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Vuelta a la Region de Murcia Discussion
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| ember |
Posted on 12-12-2011 19:59
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Vuelta a la Region de Murcia
A short and intense stage race awaits the rider in Murcia, a region in the South Eastern Spain. It's a very interesting race, that's for sure. It contains 1 flat stage, 1 hilly stage and 1 short time trial. Who needs to be favourite in such a race? The race is on the ManGame calendar for the very first time, making it even harder to predict! But lets take it team by team, at least try to take it team by team.
Jack Wolfskin has brought Gesink to this race. The Dutchman comes from a recent success in The Basque Country, and he has everything needed to succeed again. Ruben Plaza might be an outsider, he's a very strong time trialist, and if he's withing striking distance before the final time trial, he could challenge for the overall win.
Sony Ericsson has brought one of their biggest names. Yuri Trofimov is one of the absolutely best puncheurs out there, he's 7th place on the individual ranking only underlines that. He also has knows how to handle the time trial bike, combined with his lethal kick on hills, that might give him the overall victory here in Spain.
UBS - La Pierre has allowed their German star, Schumacher, to come out to play. An extremely strong puncheur, who's looking for a strong show here. His manager definitely hopes he can deliver a podium here, giving them a respite in the battle to avoid relegation.
Wikipedia brings their two young, American stars to defend their colours. Phinney is a rider almost everyone will need to gap before the final time trial. van Garderen is a rider almost everyone will need to follow on the 2nd stage, as he's a great puncheur, but not amongst the greatest time trialist. The duo from Wikipedia will certainly bring some extra spice to this race, like salt & pepper. I'm just happy I don't have to pick who's going to be main captain in this race!
Spyker Cars' Dekker, Pendleton's' Zabriskie, Milka's Coppel , Santander's Tenorio and Nestlé's Karpets are all very similar. They are decent on the hills, but will be lethal in any time trial they participate in, meaning they're not the kind of rider you want to have chasing a few seconds behind, before the time trial.
Colombia's Abal, Vesuvio's Intxausti and Carmeuse's Taaramäe are in the same category as those last mentioned; decent on the hills, but great time trialists. Especially Abal and Intxausti must be pumped up for this race, afterall, they're racing on home soil.
Festina has only sent one of their puncheurs, and no Contador, meaning the underperforming Pozzato will most likely defend their colours in Murcia. He's lacking the necessary skills on a time trial bike, but he has a great kick for the finish line, which makes him a dangerous contender for a podium spot, and maybe a stage win?
Then comes those "nasty," pure puncheurs, at least that's how I think the time trialists will think of them. Boasson Hagen, Bakelants and Ponzi should do everything in their power to get rid of the others on stage 2, that's their only real chance at an overall victory here. Bakelants has been outstanding so far this season, Ponzi has been solid, and Boasson Hagen has been disappointing, is that about to change in Murcia?
Finally, there's wild card team Cerne. They've brought their strongest man, Luis Leon Sanchez to this race, and they hope he can justify their spot. I'm sure their manager will be pleased with a top 10 overall, but looking at stage 2's finish, and the downhill abilities of Luis Leon, I will certainly not rule him out for a stage win.
My apologies goes to Bacardi - Ignis, Warner Brothers and Webeffect, for not mentioning any of your riders as a pre-race favourite. Luckily, cycling isn't all about pre-judging, and I guess a stage win to one of the three teams will make their week, and a bit more!
