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Giro dell'Emilia Discussion
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| niconico |
Posted on 28-01-2014 22:59
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It's time for one of the biggest Italian one-day races. You can't say Giro dell'Emilia is a monument, but it's up there with the semi-classics like San Sebastian, Fleche Wallone and Gent-Wevelgem.
The route is as always very hilly with an accumulated height gainage of around 2,300 metres spread over 193 kilometres of road.
The Route
The first of the main climbs is the Mongardino. An apperitif you might call now when we are in Italy. It's not very steep although there are some short, steeper sections. This should not really pose any opportunity for anyone to attack since we're some way into the race and the finish line is still far off.
Eventhough this profile says that the Monzuno is about the same length as the Mongardino, it is longer than what this illustration gives it credit for. Also it's steeper than the previous climb. It could be a chance for a mid-race attack and with a long descent into the final circuit it could also suit our very technically gifted riders.
This one should be the decisive climb. The San Luca. It is to the Giro dell'Emilia, what Mur du Huy is to Fleche Wallone. It's just under 2 kilometres long but it has an average gradient of 8.2 % and some sections of more than 13 %. On top of that the riders have to negotiate it a total of five times before the race is over.
The Favourites
Francesco Ginanni - The Italian is home-favourite here and on paper the strongest rider. Add to that, he is supported by a very well-round hills team and there's just no coming around this guy. He is a massive favourite and surely anything else than a win will be a dissapointment - at least to some extent.
Nicolas Roche - The Irish is the best placed rider in this race in the Continental rankings. He has had some great showings this season and the ING rider is very much a reason that they are in the promotion picture. He is a strong rider, among the best puncheurs in the Continental ranks and he could go all the way.
Aleksandr Efimkin - His team Cisco is some way off the pace in the division and Efimkin could aid to that position in this race. He is a strong puncheur and climber and that ability could weat out the likes of Ginanni and Roche if he is allowed to go early.
Aleksandar Flügel - Backed up by lieutenant Matthias Kessler, Flügel has a strong team behind that could prove pivotal in this kind of race. In fact if Flügel has an off-day and Kessler is feeling good, the German team poses a dual threat here.
Christopher Froome - Another rider of ProTour calibre here. Froome has had a great season and won a race very similar to this one in Nelspruit, South Africa just a few months back. He is among the top favourites here also and Ginanni should definitely keep an eye on the strong Brit.
For the outside favourites let's mention a guy like Sinkewitz, who has a very strong support in Schreurs. Also there's Gautier of BPost, who has to get a good result if they want part of the promotion battle. Also riders like Kolobnev, Hoogerland, Zaini and Ben Hasser are strong puncheurs.
Vladimir Karpets of LukOil is maybe not the strongest puncheur but he is still a good climber and if he gets away he could prove difficult catching considering his abilities in the time trials. This team has more proven talents in their ranks in Iglinski, Kiriyenka, Brutt and Rovny to name a few. They could very well surprise if they play their cards right.
What about the remaining team captains, Ventoso, De Maar, Barredo, Pineau, Acevedo, Proni, Knees, Rocchetti? They will probably need to have some unforseen things go their way in order for them to get on the podium.
No matter what, get ready for an exciting race!
Edited by SportingNonsense on 28-01-2014 23:00
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 28-01-2014 23:05
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Team Manager
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Important race for the promotion battle this, Flugel and Gautier needing to do well, while Efimkin could really help Cisco at the other end of the table.
Hoping for a good race for Froome
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 28-01-2014 23:13
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Team Leader
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And this is where my season comes to an end. Both profile and startlist make my leaders an outside bet. I'd like to get very lucky here. Otherwise both Ventoso and Mendes will only be fighting for a top10-15.
No matter what happens here this has been an outstanding year for my team, I can't complain much about my boys.
Thanks for your fast pace nico 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 13:45
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 29-01-2014 06:42
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Awesome preview!
I obviously need Efimkin to do well, given both our position in the ranking and the fact that a top 5 is a goal. Should be achievable, I think.
