While climbing is the main skill, because the final few kilometres are very steep, a powerful final punch is also important. In fact we saw last year that even if some lesser climbers can make it to that final section, then they can compete for a good result.
| FL | MO | HI | ST | RS | AC | DH |  Olivier | 72 | 81 | 76 | 76 | 80 | 71 | 71 |  Padun | 67 | 82 | 77 | 72 | 74 | 75 | 70 |  Bennett | 67 | 81 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 73 | 63 |  Meintjes | 71 | 80 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 69 | 74 |  Eastman | 70 | 82 | 71 | 76 | 75 | 69 | 66 |  Higuita | 69 | 78 | 79 | 76 | 78 | 75 | 64 |  Arndt | 71 | 79 | 76 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 64 | | Aular | 68 | 81 | 72 | 76 | 75 | 69 | 71 |  Penasa | 70 | 80 | 74 | 75 | 72 | 76 | 64 |  Schlegel | 69 | 79 | 77 | 71 | 74 | 75 | 66 | | Inkelaar | 64 | 80 | 70 | 75 | 76 | 74 | 69 |  Monsalve | 66 | 79 | 74 | 76 | 77 | 70 | 63 |  Madrazo | 64 | 81 | 72 | 75 | 74 | 66 | 65 |  Min | 68 | 79 | 76 | 75 | 77 | 66 | 69 |
The list of favourites is quite deep, but there doesn't seem to be a rider that stands out among the rest. Olivier is probably the best all round climber taking into account all his stats. Padun feels like he should be a top contender, but he has shown the propensity to disappoint. Bennett is probably the opposite in that he finds ways to perform very well. Meintjes will look to continue Bralirwa's strong season and he's certainly a good candidate to win this race. Eastman is the strongest 'diesel' climber here, it'll be about positioning for him as he should win if it's a battle of attrition on the steepest slopes. Los Pollos come with two options in Higuita and Aular, although this doesn't seem like the type of race where a numbers advantage would matter. DuckDuckGo bring a similar duo with the punchy Arndt and a pure climber in Inkelaar. Penasa and Schlegel are two more explosive climbers, while Monsalve has probably arrived at his last chance for a big result in a race like this. Madrazo is defending champion, a year older again, but with his climbing prowess still a worthwhile darkhorse. Min will try his best to repeat a great 4th place finish from last year.
| FL | MO | HI | ST | RS | AC | DH |  Ranaweera | 67 | 80 | 73 | 75 | 75 | 65 | 69 |  Frankiny | 69 | 78 | 76 | 72 | 75 | 75 | 66 |  Faglum Karlsson | 71 | 79 | 73 | 78 | 75 | 68 | 74 |  Schelling | 70 | 79 | 74 | 73 | 74 | 68 | 71 |  Lopez | 66 | 78 | 75 | 71 | 72 | 78 | 64 |  Stüssi | 71 | 79 | 73 | 77 | 73 | 66 | 69 | | Cras | 68 | 78 | 72 | 78 | 77 | 67 | 67 | | Elissonde | 66 | 78 | 73 | 76 | 77 | 66 | 72 |  Carboni | 70 | 78 | 76 | 73 | 73 | 69 | 72 | | Pomoshnikov | 70 | 78 | 73 | 77 | 75 | 65 | 66 |  Kuss | 68 | 78 | 71 | 74 | 76 | 69 | 72 | | Roson | 67 | 78 | 76 | 67 | 70 | 74 | 66 | | Sicard | 69 | 78 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 64 | 61 | | Ndayisenga | 66 | 78 | 75 | 69 | 68 | 73 | 69 |
Full startlist:
|
| |
|
|
| Fabianski |
Posted on 14-02-2024 07:21
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4655
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
|
Thanks for the preview!
The startlist is as awfully stacked as I was afraid of. Stüssi missed out on points last year, finishing 32nd - I guess it's just down to being lucky to make the right selections, given how low he's on the favourites list.
