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Rund um Koln - Discussion
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 24-02-2026 02:38
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 4038
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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 Rund um Köln
The Rund um Köln is a 205k pro tour sprinter’s classic. It features a flat finish suitable for the sprinters but a lot of bumps along the way. The last four years the winners have alternated between the sprinters and the rouleurs with the sprinters taking it in even years (Mannien and Ewan) and the roulers in odd years (Wisniowski and SKA). So the turn of rouleurs this year?
Looking at them first.  Konychev is a beast with all the attributes for a late attack – power on the flats, strong energy stats and a great finishing kick. And Aker has no traditional sprinter here so the Italian should have the whole team behind him although former winner Andersen is also here so the team does have multiple cards.
 Antonijevic,  Nych and  Pedersen are all veterans of the late attack with strong skill sets.  Suter is a younger rider looking to establish his reputation in this kind of race. Abrahamsen is another newcomer to the specialty although he is only now peaking at 30.
| Rider | FL | RS | ST | SP | AC | | Konychev | 82 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 75 | | Suter | 79 | 74 | 75 | 68 | 74 | | Antonijevic | 78 | 74 | 67 | 71 | 74 |  Dversnes | 78 | 76 | 76 | 69 | 77 | | Sweeny | 78 | 76 | 67 | 69 | 71 | | Nych | 78 | 72 | 75 | 65 | 76 | | Pedersen | 77 | 80 | 78 | 78 | 77 | | Abrahamsen | 77 | 76 | 73 | 72 | 75 |  Van den Berg | 77 | 77 | 77 | 71 | 70 |  Havik | 77 | 73 | 74 | 70 | 69 |  Kortsidakis | 77 | 75 | 75 | 68 | 72 | | Andersen | 81 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 74 |
But if the race follows a more standard script the winner will more likely be a sprinter.
| Rider | FL | RS | ST | SP | AC |  Gaviria | 76 | 76 | 74 | 83 | 84 | | Cullaigh | 74 | 70 | 73 | 82 | 81 | | Farantakis | 74 | 72 | 75 | 82 | 80 |  Enger | 73 | 73 | 71 | 81 | 78 |  Philipsen | 74 | 70 | 74 | 81 | 80 |  Halvorsen | 76 | 71 | 74 | 81 | 80 |  Kanter | 75 | 73 | 75 | 81 | 80 |  Samolenkov | 74 | 71 | 75 | 81 | 79 | | Kemboi | 78 | 77 | 74 | 80 | 80 | | Vesely | 72 | 67 | 73 | 80 | 79 |  Groves | 75 | 73 | 75 | 80 | 79 |  Hsu | 75 | 70 | 75 | 80 | 79 | | Bonifazio | 79 | 75 | 68 | 80 | 80 | | Aniolkowski | 76 | 74 | 76 | 80 | 79 |  Rodenberg | 74 | 77 | 70 | 79 | 79 | | Ovsyannikov | 74 | 72 | 75 | 79 | 78 | | Nur Hasan | 74 | 74 | 74 | 79 | 78 |
Gaviria is the top favorite. He is in good form coming off a win at the Hanko Classic and third in Moscow. He has a powerful team behind him with a leadout including Nur Hasan, Trondsen, and Baska and strong men for the chase in Sagiv, Jurado and McCormick loan-in Mohammad.
Farantakis and Enger are also here and they finsied 1-2 in Moscow so they also have form.
cycleYorkshire brings their dynamic duo of Cullaigh and Kemboi, they have had mixed success riding together. Kanter is the best chance for a home country winner both in terms of riders and teams.
24 teams and the maximum 192 riders take the start, Gjensidige and Simba have wildcards.
Startlist
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 24-02-2026 03:37
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16674
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Gonna say the same thing I said for whatever the last PT sprinter's classic was (Moscow?). It will be a success if Per tries something near the front and Rodenberg mixes into the sprint. Last time Rodenberg did okay and Per very near featured in the finale, but got blocked all the way down the peloton at the wrong moment. He's still waiting for a non-cobbled result of note. Maybe it's this time?
Thanks for the preview!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| ember |
Posted on 24-02-2026 07:07
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Team Leader
Posts: 7130
Joined: 27-03-2008
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Another flat classic without Groenewegen. GP Moscow was a miss, but we were aggressive. Fingers crossed we can be aggressive again, but this time also do a result. If not, the battle to avoid relegation feels closer and closer. Definitely nervous for the general development we're having this season regarding points scoring! |
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| knockout |
Posted on 24-02-2026 07:18
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8320
Joined: 21-12-2010
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Like bbl, i can just copy paste my sprinter classics reply: ovsya is here for the sprint, lots of rouleurs for some late action. Barely any guaranteed scoring but still hopes for something.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-02-2026 22:38
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| redordead |
Posted on 24-02-2026 09:32
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Team Leader
Posts: 5595
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I don't have much expectations here after seeing how Moscow went.
Thanks for the preview.
"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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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 24-02-2026 09:42
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World Champion
Posts: 13646
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Hoping for another strong Aniolkowski performance ahead of the Tour.
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| Caspi |
Posted on 24-02-2026 10:10
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 791
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We got this.
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| SotD |
Posted on 24-02-2026 19:03
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World Champion
Posts: 12747
Joined: 29-11-2006
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Always seem a bit random whether or not we get a good result. We have gotten top results in the last two, so statistically we get "nothing" here. Let's hope Farantakis can disrupt the odds.
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 24-02-2026 20:27
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2815
Joined: 20-04-2008
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Maybe Teunissen can join an attack, but we can't really have any expectations here.
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