Roche to win
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| tyriion |
Posted on 29-01-2014 08:18
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Sprinter
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Really don't know why I picked this race and this line up. I see no real chances for me here, anything with points will be a huge bonus.
Check out my ManGame team here
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| roturn |
Posted on 29-01-2014 08:22
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Also important for me without being here.
Surprising win of the relegation teams would be nice.  |
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| jph27 |
Posted on 29-01-2014 08:30
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Sent Rocchetti in the hope of an easy race with him in the break. And Serpa in case it's a high MO-HIL ratio. |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 29-01-2014 08:38
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I think having previously tipped Flugal to clean up, Efimkin may take this.
Should be a nice race, I think the parcours will make this decent.
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| Heine |
Posted on 29-01-2014 09:13
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4116
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C'mon Flügel, you're in shape now so you should continue the great results you've been getting. If Kessler could sneak in another top 10 I would be in heaven!
Also, this is a top 5 goal, so I hope I reach that atleast.
Other than that, this is Ginnani's to loose, even though I got a feeling that Roche will take it considering how hard the course looks.
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| tyriion |
Posted on 29-01-2014 12:34
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Sprinter
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roturn wrote:
Also important for me without being here.
Surprising win of the relegation teams would be nice.
Cheer for Knees!
Check out my ManGame team here
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 29-01-2014 12:49
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Grand Tour Champion
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tyriion wrote:
roturn wrote:
Also important for me without being here.
Surprising win of the relegation teams would be nice.
Cheer for Knees!
No.
Great preview, will be tuning in just to see if UPC gets points or not.
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 29-01-2014 17:33
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niconico wrote:
Vladimir Karpets of LukOil is maybe not the strongest puncheur but he is still a good climber and if he gets away he could prove difficult catching considering his abilities in the time trials. This team has more proven talents in their ranks in Iglinski, Kiriyenka, Brutt and Rovny to name a few. They could very well surprise if they play their cards right.
Kiryenka, Brutt and Rovny actually belong to a team with an active manager
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| rycadinho |
Posted on 29-01-2014 17:37
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Roche really needs to step up and deliver after Marchante failed completely in Torino. Will be tough, but a win isn't impossible. Good luck to everyone.
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| cio93 |
Posted on 29-01-2014 17:45
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rycadinho wrote:
Roche really needs to step up and deliver after Marchante failed completely in Torino. Will be tough, but a win isn't impossible. Good luck to everyone.
I wish you good luck!
I really want to see our deal being an absolute win-win one in retrospective, and it definitely was great for us already considering VDB will end up around the same spot in the PT rankings as he was in last year's PCT
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| rycadinho |
Posted on 29-01-2014 18:02
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cio93 wrote:
rycadinho wrote:
Roche really needs to step up and deliver after Marchante failed completely in Torino. Will be tough, but a win isn't impossible. Good luck to everyone.
I wish you good luck!
I really want to see our deal being an absolute win-win one in retrospective, and it definitely was great for us already considering VDB will end up around the same spot in the PT rankings as he was in last year's PCT
Thank you Cio93, it means a lot 
He has done really well for you, much better than he did back in Pirelli, though that season was also quite full of a lot of bad luck! Thankfully has he managed to put that behind him under your guidance.
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 31-01-2014 09:08
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Time to pull off a surprise. Allez, Sinkewitz and Schreurs! |
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| Heine |
Posted on 31-01-2014 09:20
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Waiting for this is killing me, I need a good result!
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| niconico |
Posted on 31-01-2014 22:04
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Heine wrote:
Waiting for this is killing me, I need a good result!
Sorry. Tomorrow afternoon
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 01-02-2014 17:15
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Team Manager
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2nd is a good result for Froome, just a shame the win was missed. Quite unlucky for Cisco there.
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| roturn |
Posted on 01-02-2014 17:47
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Really bad luck for Cisco...
At least Vespa and Jaguar stole a few points here of the promotion candidates. |
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