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Lisbon Classic - Discussion
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 10-01-2025 13:58
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World Champion
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Lisbon Classic
The history
Bom dia and welcome to Lisbon! We’re here for the 12th edition of the Lisbon classic. The race started off as a PTHC race in 2013, when Marcus Burghardt won the first edition. Nothing but big names on the winners list with Filippo Pozzato, Dan Holloway, Georgos Tzortzakis, Lukasz Wisniowski and Bryan Coquard won the next editions. Remember that last name by the way, you’ll hear more of him later.
Unfortunately by 2019 virtually every Portuguese cyclists has been caught doping and the race had lost all credibility. It got demoted to a C1 race but still got notable winners in Jonathan Bellis, Travis Meyer of the legendary Eddie Stobart team and Roman Maksimov. So in 2022 it became a HC race when Peter “Nacho” Varga surprised the sprinters. Last year it was Alberto Dainese who won it for Assa Abloy, which in the end gave them the final promotion spot.
Two former winners are here this year, and as no rider has won it more than once, both could get the record here by winning a second time. Bryan Coquard has the best chances, but never rule out Peter Varga!
The route
We’re starting at the Torre de Belém, named after the famous city in Brazil from where the people of Portugal learned their language. We then follow a hilly route that will invite people to attack and avoid a mass sprint. I would say it’s been a 50/50 between late attackers and a sprint in the last few years, but as there are no real puncheurs on the startlist, I’m betting on a sprint in the streets of Lisbon this year.
The startlist
As per usual, we will introduce the teams on the big podium one by one and have a chat with the more notable riders.
Bralirwa is the first team here, but I have doubts Feiereisen will be the first at the finish line. Zalgiris throws Adomaitis in the sprint lottery. Ekoi brings Hodeg, who might struggle on the hills more than the previous sprinters. They also have Oliveira here, who could be an interesting name for a late attack.
ELCO, who will win the PCT this year, are prepared for everything with Stylianos Farantakis as a top sprinter and lots of riders to either support him or go for a late attack themselves. Everesting has a good chance with Hayakawa in the sprint. Indosat is another one of those teams who try to cover everything with Nur Hasan for the sprint and Yudha for an attack.
Tirol brings Boudat, another sprinter who looks very similar to the other ones. Kraftwerk is here with the usual strong team, led by Rick Zabel, who does have a slight edge over most sprinters here. LPU goes all in on Bonifazio, who is probably the worst climber here. Lotto brings the big guns with both Liu and Zingle here.
And there he is, ladies and gentlemen! Bryan Coquard, former winner and big favourite this year! The Coyotes even gave him a very strong leadout train. McCormick doesn’t believe it will be a sprint though, as they bring a team of attackers led by Seigle. The Minions are led by Kalaba, didn’t they used to have better sprinters?
I’m sure there’s a joke about the lack of Podium Ambition somewhere. While Norbert is one of the better climbing sprinters, he will have to drop a whole lot of them before he’s the fastest man in the group. Sauber brings Einhorn, who might be struggling the hills though. He also doesn’t seem to have the best support for that.
We welcome the Continental Tour! The Turtles bring both Keough and Tivani, who are on par with most of the PCT sprinters here. Simba tries even harder with Zariff, who is faster but gets a question mark for the hills. Specialized brings a sprinter pro forma, but I think we should be watching Xandro Meurisse most of all.
Tajford brings a big name as well with Sondre Holst Enger. When it comes to the top sprinters, none are better on the hills than him. Popo brings Aniolkowski for the sprint, but watch our for their secret weapon Varga as well. Finaly Tryg is here with Rodenberg, who will throw his name in the sprint mix.
My three names? Coquard, Enger and Farantakis.
[Insert startlist screenshot here]
Report will be done by Abhi!
Edited by Ollfardh on 13-01-2025 11:57
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 10-01-2025 14:12
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Thanks Ollfardh for the preview  We're hoping for at least a top 10, and maybe more. Fingers crossed!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 13-01-2025 16:46
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| SotD |
Posted on 10-01-2025 14:30
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I doubt that we Will win the PCT this year. If we are to win it we need Farantakis to start getting some top results atleast. Haven’t done anything so far.
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| Caspi |
Posted on 10-01-2025 14:58
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Domestique
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No clue what to expect in Lisbon with Zariff's doubtful performances. If he makes it over the hills top 10 might be possible?
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| quadsas |
Posted on 10-01-2025 16:21
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Letsago Adomaitis
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 10-01-2025 16:22
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Classics Specialist
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Hoping for some selective racing, but won't be terribly sorry if that doesn't happen!
Thanks for the preview!
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 10-01-2025 17:16
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The Minions are led by Kalaba, didn’t they used to have better sprinters?
Didn't Lierse use to have Gaviria? 
Yes, but when you remember this clashes with the most important race on the calendar for us it's no surprise we bring the secondary instead of the primary sprinter here. Even then, Kalaba has proven to be suited to hills better than Ahlstrand.
Thnx for the preview!
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 10-01-2025 18:16
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Thanks for the preview, Ollfardh! You rightly stated our tactics, though it's rarher plan B and C. Plan A is getting two guys into the break and winning the race from there
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 10-01-2025 18:55
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World Champion
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Marcovdw wrote:
The Minions are led by Kalaba, didn’t they used to have better sprinters?
Didn't Lierse use to have Gaviria?
Yeah, but we have Bonifazio now 
Probably a bit too hard for him, but we have no plan B so he'll just have to survive the hills.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 10-01-2025 19:21
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Thank you Ollfard, hopefully Enger can live up to your hype |
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 11-01-2025 19:28
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Gotta love some puns about stupid Lisbon and its stupid little classic. Thanks for the laughs, Olfardh. Not sure we're here, but if we are we probably we won't ne noticed, so I'm here mainly as a spectator.
Good luck everyone!
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 12-01-2025 15:26
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Thanks for the report to Imladrik and congrats for finally doing good in non-wildcard races to fj!
For us it's not a good sign if a lvl.1 loanee from the break is our best finisher. Oliveira should have been able to stay in the front group in such a profile ...
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 12-01-2025 16:56
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Well, 5th is definitely good enough here. Thanks Imladrik for the report (I was told Abhi was doing it  ) and congrats to Popo!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| SotD |
Posted on 12-01-2025 17:05
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Brilliant stuff from Farantakis finally. The finale seemed just about chaotic enough to give a solid sprint selection.
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 12-01-2025 17:42
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Great result from Liu, just what we needed! Thanks Imladrik for the report and congrats Popo with the win
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 12-01-2025 18:11
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Weren't really expecting much but nice to see Hecht in the finale, albeit at the back.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 12-01-2025 20:06
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Decent result from Kalaba, much better than his counterpart.
Congrats fjhoekie and thanks Imladrik!
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 13-01-2025 01:25
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Gotta be happy with that, decent work for Nur Hasan to nestle himself in the top-10. He was going fast in the last few hundred metres, looks like he was pretty boxed in before that so could have definitely done better with better positioning.
Congrats to you Fj! And thanks for the reposrt
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| Caspi |
Posted on 13-01-2025 06:55
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Domestique
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We were pretty anonymous, but decent result in our first HC race. Perhaps this could be a turning point for Zariff?
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 13-01-2025 08:51
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This went better than expected actually. Congrats on the win fj and thanks for the report Imladrik!
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