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USA Pro Cycling Challenge Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 15-12-2014 12:53
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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 USA Pro Cycling Challenge
The Continental Circuit is heading for the United States, where this HC-stage race goes into it's second edition. A mix of flat, hilly, mountainous and timetrial stages - so, actually any type of rider will have something to aim for here.
Kicking off with a prologue in Colorado Springs, the continues with the first of three hilly stages here (including one uphill TT). Neither of those profiles are the toughest you've ever seen, but feature short hilltop finishes, which always can make a difference. The only mountain-stage on third day features two 1st-category climbs and a long downhill to the finish. We've seen both selective and shocking lame races on such profiles, so it will be interesting to see, if the mountain goats will go for a selective day here.
A second (16km long) TT will of course be another key-stage for those, who target the GC. And we have two (possible) sprint-stages in the second half of the race, where those teams, who brought a premium sprinter, will have to control the expected breakaways. Last year's winner Kashechkin (Repsol) won't be at the start this time.
The Startlist
GC-contenders and Stage-hunters
| GC-contenders | MO | HI | TT | Sprinters | SPR |  Brajkovic | 81 | 76 | 78 |  Granjel Cabrera | 80 |  Pozzovivo | 81 | 77 | 73 |  Ulanowski | 80 |  Bibby | 77 | 76 | 77 |  Docker | 79 |  Nepomnyachsniy | 77 | 74 | 77 |  Davis | 79 |  Popovych | 79 | 75 | 74 | Mezgec | 79 |  Kangert | 75 | 76 | 77 |  Nelson | 79 | | Gerdemann | 76 | 76 | 74 |  Sonnery | 78 |  Augustyn | 77 | 75 | 71 |  Andriato | 78 |  Lövkvist | 78 | 75 | 73 | Ahlstrand | 78 |  Koren | 72 | 74 | 78 | Rangel | 77 |  Nerz | 78 | 72 | 73 | Dekkers | 77 |  Rohregger | 77 | 70 | 74 | Grosu | 76 |  Panayotov | 78 | 72 | 68 | | | | Ardila Cano | 77 | 71 | 70 | | |  Westra | 67 | 74 | 76 | TT-specialists | TT |  Efimkin | 72 | 79 | 67 | Rogers | 81 | | Larsson | 73 | 70 | 75 | Ligthart | 78 | | Efimkin | 77 | 72 | 66 | Barth | 77 | | Danacik | 72 | 71 | 76 | | |  Niemiec | 74 | 71 | 74 | | | | Zeits | 73 | 77 | 59 | | |
A packed startlist, as to be expected for a HC-race: Brajkovic should be considered the clear favorite, as we will amongst the best on every kind of terrain needed for the GC-contention. He may hope to slip into the leader's shirt already on first day, but will for sure be the man to beat from the second day on. Pozzovivo lacks the premium skills on TTs, but given the hilly profile in the longer timetrial here, he should be a threat and is aiming for a better result than last year's 4th place here.
Same goes for Bibby (9th last year), who is for sure a podium-contender and amongst those, who can easily win this overall. The best allrounder behind Brajkovic. Several more talented stage racers like Nepomnyachsniy, Kangert, a so far struggling Popovych or Gerdemann will all target the Top-5.. best TT-specialist behind Brajkovic is Koren, who will need to limit the losses on the uphill road races though. Just like premium climbers Nerz, Panayotov or Augustyn. Too many to name them all.
Clear favorite to take out the prologue: last year's 23rd Rogers (including a TT-win), who will fear a very good day from the likes of Lighthart or Brajkovic/Koren/Bibby... some fast sprinters made it to the US, too: Cabrera, Ulanowski, Docker, Davis or Mezgec may be the most promising riders to take out those flat stages.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 15-12-2014 12:56
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Won't be at home today, so already put both Algerie's first stage and this preview online.
Will keep my thoughts on this short: Rogers as the clear favorite for the prologue can make it our fifth win in our last five starts. Should be our biggest goal here, as well as Koren fighting for a Top-10 of course. Guess much will depend on how the best climbers race the mountain stage, while the hilly TT should suit Koren more than Rogers. No sprinter for Oz, it's just about those timetrials and having a shot at a nice GC-result, too.
