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Clasico San Cristobal Discussion
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 20-01-2013 12:58
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A new addition to the game in the 2013 season, C2 races will prove to be a very interesting aspect to both the PCT and CT division. We have smaller fields here than the C1 races, and limits to how strong a PCT rider can be in order to ride here.
And it is Cuba where the season begins, the first time the Management Game has visited the island. Cycling is on the rise here with Raul Granjel Cabrera being a double Tour de France stage winner last season, but no Cubans will line up on the startlist - perhaps surprising that Yasmani Martinez and his Kenya Barclays squad are not here, as he could have done well with a home bonus.
Starting in the town of San Cristobal - not to be confused with the San Cristobal in Venezuela that will feature later in the month in the Vuelta al Tachira - the real action comes in the hills outside of the city, including an uphill finish. The extent of climbing could mean the a good backup mountain stat is necessary alongside the primary hill stat.
The startlist shows that 12 teams have made the journey for the race: 8 Continental and 4 ProContinental.
Lets have a look at the race contenders.
 
The two teams with the most depth in the hills in the CT division, Iberia are pretty unanimously the pre-season favourites to win the division - while Gazelle are also widely tipped to promote.
This is also a win goal for Iberia, so they are taking this very seriously. Joaquin Rodriguez is their leader, with the very able #2 of Samuel Sanchez. Able support also comes from Valencia, Toribio and Blazquez - will they try to control things, or opt for a more aggressive option?
Their season long rivalry with Gazelle begins here, and Pieter Weening will be very tough to beat. He also has a capable lead support rider in Blaz Furdi and further support in Kriek, Daspuntsag, Mugerli and Minnard.
 
The main opposition to these two comes from Adira-Isq Project and Team CSC-Orbea.
German champion Dietmar Mehr-Wenige supported Vesuvio-Accumalux to ProTour triumph last season and this year will lead the Portugese squad. His support does not match Iberia or Gazelle, but all he needs to do is beat their leaders.
Sergio Barrio meanwhile will be an interesting watch this year. PCT squad CSC-Orbea bought him for a high fee with the C2 division in mind this year. He is all hill stat, so perhaps will have better races than this, but surely one of the more unpredictable leaders.
 
The Iberian squads seem likely to be a heavy presence on the C2 hills this season as next up is FC Barcelona. Jordi Grau, plus Nieve and Calzati, may not have the firepower to win but expect them to be consisently up there all season.
On hill stat alone, Greek Perikles Ilias is the 5th best team leader in the race. Given the nature of the course, Carl Naibo could be his most useful helper in this race for Magna-Ryanair.
 
Allianz-BMW could be a threat in the race given the strong all round climbing nature of their leaders: Kim Kirchen and Yannick Talabardon. As well as support coming from Matteo Carrara.
And this is a relatively local race for Costa Rican squad BNCR, their hopes resting on Sergey Firsanov and Nazar Jumabekov.
 
Yonathan Monsalve has the best Stamina/Resistance combination of anyone in this race and leads Hollister's efforts. Mountains are more his strength than Hills however.
Over at Boeing-Vivacom, they are hoping the mountain stat is not important at all if Canadian Will Routley is to perform well.
 
