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Manx International Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 26-07-2013 18:56
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Directeur Sportif
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The Profile/
The Manx International on Isle of Man will be held for the second time, making it's debut in 2012. A tough hilly HC-classic in and around Douglas, with the "Snaefall" as the most challenging climb, that has to be raced three times.
The 6.5km long climb has some easier sectors, but also slopes up to 15% with an average of 6.1%.. With this climb close to a flat finish, the favorites should try to attack here.
In 2012, Jonathan Bellis (riding for Rapha-Condor) took out the race ahead of Jérémy Roy (Focused) and Rui Costa (CSC). While both Bellis and Roy won't be at the start in 2013, Costa is going to repeat last year's success:
Final Results 2012/ ("bolded" riders will start this year, too)
| 1 | Jonathan Bellis | Rapha Condor - Qhubeka | 4h53'19 | | 2 | Jérémy Roy | Focused Cycling | s.t. | | 3 | Rui Costa | Team CSC-Orbea | s.t. | | 4 | Nicolas Roche | Pirelli - Alfa Romeo | + 1'00 | | 5 | Fabian Wegmann | Team Trilux - Falke | s.t. | | 6 | Bruno Pires | Cerne | s.t. | | 7 | Cesare Di Maggio | Team Venchi ProCycling | s.t. | | 8 | Chris Froome | Rapha Condor - Qhubeka | s.t. | | 9 | Grégory Rast | Team Trilux - Falke | s.t. | | 10 | Ben Hermans | Team Rothaus - Aegon | s.t. |
So obviously, Roche and Froome will be the strongest of last year's Top-10-finishers, trying to claim the podium this time. Costa or Wegmann and also Hermans will be happy with a similar result though.
The Startlist/
The Favorites/
We have to start with  Francesco Ginanni, who won the Schwarzwald Classic in a high-quality field last month. Of course he's going to repeat this victory here and he won't fear this packed startlist - a great feature for a HC-classic!
 Aleksandar Flügel is next in line. The runner-up in Schwarzwald Classic had a rather quiet ZLM Tour and Bad Harzburg Classic in the meantime, but looked super-strong in every hilly classic he rode this year. He also managed to win the GP Lugano earlier this season, with a similar mountain-then-descent-finish like here.
 Nicolas Roche is another top-favorite who should aim for the win, coming off a decent performance in Schwarzwald, ZLM Tour and Bad Harzburg, where he definitely looked more aggressive than Flügel.
 Alekander Efimkin will join this battle of the very best puncheurs after skipping last month's party in Schwarzwald and showing his strength in Bad Harzburg a couple of days later. Anyway, he's too well known to surprise anyone: top-seed.
 Chris Froome and Alex Dowsett are back together again and feature one of the strongest duos here. As always: a tactial move is quite likely, or will Dowsett only work for his captain? He failed quite hard in Harburg (14th), so ain't looking in best shape.
 Patrik Sinkewitz,  Cyril Gautier and  Hassan Ben Nasser should be in the mix as well.. Sinkewitz did well in Schwarzwald and even managed to win Bad Harzburg, while Gautier yet has to deliver in a hilly classic after failing in Harzburg once again..
 Fabian Wegmann hopes to be able to repeat last year's result (5th), even though the competition is much stronger this year. Same goes for  Ben Hermans, who needs some aggressive racing - something he already showed this year though.
Also competing for at least a Top-10:  Ventoso/Mendes as another dangerous duo,  Barredo,  De Maar/Armee/Baugnies, of course  Costa, who faces a tough challenge if wants to repeat his podium here.
But also the less favorited teams can hope for points:  Ghisalberti,  Proni,  Soler or  Rocchetti can do something special on a very good day.
So it's definitely no race for "easy points": 18 teams and a startlist packed with most of the strongest puncheurs in PCT/CT and a tough profile should make for a thrilling race. Let's get it on!
