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Ster ZLM Tour Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 26-06-2013 19:40
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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The Profiles/
The PCT-circus is heading for Southern Netherlands, where the Ster ZLM Tour will be held for the 2nd time in ManGame's history.
3 flat and 1 hilly stage will make for an interesting race. While both the opening and the concluding stages should be definitely taken by the sprinters, the remaining days look quite open:
the second flat stage has some difficulties and quite a lot of short steep climbs. Not an easy day for a pure sprinter.. And the queen-stage, located in Belgium (La Gileppe), may be the crucial day. At least some puncheurs will hope so. But of course the question is, if we will see splits in bunch and decisive gaps there.
Back in 2010, "Russian Rocket" Mikhail Ignatiev (riding for 100% ME) managed to win 3 of 4 stages plus the overall, enjoying a dominating trip to this beautiful country. He won't ride this year's edition, so who's going to take his title here?
The Startlist/
The Favorites/
Puncheurs/
Some prominent puncheurs decided to give it a go here and so we have a high quality field in terms of both sprinters and climbers.
 Aleksandar Flügel is leading the list of those, who hope for the hilly stage to be the crucial. The German is a quite reliable leader for his team and with the support of Matthias Kessler (2nd in 2010's edition), he definitely needs to be named first.
Local team  ING also decided to throw Nicolas Roche into the mix here. He did well in the recently held Schwarzwald Classic and may hope to beat Flügel on "home soil".
 Jaguar is led by Alex Dowsett this time, who is always going to prove his strength wherever teammate Froome is missing.
 Alexandr Kolobnev is yet another top-favorite for the hilly stage. The Russian veteran already said, that is going to repeat compatriot Ignatiev's success from 2010.
 Guillame Levarlet is worth a mention, too. He's a strong puncheur and is aiming for a huge result here.
 Swedbank has not only brought a good sprinter, but also a decent climber in Ben Hermans. He finished 10th in 2010 here and his team will hope for a similar result this time.
Joining the mix:  HTC has an interesting duo in Baugnies/Armee, while  Barredo or "mixed guys" like  Reimer and  Gavazzi can do well, too. Especially Gavazzi is a promising rider for a race like this, so both local teams (ING, UPC) do have good chances to deliver.
Sprinters/
Given that 3 of the 4 stages will be for the fast guys, we need to take a look at the list of top-sprinters.
| Name | SP | ACC | HI | | Peter Kennaugh | 81 | 81 | 65 |  Maxime Vantomme | 82 | 78 | 64 | | Ismael Kip | 80 | 82 | 56 | | Danilo Kupfernagel | 80 | 80 | 61 |  Jacopo Guarnieri | 80 | 79 | 65 | | Michel Kreder | 78 | 80 | 69 |  Ricki Nelson | 79 | 79 | 59 | | Wouter Weylandt | 78 | 74 | 63 | | Leonid Krasnov | 78 | 77 | 63 | | Sam Bennett | 77 | 77 | 62 | | Boy Van Poppel | 76 | 78 | 67 |  Jurgen Van Loocke | 78 | 76 | 57 |  Eric Baumann | 76 | 72 | 56 |
So both Kennaugh and Vantomme look like the best bets, as both are capable of surviving "hillier" flat stages. Same goes for Kreder, of course.
It's definitely a close field with some sprinters lacking those abilities that the mentioned top-favorites have.
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| viking90 |
Posted on 26-06-2013 19:44
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4032
Joined: 24-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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We need some luck here...
Would be nice if Kreder made some good sprints and Hermans could take a good GC place. |
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| roturn |
Posted on 26-06-2013 19:46
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
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Didn`t even know that I entered here. 
So obviously just for at least 1 stage win and eventually the point jersey.
Everything else is bonus.
