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Paris - Nice Discussion
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| Kami |
Posted on 23-08-2011 11:25
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Classics Specialist
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'The race to the sun'. One of the traditional preparation races for Milan - San Remo. This year's parcour includes 3 flat stages, 3 hilly stages, 1 mountain stage and a hilly time-trial. We'll probably see the biggest gaps on stage 5 & 6. On the other stages, the last climb is pretty far away from the finish.
The variety of stages brings top-class riders on most fields to this race. On paper, the first 3 (maybe 4?) stages will be for the sprinters. When taking a look at the field you can see quite a few top sprinters here. Santander with Ventoso, Bacardi with Steegmans and Carmeuse with Roelandts came just for those stages. They are joined by Qatar winner Swift, Kreder, Granjel Cabrera, Vanderbiest, Pozzato, Lavoine, Feillu, Castenada and Hofman among others.
For the overall, Gesink is the favorites, as the combination of hills, TT and mountains should suit him best. He's very closely followed by last years TdF-winner Spilak and Trofimov. Both also excel in all 3 disciplines, with Trofimov also being able to ride a decent sprint. They are joined by riders who are good at different disciplines and at that point the guessing starts; which stages will be decisive? Will a rider like Pozzato who can't climb get a good result, or will a pure climber like Iglinski end high? Or will it come down to the time-trial where we will see Zabriskie and Rogers face off?
Starlist Spoiler Jack Wolfskin
1. R. Gesink
2. S. Chavanel
3. D. Cornu
4. J. Donald
5. M. Kreder
6. M. Sieberg
7. B. Vaugrenard
Warner Bros
11. S. Spilak
12. C. Barredo
13. K. De Ketele
14. M. Facci
15. K. Hulsmans
16. C. Le Mével
17. I. Mayo
18. Y. Talabardon
Sony
21. Y. Trofimov
22. S. Anza
23. K. Fouquet
24. R. Granjel Cabrera
25. D. Muravjev
26. S. Pauwels
27. A. Wetterhall
UBS
31. S. Schumacher
32. S. Barrio
33. R. Bertogliati
34. R. Chtioui
35. K. Lalouette
36. D. Lelay
37. F. Stalder
Webeffect
41. A. Kashechkin
42. D. Appollonio
43. J. Baugnies
44. K. Boeckmans
45. G. Brizuela
46. A. Gilanipoor
47. F. Matamoros
48. S. Nooytens
Spyker
51. P. Sinkewitz
52. S. Cohnen
53. M. Pedersen
54. M. Reimer
55. E. Weiss
56. A. Zeits
Pearl
61. P. Velits
62. E. Berthou
63. T. Kangert
64. J. Mendes
65. L. Mondory
66. Y. Offredo
67. E. Popov
68. R. Vanderbiest
B&O
71. N. Keinath
72. J. Drucker
73. C. Jørgensen
74. K. Nielsen
75. J. Sagan
76. A. Steensen
77. S. Stenersen
Pendleton's
81. D. Zabriskie
82. S. Duret
83. M. Ladagnous
84. D. Millar
85. K. Siutsou
86. G. Thomas
87. B. Wiggins
Festina
91. F. Pozzato
92. L. Bøchman
93. K. Goddaert
94. O. Kaisen
95. A. Lavoine
96. D. Rijntjes
97. P. Voss
Vesuvio
101. M. Iglinski
102. C. Betancourt
103. N. Clesen
104. S. Einsle
105. B. Gastauer
106. D. Mehr-Wenige
107. B. Swift
Wikipedia
111. T. Van Garderen
112. B. Caldwell
113. J. Casper
114. R. Cleaver
115. E. King
116. G. Lejman
117. T. Pinot
118. M. Sprick
Team VW
121. K. Reus
122. W. Anacona
123. G. Brenes
124. A. Flügel
125. R. Förster
126. W. Li
127. J. Veikkanen
128. R. Zabel
Focus
131. R. Sicard
132. B. Feillu
133. R. Feillu
134. D. Gaudin
135. B. Jungels
136. A. Kirsch
137. F. Morizot
138. T. Skujins
Colombia
141. M. Rogers
142. A. Ardila Cano
143. J. Castañeda
144. H. Gallardo
145. S. Ivars
146. S. Joly
147. W. RodrÃguez Parra
Nestlé
151. D. Di Luca
152. H. Aguilar
153. S. Caldeira
154. P. Fédrigo
155. N. Hoffman
156. N. Portal
157. M. Schär
Milka
161. J. Coppel
162. M. Bouet
163. A. Delaplace
164. A. Honkisz
165. A. Nepomnyachsniy
166. M. Vanderaerden
167. E. Verbist
Santander
171. F. Ventoso
172. A. Durán
173. F. Echarri
174. I. Erviti
175. J. Gallego Martin
176. J. Moreno
Wiggle
181. T. Diggle
182. V. Bileka
183. G. Bole
184. R. Hampton
185. B. Jarc
186. A. Kuschynski
187. R. Tanguy
188. J. Tiernan-Locke
Bacardi
191. G. Steegmans
192. J. Ghyselinck
193. J. Kocjan
194. S. Kondrotas
195. A. Kruopis
Carmeuse
201. J. Roelandts
202. A. Aulas
203. S. Caethoven
204. JF. Camier
205. P. Jacobs
206. C. Lhotellerie
207. W. Weylandt
C
211. L. Paolini
