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Geraardsbergen-Bosberg Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 14-11-2017 17:43
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Directeur Sportif
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The race report will probably be online after Paris - Nice, so on thursday morning.
 Geraardsbergen-Bosberg
The C2HC event goes into it's third edition: former race-winners have been Sebastian Langeveld (2015) and Kenny De Haes (2016). One of the toughest cobbled classics in the CT, the profile features a short, but steep climb (up to 15%) and challenging cobbles.
Almost 200km long, the parcours totals 22km of cobbles and 17km of climbing (with a 2100m of total height meters). Surely a tough route, where pure cobblers without the ability to tackle hills may suffer.
The Startlist
The Favorites | Cobblers | HI | CO | SP | | Puncheurs | HI | CO | SP |  Van Keirsbulck | 71 | 78 | 70 | |  Roux | 78 | 52 | 57 |  Bush | 62 | 78 | 71 | |  Hugentobler | 76 | 69 | 56 | | Vandenbergh | 66 | 77 | 61 | |  Gilbert | 76 | 68 | 64 |  Drucker | 65 | 77 | 74 | |  Lietaer | 76 | 67 | 66 | | Grand | 65 | 77 | 65 | | Wallays | 75 | 64 | 64 |  Flaksis | 65 | 76 | 61 | |  Besada | 75 | 58 | 55 |  Thwaites | 65 | 76 | 78 | | Schurter | 75 | 55 | 66 | | Lindeman | 64 | 76 | 74 | |  Becerra | 75 | 53 | 68 |  Verbist | 63 | 76 | 57 | |  Destribois | 75 | 52 | 61 |  Jérôme | 72 | 75 | 63 | | Hollenstein | 75 | 51 | 63 | | Fouquet | 67 | 75 | 68 | | Gatto | 74 | 72 | 78 | | Corwin | 65 | 75 | 55 | | Backaert | 74 | 72 | 58 | | Lebris | 65 | 75 | 71 | | Armee | 74 | 71 | 67 | | Havik | 64 | 75 | 79 | | Visconti | 74 | 71 | 62 |  Schoonbroodt | 75 | 74 | 68 | |  Reus | 74 | 67 | 54 |  Gaday | 73 | 74 | 68 | |  Dowling | 74 | 67 | 70 | | De Vreese | 72 | 74 | 70 | | Marcato | 72 | 72 | 74 |
Van Keirsbulck definitely has to be considered the top-favorite here. Combining cobbles with hills (and even decent sprint skills), the Belgian has a race to lose here. With some decent support like Farrar or Lebris, it's definitely Goldcorp, which has some things to do here.
Given the hilly note of the parcours, other cobblers like Bush, Vandenbergh, Drucker or Grand may have problems. A tough thing to predict, as they are easily amongst the best cobblers here, but lack the abilities to climb short hills. Other more strong puncheurs like Jérôme, Schoonbrodt, Gaday or De Vreese are surely pretty dangerous on this course.
In addition to those cobblers, several teams decided to bring some puncheurs here. Roux surely as the most interesting choice amongst them. Completely lacking cobbled skills, his chances to do anything seem to be pretty slim.
Opposing to guys like Hugentobler, Gilbert or Lietaer. Those guys can climb and survive cobbles as well. That's definitely an interesting question with the startlist we have here: will puncheurs like Hugentobler stand a chance against cobblers like Bush?
Some dark horses thanks to pretty solid allround skills: Gatto, Backaert, Armee/Visconti or Marcato.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 14-11-2017 17:46
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Tour de France Champion
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This was always one of De Maar's favorites, looking forward to see the action. Certainly a lot of guys that fit the mold and could perform well.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 14-11-2017 18:12
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World Champion
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Roux is here for god knows why  But Vandenbergh is an actual hope, not going to win and not sure how the hill will go but top 5 please? Thanks for a nice preview as well tsmoha 
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24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| knockout |
Posted on 14-11-2017 18:59
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7735
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Lovely race, curious to see what happens. Van Keirsbulck looks like the winner here but behind that it's very interesting. I'm hoping that my alumnis Meersman, Grand and Flaksis can do well here but I guess, all of them are better on flat courses. i hope that Drucker, Vandenbergh and Bush will all start well into the season although I think they won't be able to stop VK here already.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 14-11-2017 19:03
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Classics Specialist
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Hope for a top10 place here, Flaksis has the quality for it we just need some luck.
It seems like a very open race and it can go many ways. My bet is in von Keirsbulck, as he does seem to have what it takes (and Goldcorp need one of these races)
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 14-11-2017 19:20
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Classics Specialist
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Looking at the startlist, GVK is the guy to beat here hopefully we can take our first win of our existence!
