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Praha - Karlovy Vary - Praha Discussion
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| matt17br |
Posted on 11-11-2015 17:34
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 Praha - Karlovy Vary - Praha
3rd edition of the Praha – Karlovy Vary – Praha classic. The 267 kms long, flat rated yet not suiting pure sprinters route saw  Jacopo Guarnieri last celebrating for Good Energy, after that the first edition was won by  Tom Boonen. Both are participating this year, too.
However, they will have to face one of the strongest fields they’ll ever see in a PT classic. We learnt that ‘the Bastard’  Sam Bewley should be considered the favourite in every single race he takes part to, and so he is here. As a plus, Becherovka is Czech, and I’m assuming that their sponsors are not expecting a plain top 10.
Of course, there are too many factors affecting the results of such a long race, especially in a moody-weather zone like Czech Republic, if you know what I mean. This year's parterre is stronger than ever, here’s a quick look on the startlist and the main contenders:
| Sprinters | SPR | ACC | STA | RES | HIL |  Ben Swift | 84 | 82 | 73 | 70 | 68 | | Sam Bewley | 83 | 83 | 78 | 76 | 71 |  Erik Mohs | 83 | 82 | 73 | 64 | 63 | | John Degenkolb | 83 | 81 | 73 | 71 | 69 |  Michael Van Stayen | 83 | 77 | 76 | 71 | 76 | | Jacopo Guarnieri | 82 | 81 | 77 | 76 | 66 |  Georgos Tzortzakis | 82 | 79 | 72 | 66 | 65 |  Romain Vanderbiest | 82 | 77 | 74 | 69 | 64 |  Peter Kennaugh | 81 | 81 | 74 | 71 | 65 |  Danilo Napolitano | 81 | 80 | 71 | 64 | 65 |  Alexander Kristoff | 81 | 79 | 75 | 71 | 68 |  Rick Zabel | 81 | 79 | 74 | 70 | 69 | | Tom Boonen | 81 | 77 | 75 | 69 | 67 |  Dan Holloway | 80 | 82 | 77 | 77 | 69 |  Andrea Guardini | 80 | 82 | 74 | 69 | 64 | | Andreas Stauff | 80 | 81 | 74 | 69 | 65 |  Giacomo Nizzolo | 80 | 79 | 70 | 67 | 64 |
| Puncheurs | HIL | RES | STA | FLA | | | Classic Riders | FLA | RES | STA | HIL | | Hagen | 85 | 74 | 81 | 77 | | | Cancellara | 82 | 74 | 74 | 70 |  Bakelants | 84 | 78 | 81 | 72 | | | Ignatiev | 80 | 74 | 81 | 75 | | Gastauer | 82 | 70 | 78 | 69 | | |  Burghardt | 79 | 76 | 80 | 72 | | Flaügel | 81 | 67 | 79 | 69 | | |  Gilbert | 79 | 75 | 79 | 79 | | Schreurs | 81 | 72 | 76 | 70 | | | Kneisky | 79 | 75 | 76 | 67 |  Schumacher | 81 | 73 | 78 | 74 | | |  Viviani | 78 | 77 | 71 | 66 | | Ulissi | 80 | 71 | 83 | 76 | | | Kluge | 78 | 75 | 77 | 68 | | Gautier | 80 | 72 | 76 | 72 | | | Baugnies | 78 | 73 | 80 | 72 |
Bewley is the best classics man, but is he the best sprinter? Swift should be faster than him in a normal sprint, even though last year’s results here say otherwise. Whereas the Kiwi got 8th and 2nd in the first two editions of the classic, the Brit hasn’t managed to step up onto the podium yet, coming 4th both the times, incredibly enough. All in all, this will be a pretty crucial race in the fight between Vesuvio and Becherovka for the PT title, as they have lined up the best two favourites.
Pokerstars.com’s combo of top sprinters Mohs and Degenkolb is also pretty worrying. It will be interesting to see who will turn out to be the leader, as it would be the first chance for both since Boonen left for Evonik.
Van Stayen puncheur skills are also remarkable, which will help him riding through the ‘cotes’ the route includes. The Belgian is of course a top sprinter too, and he’s already beaten both Swift and Bewley this year, at Le Tour.
Guarnieri showed he is one of the most solid sprinters around, and his teammates proved capable of putting on perfectly timed leadouts, too. Furthermore, he comes here as the last year’s winner, which is always a morale booster.
One day races are always unpredictable though, hence why we shouldn’t forget about the other top sprinters showing up here, such as Kennaugh, Kristoff, 2013 winner Boonen, Holloway, Guardini and last year’s 3rd Stauff, who will need to face a fierce competition to get a free role!
