|
ZLM Tour Discussion
|
| tsmoha |
Posted on 12-11-2014 19:22
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
 Ster ZLM Tour
The Ster ZLM Tour, going into it's third edition, attracted 24 teams from both PCT and CT to particapte and both sprinters and puncheurs do have something to look forward to.
Three flat stages, featuring some difficulties, and the queen stage on third day make for an interesting mix, which may favor those, who both can climb and sprint..
Last year, the best puncheurs had some problems to make this hilly stage selective, but Levarlet (Bouygues) claimed the victory ahead of Roche (ING) and Gavazzi (UPC), who held of Flügel (Volkswagen) eventually. So a punchy sprinter indeed can have a shot at the GC here.
The Startlist
The Favorites
| GC-Favorites | | | Sprinters | | | | Rider | HI | SP | Rider | HI | SP |  Ben Nasser | 79 | 70 |  Van Stayen | 76 | 81 |  Roy | 79 | 64 |  Haussler | 70 | 80 |  Barrio | 79 | 65 |  Holloway | 69 | 80 |  Bellis | 78 | 74 |  Greipel | 66 | 80 |  Bilbao | 77 | 70 | Van Avermaet | 66 | 80 | | Ventoso | 76 | 78 |  Kankovsky | 59 | 80 |  Vastaranta | 76 | 75 | Richeze | 66 | 80 |  Rabon | 76 | 72 |  Grillo | 68 | 79 | | Konovalovas | 76 | 61 |  Mezgec | 67 | 79 |  Weening | 76 | 59 | Aberasturi | 64 | 79 | | Wegmann | 75 | 73 |  Vingerling | 61 | 79 | | Anderson | 75 | 72 |  Peeters | 60 | 79 |  Hermans | 75 | 66 |  Gavazzi | 73 | 78 | | Proni | 75 | 62 | Sonnery | 70 | 78 |  Gatto | 74 | 78 | Kreder | 70 | 78 | | Oss | 74 | 74 | Drujon | 66 | 78 |  De Maar | 74 | 66 | Breschel | 70 | 77 |
Punchy sprinter? Well, no way to not mention Van Stayen (Venchi) as the top-favorite for the GC here. The two tricky flat stages on the first days already suit him well and of course he is capable of surviving this hilly stage in the leading group.
Also Haussler (La Vie) or last year's 3rd Gavazzi (Hornbach) will hope to stay with the best puncheurs on that day, while other top-sprinters like Greipel or Holloway will need a very good day to hang on there..
Of course Bellis (RBC) will love this route, too. Just like Ventose (CSC) and guys like Vastaranta (Magna) or Rabon (Metinvest), who all can be threats for both flat and hilly stages, that end up in challenging bunch sprints.
Leading the list of top-puncheurs are Ben Nasser, Roy, Barrio and Bilbao, who will go for a selective hilly stage on first hand. This is where the GC should be decided, so this is, where they need to make the race as hard as possible!
|
| |
|
|
| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 12-11-2014 19:34
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4573
Joined: 07-10-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Hoping for a top three here, Van Staeyen should be unstoppable but behind that Ben Nasser looks one of the best bets for a good result. Stage 3 looks selective enough for me but you never know with pcm 13. Looking forward to the reports. |
| |
|
|
| jph27 |
Posted on 12-11-2014 19:57
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7339
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
|
Haussler and Sonnery will hopefully work well in the sprints and do well if it isn't too selective on the Hilly stage. If it is selective, then hopefully Mandri and Proni can perform well like they have so far this season. |
| |
|
|
| fjhoekie |
Posted on 12-11-2014 21:31
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4476
Joined: 25-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Please Vaitkus, work for Greipel...
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 12-11-2014 21:34
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
Yep no mention of Boeing, that's about right actually. This was a race day filler and chance for Chicchi, except Chicchi is a piece of sh*t who will score zero points. Hopes on breakaways only and i doubt we'll even get one of those.
Zero pointer and anything else is a dramatic overachievment worthy of songs
|
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 12-11-2014 23:13
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
I thought that sending a couple of my sprinters and speed men here would be a good idea but now that i have seen the sprinters list i may just regret it  |
| |
|
|
| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 13-11-2014 06:36
|
World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
|
Nice preview, looking forward to this race ,as i hope that Rabon should fight for top10 overall. He could use some good placements from flat stages already, before decisive 3rd stage.
Van Beasten should have this one in the bag though...
|
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 02:19
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| jt1109 |
Posted on 13-11-2014 16:34
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3215
Joined: 23-07-2008
PCM$: 400.00
|
Hopefully this race suits Bellis enough it's going to be hard to beat Van Stayven but i think either Ben Nasser or Bellis could achieve it. |
| |
|
|
| fjhoekie |
Posted on 13-11-2014 17:50
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4476
Joined: 25-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
WE ARE LEADING IN SOMETHING!
Great stage for Greipel, leading the points, taking seconds and getting 2nd is more than I ever expected here... I guess it helps Vaitkus is actually working like he should...
Sinclair losing time isn't too surprising, he probably did some work with Buts (KoM points) and took an easy ride home.
And the team classification 
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 13-11-2014 17:56
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
Fritsch already outdoes my expectation for this race with some points!!! Not many but it's some!!! Woo!!
|
| |
|
|
| Ollfardh |
Posted on 13-11-2014 18:54
|
World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
|
Peeters for his first win of the year? We can only hope 
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
|
| |
|
|
| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 14-11-2014 06:27
|
World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
|
Two in the top 20, without Rabon loosing time on the way, that is all Metinvest could hope for in that first flat stage. Congrats to Van Stayen and his team, this should be his race to loose.
Thanks for the report tsmoha. 
|
| |
|
|
| fjhoekie |
Posted on 14-11-2014 12:11
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4476
Joined: 25-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Bloody finishing line... If only you were where you showed yourself...
Anyway, still leading something 
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
| |
|
|
| jt1109 |
Posted on 14-11-2014 12:42
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3215
Joined: 23-07-2008
PCM$: 400.00
|
Van Stayven dominating as expected now lets see how hard this hilly stage is.
Edited by jt1109 on 14-11-2014 12:43
|
| |
|
|
| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 14-11-2014 17:09
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4573
Joined: 07-10-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Well a decent start with no time loss but could have done with Van Staeyen not winning both stages. Now he will be even harder to dislodge on stage 3's hills. |
| |
|
|
| jph27 |
Posted on 14-11-2014 19:48
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7339
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
|
I hate June. |
| |
|
|
| tsmoha |
Posted on 14-11-2014 20:05
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
Not too impressed with the amount of followers so far, but I want to finish this two races off tomorrow, so here's the 3rd stage already... enjoy... or whatever 
|
| |
|
|
| Alakagom |
Posted on 14-11-2014 20:07
|
World Champion
Posts: 10891
Joined: 19-11-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Just noticed this race was up. And it would have been better if I didn't looking at that outcome So unlucky, good attempt though.
Unbelievable how much Heineken weaker riders win soo much as well They got leader, but still riders that go in breaks. Unbelievable.
Edited by Alakagom on 14-11-2014 20:11
|
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 14-11-2014 20:08
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
Fritsch in that big front group, woo! (it's the small victories)
|
| |
|
|
| jph27 |
Posted on 14-11-2014 20:16
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7339
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
|
jph27 wrote:
I hate June.
Haussler dropped. Yet Greipel isn't. No selection and no attacks from Proni. All we need is crosswinds or a crash on the last stage to make this race perfect for us.
Edited by jph27 on 14-11-2014 20:18
|
| |
|
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
