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Clasica San Sebastian discussion thread
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| Smowz |
Posted on 04-01-2015 20:39
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Team Leader
Posts: 6479
Joined: 09-04-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Well August is here - and in keeping with tradition it is time to get those crackly internet feeds at the ready as the real cycling fans keep watching.
(technical note: here goes graphics turned way down as i am using a apple mac to run pcm13!)
This long 230km hilly classic has a lot of history – it is traditionally seen as a hard attritional race through the basque country which can see a variety of tactics take the win.
The final 60km is where the crucial action takes place. The Jaizkibel is one of the longer climbs in the region and is done twice with the second ascent usually whittling down the field somewhat. The shorter steeper Arkale climb is where many a attack has been made in the past and once again will where many riders will be looking for the moves as the bumpy technical run in can prove difficult to reel in. In fact there are a couple of small steepish unnamed climbs that can allow a small group or a ambitious soloist to break clear.
However in recent times we have had a mass group finish albeit with strong punchaers still ending up on the winners rostrem. It is an even year so Valverde should be there but alas the 'unbeatable' is still in the protour plying his trade, as is last years winner Nico Roche. 2011 champ Cobo makes the CSC squad and is possibly the big home favourite, with CSC also bringing in last years second place Ventoso they seem to have all possibilities covered.
Two Italians Ullissi (Bacardi) and Di Maggio (Venchi) are riding for those upwardly mobile teams and will be looking to make their class known. Johnny Bellis (RBC) is rightly always fancied especially is this ends up in a group dash again (he was third last year). Team Gazelle are a team for hilly classics and Monfort leads the usual crack squad of classics men.
There are a number of younger riders who maybe worth watching this year Betencur (FCB Polska), Skujins (Swedbank), Dowsett (Jaguar) and Zaini (Meiji) will have their backers.
Check out the startlist for yourself and pick your favourite!
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 04-01-2015 20:41
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Why am I even coming here? 
Nope, I have no expections for this. |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 04-01-2015 20:44
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Here's hoping Visconti will play his strengths in a similar way he did in Taldykorgan most recently. Just minor hopes of course, can't really expect anything special here.
Could be a nice race for CSC or Bacardi though. Ulissi to make it two in a row? I can see this happen. Welcome back, Smowzy. Don't mind about the graphics too much 
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| Smowz |
Posted on 04-01-2015 20:47
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Team Leader
Posts: 6479
Joined: 09-04-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Actually the jerseys and bikes and all that show up just as normal - you just miss the background scenery so actually it is quite nice to show off all the jerseys and equipment without stupid shadows of houses and trees all over the place.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 04-01-2015 22:05
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
Joined: 08-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Looking forward to reading a Smowz report again!
Yeh, graphics really aren't that important.
Top 10 will do for Dowsett, given his usual form.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 05-01-2015 06:38
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
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Hey Smowz, welcome back to reporting, looking forward to your report.
We have two attacking cards in hands, in Ignatiev and Rabon, who can both launch the attack, or sprint to the line with bigger group. I hope for two in the top20 and maybe some surprise top5-10, little bit of pure luck for a change would be nice. 
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 05-01-2015 06:56
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
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I feel like a break will take this one. Hopefully we have a rider in that move if that is the case. Otherwise the best I can hope for is a Top 10 with Zaini I think.
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| jaxika |
Posted on 05-01-2015 07:42
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3148
Joined: 16-07-2008
PCM$: 9200.00
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Roy (maybe, maybe on breakaway) |
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| viking90 |
Posted on 05-01-2015 08:46
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4032
Joined: 24-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Skujins, Hermans & Hoogerland here atleast one of the should score some points! |
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 05-01-2015 11:08
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3215
Joined: 23-07-2008
PCM$: 400.00
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Think this should be between Bellis, Ulissi and Ventoso with this being our final win goal I obviously hope bellis can win it though it's going to be hard to beat Ulissi and I would take a podium for sure. |
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 05-01-2015 13:44
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2633
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If the race is selective, Monfort should be able to grab a top 5 finish. That's what I'm hoping for.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 10:57
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 05-01-2015 15:10
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1036
Joined: 17-06-2009
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Need some support from Taborre, Barredo and Kump. Mehr-Wenige has performed as expected but we need points out of our secondary riders and we need them now.
=========================================
Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 05-01-2015 17:34
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
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That was useless as fuck. next race please. |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 05-01-2015 17:38
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8059
Joined: 22-06-2009
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Ventoso shines again! Although his tactics are rather questionable he still gets decent results. And how about Barrio surviving this long classic to finish 8th is incredible, his best result of the season.
Huge points picked up here, keeping the pressure on.
Thanks for the report Smowz!
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 05-01-2015 17:46
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4573
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Two decent finishes, just what we need. Gasparotto finally does something after holding onto the pack well. Wegmann also does well for us which should add up some points. Thanks Smowz for the report.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 05-01-2015 17:50
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Congrats, Mre and Sykkel! Oh, and Avin! Season's finally getting better, right in time.
Slightly disappointed with no Top-20 here, but there ever was a point, where our streak had to stop. Better in a race with Visconti as our leader than with Bobridge
Enjoyable report, Smowzy still has it!
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| jaxika |
Posted on 05-01-2015 17:51
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3148
Joined: 16-07-2008
PCM$: 9200.00
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Lol.. Der actually doing a lot better then Roy in all of hes races |
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 05-01-2015 19:38
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3215
Joined: 23-07-2008
PCM$: 400.00
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Great effort by Bellis he obviously had nothing in the end of really happy he managed to get in the front group yes he failed the goal but he didn't half try and he's never out the top 10. Also Anderson beating some of the other leaders in the group behind is always nice |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 05-01-2015 19:43
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
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Zaini has done nothing this year
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 05-01-2015 19:55
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
Joined: 08-03-2007
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Thanks for the report Smowz. Dowsett of course flopped again, but some interesting results elsewhere. Always nice to see Skujins going strongly in his loan year, plus Ventoso's 2nd keeps promotion interesting - at least against Bacardi, with Venchi managing to win the race. Metinvest's good run also continues.
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