However, Kinoshita's Top 10 last year gives me some hopes that climbing actually isn't all that's needed - which is why we bring Masnada this year as well. He looks to be among the better puncheurs, so fingers crossed this strategy will actually work out... Any points will be welcome!
At the top, it's indeed a wide open race. Given Bralirwa's current run, I guess I'd put my money on Meintjes here - or maybe Higuita can re-ignite the fire for LPH.
|
| |
|
|
| jandal7 |
Posted on 14-02-2024 07:30
|
World Champion
Posts: 11391
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1020.00
|
Bennett is probably the opposite in that he finds ways to perform very well.
Been nearly a year since he did that at a level which scores points...
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
| |
|
|
| Ollfardh |
Posted on 14-02-2024 07:46
|
World Champion
Posts: 14556
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9000.00
|
Out of race days for Oomen and Novak, so it's De Plus leading here.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
|
| |
|
|
| MacC |
Posted on 14-02-2024 08:45
|
Sprinter
Posts: 1594
Joined: 15-07-2008
PCM$: 700.00
|
Thanks Red.
I know it's not exactly ideal for Eastman but hopefully he will be there or thereabouts. Not much of a team around him....Good luck all
|
| |
|
|
| Eden95 |
Posted on 14-02-2024 20:34
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4505
Joined: 05-10-2010
PCM$: 900.00
|
We don’t even have a climber in our squad, go go xp team!
Hoping Eastman can start his season well and get a good finish, as well as Madrazo.
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
| |
|
|
| whitejersey |
Posted on 14-02-2024 21:01
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2900
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
|
Thanks for the preview! Really hope that Monsalve finds a way into the top 10 here, would be really good for us as he restarts his season!
|
| |
|
|
| liefwarrior |
Posted on 15-02-2024 00:56
|
Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 864
Joined: 04-07-2019
PCM$: 300.00
|
Schlegel hasn't got off to the strongest start thus far, but given there aren't any kilometres on the TT-bike for him to suffer we have hopes of a half-decent result here!
|
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 16-11-2024 19:33
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 15-02-2024 02:00
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3257
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
Sepp gets one of his very few chances to lead the team. He has had really good one day races and really bad ones. So who knows.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
| |
|
|
| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 15-02-2024 06:25
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11654
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
|
Hoping that Carboni can get something out of this. If he gets anywhere close to his Badaling performance, I'll be very happy. That's probably nor realistic though with the startlist here.
Thanks for the preview red 
|
| |
|
|
| cunego59 |
Posted on 15-02-2024 09:03
|
Team Manager
Posts: 6507
Joined: 14-09-2008
PCM$: 1090.00
|
Top 5 is a must for Meintjes here, and he has a realistic chance to win it. But the competition is super tough, so this can go a number of ways. He's had his poor mountain days, too, this season. Good luck everyone, I'll echo Eden and hope for a nice result for Eastman in particular. Thanks for the preview, looking forward to the report!
|
| |
|
|
| Fabianski |
Posted on 15-02-2024 21:50
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4655
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
|
Big congrats to Fastned, awesome and surprisingly dominant win by Olivier! The man definitely proves is value in PCT, in every single race he's entered so far. Who said he was afraid that promotion was at risk? 
Also nice to see Higuita going strong again, looks like it might be a good idea to develop Schmid in a similar way  Padun in 3rd is well deserved and a good sign of life from P4E; the same is true for Schlegel, as I think this was his first really good race of the year. GB high up in the rankings must be encouraging for Xero, too.
Sauber once again showed that they don't need a big time climber to do well in this race - last year 2nd with Pomoshnikov, this year 6th with Frankiny, strong ride as well!
Now, why do I just talk about the others and not about my team? Well, it was a pretty unspectacular race - with one decisive strategic mistake, though. It looks like Masnada worked a lot for Stüssi. Looking at which kind of riders we have in the Top 10 - mostly 75+ puncheurs - we should've done it the other way round.