Anyway, here's the startlist:
Spoiler Jack Wolfskin
1. R. Gesink
2. S. Chavanel
3. K. De Kort
4. W. Jallays
5. R. Plaza
6. S. Rosseler
7. D. Van Winden
8. B. Vaugrenard
Sony
11. Y. Trofimov
12. S. Anza
13. J. Danacik
14. R. Granjel Cabrera
15. F. Johansson
16. D. Muravjev
17. S. Pauwels
18. A. Wetterhall
UBS
21. S. Schumacher
22. M. Albasini
23. S. Barrio
24. D. Champion
25. A. Kristoff
26. F. Marquez
27. M. Richeze
28. F. Stalder
Wikipedia
31. T. Phinney
32. D. Atapuma
33. B. Bookwalter
34. M. Goss
35. G. Lejman
36. T. Pinot
37. A. Sebright
38. T. Van Garderen
Spyker
41. T. Dekker
42. N. Edet
43. A. Geniez
44. B. Kadri
45. D. Teklehaimanot
46. A. Vichot
47. E. Weiss
48. A. Zeits
Pendleton's
51. D. Zabriskie
52. B. Bozic
53. R. Downing
54. P. Gilbert
55. R. Margaliot
56. J. McEvoy
57. A. Moletta
58. B. Wiggins
Milka
61. J. Coppel
62. S. Bewley
63. L. Bret
64. A. Efimkin
65. R. Kreuziger
66. Y. Nepomnyachsniy
67. M. Vanderaerden
68. M. Vysna
Festina
71. F. Pozzato
72. T. Dees
73. D. Drapac
74. A. Lavoine
75. R. Navardauskas
76. V. Reynès
77. P. Voss
78. N. Østergaard
Nestlé
81. V. Karpets
82. D. Di Luca
83. M. Durán
84. J. Fiedler
85. P. Fédrigo
86. D. Loosli
87. H. Mottin
88. D. Vitoria
Cerne
91. L. Sanchez Gil
92. C. Baltazar
93. M. Cunha
94. R. Martins
95. N. Oliveira
96. B. Pires
97. M. Portela
98. R. Vilela
Santander
101. J. Tenorio
102. J. Del Nero
103. F. Echarri
104. I. Erviti
105. A. Galdos
106. D. Ortega
107. R. Serrano
108. F. Ventoso
Carmeuse
111. R. Taaramäe
112. S. Caethoven
113. B. Curfs
114. J. El Fares
115. T. Gallopin
116. G. Levarlet
117. J. Libert
118. O. Solis
B&O
121. E. Hagen
122. M. Christensen
123. R. Guldhammer
124. C. Jørgensen
125. N. Keinath
126. D. Klemme
127. A. Steensen
128. K. Vanoverschelde
Pearl
131. T. Kangert
132. J. Bakelants
133. W. De Vocht
134. E. Franzoi
135. G. Nizzolo
136. B. Samoilev
137. J. Vastaranta
138. W. Walker
Vesuvio
141. B. Intxausti
142. M. Ford
143. J. Hoogerland
144. D. Mehr-Wenige
145. M. Paterski
146. D. Stundzia
147. B. Swift
148. J. Wallays
Wiggle
151. S. Ponzi
152. L. Bertagnolli
153. D. Caruso
154. T. Diggle
155. R. Hampton
156. R. Nocentini
157. M. Pavarin
158. T. Zaini
Colombia
161. D. Abal
162. J. Baños Ballester
163. A. Brea
164. J. Castañeda
165. S. Joly
166. F. Perez Sanchez
167. W. RodrÃguez Parra
168. C. Sarmiento
Webeffect
171. S. Ghisalberti
172. T. Bontenackels
173. I. Camaño
174. G. Gazvoda
175. F. Matamoros
176. A. Mironov
177. R. Nelson
178. V. Rodrigues
Bacardi
181. J. Ghyselinck
182. J. Kocjan
183. S. Mancuso
184. M. Mugerli
185. S. Pardilla
186. M. Perget
187. E. Sokolov
188. F. Terciado
Warner Bros
191. J. Sergent
192. A. Castro Rodriguez
193. A. Colom Mas
194. D. Gallego
195. I. Mayo
196. S. Perez Fernandez
197. C. Rojas Villegas
198. P. Sibila Romero
Edited by ember on 13-12-2011 15:16
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 12-12-2011 20:03
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Top 10 would be a nice result here for Intxausti - it relies upon a quiet hilly stage really. Swift can hopefully grab something from the first stage.
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| SotD |
Posted on 12-12-2011 20:14
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Do'h! Thought I brought Contador here. What a blooper.
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 12-12-2011 20:26
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This could be a perfect race for us. Too bad the finish of the second stage is downhill which means we need some bike handling...
