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Chrono d'Arenberg Discussion
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 11-04-2025 08:05
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Preview by SotD
Whoever created the ludicrous idea of timetrialling through the forest of the Arenberg equally deserves a medal, and to be put behind bars. It's not for the faint-hearted, that much is for sure.
The Arenberg-paveed-roads is usually key to succeeding in the Hell of North, Paris-Roubaix, and while you have to know how to ride those cobbles to succeed here, you also really need to be in sync with your timetrialling bike!
Last seasons was won by Marlen Zmorka, but the organizers doesn't necessarily seem all too happy about that result. The race has become significantly shorter (17,4km to be exact), but also has become way more cobble-heavy. It seems more likely that previous winners like Patrick Gamber, Hampus Anderberg or Przemyslaw Kasperkiewiecz will take the crown, than the likes of Zmorka, Cataford or Dillier, although the two latter have a brave history in this race, having both been in the top 5 on multiple occassions. Especially the swiss seem to really enjoy this race.
The favorites for the win should be found among the hybrids, so let's have a look at those:
| Name | FL | TT | RE | CO |  Gamper | 77 | 76 | 77 | 80 |  Anderberg | 78 | 76 | 76 | 80 |  Stavrakakis | 76 | 75 | 70 | 77 |  Lampawog | 76 | 76 | 75 | 76 |  Scotson | 72 | 76 | 70 | 75 |  Campbell | 74 | 76 | 70 | 75 |  Van Baarle | 76 | 77 | 76 | 74 |  Kung | 73 | 77 | 72 | 72 |  Debesay | 74 | 71 | 77 | 78 |
The two standout favorites for the win is clearly Gamper and Anderberg, who are both tailormade for succes in this race. Then there is a bunch of decent fits, who just isn't quite as strong as the aforementioner.
We also have a couple of top cobblers, who isn't necessarily that strong against the clock, but could still deliver a solid result in this seasons edition:
| Name | FL | TT | RE | CO |  Pedersen | 77 | 69 | 80 | 83 | | Spengler | 74 | 62 | 73 | 83 | | Altur | 75 | 63 | 70 | 82 | | Tiller | 74 | 67 | 75 | 79 |  Ferreira | 73 | 63 | 70 | 79 | | Summerhill | 74 | 55 | 66 | 79 |
While it, on paper, seems unlikely that either of these will win a race on their timetrialbike, I wouldn't rule out Pedersen from having a very solid ride. He is the strongest cobbler in the race, but I do think he will still struggle against the two major favorites. The others need a super ride to break into the top 10, but I could see a rider such as Tiller being thereabouts.
The race is also packed with solid timetriallists:
| Name | FL | TT | RE | CO |  Dunbar | 69 | 82 | 77 | 58 | | Mullen | 75 | 81 | 74 | 62 |  Ganna | 76 | 80 | 81 | 66 | | Tanfield | 73 | 79 | 75 | 64 | | Rekita | 72 | 79 | 73 | 62 |  Leknessund | 73 | 78 | 81 | 69 |  Cosnefroy | 76 | 78 | 81 | 69 |  Atkins | 75 | 78 | 75 | 66 | | Brunel | 75 | 78 | 78 | 66 | | Siddikov | 75 | 77 | 75 | 70 |  Groselj | 78 | 77 | 78 | 67 |
If it was last seasons route, I would have pointed towards some of these guys as obvious contenders for the win - or at the very least, the podium. But I do feel like this seasons route, with it's significant decrease in length, combined with more time on the cobbles, that the pure timetriallists will struggle. That said the likes of Dunbar and Mullen are so strong against the clock, that I wouldn't entirely rule out a solid result. It is however riders such as Ganna, Leknessund, Cosnefroy and Siddikov I am mainly looking towards in the attempt to find riders who could make an upset.
Startlist:
Edited by AbhishekLFC on 12-04-2025 01:40
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 11-04-2025 08:31
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World Champion
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Oh right, there's one race to we can still score points in. Is Gamper going to secure our top 10 goal?