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| Vien |
Posted on 14-11-2017 19:35
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2322
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Super hyped about this race. Not only because we have a top 10 goal but also because this is Schoonbroodt's most ideal classic this season.
Thanks for the preview tsmoha, can't wait for Thursday! |
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 14-11-2017 20:22
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Grand Tour Champion
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We won last year with De Haes, who is obviously not able to defend. His victory was the beginning of a very successful season, I wish the same fate to the team who will bring his successor.
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 14-11-2017 20:23
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Grand Tour Specialist
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I'll be happy if we avoid a 0-pointer here. And everything is not a GvK win will be a big surprise
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| Booker |
Posted on 14-11-2017 20:52
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Thanks for the lovely preview tsmoha. I can't really see much further past GVK here, but Schoonbroodt and Gaday might have something to offer. It'd be nice to see Jérôme do well if Havik is struggling, and it'd also be nice to see either Goldcorp or Reddit take their first victory here. C'mon fellow rookies!
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| Vien |
Posted on 14-11-2017 21:05
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Small Tour Specialist
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Booker wrote: it'd also be nice to see either Goldcorp or Reddit take their first victory here. C'mon fellow rookies!
I got a win already (Kip in Tachira race 2), so I'm rooting for Goldcorp. Honestly I'm fine with some expected results for once. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 20:56
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| Booker |
Posted on 14-11-2017 21:08
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Breakaway Specialist
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Vien wrote:
Booker wrote: it'd also be nice to see either Goldcorp or Reddit take their first victory here. C'mon fellow rookies!
I got a win already (Kip in Tachira race 2), so I'm rooting for Goldcorp. Honestly I'm fine with some expected results for once.
Ah, that sKIPped my mind.
Why would the AI ever allow that to happen? Least of all on the cobbles.
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 14-11-2017 21:22
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Booker wrote:
Vien wrote:
Booker wrote: it'd also be nice to see either Goldcorp or Reddit take their first victory here. C'mon fellow rookies!
I got a win already (Kip in Tachira race 2), so I'm rooting for Goldcorp. Honestly I'm fine with some expected results for once.
Ah, that sKIPped my mind.
Delete your account, PLEASE!
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 14-11-2017 21:41
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Team Leader
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Im not sure what to think with this one, we got two different options none of them strong enough to look for a top 5, but maybe we can get one of them into top ten on a good day. Heaven knows we don’t need rain on this course.
Let’s all take it easy and wait for a bunch sprint
Thanks tsmoha great preview
Edited by Tamijo on 14-11-2017 21:47
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 15-11-2017 04:16
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3999
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Looking for some surprises from my team here in this one, hopefully the good kind unlike the surprises that were in store for us at Trentino.
AZTECA - NBCSN  |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 15-11-2017 04:19
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Directeur Sportif
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A bit of pressure on Drucker in this one after a bad GW and a so-so month for the team so far. On top of that, this race is our win goal for the year. Could very well be an indication of where we stand in the division.
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 15-11-2017 05:39
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Classics Specialist
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Grand should be a top 5 cobbler on the flat, but on a hilly course like this one I'd be happy with a top 10 as it really does t suit him.
That said if the CT division is silly enough to let Hugentobler in the break, which given his low cobbled stat, but best of the strong punchers, then he has the skills to potentially hold on for a podium as he proved by winning the benelux challenge last season.
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| Booker |
Posted on 15-11-2017 10:04
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 875
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Aquarius97 wrote:
Booker wrote:
Vien wrote:
Booker wrote: it'd also be nice to see either Goldcorp or Reddit take their first victory here. C'mon fellow rookies!
I got a win already (Kip in Tachira race 2), so I'm rooting for Goldcorp. Honestly I'm fine with some expected results for once.
Ah, that sKIPped my mind.
Delete your account, PLEASE!
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 15-11-2017 12:02
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Team Leader
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Im going to make a prediction:
We will either win from a breakaway or come in last.
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| roturn |
Posted on 16-11-2017 09:14
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Team Manager
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Goldcorp might have won it, but incredible depth by Sauber and WCC to be the big winners here I guess. As also Phillips. Not allowing much top spots for other teams.
Van Keirsbulck though the deserved winner being the strongest after his attack and never allowed anyone to come back.
Haller in the break was a nice tactic, though didn`t work out with the crash. Thwaites as well with a day to forget.
Nice report, tsmoha. Welcome back.  |
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