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Tour de San Luis Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 11-05-2014 21:41
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 Tour de San Luis
The CT is heading for Argentinia, where the Tour de San Luis will go into it's 5th edition. The seven stages feature almost every kind of terrain, which should make for an interesting race.
Three flat stages, one TT, two hilly and one maybe crucial mountain-stage are on the menu. So whoever wants to aim for the overall win needs to be a decent allrounder on at least three key disciplines. The biggest question may be, if the lack of uphill-finish in the mountain stage will favor the punchier GC-favorites instead of the climbers. Or will we see major splits on that fifth day?
Anyway, this year's winner will join an impressive list of former race-winners: Rein Taaramäe (two-time winner), Alejandro Valverde and David Zabriskie feature San Luis' Hall-of-fame. So as seen last year (see picture below), the race may also suit a strong TT-specialist more than a pure climber.
The Startlist
The Favorites
| Allrounders | MO | HI | TT | Climbers | MO | HI | TT |  Nicacio | 75 | 70 | 75 |  Schwab | 77 | 72 | 62 | | Paulinho | 74 | 73 | 71 |  Vasquez | 77 | 64 | 62 |  Rosskopf | 71 | 74 | 74 |  Ardila | 76 | 71 | 67 |  Castano | 76 | 72 | 70 |  McConvey | 74 | 73 | 64 |  Haga | 73 | 71 | 74 |  Jeannesson | 76 | 71 | 67 |  De Greef | 74 | 72 | 71 |  Rodas | 76 | 71 | 68 |  Kasa | 71 | 72 | 74 | Kulhavy | 76 | 73 | 62 | | Duenas | 75 | 69 | 70 |  Beltran | 74 | 74 | 65 | | Ibanez | 70 | 71 | 72 |  Sayar | 73 | 74 | 65 | | | | |  Rudaskov | 75 | 72 | 65 | | | | | Godoy | 74 | 75 | 65 |
As said before, the race features an interesting mix of all key disciplines, which makes it hard to pick the most crucial stage and top-favorite for the overall win.
Given an allrounder will deliver in all of the decisive stages, the startlist features some quite promising names: Bonsucro's dangerous duo Nicacio/Paulinho looks like a good bet and then we have two US boys (Rosskopf and Haga), who will be two of the strongest GC-riders in the timetrial. Same goes for Kasa or De Greef, who may hope for a less selective mountain-stage though.
Several strong climbers are at the start and ONCE's Castano seems to be the most dangerous of them: being one of best climbers, he also adds decent TT-skills. Opposing to pure climbers like Schwab, PCT-participant Vasquez or Castano's teammate Kulhavy, who all need to limit the damage in the TT.
Riders like Ardila, Rodas or Jeannesson/Duenas may fancy their chances thanks to some not too shabby skills against the clock.
And last but not least, those riders combining mountains and hills should be considered real threats: such as Godoy, McConvey, Beltran or Sayar. If those punchier riders deliver in the first key (hilly) stage, they could do well eventually.
The Stage-Hunters
| Sprinters | SP | ACC | Misc | TT-Specialists | TT | Misc | | Drapac | 80 | 79 | | Cruz | 76 | | | JJ Haedo | 79 | 75 | |  Joeaar | 76 | HI 71 | | Schinker | 77 | 75 | | Pereira | 74 | MO 71 HI 70 | | LS Haedo | 76 | 76 | | Oba | 74 | | | Bandiera | 76 | 75 | | Donald | 75 | |  Angarita | 76 | 75 | | Harrison | 72 | SP 73 | | Sweeting | 76 | 75 | HI 70 | Rousseau | 73 | | | Vitoria | 74 | 72 | HI 71 | | | | | Tuulhangai | 75 | 77 | | | | |
Of course it ain't just the GC-contenders, who hope to deliver here in Argentinia. Three stages "made" for sprinters plus a 20km timetrial will provide a few chances to grab stage honours. A huge TT-performance could even help some less strong climber to finish on a decent GC-position with some luck.
