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Rund um Köln Discussion
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| Bikex |
Posted on 04-06-2014 23:50
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Hosting the third of five classics of a classics heavy march is the German city of Köln and its surroundings. The day starts in Gummerbach, a small town in the east of the metropolis Köln. Before nearing the city the peloton will come through a number of villages in the hilly surroundmends of Köln. After around 180 kilometres of racing the field will enter Köln where the win will be contested on a finishing circuit of 6,6 kilometres, which will be rode 3 times.
It will be interesting to see whether and if how much the bumpy start will have an impact on the racing and the battle for the win. Teams with sprinters with good abilities over the hills will try to make the racing hard right from the beginning. Another possible scenario is that a group of strong puncheurs can distance the big field with the sprinters on sone of the hills will battle it out at the finish in the Bayenstraße.
Speaking of sprinters the favourites have to be  Tom Boonen and  Sam Bewley. Will we see another duel between the two top sprinters? So far this season Boonen had the edge over Bewley. He has to be the top favourite, last year he already showed us that the route suits him by taking the win in a mass sprint ahead of Daniele Benatti.
Those two mentioned are of course not the only ones that are looking at the win at this classic. After all, the sprinting elite of cycling came to this race. So also  Jacopo Guarneri as well as his team mate Luke Rowe and  Peter Kennaugh deserve a mention.
One of the strongest sprinters on paper is  Ben Swift, but compared to his contrahents he struggled with long distances in the past. The strongest sprinter of the African continent is also here,  Juan Van Heerden will need some time to get to top speed but then he is one of the fastest.
Also on the lists of the bookmakers are topclass sprinters  Jurgen Roelandts,  Andreas Stauff,  Óscar Guerao and last years second  Daniele Benatti.
Looking through the list of present top sprinters, the teams of the two main rivals are heavily represented. Kiwi Bewley brings Leigh Howard as a strong support. Pokerstars have several world class sprinters in their rows to leadout Boonen. Just to name a few, there are the Germans John Degenkolb, Roger Kluge and Erik Mohs.
Looking to surprise the others are for example  Mark Cavendish of wildcard team BelarusBank,  Óscar Avelino or youngster  Rick Zabel.
Also a number of top puncheurs made their way here, they look to trick the sprinters in the hills before the finishing circuit. To mention are from  Wikipedia Tejay Van Garderen and Jay McCarthy,  Stefan Schumacher, Rui Costa, Ben Gastauer and Vueling Airlines duo Maurice Schreurs and Patrik Sinkewitz.
Full Startlist:
Or download the attached file to have the startlist in excel.
Bikex attached the following file:
Edited by Bikex on 04-06-2014 23:50
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 05-06-2014 00:07
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Having previously triumphed here in 2011, I have to be optimistic for this one even though my team isn't tailored for this sort of race. Hoping for an attractive race at least. There's plenty of hills to entertain all the spectators.
Thanks for the preview bikex 
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| Ste117 |
Posted on 05-06-2014 00:54
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We need to do something here to show that the organisers were right to select us 
MG Team manager Team Ticos Air Costa Rica
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| roturn |
Posted on 05-06-2014 05:36
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German race, so obviously important.
Can only hope for a breakaway or cobbler attack though.
My sprinters won't have a chance unfortunately if they try at all. |
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| SotD |
Posted on 05-06-2014 09:04
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Guerao hasn't showed his class yet, so I expect nothing from him here.
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 05-06-2014 09:21
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I'm optimistic. At least more so than previous seasons.
[url=cleavercycling.co.uk]  [/url] |
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| CountArach |
Posted on 05-06-2014 09:54
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Hopefully Stauff can grab a top 10 in a German race.
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| ember |
Posted on 05-06-2014 10:49
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It will be interesting to see how the hills may affect the final sprint, hopefully they will make themselves count.
Van Heerden will most likely be our hope for a top 10 here, even though I'm sure Impey can do great as well, but seeing how they've raced when together earlier this season, I suspect Impey will do nothing, meaning it comes down to Van Heerden.
The team Pokerstars has lined up is just amazing. There are three potential top five-guys in it! Not sure they've the best leadout though, as there are several other strong teams thinking of the final kilometers preparing the sprint.
Thanks for the preview, and I'm looking forward to the report. |
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| beagle |
Posted on 05-06-2014 11:42
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Should be interesting race. Brought the strongest possible line up I have, let´s hope it won´t turn out counter productive.
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| Roman |
Posted on 05-06-2014 13:25
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Hopefully Vesely-Howard-Bewley train will work out, at least for a podium. Pokerstars will be a really strong opponent, Vesuvio too, Bennati and others will be surely strong as well. I expect a great finish!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 09-12-2025 04:48
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| Smowz |
Posted on 05-06-2014 20:42
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Very average squad from us here, but still I hope fir some sort of mention. santos has done nothing of note so far so it would be good to see him in the mix perhaps. But more hopeful of late dart from one of our roulers who knows?
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 06-06-2014 01:01
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BOOM! Awesome performance by Kennaugh taking a podium here. May have won with a little better placement before the sprint, but then again, I don't quite have the team to set up a train for him.
Vueling keeps rolling |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 06-06-2014 01:05
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That split was unfortunate to cost me my lead out train, but other teams fared worse. 5th is an alright result from that situation from Swift, but he could have done better,
Nice to see Gastauer trying to make the most of his hill skills and go in the break, then still manage 21st.
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| roturn |
Posted on 06-06-2014 05:46
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Only 2 riders in the front group is a bit disappointing.
Did not expect my sprinters to perform, but had thought Ballan, Vanmarcke, Nooytens would be enough power to attack on mid-stage or late. Unfortunately not.
Funny that one of my youngest here in Sbaragli somehow reaches the expected team result as 16th. 
Showing nice skills already.
Edited by roturn on 06-06-2014 05:46
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| SotD |
Posted on 06-06-2014 06:55
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Great result from Guerao here. Perfect leadout from Tzortzakis.
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| Roman |
Posted on 06-06-2014 06:56
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Hmm, Bewley boxed out and no lead-out, too bad Vesely dropped from the front group. At least 9th place of Howard is a decent compensation and something better that I hoped for.
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| Rin |
Posted on 06-06-2014 07:42
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Daniele has lost his touch..
 Team Bianchi - 2012 Man-Game ProContinental Tour Champions
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| CountArach |
Posted on 06-06-2014 08:07
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Awesome attempt for loanee Vermote but the crash robbed us of our sprinters. Still, 2 in the top 30 is better than nothing considering the circumstances.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 06-06-2014 08:18
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Yes, terrible race from our C squad - but to be expected really. Pokerstars had a very strong squad here and richly deserve the win, nice result for Guerao as well really.
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 06-06-2014 09:21
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Well that was utter shite. A random split which completely spoils any chance of a podium, and made the fact that the team chased all day completely pointless.
What a crap race.
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