Eneco Tour Discussion
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Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 25-10-2014 13:45
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Small Tour Specialist
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With 4 stages without a single categorized climb on the menu, Eneco Tour 2014 should be a race for the sprinters. The fastest man on paper present is Gerald Ciolek, making him the obvious favorite. He can expect tough competition, though, as the field is packed with good sprinters. Starting with the home favorites, both Maxime Vantomme and Michael Van Stayen will be hoping to show their best side to the Belgian crowd. They both have a great team to support them in the sprints.
Oz has been on a strong lately, and will hope to continue their good form here. Matthew Goss is leading the team. He will need to watch out for Mark Cavendish, Dan Holloway, Romain Vanderbiest and Roman Maksimov who all are capable of winning a stage on a good day. The Frenchman Vanderbiest should especially have lots of confidence after winning the similar Tour of Taihu not long ago.
Next in line, we have a bunch of riders who can't be left out of the discussion. Heinrich Haussler, Andre Greipel, Anthony Lavoine, Maximiliano Richeze, Sam Bennett and Paride Grillo will all be aiming for a top result. Maximiliano Richeze might be particularly interesting to follow as he has top notch help in Jaime Alberto Castañeda. Either one of them can make the podium with a good daily form.
Alexandr Nepomnyachsniy, Oscar Gatto, Thomas Vedel Kvist, Gert Steegmans and Geraint Thomas leads their respective teams. However, these teams might need to hope for a breakaway to go clear on one of the stages in order to get a good result in the general classification. With so many good sprinters on the startline, it will be tough for them to make a name of themselves in a mass sprint. Take a look below for the full startlist.
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Miguel98 |
Posted on 25-10-2014 13:49
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World Champion
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Breakaways going to win. Enjoy that prediction.
Good decision not to come here. |
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aidanvn13 |
Posted on 25-10-2014 13:52
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Classics Specialist
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I have a full squad of 7/8 sprinters, but thanks to PCM AI, probably only Maksimov will sprint and Lay won't even lead-out. This is a top 5 goal, so that's the expectation. We really need a super good result to boost our points. It's now or never for Maksimov.
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Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 12:25
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Alakagom |
Posted on 25-10-2014 13:55
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World Champion
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Okay this is most perfect rate for Vantomme ever. Long stages suit him with his decent stamina, almost no hills. And add to that a Belgian bonus. Hopefully he'll do well.
Edited by Alakagom on 25-10-2014 13:55
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TheManxMissile |
Posted on 25-10-2014 13:56
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Tour de France Champion
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Syykel, your photobucket is external linking the images rather than direct linking so when you click on it you get hyperlinked to the page not the image
Thomas has shown he can sprint so maybe a Top10 on a stage from him. Otherwise we'll be looking for a lucky breakaway. Not expecting anything at all from this race so i'll take any and all points we can get
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cio93 |
Posted on 25-10-2014 14:03
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World Champion
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The race of the season (and a Top 5 goal to add to that).
If this was FM, I'd offer a huge extra winning bonus to my riders.
If we win, goodbye relegation fears for good. If we fail, they look to stay.
Meiji not in this band was obviously the news of the preseason for me. National bonus might make this more difficult than it already is, but at least my last leadout man Giaux gets it too.
I hope Van Stayen doesn't get to have a train, that lineup looks unbeatable. The last half of Taihu makes me a bit more optimistic though, but everything can and probably will happen here...
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fjhoekie |
Posted on 25-10-2014 14:15
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4476
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Vaitkus no top notch helper? I strongly believe he is...
Hope Greipel will be better here than he was in Taihu...
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game
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Ollfardh |
Posted on 25-10-2014 14:16
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World Champion
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Not that I'm in this race, but why not the real Eneco Tour? I think it was one of the better race this year
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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roturn |
Posted on 25-10-2014 14:22
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Team Manager
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This should be interesting.
Really hoping to see only sprint finishes.
Ciolek, Van Staeyen, Holloway, Goss, Cavendish, Vantomme to fight for the win I think. |
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tsmoha |
Posted on 25-10-2014 14:35
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Directeur Sportif
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Now.... Hopefully Goss won't need more than four days to score seconds
Did not bring Giacoppo, so if we are going to build a train, we may struggle. Sulz ain't bad, but except of Scully no sprinters behind Gossy.. Van Stayen for the win.
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Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 25-10-2014 14:40
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2073
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TheManxMissile wrote:
Syykel, your photobucket is external linking the images rather than direct linking so when you click on it you get hyperlinked to the page not the image
That's odd. I'm not having this problem.
Need Van Stayen to perform, here. This is the first stage race of the season where both Van Avermaet and Corioni is helping him out. Hopefully, they will corporate better here than they did in the classics previously in the season.
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TheManxMissile |
Posted on 25-10-2014 14:48
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Sykkel_Freak wrote:
TheManxMissile wrote:
Syykel, your photobucket is external linking the images rather than direct linking so when you click on it you get hyperlinked to the page not the image
That's odd. I'm not having this problem.
And now neither am i...
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Mhaley45 |
Posted on 26-10-2014 09:10
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1036
Joined: 17-06-2009
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This is an important tour for AMEX. We desperately need some points from our sprinters. They are young and inexperienced but this week they need to deliver our leader Paride Grillo to the final kilometer in good position.
Grillo is not a top tier sprinter for the PCT but he has the ability to compete if he can get into good finishing position.
It's time lads to earn your keep.
=========================================
Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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tsmoha |
Posted on 26-10-2014 09:16
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Directeur Sportif
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Wohooo! Goss with a great sprint there, couldn't have asked for a better start, obviously Nice to see such a close sprint, here's hoping this will make this win even more valuable for the GC.
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roturn |
Posted on 26-10-2014 09:24
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Team Manager
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Nice win for Oz Cycling. Goss finally delivers. Obviously he kept his form of the last stage in Taihu.
Ciolek in 2nd also nice to see.
But the breakaway riders getting 3 sprints on every stage will surely see some of them in the top10 in the end of the race. |
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Alakagom |
Posted on 26-10-2014 09:25
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World Champion
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I can sense a big fail underway. xd
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fjhoekie |
Posted on 26-10-2014 09:38
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4476
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Greipel doing better here than he did in Taihu already
Vaitkus 24th is also promising, shows he doesn't roll over the line without even bothering to do something.
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game
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jph27 |
Posted on 26-10-2014 10:04
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Team Leader
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Boros in 3rd and the youth lead is a nice start - more breaks please team!
On the other hand, Haussler once again doesn't look at all arsed with sprinting... |
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aidanvn13 |
Posted on 26-10-2014 10:20
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2797
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No break, no train, no positioning from Maksimov, no sprint from rest of team, no result. Is it worth complaining?
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Miguel98 |
Posted on 26-10-2014 10:32
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
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aidanvn13 wrote:
No break, no train, no positioning from Maksimov, no sprint from rest of team, no result. Is it worth complaining?
I have a place reserved to cry about PCM screwing my team. Care to join? |
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