A few of the best CT-sprinters made their way to San Luis, including two local heroes in JJ Haedo and his brother LS Hadeo. The first, also supported by a strong train, should definitely aim for at least one stage-win. Most promising contender should be Drapac, who may fancy his chances in the easier flat stages. Schinker is another pure flat sprinter, who could do well.
Also the two "punchy" sprinters Sweeting and Vitoria may hope for the leader-shirt when entering the first hilly stage on third day. Both should do well on those tricky profiles anyway. Bandiera, Angarita and also Tuulhangai may join the mix for those top-sprinters here.
As for the TT, riders like Cruz, Oba or Donald will aim for the stage-win only (most probably). Others though - like Joeaar or Pereira - ain't much worse than the strongest puncheurs/climbers, so could also go for some nice GC-placements eventually.
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 11-05-2014 21:47
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I think having a good hill stat will be crucial here as especially Stage 6 is quite tough I think. Nevertheless maybe Orozco can do something on Stage 5 and Angarita can nab a few top 10's. And of course there's always breaks 
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| Dippofix |
Posted on 11-05-2014 21:50
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I will be very, very upset if Drapac doesn't make good use of the weak startlist. McConvey however can do whatever he wants, any sort of result will be considered a bonus.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 11-05-2014 21:53
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Let's see what we can do here. I'm just going to pray for no AI trolling against my team (again). But go Vasquez! And go Sequera! |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 11-05-2014 22:03
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Time for De Greef to show why we bought him 
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| The Rider |
Posted on 11-05-2014 22:08
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Bonsucro will look to hit this race like a steam train at max speed. As tsmoha shows in the preview we have multiple contenders for the GC. In Godoy, the biggest name Argentinean in the race, we are also very capable in the hilly stages.
If all goes well Bonsucro may well be the team on everyone's' lips at the end of the race. |
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| 547984 |
Posted on 11-05-2014 22:08
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Doesn't look like we've gone up against an extremely tough field here, definitely expecting at least a top 3 from Cruz, and maybe even a Top 10 GC! Sprinting depth doesn't look too great either, so maybe Tuulhangai may be able to finish in the Top 10 at times.
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 11-05-2014 22:16
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Kasa for Top 5 in that TT, Schinker for at least one Top 10 and I'd be happy.
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| NTTHRASH |
Posted on 11-05-2014 22:19
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Expecting to see Rudaskov at least try. I will be disappointed if we don't see a Top 15 at some point.
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Posted on 24-11-2024 12:56
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 11-05-2014 22:23
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admirschleck wrote:
Kasa for Top 5 in that TT, Schinker for at least one Top 10 and I'd be happy.
That ain't exactly high expectations, given that Schinker is amongst the fastest guys here
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 11-05-2014 22:25
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tsmoha wrote:
admirschleck wrote:
Kasa for Top 5 in that TT, Schinker for at least one Top 10 and I'd be happy.
That ain't exactly high expectations, given that Schinker is amongst the fastest guys here
He has pretty bad secondary stats and that's why I'll never consider him as "one of the fastest guys". However, I won't complain at all if he wins all stages or something like that.
Edited by admirschleck on 11-05-2014 22:30
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 11-05-2014 23:00
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This race is going to be fun. Hopefully Nutresa will show ourselves in good attacks, as we have a number of different cards to play that could do well if the right move is infiltrated. TT will obviously be crucial, but think the hilly stages perhaps most decisive, so have brought quite a few different options! Too many race days to risk Kolobnev, particualrly as his TT'ing is so weak - his focus will remain on one-day classics for the majority of the season. With Beltran's final stage victory in Tachira, he's champing at the bit to get going again  .
EDIT: Oh, and let's not forget home-boy Haedo, he has decent hill ability for a sprinter and is sure to want to raise his game infront of home fans! A stage podium would be awesome.