Interesting design here even though I find the white on bright grey quite hard to read in comparison to the normal settings.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 26-06-2013 19:48
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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If Kreder is able to take bonus seconds in flat stages, I'll bet on him for the GC. |
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| jph27 |
Posted on 26-06-2013 19:53
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Team Leader
Posts: 7339
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
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Reimer for me, although I'll be happy as long as the teams near us in the rankings don't take points. Thought stage 4 was a TT, otherwise would have sent Napo here. |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 26-06-2013 19:59
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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roturn wrote:
Interesting design here even though I find the white on bright grey quite hard to read in comparison to the normal settings.
Agree. It's the startlist in detailed simulation, which i used for the second time now. But yes, while it somehow fits good to the stage-profiles' look, it ain't too useful for a better overwiew. So probably the last time i did so
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| fintas |
Posted on 26-06-2013 23:34
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2602
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
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Do not expect anything of this race, maybe a top10 stage is the best you can get and still think it will be difficult
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| fintas |
Posted on 28-06-2013 12:04
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2602
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
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Big surprise by Van Loocke, the stage ran well for the team taking into account the expectations. Too bad Soto Pereira was unable to do better in the escape
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| roturn |
Posted on 28-06-2013 12:41
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
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Vantomme back to his 2012 experience.
Not amused... |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 11:05
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 28-06-2013 20:16
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 29989
Joined: 20-10-2006
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Looks like the sprint train faded a bit in the end there. To be honest, I don't think too highly of my team's capability of setting up trains, so I'd prefer if Kennaugh just sneakd on to the wheel of any other good sprinter. Should be good enough to beat them that way anyway  |
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| Heine |
Posted on 28-06-2013 22:04
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4116
Joined: 08-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I like that Flügel is that high up, but I dislike that Roche is even higher...
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 28-06-2013 22:33
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 29989
Joined: 20-10-2006
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Bobbie freaking Traksel...
Anyway, as I said: I don't think Reimer "leading out" is actually helping anything. Could and should have been two good stage wins considering Kennaugh's positioning. |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 29-06-2013 21:39
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World Champion
Posts: 10018
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Fantastic win 
I don't entirely back my team to control the final stage, but if they do, it'll probably be my team's best win of the season
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| fintas |
Posted on 29-06-2013 22:26
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2602
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
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Do not expect anything of this race, missing one step have already secured a top 5 of stage and the final victory of KoM is tastefull ... This turns out to be a positive race with at least 30 points earned .. The final stage offers no difficulties so it could be that Van Loocke surprised again
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 29-06-2013 22:52
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World Champion
Posts: 10121
Joined: 01-05-2010
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Before anything else, I just want to say that I love your idea of using the tiny leader's jerseys to show the provisional standings. Really clever idea, which makes the reports even better! 
Interesting results so far. Traksel and Levarlet have both been big surprises for me. Looks like Bouygues could get an unexpected win from this race.
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| Heine |
Posted on 29-06-2013 22:58
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4116
Joined: 08-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Had hoped for a win, but can't really complain
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| roturn |
Posted on 30-06-2013 11:21
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
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Thanks for those reports and sorry for not posting after stage 2&3...
Just have read them and except for Iglinski and Passeron to hang on these were pretty shit.
The 4th stage made it a good race at least giving me that wanted win and somehow Iglinski managed a top10 overall here.
Can`t complain at all with that. |
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| Heine |
Posted on 30-06-2013 11:29
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4116
Joined: 08-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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4th and 11th, should give me quite some points
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| fintas |
Posted on 30-06-2013 12:20
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2602
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
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It was no better way to finish this race but still only have to feel satisfied..
Thanks tsmoha for the reports
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| tyriion |
Posted on 30-06-2013 19:25
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Sprinter
Posts: 1510
Joined: 29-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Sorry for the inactivity on this, just caught up with things.
Finally some results to turn our slide downwards around. Too bad we couldn't ride for 1 leader, as then we might have won the whole thing. But grabbing a stage and 3rd in GC is fine as well.
Thanks for the reports.
Check out my ManGame team here
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