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 12-12-2011 20:33
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Time for Spyker Cars to bring home some points. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 07:52
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 12-12-2011 20:37
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You people are crazy, all this talk of UBS relegation. But yeah Schumacher better do something good here. Some tough competition though, I would say Gesink wins.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 12-12-2011 20:41
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Come on Dave Z! Let's hope this follows the pattern of the Tour de France irl - first 2/3 are dull and defensive as hell and then some English-speaking dude wins it in the TT.
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 12-12-2011 21:06
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This has got Schumacher written all over it. Would have thought stage 2 will be most decisive with little movement as a result of Stage 3. The climb looks steep - hope the MO stat will play a part in it for Abal. |
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| Roman |
Posted on 12-12-2011 21:30
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Bewley for the first stage, Efimkin for the second stage, Coppel for the last one. Hopefully it will work somehow..
Edited by Roman on 12-12-2011 21:30
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| p3druh |
Posted on 12-12-2011 21:56
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Bakelants for the 2nd place!
Honestly though, a top-10 will suffice.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 13-12-2011 05:54
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Is it only me, or Murcia is not in the 2012 calendar sheet?I was browsing the races to see when some Div2 race will take place and not Murcia in there in April, so maybe i have the old one?
Anyway it should be an interesting race, with lot of big names, good luck.
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| CountArach |
Posted on 13-12-2011 06:28
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Is it only me, or Murcia is not in the 2012 calendar sheet?I was browsing the races to see when some Div2 race will take place and not Murcia in there in April, so maybe i have the old one?
Anyway it should be an interesting race, with lot of big names, good luck.
It appears that it isn't in the Div 2 calendar but it is in the regular one.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 13-12-2011 07:28
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CountArach wrote:
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Is it only me, or Murcia is not in the 2012 calendar sheet?I was browsing the races to see when some Div2 race will take place and not Murcia in there in April, so maybe i have the old one?
Anyway it should be an interesting race, with lot of big names, good luck.
It appears that it isn't in the Div 2 calendar but it is in the regular one.
You are right, i find the full one now, so it is okay, thanks 
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 13-12-2011 17:35
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It would have been quite stupid for Gesink do be dropped there while we were doing the pace. I'm glad nothing bad happened. 
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| SotD |
Posted on 13-12-2011 17:42
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I should really have considered the option of not picking Lavoine in the same races as Pozzato. Looking at the winner, Pozzato could have made an interesting move today aswell. Atleast he didn't drop for no particular reason today. Which is good. I'll have to hope for a lucky punch from him tomorrow in order to get something from here. Fingers are crossed.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 13-12-2011 18:37
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SotD wrote:
I should really have considered the option of not picking Lavoine in the same races as Pozzato. Looking at the winner, Pozzato could have made an interesting move today aswell. Atleast he didn't drop for no particular reason today. Which is good. I'll have to hope for a lucky punch from him tomorrow in order to get something from here. Fingers are crossed.
Yeh, pairing those 2 together seems like a waste of Pozzato to me. Pozzato is probably a better sprinter than Lavoine, but the game will go for Lavoine, and you suffer.
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| SotD |
Posted on 13-12-2011 18:42
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Yeah. Luckily they only have the Seine-Marne-Seine where they are paired after this race. So the "fight" should be over by now. Lavoine will be sprinting in basically every Small Tour from now on, so hopefully he can do something on his own. Atleast he already outperformed the season he did last year
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 13-12-2011 18:47
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I think Lavoine already achieved a more than great result by grabbing a stage win in Oman for his condition. He has 80 in sprint, yes, but as soon as a hill is passed, the Frenchman is done, while his 64 resistance stat isn't helping either.
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 13-12-2011 19:08
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What an excellent result! More than I expected out of this race already, considering I was told that Ignatiev would have been perfect for this race.
[url=cleavercycling.co.uk]  [/url] |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 13-12-2011 20:46
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Cyanide need to somehow program in a sense of danger to attacks on the downhills. There's always something a bit lame in the game about seeing someone get away on that kind of run in, whereas in real life it's real seat of your pants stuff.....
Well done to Ponzi and Wiggle though. Good to see them win in the PT. |
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