212. A. Locatelli
213. L. Locatelli
214. M. Pinotti
215. G. Varnier
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 23-08-2011 11:30
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Team Leader
Posts: 5535
Joined: 18-05-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Ha I'm not the least favourite team.
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 23-08-2011 11:41
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8755
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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mb2612 wrote:
Ha I'm not the least favourite team.
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 23-08-2011 12:01
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 27880
Joined: 20-10-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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As I had PR as one my target races, I decided to go with Sinkewitz for this P-R which obviously favours the hilly riders over the mountain riders.
There's still a TT, so there's no chance of great GC result, but good stage performances will do for Spyker Cars. |
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 23-08-2011 12:31
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Team Leader
Posts: 6177
Joined: 20-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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The Management-Game Gazzette Issue#5
It's February now, and that means a lot of of interesting racing. The Race to the Sun is one of the checkpoints of the PT peloton which by that time should be spread along Italy and Spain as well. As so the managerial choices take a lot more emphasis, and Jack Wolfskin's DS, alexkr00, is here to give us his vision:
Q. Paris-Nice is typically a hard race to define. Do you think the victory will go to a classic stage-racer, or rather to a powerful climber with a good kick?
 In the past the race used to have like one mountain stage and a few hilly ones, but this year it looks like the mountains have been replaced by a time - trial. My bet is on puncheur that can also ride a decent time - trial.
Q. This week has a lot of serious racing to do, with the triple-header T-A, P-N and Catalunya. Would you agree that this week may start to draw the final shape of the Overall Team Standings?
Every race is important, but yes after these 3 races we could have a really good idea of who is fighting for what position in the rankings. Still my guess is that the best idea of how the rankings will look at the end of the season will be after the first GT of the year, even though last year SE took most of their points from the classics.
Q.Jack Wolfskin's start of the season hasn't really impressed so far, bar the 2 stage wins in Oman. Is it possible that Gesink may find a way to repeat his victory in 2009, or will his inability to distinguish road cycling from skydiving prove to be a burden once again?
Yes, despite those 2 stage wins the start of the season has been very disappointing for us. But those results came after crashes (Rosseler in Qatar and Gesink in Oman) and that gives us some hope that we can do better in future races. I said that a puncheur with a good time - trial can win this year's Paris - Nice and Gesink is a puncheur with an amazing time - trial, so I see him as one of the favorites for the podium, at least. And he should be there if he can avoid any unplanned incidents.
Q. Vesuvio-Accumalux, has shown they have a very stable team able to compete in almost every field. How do you rate their bid to the top of the ProTour Standings, given their recent performances?
In the past Accumalux lacked results in the mass sprints, but now they brought Swift in and they are winning flat stages as well. And with Schleck, Uran and Intxausti in their roster there's no doubt in my mind that they are the team to beat this season.
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| Kami |
Posted on 23-08-2011 12:42
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3386
Joined: 19-06-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Hmm, personally, i don't think that these 3 races will give us a good look at the final overall. The cobbled classics should mix things up again.
