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Smowzs' CTour team preview
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:00
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Team Leader
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The new division adds more players into the mix, the first transfer season was bound to be a whirlwind of activity.
Limited to a fairly meagre wage cap, some managers cleverly realised the best shot at success was through transferring in a leader. Aging stars such as Arroyo, Marzano, Menchov, Steegmans, Sammy Sanchez, Niemec and Larsson transferred in from PT and PCT teams. All these riders lead their teams in an attempt to move their teams into the PCT and indeed to compete with them.
Relatively few squads used the opportunity of being on the lowest rung to go full on developmental. I think this makes the division much more interesting with a high degree of competition.
There are 22 teams, though Cadbury hardly count so I will not be doing much detail on them. So we will go in sevens starting with those I feel will be in the top seven.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:02
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Team Leader
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The best two teams for me are Iberia and Gazelle.
Iberia have a very nice squad with three very recognisable names leading a very good climbing squad. Purito, Moreno and Samu are really good riders with a generous amount of race days. I also like the look of Saulo Lay, though sprinting in this division like all the others is a minefield of course. Some good support riders too, one problem I guess is the long term nature, but new talents can always be bought in.
Team Gazelle have calmly assembled a very decent hill climbing squad headlined by Weening, Westra and Furdi. But behind these three is excellent strength in depth with very good all round talents. No time wasted with sprinters so it will be classics and GC classifications for this team.
There are a few crazy ideas out of the Die Berg Komt Er team but in Arroyo, Flens and Duque they have three leaders in their field at this level. Arroyo needs a carefully planned season with just the 34 race days, but Flens and Duque should have the chance to ride often. They may be hampered by a few too many loanees but will still have the powerhouses to propel them high on the standings.
Allianz took in top class cobbler in Maes from Bpost and in bringing Coyot in they have one of the best cobbling they have a couple of good sprinters in Thorsen and Dekkers. Thorsen needs the right combination of luck and no hills to win his races but he usually does pop up and win a couple. Carrara and Takabardon give the team a presence in the mountains also.
When the road goes up watch out for Kappa's experienced Italians Marzano, Scarponi, Maisto, Mori and Failli. A nice real feel squad with a couple of Italian youngsters mixed with a few riders from other nationalities. Also a sensible couple of loanees also, not paying wages and with riders who could be useful, smart move.
Adira didn't stick to their nationality so much but it was always going to be tough in Portugal. Mehr-Wenige is one of the best punchaers at this rank and has been dangerous at much higher levels. Got a nice variety about the team with a couple of half decent sprinters and a good mountain man with decent support. Plenty of room to grow also and a nice amount of activity, I like this squad.
When Kenya Airways formed you thought here comes one of those novelty squads. But actually has formed a well thought out squad with two very decent climbers at the top in Martinez and Ndbri. Yasmani Martinez has slid down a level and I expect him to be a bit more prominent. I don't really understand three way loan with Armavia but it works out well for Kenya Airways, if putting them with a few too many riders - a nice problem to have sometimes.
1. Iberia
2. Gazelle
3. Kappa
4. Adira
5. De Berg Komt Er
6. Allianz
7. Kenya Airways
Edited by Smowz on 14-01-2013 22:03
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:02
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Team Leader
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The next seven are next and many of these certainly still have a shot at promotion in what is a very equal looking CT bunch.
Boeing Vivacom picked up a really good rider Geraint Thomas who has experienced cobbled races at the highest level. He has a couple of really useful helpers in Bulgarians Grashev and Hristov along with Canadian Jamie Sparling and wildcard Bakari. The team have also a very decent pair of mountain climbers in Parra Bustamante and Colorado who have had decent results in in the CTour in the past. Italian sprinter Chicchi has never been able to conquer the climbs but is a respectable sprinter who I expect to pick up a number of podiums and possibly add to his wins. There is a lot to like about this team, but caution is required about the overemphasisis on cobbles, these races are but few.
I'm finding it hard to place Banco Nacional de Costa Rica as they have a couple of unpredictable riders. Gert Steegmans was a bit of a problem for Team Bacardi, they really needed to this aging cobbler cum sprinter. Steegmans is a rider who has had a chequered mangame history and often doesn't get good value from his race days. That said he will be hard to drop in the cobbled stuff and with his sprint he could be like his friend Boonan in the Protour. Another unpredictable rider is star Costa Rican Marco Guillen who Pokerstars managed to get a few wins out of. Guillen has incredible speed of course if and its a big if his engine fires. Elsewhere there is a numbers of climbers so I'll place this team in the midtable somewhere.
Magna Ryanair have the makings of a strong team, but they have hurt themselves by paying out over 300K on a rather raw Quartet of loanees. This after nabbing a good bunch of climbers and a couple of useful sprinters. I think Speirs has a chance of scoring some good results in the field gallops. Whilst Rohregger, Ilias and Naibo look very good hardy climbers - Rohregger in particular could challange the stronger climbers in the division. I think it will be a good season if this team can get in the top 10.
