Tour de Taiwan Discussion
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tsmoha |
Posted on 08-08-2015 16:56
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Tour de Taiwan
A race going into it's fourth edition, being held for the first time in 2012 (with 9 stages) and now downgraded to C2 status with only 4 stages in total. Previous race winners are Carlos Betancourt, Aleksandr Efimkin and Mikayil Krasnoperov.
The event retains his profile as a puncheurs-race: three hilly stages and a concluding flat one. The first stage looks quite rather flat at the finish and may suit punchy sprinters, while the next two days do feature (short) hilltop finishes.
The Startlist
The GC-Favorites Rider | HI | SPR | ACC | Rider | HI | SPR | ACC | Mendes | 78 | 68 | 65 | Chérel | 75 | 61 | 72 | Zeits | 77 | 64 | 71 | Durasek | 75 | 60 | 59 | Lejman | 77 | 59 | 68 | Gougeard | 75 | 58 | 66 | Vastaranta | 76 | 75 | 78 | Shushemoin | 75 | 56 | 72 | Rabon | 76 | 72 | 77 | Mørkøv | 74 | 74 | 70 | Acevedo | 76 | 63 | 69 | Uchima | 74 | 72 | 74 | Sinkewitz | 76 | 50 | 66 | Pozdnyakov | 73 | 75 | 74 | Khalilikhosroshani | 75 | 65 | 72 | Delage | 73 | 73 | 71 | Rocchetti | 75 | 65 | 64 | Bauer | 73 | 70 | 70 | Cioban | 75 | 64 | 66 | Kuboki | 72 | 76 | 77 |
Quite a packed startlist with most of the CT's best puncheurs taking part: Mendes, Zeits and Lejman as the best rated, with Vastaranta and Rabon surely as real threats thanks to their nice combination of climbing and sprint.
Aceveco and Sinkewitz as two dangerous veterans. Netia and Novatek with some great depth again.. Khalililili, Rocchetti, Cioban, Chérel or Durasek as more Top-10 contenders, with a few fast finishing riders like Uchima, Delage or Kuboki as possible threats, too.
The Sprinters Sprinters | HI | SPR | ACC | Thorsen | 54 | 82 | 85 | Meyer | 60 | 80 | 76 | Matthews | 64 | 79 | 79 | Hochmann | 54 | 79 | 80 | Kruopis | 70 | 78 | 77 | Drujon | 66 | 78 | 78 | King | 65 | 78 | 73 | Jørgensen | 59 | 78 | 73 | Westling | 56 | 78 | 74 | Davis | 67 | 77 | 74 |
Those sprinters may already aim for the opening stage, if it ain't ridde too hard. Thorsen, Meyer, Matthews and Hochmann will definitely look for the final stage though and with a few more fast men at the start, we may hope for a thrilling bunch sprint (if it does happen).
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sgdanny |
Posted on 08-08-2015 17:03
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a Top 3 stage with Drujon and a Top 10 in the GC is my initial thoughts of this race. Lejman has been really bad this season and Durasek will probably be the GC guy for us
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Ste117 |
Posted on 08-08-2015 17:03
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Expecting to win the final stage with Thorsen, also hoping Capecchi can do something here!
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Selwink |
Posted on 08-08-2015 17:06
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Rabon and Pozdnyakov have been performing well all season, hopefully they can keep it up. I do feel Rabon does deserve his victory now, with a good SPR he might actually do so (though Vastaranta )
Anyway, thanks for doing this tsmoha, looking forward to this
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baseballlover312 |
Posted on 08-08-2015 17:09
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Sometimes I feel like there is a breakaway key on my keyboard I keep leaning on. Nevertheless, that's all there is to chase after. Maybe Razzie an grab a couple of top 10s along the way.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
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Stromeon |
Posted on 08-08-2015 17:27
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Thank god there's no Forero here... we might actually have a chance of doing reasonably well!
Vastaranta and Rabon must be the big favourites here with the hilly stages likely to come down to sprints at the end. Acevedo isn't too bad there though so top 5 is achievable.