Personally, i'm hoping for a stage win. For Steegmans, a harder and longer race is better, so i'm hoping for stage 3 maybe.
I'll go play the race now, and the first report should be here this evening or tomorrow.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 23-08-2011 13:18
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Team Leader
Posts: 6386
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Stage 5 looks a pretty tough one and skews the race in favour of the punchaers I reckon - hard too see Gesink being too far away. Not sure about Spilak here, Schumacher and Trofimov the other dangermen.
I will go for an slight outside bet in Schumacher, slightly disappointing last year but a strong rider with a decent finish.
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 23-08-2011 13:50
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World Champion
Posts: 13561
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Please, Robert, stay on the bike this time.
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| p3druh |
Posted on 23-08-2011 14:29
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2388
Joined: 28-09-2007
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Well, maybe Vanderbiest can nab a stage. Velits certainly won't be a contender for the GC. Maybe a top-10.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 07:52
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| Heine |
Posted on 23-08-2011 17:13
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4467
Joined: 08-04-2007
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Am I blind to not see the mountain stage?
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| Kami |
Posted on 23-08-2011 17:45
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3386
Joined: 19-06-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Heine wrote:
Am I blind to not see the mountain stage?
Stage 6. I was as surprised as you when i found out when i loaded the game, would have send another line up here if i would have known.
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| niconico |
Posted on 23-08-2011 18:25
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3926
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Kami wrote:
Heine wrote:
Am I blind to not see the mountain stage?
Stage 6. I was as surprised as you when i found out when i loaded the game, would have send another line up here if i would have known.
So it's not flat-rated after all?
Anyways I'm looking forward to this one after what is happening in T-A
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| niconico |
Posted on 23-08-2011 18:26
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3926
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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alexkr00 wrote:
Please, Robert, stay on the bike this time.
I think you've had your share of bad luck already 
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| Kami |
Posted on 23-08-2011 18:29
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3386
Joined: 19-06-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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niconico wrote:
Kami wrote:
Heine wrote:
Am I blind to not see the mountain stage?
Stage 6. I was as surprised as you when i found out when i loaded the game, would have send another line up here if i would have known.
So it's not flat-rated after all?
Anyways I'm looking forward to this one after what is happening in T-A
Nope. It's rated as a mountain stage in the game, so this might not only mess up the chances of the sprinters, but the more pure puncheurs aswell maybe. Although, the big climb is pretty far from the finish.
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| SotD |
Posted on 23-08-2011 20:45
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World Champion
Posts: 12631
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When positive pre-race my team fails, so I'll have to try a different tactic:
This race will probably suck for me eventhough Pozzato should do well on paper. Any results will do.
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 23-08-2011 20:51
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World Champion
Posts: 13561
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niconico wrote:
alexkr00 wrote:
Please, Robert, stay on the bike this time.
I think you've had your share of bad luck already
I really hope you're right. I can't stop thinking that without that crash Gesink would have won in Oman...
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 23-08-2011 21:00
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Team Leader
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Come on Diggle! Surprise me in your only race lead ever! Diggle for Wiggle!
[url=cleavercycling.co.uk]  [/url] |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 23-08-2011 21:00
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World Champion
Posts: 13561
Joined: 05-08-2008
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Very funny, Kami. Another joke like that and I won't sell you any of my stars next season 
Sieberg should lead the sprint for Kreder. Without him Michel has no chance.
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 23-08-2011 21:12
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alexkr00 wrote:
Very funny, Kami. Another joke like that and I won't sell you any of my stars next season
Sieberg should lead the sprint for Kreder. Without him Michel has no chance.
Give it up alex. It's impossible for Gesink to stay on his bike till the end, all the signs show the world is against him:
If you look closer you'll notice that even though all the pics from the stage show the weather was fine, the image of Gesink shows that he was under heavy rain. That can only mean that there's a cloud over him!
There's no escape
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| SotD |
Posted on 23-08-2011 21:13
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World Champion
Posts: 12631
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Kami wrote:
Heine wrote:
Am I blind to not see the mountain stage?
Stage 6. I was as surprised as you when i found out when i loaded the game, would have send another line up here if i would have known.
Hmm so would I. Definately! Pozzato have no shot then. Oh well good thing I already said I was happy with nothing.
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