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Eneco Tour Discussion
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 10:29
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| ember |
Posted on 13-06-2013 07:48
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It's back! Eneco Tour has been missing from the ManGame calendar since 2009, but four years later, 152 riders line up fourth edition in the ManGame history.
However, the race is cut in half compared to earlier editions, as this year's race consists of four stages, compared to eight stages from 2007 to 2009. What might be even more special, is that the race looks perfect for any sprinter hoping for overall glory.
All four stages are pancake flat, and with 19 teams lining up, there should be more than enough fire power to shut down breakaway attempts for overall glory.
Then, let's see what we have for this sprinter friendly race!
#1 is given to
 Danilo Napolitano
No one can question his abilities in flat sprints, and Evian-MIAT has also brought a team ready to die for Napolitano. Potentially they can line up a great train, ending with either Manarelli or Sonnery.
 Maxime Vantomme
 Jurgen Roelandts
 Mark Cavendish
are other top sprinter who have found their way to Benelux and Netherlands for the start of Eneco Tour. They all got superb support for a sprint. Docker and Vaitkus might be two of the very best lead out men, and they'll both work for Cavendish here!
Roelandts has to rely on Weylandt for the final lead out, while Vantomme needs to trust the aging Italian Cucinotta for the final push to the line.
One that can't rely much on support for a sprint train is
 Ivan Lo Cicero
Another usual problem for him is any speed bump on the route. However, here in Benelux, there's pretty much no one, meaning that won't be an excuse if he fails to deliver! Based on pure sprinter, he's the best here, but will his team and his other skills be good enough for a podium overall?
 Ismaël Kip
 Alois Kankovský
are similar riders to Lo Cicero, perhaps only a bit worse. They lack the top speed of the Italian, but that doesn't mean they're bad, as anyone lacks the top speed Lo Cicero has!
 Nolan Hoffman
 Heinrich Haussler
 Tom Veelers
have proved earlier that they've the needed backup stats. Neither of them are brilliant pure sprinters, but if wind conditions and other unreliable factors play in their favour, they could be right up there, sprinting for stage wins and a good overall placing.
 Óscar Avelino
is a great sprinter. He had a brilliant May in terms of points and results, can he continue his roll?
Other sprinters definitely worth mentioning are
 Danilo Kupfernagel
Tyler Farrar
 Mathieu Drujon
 Michel Kreder
 Aleksander Serebriakov
And finally we must take a closer look at Team Bpost and HTC-Nieuwsblad. Bpost at least brought Drujon for the sprints, but they've also brought their strong men in
Pieter Vanspeybrouck
Niels Albert
Are they planning to make the race as hard as possible, maybe favoured by tough wind conditions?
The same can definitely be said about HTC Nieuwsblad. They've brought something close to their A-team for cobbles, headed by
 Jérôme Baugnies
And they've brought no real sprinter as well, putting all their eggs in the basket named a race only for the strongest.
The full startlist:
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 13-06-2013 08:03
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Any points would be good. |
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| roturn |
Posted on 13-06-2013 08:11
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Have waited for this race for a long time.
The startlist was expected to be that huge, but I hope to grab a stage win somehow with the National bonus.
Also a GC podium is aimed, even though a top5 would be good as well. Everything below would be a bit disappointed no matter the start list.
Napolitano, Roelandts, Vantomme, Avelino, Lo Cicero, Cavendish might be the fastest here, so I hope it`s possible.  |
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| jph27 |
Posted on 13-06-2013 08:13
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Top 5 goal here, but Napolitano has 5 wins already so we may as well make it ten |
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| CountArach |
Posted on 13-06-2013 09:05
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Hmmm not sure what I think will happen here. Napolitano is of course a good bet but I'm going with Roelandts. I think the combination of long stages and sprint points close to the finish in all the stages will dish up some odd stage winners... I just have to hope that Drujon is one of them!