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| roturn |
Posted on 26-07-2013 19:01
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Team Manager
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Tough to see I am not invited here. ;(
Didn`t know back then that Bellis would join my team. If so, I would have made highest priority for this race. |
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| Heine |
Posted on 27-07-2013 09:48
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4116
Joined: 08-04-2007
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Hopefully Flügel will wake up again and give me a good results, but this is a packed field, so someone will be very dissapointed
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| felix_29 |
Posted on 27-07-2013 09:52
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Classics Specialist
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Not having a decent puncher costs me tons of points. Though to predict a winner, any of the mentioned favourite can win this.
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 27-07-2013 10:46
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Team Leader
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It's going to be a tough race with all the hill specialists here, but I hope my duo can grab a top10 and make it 2 out of 2 in our season goals.
There are too many favourites here. I'm going to pick Chris Froome, there seems to be a lot of buzz around his name lately.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 27-07-2013 10:49
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World Champion
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Let's see if the hill creates gaps and if it doesn't, Ventoso to win. If it does, I'll bet on Froome. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 27-07-2013 11:46
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No podium challengers here for AMEX, just looking to rack up a few points. Barredo top 10-12 and possible 1 or 2 more in the top 25.
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Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 27-07-2013 15:16
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Grand Tour Champion
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Hoping for a repeat performance from Costa, but that looks unlikely. I really like that you showed the top 10 from last year and bolded the returnees. I might have to steal that when I find the time to start reporting again. 
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| CountArach |
Posted on 27-07-2013 15:29
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Grand Tour Champion
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Gautier in the top 10 is really all I can even vaguely hope for.
Roche should take this one IMO.
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| rycadinho |
Posted on 27-07-2013 23:41
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Looking very much forward for this race, it suits Roche a lot and I hope that CountArach is right with his "feeling" 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 11:04
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| rycadinho |
Posted on 28-07-2013 13:50
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... and yet another strong ING performance, Roche is really doing well! Ventoso fully deserved that victory, thanks for the report Tsmoha
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| CountArach |
Posted on 28-07-2013 13:59
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Grand Tour Champion
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Congrats to Ventoso and his manager, a great result. Also thanks for the report, I'm not worried about the lack of information on Gautier, he probably just missed the attacks.
And on that note... I just don't know what to say about Gautier anymore. Outside the top 50...
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 28-07-2013 14:01
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World Champion
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My bet was right. |
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 28-07-2013 14:02
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Good win for Ventoso. He finally delivers
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| kumazan |
Posted on 28-07-2013 14:06
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Damn, was hoping for a much better result by Ben Nasser here. Well, next season in the CT should be fun. 
Edited by kumazan on 28-07-2013 14:06
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 28-07-2013 15:08
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Cieslik saves our bacon by riding the early breakaway to a 9th place finish.
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Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 28-07-2013 17:23
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
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CountArach wrote:
Congrats to Ventoso and his manager, a great result. Also thanks for the report, I'm not worried about the lack of information on Gautier, he probably just missed the attacks.
And on that note... I just don't know what to say about Gautier anymore. Outside the top 50...
This guy's a mistery to me and a misery to you, i guess.
And yes, seems like he just missed the attacks, then raced solo a few kms and eventually sat up like every dropped rider in PCM12. Feel sorry for you. But at least you know what to do with him in off-season
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 28-07-2013 17:39
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World Champion
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Solid stuff as usual from Efimkin. Keeps the dream of staying out of relegation alive.
Ventoso did well to stay in contact on that climb, though I guess it was to be expected with PCM12. Truly excellent result for you, Gustavovskiy.
As for Gautier, he's such an enigma. This season's equivalent to 2012 Vantomme, it seems. And terrific job with the race, tsmoha.
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| Heine |
Posted on 29-07-2013 06:58
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Grand Tour Specialist
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A bit dissapointing, but expected it when Flügel didn't use the downhill to attack away
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 29-07-2013 13:44
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Team Leader
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Having seen that Bellis won here last year, it was an obligation to bring Ventoso, but given his form this season I wasn't expect anything from him really. I'm flabbergasted! This makes 2 goals out of 2. Couldn't have asked for more really.
I appreciate the congratulatory replies, thanks everyone. Great report as well tsmoha
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