Edited by Scorchio on 11-05-2014 23:02
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| knockout |
Posted on 11-05-2014 23:59
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I hope that Joeaar can perform well in that TT. it seems like there are not that much better TTists at the start so he may even contest for the win as some of the pure time trial lists will have lost more energy on the hilly stage before.
Also, I like the rather weak sprint lineup. Hopefully, that means that Dupont can start sprinting, too.
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 12-05-2014 00:13
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Time for JJ to turn his season around. Been horribly disappointing so far. But now he has to be considered #1 or #2 for the sprints, and should be even better since he is on home turf. Along with that he should have a monster of a train to lead him out, with fellow Argentine Crespo right in front of him (75sp) and either Gene or Parisien in front of him (73sp and 74sp respectively).
Added too that I like our chances of a top 10 in the GC with Ardila though he doesn't have great support both Tarqui and Magallanes should be useful.
Edited by Kentaurus on 12-05-2014 00:17
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 12-05-2014 00:29
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Great preview tsmoha! 
As a neutral observer I'll be cheering on my former riders Duenas and Rodas.
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 12-05-2014 01:14
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Youngest Rider: Willi Willwohl (Evonik) is the youngest rider in the field for the 2nd time in my reports, though his teammate, Phil Bauhaus, this time is 3rd with Bank of Ireland's Ryan Mullen the 2nd youngest.
Oldest Rider: Dennis Menchov for team Euskaltel is the only 36 year-old here, a pair of 35 year-olds follow with Carlos Castaño (ONCE) just edging out Maurico Ardila (Azteca) for 2nd.
We have four Road National Champions:
 | Carlos Oyarzun | Bonsucro |  | Vassilis Adamou | Euskaltel |  | Fabricio Ferrari | Mobil |  | Gabor Kasa | Nordeus |
And five Time-Trial National Champions:
 | Pedro Nicácio | Bonsucro | | Jorge Adelbo Soto Pereira | Bonsucro |  | Ruben Ibanez | Nutresa | | Eduardo Sepulveda | Mobil |  | Phucong Sai-Udomsin | Siam Cement |
The Haedo brothers, Juan José and Lucas Sebastian will both be leading their respective teams Azteca and Nutresa
There are eight riders on loan, and only Roniel Campos (Nutresa) will be riding against his former team Mobil-Aeropostal.
44 nations are represented in the 117 rider field, with Colombia leading the way with 15 riders, USA in second with 10. And 19 nations only represented by 1 rider, including some top-tier cycling nations like Great Britain and The Netherlands. Host country Argentina will see 5 riders represent her colors.
There are 52 riders from Europe here, and 34 from South America, 13 from North America, 12 from Asia, 3 from Central America, 2 from Oceania (both Aussies) and Siam Cement's Bonaventure Uwizeyimana the lone rider from Africa.
Manuel Senni (Lierse) is the highest paid rider earning 160K while 62 riders earn the minimum 50k wage.
Second highest paid, Rémy Di Gregoria (In-n-Out) brings the highest average rating into the race, though tied with Hubert Schwab (Maloja) and Pedro Nicácio (Bonsucro) at a rating of 73.4167.
The lowest rated rider is Max Walsleben from ONCE at an average of 62.4167, next is Vincent Butts (In-n-Out) and then Phil Bauhaus (Evonik).
And that is all I can really come up with at the time pulling from my startlist DB. Which is uploaded with this post also.
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 12-05-2014 01:16
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This is great Kent!
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| Bikex |
Posted on 12-05-2014 01:46
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I hope Sayar can show himself here in the hilly and mountainous stages. I also have high hopes on Oba for the TT. |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 12-05-2014 05:28
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Hoping for at leat a Top 5 here for Jeannesson or someone. And a lot of attacking from Tamayo and Arredondo. Should score a fair few points here.
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 12-05-2014 09:06
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Actually I am almost hoping for the win here. Seeing that the other top climbers have a worse TT ability than Jeannesson. But Nicacio and Castano will be difficult to beat.
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