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 15-12-2014 13:07
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3215
Joined: 23-07-2008
PCM$: 400.00
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Brought I a breakaway team with a lot of young riders and possibly only Docker who can win a stage. |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 15-12-2014 13:08
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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Dream would be a top10. Expecting a top20. Probably a top30. I just want to outscore our relegation rivals as best as possible. Rough times for b3b and we need a good race
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 15-12-2014 13:15
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Thanks for the nice preview Tsmoha. This is very very important race for Metinvest, as we are coming from two solid results and need finally a decent stage race point haul. This could be one of the best chances for Popo to achieve top5 or even podium in stage race, but 2014 reality tells me that he will finish like 20th. 
Grosu can hopefully do something (top10) in the sprinter stages and show himself before likelly PT loan next year.
Shame i did not brought some TT specialist, which is a bit odd with Zmorka or Ma ideal for this role.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 15-12-2014 13:16
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 15-12-2014 13:19
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Btw. that 3rd stage looks like typical pcm13 breakaway fest material. It would not surprise me if GC was decided that day, with some 60-65climbers taking the first 7 places there. 
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| fintas |
Posted on 15-12-2014 14:13
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2602
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
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This has everything to be a good race for the team, Gerdemann with great possibilities to fight for the top 10 and maybe even the top 5, and Davis has everything to be in the fight for victory in the two flat stages.
For this very reason one of two things, either have a big race or have a big fiasco
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 15-12-2014 14:40
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2907
Joined: 15-07-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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Hey, what?? We are not ranked among the bottom 5 teams? For a HC-race??
This has to be an incredibly weak field 
Great preview tsmoha. Looking forward to see what the team may achieve here. |
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| fjhoekie |
Posted on 15-12-2014 15:51
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4476
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GC top 15 and a stage win by Ulanowski should be possible. Efimkin isn't the best climber, and he'll lose time in the TTs, but that may encourage him to attack early and stay ahead in the downhill.
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 15-12-2014 18:56
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
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Hoping for Efimkin to do well on the Hilly stages and not die on the Mountain stage. At the worst, I'd like some high stage placings. I like the looks of the other favourites hill stats. Might mean we can dominate the hill stages, which is what I was hoping for.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 15-12-2014 20:01
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Gods of PCM, I ask you: let Cabrera win both flat stages, and give me a top 25. Don't ask for more. Please. |
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| Stevenag |
Posted on 15-12-2014 21:10
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Domestique
Posts: 452
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Big expectations for Pozzo here. Tied best climber and tied second best in the hills. He should fight for the GC win here, but my prediction would be that this race will include a lot of random silliness.
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| Levi4life |
Posted on 15-12-2014 23:43
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4882
Joined: 16-03-2007
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I brought a strong mountain team as well as Boswell to help with the hills. I'm pretty confident we can grab a top 3 though I am worried about the threat of breakaways.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 16-12-2014 01:02
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
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Last race of the season for both Brajkovic and Pozzovivvo, they do stand out as the favourites.
Bibby should have the skills to put in a strong race, it all hinges on Stage 3
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| aidanvn13 |
Posted on 16-12-2014 06:49
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2797
Joined: 06-11-2010
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We need a good race here to edge out our relegation rivals. I think this suits Augustyn quite well and hopefully for once this season he won't be utterly disappointing. Rangel can do well in the sprints if he's having a good day and we have some good candidates for breakaways. We'll see how this pans out... Looking forward to the reports, Tsmoha.
Oh, and Brakjovic for the win.
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| Levi4life |
Posted on 16-12-2014 09:00
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4882
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I think that Bibby has a legitimate shot at the win. His stats are good, certainly good enough to keep up on a not particularly difficult mountain stage. With that hill stat he can make the difference with a break. I'd pick him over Brajkovic.
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 16-12-2014 11:14
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2633
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We're here for HC-band reasons. That mountain stage kills our chances, so it's mostly a training ride for our youngsters. If Westra somehow survives stage 3 he could ride a decent GC though.
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 16-12-2014 17:31
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4573
Joined: 07-10-2012
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Weak team here after we got this in a HC band. Ndbri could do something on the mountain stage, but experience will be the main benefit here for us, with maybe a breakaway or two. |
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 16-12-2014 19:13
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3215
Joined: 23-07-2008
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Not a bad start for my guys here but we need to be in the break tomorrow and most days for this to be a good tour |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 16-12-2014 19:20
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
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Enough for bonus tomorrow to try and get the leader's jersey. inb4 for a break to win and Cabrera to win the sprint in the pack. |
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