However, I still won't complain about the result; we've never been in the Top 30 before, now we're the only team with 2 riders in the Top 20. It's not many points, but it's valuable points still - good job by Colin and Fausto!
On the other hand, really have no clue what happened to Meintjes. He should've been fighting for the win - now he didn't even score a single point. Feeling sorry for cunego, really weird result for Bralirwa :S
Thanks for the report!
|
| |
|
|
| cunego59 |
Posted on 15-02-2024 21:54
|
Team Manager
Posts: 6507
Joined: 14-09-2008
PCM$: 1090.00
|
| 36 | Louis Meintjes | Bralirwa - Stevens Bikes | s.t. |
That was ... unexpected  Can't win 'em all, I guess. Congrats roturn and thank you kb for the report!
|
| |
|
|
| Ollfardh |
Posted on 15-02-2024 22:15
|
World Champion
Posts: 14556
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9000.00
|
Yeah, I'll take 9th from De Plus! Congrats to Roturn and many thanks to KB for the report!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
|
| |
|
|
| whitejersey |
Posted on 15-02-2024 22:53
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2900
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
|
cunego59 wrote:
| 36 | Louis Meintjes | Bralirwa - Stevens Bikes | s.t. |
That was ... unexpected Can't win 'em all, I guess. Congrats roturn and thank you kb for the report!
Guess I can't be too upset with Monsalve's 20th, but damn what a disappointing return to racing for him.
|
| |
|
|
| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 16-02-2024 03:45
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7290
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Madrazo probably should've sat in the peloton rather than attack towards the end but he gave it a go. 19th is disappointing for his ability and recent performances in this race.
Congrats to Roturn on the win!
|
| |
|
|
| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 16-02-2024 06:21
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11654
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
|
Great going by Carboni to get 8th in this field. He has really stepped up in the rare leadership opportunities he has got this season.
Congrats to roturn and thanks for the report
|
| |
|
|
| roturn |
Posted on 16-02-2024 08:15
|
Team Manager
Posts: 22238
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
|
Had to take some time off, first due to Christmas and following vacation but then also for work/health reasons.
Was following some races from mobile, but need to drop back and respond so some.
This race surely a nice highlight to come back. Was hoping for a good performance after I missed to do so for years now.
The startlist was nice to me and Olivier is having a great season. A lot better than his previous PCM performances.
He played it out nicely from 2nd position all the time to dominate in the uphill. Depth wise I had hoped for a bit more as he got the full team behind him, but a win is much better.
In total a nice former Aegon top10 here with Schlegel 4th, Bennett 5th, Carboni 8th as well plus Higuita and Penasa, who were targets of me in several seasons.
Some surprising low performances by e.g. Meintjes, Chaves but in general a fair spread of expected results.
Thanks for the report and all the congrats. |
| |
|
|
| Nemolito |
Posted on 16-02-2024 08:44
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3358
Joined: 20-04-2020
PCM$: 425.00
|
First of all thank you for the nice preview, red. Thought I had replied but apparently I didn't.
For Los Pollos Hermanos, this was a good result for the first time in quite a while. Seems like red's prediction was quite good, with Olivier on top of the favourite's list and for us Higuita higher than Aular. Glad to see Higuita keeps performing like this, as he's really keeping us in the PCT top-5 so far. Aular's result wasn't ideal, but I'll just assume it was partly because of his hill stat, and perhaps partly because of doing some domestique work for Higuita. Nevertheless we're obviously happy with a second place here. A shame Meintjes was overlooked by the game (or had a very bad daily form?). Congratulations to roturn on the win, and thank you very much to kb for the great report.
|
| |
|
|
| MacC |
Posted on 16-02-2024 09:13
|
Sprinter
Posts: 1594
Joined: 15-07-2008
PCM$: 700.00
|
Well done Roturn, hope everything is fine.
11th was definitely the lower end of expectations for Eastman. Still an 11 pprd day is still one of Glanbia's best days this year ...
|
| |
|