We could also have a Canadian leader at Alstom-RBC with Sebastian Salas, riding alongside Frenchman Thomas Vauvourzeix.
And finally Team WWE, here due to their interest in the overall America Tour. Scoring any ranking points could be challenging however, best hopes for them are with Alexander Gottfried.
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Iberia, Gazelle and Adira will lead the battle as they hope to mark their debut race with victory. Can the more experienced teams present stop that from happening?
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 20-01-2013 13:02
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Should be a good race to kick off the CT season 
As for Yasmani I hadn't signed him when I sent in my race selection but kinda regretting it now  |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 20-01-2013 13:03
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FroomeDog99 wrote:
Should be a good race to kick off the CT season
As for Yasmani I hadn't signed him when I sent in my race selection but kinda regretting it now
For future season reference, you could have updated your C1/C2 choices right up to the end of the transfer season 
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| dev4ever |
Posted on 20-01-2013 13:03
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 Hoping for a mirackle.
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 20-01-2013 13:04
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SportingNonsense wrote:
FroomeDog99 wrote:
Should be a good race to kick off the CT season
As for Yasmani I hadn't signed him when I sent in my race selection but kinda regretting it now
For future season reference, you could have updated your C1/C2 choices right up to the end of the transfer season
Ok, really regretting it now
Edited by FroomeDog99 on 20-01-2013 13:05
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 20-01-2013 13:06
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Starting the season with a win goal. Team should be strong enough to either keep everything together or put someone in every dangerous attempt.
Seeing the rather small startlist, I have a feeling both my team and Gazelle will score an enormous amount of points in the hilly classics this season.
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| dev4ever |
Posted on 20-01-2013 13:11
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Spilak23 wrote:
Seeing the rather small startlist, I have a feeling both my team and Gazelle will score an enormous amount of points in the hilly classics this season.
Fearing the same.
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| cio93 |
Posted on 20-01-2013 13:19
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Really experiencing the benefits of loaning out as I have riders - and subsequently teams - to cheer for in basically every race
So Iberia and Magna have my support here, and I'm pretty confident Bongiorno will help the future race winner. It could very well be a massive points haul from Iberia and Gazelle to start their promotion campaign.
Edited by cio93 on 20-01-2013 13:20
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| Vien |
Posted on 20-01-2013 13:21
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Pretty sure Weening will win this. But some randomness would be really good for me. These are the races I just have to sit and pray that Iberia and Gazelle won't do well.
Bring it on!
Edited by Vien on 20-01-2013 13:22
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 20-01-2013 13:24
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Vien wrote:
Pretty sure Weening will win this. But some randomness would be really good for me. These are the races I just have to sit and pray that Iberia and Gazelle won't do well.
Bring it on!
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| fintas |
Posted on 20-01-2013 13:39
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It would be optimal to enter the season with a victory, but the competition is very strong. Yet whatever is below a top5 will be a disappointment for me .... And I think this goes for Rodriguez
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 20-01-2013 13:52
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Hope to gain a few points for the America Tour classification can't really hope for much more! |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 20-01-2013 14:02
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Barrio has to pick his spots wisely with no decent helpers, because the rest of the team is just here for the experience. Should be interesting to see how he fares.
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| Christer |
Posted on 20-01-2013 14:04
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The America Tour points will come in handy if I manage to snatch some.
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 20-01-2013 14:05
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The season starts; very excited!
Interesting to see what Barrio can do. I hope back-up stats are not practically ignored.
There's lots of strong competition missing btw. Scarponi, Cioban, Chaoufi, Schurter for example. Would have expected their teams to enter this race.
Good luck to everyone involved. But not too much.
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| Firefly21 |
Posted on 20-01-2013 14:53
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The first Gazelle vs. Iberia race of the season (popcorn.gif). Though I am surprised to see several of CT's top puncheurs skip this race that is good for Ilias who I think can grab a top 10 though these races will probably be very volatile.
It seems like the mountain stat will be important in this race judging by the startlist (with 72/74 Jumarbekov ahead of 68/75 Ilias), so Naibo may be able to stick with the pack for awhile, though that doesn't bode well for my domestiques as they are less well rounded in that area.
Joaquin Rodriguez to win for me, interested to see how Barrio fares, he's one of the true PCT wildcards for CT races.
Edited by Firefly21 on 20-01-2013 15:08
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| jaxika |
Posted on 20-01-2013 14:54
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I barely wait to start and see what my guys can do against a strong opposition. Good luck for all |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 20-01-2013 15:07
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Okay hard to look past J-Rod based on real life.
A pretty brutal looking hill classic - not sure it will suit Barrio will be interesting to see how he rides.
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 20-01-2013 15:27
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Firefly21 wrote:
The first Gazelle vs. Iberia race of the season (popcorn.gif). Though I am surprised to see several of CT's top puncheurs skip this race that is good for Ilias who I think can grab a top 10 though these races will probably be very volatile.
It seems like the mountain stat will be important in this race judging by the startlist (with 72/74 Jumarbekov ahead of 68/75 Ilias), so Naibo may be able to stick with the pack for awhile, though that doesn't bode well for my domestiques as they are less well rounded in that area.
Joaquin Rodriguez to win for me, interested to see how Barrio fares, he's one of the true PCT wildcards for CT races.
Here, choose one. https://www.reacti...corn-gifs/
@jaxika: I think Talabardon is a major top 5 contender.
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| ggDonovan |
Posted on 20-01-2013 15:59
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Really exited to see the season kick off!
I see in Purito the main fav to win this one. He's got the best combination of MO and HI stats.
About my team, I hope I can place one rider in the top 10 and another in the top 20. I think we don't have what it takes to win this race but we can present some battle.
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