Also if there is wind on stage 3, which is over 200km in length, it really could break up quite nicely and favour the strong men. Hopefully Vanspeybrouck gives it a go - I'm sure he won't mind working with Baugnies just this once
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 13-06-2013 09:11
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Miguel98 wrote:
Any points would be good.
Same here..
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| Smowz |
Posted on 13-06-2013 09:35
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This could definitely be Evian's comeback - after an excellent consistent tour in Iran Nappy is filling.
Any sort of break will win it of course. Though I think it will be a sprint fest.
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 13-06-2013 09:38
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God, this will be tremendous race from our perspective 
Roelandts or Vantomme to be the stars of the show I'd think.
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| cio93 |
Posted on 13-06-2013 10:59
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CountArach wrote:
I think the combination of long stages and sprint points close to the finish in all the stages will dish up some odd stage winners...
This.
Managers, don't be surprised if your 82+ sprinter doesn't get a single podium, be happy about the bonus seconds from the intermediate sprints instead.
From recent experience, they might fuck up about half of the favourites every stage, I fear.
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 13-06-2013 11:46
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This will be a critical test for the AMEX squad. We have our top 2 sprinters here Kupfernagel and Farrar and a solid support team.
Just to keep things spicy we have breakaway threat Bart Veyt to keep everybody honest.
If Bpost and HTC want to run hard Bernhard Eisel can stay with them.
Should be interesting.
=========================================
Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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| tyriion |
Posted on 13-06-2013 13:52
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Hopefully one stage will have a not-so-regulated sprint where we might luck out. Otherwise top 5 will be hard to achieve.
Check out my ManGame team here
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| fintas |
Posted on 13-06-2013 13:59
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I bet on a surprise therefore, Maxime Vantomme is my bet for the final victory
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| felix_29 |
Posted on 13-06-2013 14:01
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Such a strong field, i doubt that Haussler is able to get a podium or even a Top5. I had a lot of bad luck in the recent races, so maybe i can somehow get lucky in this race.
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| roturn |
Posted on 13-06-2013 14:07
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fintas wrote:
I bet on a surprise therefore, Maxime Vantomme is my bet for the final victory
Would this be such a surprise?
He is the best placed sprinter in the rankings I think while not having used half of his race days yet. |
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| jph27 |
Posted on 13-06-2013 14:13
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Actually Hoffman is, then Vantomme and Napolitano. Davis and Haussler complete the top 5 I think |
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| fintas |
Posted on 13-06-2013 14:15
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roturn wrote:
fintas wrote:
I bet on a surprise therefore, Maxime Vantomme is my bet for the final victory
Would this be such a surprise?
He is the best placed sprinter in the rankings I think while not having used half of his race days yet.
Can not be said to be a surprise but it is not the main favorite in my point of view
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| roturn |
Posted on 13-06-2013 14:16
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Missed Hoffmann.
Then the best sprinter, who collected the points in sprints.
But agree with you here. I would be more than happy as well as I think Roelands and Napolitano will be stronger.
Edited by roturn on 13-06-2013 14:16
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 13-06-2013 15:08
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Massive startlist as expected. It'll be tremendously tough to fight for the higher placings, but all of the riders already named can become the winner. Simultaneously any of them can also be 15th or 20th easily, it's going to be ugly for some.
So I hope the final results won't differ too much from the individual + team sprinting skills, which would put Avelino around 4th-7th. My favourite here is Cavendish, but I guess this could be Armavia's salvation if Lo Cicero decides to perform.
I only wish that the stages are ridden as expected and that no puncher (sorry CA and Alak ) ruins the fun for the fastmen.
Also, nice preview there ember
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 13-06-2013 15:09
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Gustavo, Puncher? Cobbler fits better. |
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| CountArach |
Posted on 13-06-2013 15:12
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Gustavovskiy wrote:
I only wish that the stages are ridden as expected and that no puncher (sorry CA and Alak ) ruins the fun for the fastmen.
To be fair, I don't want a puncheur either Now a cobble rider...
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