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| ember |
Posted on 11-04-2025 10:49
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Team Leader
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Super excited for this one, as I've been all years Anderberg has been maxed. It was only his first year the course actually suited him, as the last two (?) editions have been in favour of the more pure time trialists. Curious to see if another year with route changes makes it different to last season. If so, it feels like a Gamper vs. Anderberg duel. If not, anything can happen among the better TTers  
Thank you for the preview, SotD! |
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| Bikex |
Posted on 11-04-2025 11:08
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Team Leader
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Go Dylan! He should be able to enter the fight for 3rd. |
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 11-04-2025 12:22
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Looking forward to this one, especially after changing the race. Hopefully we can get some minor points here.
Thanks SotD for the preview 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 18-04-2025 19:19
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| SotD |
Posted on 11-04-2025 15:46
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World Champion
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This one is always difficult to predict. Especially with alternate routes from year to year.
I guess Stavrakakis Can be anywhere from 3rd to 10th. Really need to be closer to 3rd given our goal here.
We should be even stronger next year with my loaned out Stavrakakis-Copy.
It really should be a 2-way-battle. Atleast I hope so!
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 11-04-2025 18:34
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Small Tour Specialist
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Curious to see what Leknessund can do here. We need every point we can get.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 11-04-2025 20:06
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Grand Tour Champion
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Top 50 receive points. Would be great if one of my guys made it
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 12-04-2025 00:04
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Dunbar had 2RD’s left, so here he is
No expectations, a top-15 would be wonderful though. He’s truly an awful cobbler so let’s see.
Thanks for the preview!
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 12-04-2025 00:07
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Got what we asked for I guess. Congrats Olfardh!
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| tastasol |
Posted on 12-04-2025 00:43
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Went for the cobbles route. Obviously not the right way, so hopefully it won't hurt too much ... Congrats Olfardh
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| SotD |
Posted on 12-04-2025 05:55
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World Champion
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Oh boy, that was awful from Stavrakakis. A Big blow to the months points tally. We have too many of these complete misses unfortunately.
Atleast 1-2 was as it should be.
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| ember |
Posted on 12-04-2025 06:08
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Surely Gamper has secured promotion for Lierse these two days? First winning Kigali, and now this. Big congratulations, Ollfardh!
Very happy with 2nd place! And with such close margins, that felt clear as well. Anderberg’s season has been very good, and this definitely adds to it. Obviously hoped for the win, but Gamper won the duel fair and square. |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 12-04-2025 08:31
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Let's be honest, Gamper was having a very poor season after his training, but the last two days totally made up for it. Big win for us, but also happy to see Anderberg in second after this race completely derailed last leason.
Thanks for yet another excellent report Imladrik!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 12-04-2025 08:52
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7729
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Top 50 receive points. Would be great if one of my guys made it
| 37 | Darren Matthews | Minions | + 1'08 |
Goal achieved. Congrats Ollfardh!
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 12-04-2025 22:17
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Can definitely live with Küng's 7th place here. Always sucks a bit if your just a couple of seconds behind the podium, but I guess it's pretty much the expected riders ahead of him. Looks like it'd actually be a good idea to keep him around for another year ^^
Rekita and Brunel both taking a Top 20 as well is fine, couldn't expect much more given their low cobbles skills. And glad I didn't try the Theuns experiment here.
Congrats to Lierse, as others said, Gamper probably just secured you promotion in the last two days. I guess next year I'll really regret giving him to you  (I already do obviously, should really have kept him around...)
Thanks for the report!
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 13-04-2025 07:43
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Gamper on a roll. Congrats Olfardh!
Lau 60th is as much as I could have hoped I guess. Thanks for the report, Imladrik!
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| jaxika |
Posted on 13-04-2025 07:59
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Classics Specialist
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We improved from last year, so its a very good result. Every little bit of points count, so the two top50 results its good addition too.
Thanks for the report! |
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 13-04-2025 17:44
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Small Tour Specialist
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11th is a decent result for Leknessund
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| redordead |
Posted on 14-04-2025 06:53
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Not a race for us it seems.
Thank you for both preview and report
"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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