Not to mention that there are quite a lot of top puncheurs, too! Boasson Hagen, Bakelants and Gastauer are just 3 of the top names in here, and if their DSs took them to Praha, there must be a reason!
Last but not least, the powerhouses are the icy on the cake. Cancellara, Ignatiev, Burghardt, Gilbert just to mention a few of the riders who could go the whole hog alone.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 15:15
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| Crommy |
Posted on 11-11-2015 17:40
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Really hoping Bakelants will be aggressive, go on the attack and make this a hard race.
But whatever happens, Bewley will almost certainly win
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 11-11-2015 17:41
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Well Kump..this is kinda good race for you..do something..
I wonder by how many lengths Bewley wins!
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 11-11-2015 17:48
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Hoping for some crosswinds, a tough pace and those classic riders to deliver 
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| Roman |
Posted on 11-11-2015 17:51
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My home race! 
Bewley was never able to win this race in his career. Would be perfect if this could change this year. 
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| Smowz |
Posted on 11-11-2015 18:26
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Cmon Fab or Dan the Man nab me a decent result just to give me one happy moment to finish the season by.
Swift winning would put cherry on top of the Volcano... Bewley winning may well make SotD start getting all squeky bum.
This looks a shyte race for Bacardi ... so VW perhaps can start rear upwards movement if you know what I mean 
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| SotD |
Posted on 11-11-2015 18:29
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Nah, it has been inevitable all season long, that this race was for the Bewley and the Swift.
I just hope that Tzortzakis can somehow do a decent result, but given that he is completely ignored in the text above shows me he probably will suck. Coppel and Pichon could also do alright on a route like this, but no expectations other than Bewley winning and Vesuvio moving further ahead in the lead.
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| matt17br |
Posted on 11-11-2015 18:43
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I just hope that Tzortzakis can somehow do a decent result, but given that he is completely ignored in the text above shows me he probably will suck.
I normally write the preview of a race before I actually race it, mostly not to be affected by what happens in-game. I ignored Tzortzakis in the preview because I didn't actually deem that he could do anything better than a top 10, considering his low hill, resistance and stamina stats.
It obviously doesn't mean he won't do anything, surely I am never going to change the text in the preview after I race any stage! I mean who would have expected Sicard 2nd and Dombro 3rd at Liechtenstein, yet all I said was "they could delight their managers with a top 10"
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 11-11-2015 19:17
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Hoping for a Top 20 here
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 11-11-2015 19:27
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Hoping for a mention in the report here
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 11-11-2015 20:35
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Could go really well, could be a nothing race, this kind of profile is too difficult to predict. Luck has been on my side thus far though...
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| jph27 |
Posted on 11-11-2015 20:36
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I'm looking on the positive. This is our third last PT race. |
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| knockout |
Posted on 11-11-2015 20:53
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I loved to participate here as it's Boonen last chance to win / podium a PT race. Chances are low as Bewbastard is here but Boonen proved in Roubaix that he still has PT legs so why not
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 11-11-2015 22:12
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Good thing I have sent my weakest squad!
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| ember |
Posted on 11-11-2015 22:38
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Trying the Boasson Hagen and a sprinter combination that has worked well here previously, obviously hoping for a good result.
Hopefully Boasson Hagen will follow dangerous moves towards the end if they come, eventhough it might be the strong men like Cancellara, Ignatiev and Burghardt that might be designed to do so by the AI. if he doesn't make a move, it should be about Kristoff in the sprint for us, where a top 10 looks doable.
Thanks for the preview, matt17r! |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 12-11-2015 06:58
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Thanks for the great preview.
This is the best race in the calendar for Ignatiev and he will win after outsprinting Bewley in the last metres....or at least get a top 10. 
I would think Mikhail has ideal combination of stats here and he can either try to win solo like he did in last stage of TONE, or wait for sprint of the strong group, top 10 is the goal and i hope he can do it. Bewley is the clear favourite, but he will be drunk because of all that Becherovka available.
We need to watch Aker, Good Energy and Tinkoff and try to beat their point totals.
Good luck to all!
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 12-11-2015 17:10
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| knockout |
Posted on 12-11-2015 17:15
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What a surprise victory by Bewley 
Dzamastagic > Boonen. Can't wait till he's training eligible!
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 12-11-2015 17:16
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Ahhh of course Baugnies..OF COURSE ...
Well this was closer than expected but still So much for the title fight already ''over''
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| Roman |
Posted on 12-11-2015 17:22
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Wow, amazing results. Dominant win after a good effort from my team to prepare 'BBB' the needed position. And Swift fails to deliver big time. Even we still likely have no chance against Vesuvio/Festina, we should be at least close to them in standings now. Nice to have such a great race especially on our home soil to please our sponsors.
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