Like so many CTour teams Mobil-Castrol have got a strong base of climbers and a couple of so so sprinters. It's a bit of a motley crew of riders signed from all over the Europe and South America but there are very few short on quality riders. That said it's hard to pick a real race winner, so planning will be crucial. If they can avoid the big hitters then this team could do a 'Red Bull' but such mastery cannot always be easily repeated.
Privatbank fall under a similar category to Mobil, but could have a real strong sprinter in Maksimov. The hope is the Russians climbing skills will not let him down, in fact this story is often repeated from this team who's main source of joy will surely be in the sprints. I'm well aware of the battling qualities of Vorganov and he could be a good breakaway hilly classics style winner in this company. Privatbank whilst not paying many loanees wage do have four young loanees which may hurt them a bit but should finish near the top ten teams.
MTN - World Bicycle Relief will be a big boost for the African riders and were determined to land some good younger riders. This team have mixed the youth development quite well with signing at least some good experienced riders. Rodas is known of course by me and famously gave Alarcon a good run for the money last year at the Tachira stage race. Abdullah is a good sprinter also who is capable of snatching some sprint wins. But 21 year old South Aftican Meintjes is the big long term prospect, should be a good un in a couple of years.
With an eye for the veterans, FC Barcelona remind me a lot of ING Cycling's first year team Pirelli-Internazionale. We saw a lot of veteran riders do well in last years lowest tier and it could be a nice way to swan of into retirement for the likes of Menchov, Calzati and co. Some of these riders have been mini gems for their teams Jordi Grau and Jaime Rovira come to mind. Team will score solid results and have the kind of riders like Lequatre for instance who are dangerous breakaway men.
8. Boeing Vivacom
9. Team Privatbank
10. Magna Ryanair
11. FC Barcelona
12. Banco de Costa Rica
13. MTN WBR
14. Mobil- Castrol
Edited by Smowz on 14-01-2013 22:03
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:02
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Team Leader
Posts: 6479
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So we come to the bottom eight or so teams.
The two weakest teams are probably Cadbury and JK Cycling. Obviously both lack a couple of big names but could still both strike in the sprints and from the breaks. JK Cycling are really Japan's second string team and it's not like Meiji have set the world alight yet. Still there is a decent base of riders including Kevin Peeters - I guess the two loanees from Meiji could be helpful in sprints but I think its a bit too generous to pay their wage.
Sauber have the dubious honour of being the team to have signed Indonesian track style sprinter Samai Samai. He is joined by Malaysian track style sprinter Awang and Iranian climber Alizadeh in the Asian wing of this squad. There is lots of developmental talent here with lots of small mid european countries also involved. With so much development going on, the top end looks pretty weak. Awang and even Samai may strike once or twice but it will be a mainly barren season with Alizadeh and Swiss puncaher Schurter ploughing a lone assault on high end points.
![pcmdaily.com/images/shirtdb/ekspla-15p499317e2e8505ad58ae0ed30f2475f0a322d6100.png<br />
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<strong>Ekspla-Cision</strong> have a full squad which probably means that too many riders have been purchased and perhaps 5 riders could have been merged into one. As we have seen with the old CDiv2 teams some loyalty with former riders has led to them taking up some room. None really look like regular winners on the CTour proper. Saramotins and Cioban look like the best prospects for top results, but it looks like a pretty steady and unspectacular squad to me.<br />
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<strong>Credexbank</strong> have a more streamlined squad with Polish veteran CTour stage racer the absolute star. Though the Pole was not that great for Ferrari last year, however he has a decent race day allocation so could do well. But beyond him it is really only sprinters Clarke and Kankovsky who'l be headlining this team who are leaning towards a bit of deveopment of BeleRussian riders. Developing rider teams will of course have to accept that team ranking position will be sacrificed , team not helped by a pair of unuseful loanees.<br />
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[img]https://pcmdaily.com/images/shirtdb/jersey5png724ede33ba581c817ea2763a5bc3aea6abe5088.png](https://pcmdaily.com/images/shirtdb/ekspla-15p499317e2e8505ad58ae0ed30f2475f0a322d6100.png<br />
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<strong>Ekspla-Cision</strong> have a full squad which probably means that too many riders have been purchased and perhaps 5 riders could have been merged into one. As we have seen with the old CDiv2 teams some loyalty with former riders has led to them taking up some room. None really look like regular winners on the CTour proper. Saramotins and Cioban look like the best prospects for top results, but it looks like a pretty steady and unspectacular squad to me.<br />
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<strong>Credexbank</strong> have a more streamlined squad with Polish veteran CTour stage racer the absolute star. Though the Pole was not that great for Ferrari last year, however he has a decent race day allocation so could do well. But beyond him it is really only sprinters Clarke and Kankovsky who#39;l be headlining this team who are leaning towards a bit of deveopment of BeleRussian riders. Developing rider teams will of course have to accept that team ranking position will be sacrificed , team not helped by a pair of unuseful loanees.<br />
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[img]https://pcmdaily.com/images/shirtdb/jersey5png724ede33ba581c817ea2763a5bc3aea6abe5088.png)
Halfords seems to have overspent for Ricki Nelson, who weighs in at just above the run of the mill sprinters but doesn't really justify 250K wage outlay. It's an Anglophile type team with some well known names, but their corresponing stats are not really condusive to top of the range performances. The team look average in comparison to the rest with quite a lot of riders who were basically on the scrapheap. They'll cobble together a fun team but ultimately mediocre one.