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knockout |
Posted on 08-08-2015 17:31
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I really was looking forward to this race for quite some time. I wanted to give my weaker guys a legit chance to (co)lead a race and liked the route a lot.
Eventhough my team is not mentioned even once in the preview I still am confident to see at least some action by my riders as it should be an interesting selection.
Dzamastagic is a god and i think stage 1 suits him rather well. I hope that either he or Smukulis will attempt something there (or on the other stages) as they are both riders who excel in different terrains.
Mohoric as well with his chance to get an early leading opportunity. He needs good daily form but it is possible to get some result as well.
I could even have sended a 77SP Wagner but thought i would enjoy the race more with Dzamastagic as my best sprinter.
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Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 06:25
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trekbmc |
Posted on 08-08-2015 21:43
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If Zeits wins this I will be very very happy, but I'm 90% sure somebody else will. Still, goal is 1st place in GC, maybe a stage win as well.
Thanks for the preview tsmoha
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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the_hoyle |
Posted on 08-08-2015 21:59
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Cherel and Gougeard co-lead here and they are my main hopes at a good finish. Top 10 would be nice
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Eden95 |
Posted on 09-08-2015 05:36
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Hoping for a few good results from Aidis. Uchima and Rocchetti for breaks would also be nice. Interested to see how this plays out.
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett
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Bjartne |
Posted on 09-08-2015 07:27
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Aaah, finally on home soil. This is our win goal, and I'm 95% sure we will fail, but still looking forward to this. I hope Matthews can do well again, and hopefully Khalilikhosroshani will be uo there together with the favorites and battle for victory.
Thank you for the review. |
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sgdanny |
Posted on 09-08-2015 09:29
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Really good solo sprint for Drujon and my first personal goal is achieved. Really hope we get into the breaks at least once. Rabon is strong this season and shouldn't surprise me if he wins
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knockout |
Posted on 09-08-2015 09:31
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Meh. No action by my team. Next stage please
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters!
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Selwink |
Posted on 09-08-2015 09:32
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This may well be the perfect start to the race for us. Rabon with a weirdly timed attack. When I saw that, I would never have expected him to hang on to a lead in the end. That he holds on, even with a gap is absolutely perfect with the two Mendes-stages coming up now. I hope the buffer built up here is enough for Rabon to hold on to yellow.
I don't even care now that Pozdnyakov and Iglinski didn't care about the sprint
And finally, thanks for the report tsmoha
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trekbmc |
Posted on 09-08-2015 09:56
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Was trying to work out while Mazur had The bands of previous national champion. Realised he used to be Polish NC.
Not a great stage for us, Only real problem is Zeits/Sinkewitz losing 32 seconds on Rabon though and 9th from Krister Hagen isn't bad (still think Mørkøv or Pierzga could've sprinted better) Can't wait for the hills now though.
Thanks for the report though tsmoha.
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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Stromeon |
Posted on 09-08-2015 13:45
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Great sprint from Weber, wasn't expecting him to sprint that well here!
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baseballlover312 |
Posted on 09-08-2015 13:55
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For once, I'm a bit disappointed in the team. I didn't expect a result, but not trying at all obviously isn't going to help.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
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Bikex |
Posted on 09-08-2015 14:09
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Here with one of the worst lineups of all my races, so the hope has to be to get into breaks, which already failed in the first stage. Maybe Ito can do something on the hilly stages to come, he should be with the better puncheurs.. |
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Eden95 |
Posted on 09-08-2015 18:14
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Eh. Not much to say really. Aidis had a go at least, but was positioned horribly so never had a chance. Good win for Novatek.
Thanks for the report, tsmoha.
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett
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Atlantius |
Posted on 09-08-2015 18:52
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In general I have high hopes for Vastaranta here.
The first stage was weird though. Obviously happy with a strong precense but Jukka finishing so far down is a bit worrying, Hopefully it's not due to bad form...
Thanks for the report
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