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Strade Appia Antica discussion thread
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| Smowz |
Posted on 01-06-2013 10:12
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A cobbled classic in June?
A cobbled classic in Italy?
You betcha, as the old cobbled Appian way has several sections opened up for pro Cycling's elite cobblers to hammer down it. After last years introduction in the lower leagues, the race now is premièring on the big stage with interesting modifications which looks set for a thrilling finale.
The first unique feature that looms large is the Salita Di Velletri climb which is a length climb with a 5km stretch averaging 6% at the end. They descend this onto the 10 cobbled sections in the last 70km which will decide the race.
The course has been slightly redesigned from last year with the Appian Way sections spaced out such that we have three sections in the last 11km.
The cobbled kingpins are all here as you'd expect.  Pokerstars and  Simply Red Bull are ready to do battle once more for their leaders Boonen and Cancellara. Heir apparent  Sam Bewley is of course also here and these three proved our headline acts in the spring.
 Marcus Burghardt's Bacardi team may be more at home here in Italy, as would  Pipo Pozzato who did very well in the Flanders classics.  Danny Summerhill was another form rider from then.
Other big favourites to watch out for
 Adam Blythe,
 Nick Nuyens,
 Alessandro Ballan,
 Geert Steurs,
 Enrico Franzoi,
 Sep Vanmarke,
 Matteo Trentin,
 Jempy Drucker
and wildcard  Bpost leader Pieter VanSpreybrouck
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 01-06-2013 10:24
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Hoping the big climb could favour Gusev here but I really don't know how PCM works anymore  . Should be a really interesting race though... |
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| CountArach |
Posted on 01-06-2013 10:35
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Grand Tour Champion
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And my last PT wildcard of the season. A top 10 would be superb. I'm going to tip Cancellara for this one as the hill could well help him.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 01-06-2013 10:39
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A great addition to the PT-calendar, looking forward to a great report as well!
Would love to see a small group battling this out. Boonen, Spartacus and Bewley would make for such group  on the other hand, a local hero like Ballan or Franzoi taking it out would be nice. So good luck to all!
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| Heine |
Posted on 01-06-2013 10:39
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I like the profile, I really hope (and believe) this will be a great race
Rooting for Vanspeybruck here, I like it when wildcards steal wins ;-)
Edited by Heine on 01-06-2013 10:41
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| Roman |
Posted on 01-06-2013 14:00
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It will be a really interesting race with that big mountain on the road. Well, it would be way more interesting if AI could probably handle this race better than it will probably handle. But still, hopefully there will be a lot of action in the race and especially on that mountain as well, it would be great if that hill would be raced in a high tempo. And me personaly, I hope Bewley can battle for a podium spot once again.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 01-06-2013 14:03
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Should be a great race. I'll bet on Burghardt. Can't see the hill hurting anyone important. |
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| ember |
Posted on 01-06-2013 21:15
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I really like the profile of the race. I'm going for Bewley for the win, and Vanspeybrouck to podium.
For our own good, a breakaway would be nice. Looking forward to the report! |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 08-12-2025 06:08
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| cio93 |
Posted on 01-06-2013 21:19
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Nuyens could deliver here, and he really needs to to justify his place on my team.
The hill shouldn't make a big difference, and I spotted many cobbles sections are downhill, so I wonder whether that will lead to fewer attacks and a less selective race.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 02-06-2013 11:54
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Never mind 
Edited by Smowz on 02-06-2013 12:58
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| cio93 |
Posted on 02-06-2013 12:00
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Useless piece of shit, Nuyens is this season.
Well, at least a nice mid-race attack... 
Thanks Smowz for the report, difficult to get that situation across to the viewers.
Edited by cio93 on 02-06-2013 12:01
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 02-06-2013 12:14
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When you're leader gets in to the early break, then isn't even close to the strongest in that break, you know it's not a good race for you.
 [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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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 02-06-2013 12:45
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Anybody who saw the first report can ignore what happened there. The race will be re-done without including any of the narrow roads which featured so strongly initially.
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| miggi133 |
Posted on 02-06-2013 13:05
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Classics Specialist
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I love this race... Gave me my only win in the Cont-Div 2 last season... My prediction is that there will be another very surprising winner here!
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| jph27 |
Posted on 02-06-2013 21:49
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I loved the Rome themed report, great job Smowz. Nice result for your team as well |
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| SotD |
Posted on 02-06-2013 22:30
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8th is a great result from Steurs. Really pleased with that.
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| ember |
Posted on 02-06-2013 22:51
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Congratulations Smowz!
There's absolutely zero chance Simply Red Bull are going to relegate now, after Cancellara's magnificent two last races. Not that they were in big danger before. Well done race planning, especially California proved to be a masterpiece.
That was some great racing as well, really enjoyed the report. |
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| cio93 |
Posted on 03-06-2013 00:01
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Not really better than the first run.
Losing out to Ballan and Sibilla in a sprint isn't particularly impressive either, and when such a homogenous group like the chase one splits in two, it feels like he's always been in the latter piece.
Nuyens really has to step up in TONE, where I have to expect a fourth or fifth overall based on stats. Otherwise, he's been a complete 100% failure this season, and really jeopardised our hopes of avoiding relegation.
Well, at least Heineken and Bacardi take less points than one could expect. Sorry guys, I don't wish you bad luck, but I simply have to rely on your riders underperforming to stay up.
Thanks Smowz for the nicely done report(s), and congratulations as well for that magnificient win.
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| Roman |
Posted on 03-06-2013 00:34
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I really don't know how the race results looked in the first run, but actually from what I can see, I have to be really happy, another 2nd place is awesome. His wage will go insanely high though. 
And Congrats to Smowz, for the reporst firstly and once again to his Spartacus as well, my Jerome and Sam doesn't have him in their list of the best friends for sure.
EDIT: Oh, and nice by Alex Nepomnyachsniy as well. Not to great by Verbist again and as this is probably his swan-song, I have to say: thank you Evert for everything.
Edited by Roman on 03-06-2013 00:37
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| CountArach |
Posted on 03-06-2013 01:43
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Grand Tour Champion
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Thanks smowz, as a classicist I liked the report 
Great result for Vanspeybrouck. Congratulations to Cancellara.
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