Vattenfall re not disimalar to Credexbank with one really good aging stage racer and a fairly average looking rest of the squad. Gustav Larsson is arguably a better signing than Niemec, however team left themselves some way short of their wage cap. Lots of solid climbing support style riders who could be dangerous in a breakaway. Kept to the Northern European flavour which keeps the team neat and tidy and Larsson will be good enough to keep them away from the lower reaches but not that much higher.
Risa Ergon are Norwegian development side with a goodish French climber and a couple of decent looking sprinters. Certainly a team for the future but I fear their sprinters could be rather lost in the pack. Feillu could be a fun rider to follow and some of the scandenavian punchaers Olsson and Rake could do something. Still will likely be one of the teams on the lower end by year end.
15. Vattenfall
16. Credexbank
17. Ekspla
18. Risa Ergon
19. Halfords
20. Sauber
21. Cadbury's
22. JK Cycling
Edited by Smowz on 14-01-2013 22:04
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:08
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4573
Joined: 07-10-2012
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I like my seventh position! Nice preview, similar to how I rate the division  |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:08
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World Champion
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14th isn't bad, but I'm going to contradict that, I'm telling you right now.  |
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:10
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Nice Preview Smowz! Think you placed all teams really well as I expect the
7 teams you named to fight for the promotion spots!
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:12
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Have to agree with you that Iberia and Gazelle are the teams to beat. The hills are usually the main terrain in CT races, and they really stand above the rest in depth there.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:14
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Tour de France Champion
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8th, about what i expected
Go Big or Go Home!!!
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| cio93 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:17
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World Champion
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I really hope to contribute to Iberia's promotion with Bongiorno 
I haven't had a deep look at all teams so far, but I share your prediction of the first places.
Good luck to all managers and I'm looking forward to a fun CT season to follow from where some of you hopefully will be sooner or later 
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| fintas |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:18
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Small Tour Specialist
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Excellent preview ... But to be honest I was not expecting to be appointed to the top .. Otherwise I agree on most predictions thinking differently only in very few cases.
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| Vien |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:18
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2322
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Nice preview. I agree with most of it, I'd just put Kappa (HC races) and Gazelle a bit lower and Vattenfall a bit higher.
Just a few days to go, woo!
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| Firefly21 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:32
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Domestique
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I'd be absolutely stunned if Gazzelle didn't win the CTour, and comfortably. They just have so much depth it is outrageous.
Vattenfall seems underrated to me, I think it's a very good squad.
For me, I think Iberia and Gazelle are pretty much locks and then from there it is an absolute crap shoot from there on out.
Great preview, enjoyed it!
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| baggieboys32 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 23:09
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Sprinter
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Well, from the looks of it I better hope Ricki Nelson performs
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 23:29
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I reckon my team will end up top 15 as we've got the potential to cause a few upsets and it looks like we won't have to face the best riders in the division as often as most. I can see the top riders being either European or Africa based and we hardly touch those areas.
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 15-01-2013 00:53
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Small Tour Specialist
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Nice preview Smowz! I'd be delighted if your predictions turn out to be accurate.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 15-01-2013 06:00
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World Champion
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Nice preview indeed, especially i like this part: "If they can avoid the big hitters then this team could do a 'Red Bull' but such mastery cannot always be easily repeated."
I think you get the possible rankings nicely, but it is hard to say here as this can turn out totally unpredictable. I will cheer for our Ukrainian collegues from PrivatBank, hopefully they will have that top 10 place you give them. (well but they can wait with possible promotion).
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| fjhoekie |
Posted on 15-01-2013 07:49
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Nice preview. 8th to 11th is what I really expect from my team, Maksimov will have to perform... However, I just don't want to promote... With Prevar and Topchanyuk out to train I could certainly be much stronger next season.
And yes, I'd also be surprised if either Gazelle or Iberia didn't win the CT.
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
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| Stevenag |
Posted on 15-01-2013 08:17
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Domestique
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Would be surprised to end up in 3. place with my Kappa-team. Marzano should take some points (i hope to at least get some mountain races with no Arroyo) but my schedule and planning is more based on getting as many xp-points as possible for riders like Penasa.
As a bonus i think i screwed up in a few places with my race planning. Still hope for a place in the top 6-7 but not much higher than that. |
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| jph27 |
Posted on 15-01-2013 08:23
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3/5 of the top 5 are the same as mine and 9/10 of the top 10. I think you underrated BNCR though |
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
