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Tour of Japan Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 26-03-2018 12:55
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Directeur Sportif
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 Tour of Japan
The (P)CT is heading for Asia, where the Tour of Japan goes into it's 9th edition since being first held in 2009. Since 2013, the tour is held as a 6-stage-event and the character hasn't changed: a short prologue is followed by a flat stage, two hilly stages with the famous Mt Fuiji mountain timetrial in between and another flat stage on the final day here. Obviously, the climbing challenge up one of Asia's most iconic climbs is a key for any GC contenders. The rather short timetrial though will also leave the two hilly stages as crucial contests for anyone fighting to get a notable GC result. Pure climbers can definitely lose time on those circuit races.
The previous race-winners list proves, that it ain't an easy race to predict: defending race champion Cunego (2016) played his nice combination of climbing mountains and hills to perfection last year, beating a premium climber like Valls and a premium puncheur like Kinoshita by more than a minute in the final GC.. Cataldo (2015) went for a narrow GC victory of Kwiatkwoski and Bennett, Saggiorato (2014) had a rather surprising victory over Bibby and Cobo three years ago. Marquez (2013) as a pure climber winning yellow ahead of Ji and Bibby, De la Fuente (2012), Chavanel (2011), Lloret (2010) and Chacon (2009) as the remaining names on the honour roll. Quite a mixed list of past race winners. The Tour of Japan can certainly produce different kind of champions. It should be interesting yet again.
The Startlist
The GC Contenders | Favorites | MO | HI | AC | PRL | Outsiders | MO | HI | AC | PRL |  Sicard | 82 | 78 | 70 | 76 |  Klemme | 74 | 80 | 66 | 67 |  Denifl | 84 | 76 | 65 | 72 | Duarte | 80 | 68 | 73 | 75 |  Kudus | 81 | 76 | 70 | 72 | Rodrigues | 78 | 73 | 72 | 67 |  Shikai | 81 | 71 | 65 | 76 | Teklehaimanot | 77 | 74 | 67 | 74 | | Quintana | 81 | 74 | 65 | 71 |  Bartl | 77 | 72 | 70 | 75 |  Roglic | 79 | 76 | 74 | 70 |  Kolesnikov | 77 | 72 | 77 | 72 |  Kwiatkowski | 78 | 79 | 75 | 75 | Hiratsuka | 77 | 74 | 60 | 63 |  Cataldo | 78 | 75 | 73 | 69 |  Shapira | 76 | 72 | 77 | 63 | | Poljanski | 77 | 77 | 71 | 67 | Jang | 76 | 76 | 74 | 62 | | Roche | 77 | 79 | 71 | 71 | Grigrian | 76 | 71 | 73 | 72 |  Cunego | 77 | 76 | 70 | 65 |  Baltazar | 76 | 71 | 69 | 64 |  Zardini | 76 | 77 | 68 | 72 | Reguigui | 76 | 71 | 69 | 75 | | Sanchez Gil | 75 | 77 | 72 | 73 | Serrano | 76 | 68 | 77 | 63 | | Kinoshita | 72 | 81 | 77 | 66 | Berard | 76 | 68 | 68 | 61 | | | | | | | | | | | | Puncheurs | MO | HI | AC | | | | | | | | Vogt | 62 | 80 | 63 | | | | | | | | Moazemi | 73 | 78 | 73 | | | | | | | | Palini | 70 | 78 | 74 | | | | | | | | Edet | 70 | 77 | 71 | | | | | | |
Cunego as one of two past race winners to take part in 2017: the aging ManGame legend probably won't be amongst the top favorites anymore, but his experience here and his solid allround package in mountains and hills make him a Top-10 contender anyway. Also Cataldo - winner in 2015, finishing 9th last year - is participating again. Not amongst the best puncheurs amongst the climbers, but definitely strong enough to be considered a GC threat.
Just like last year's 3rd and winner of the final stage: local favorite Kinoshita is back again, which shouldn't come as a surprise. Definitely not the worst climber amongst the strongest puncheurs, he has to be considered a threat for a high GC result, if he delivers in the hilly stages. His teammate Shikai as another GC contender for local team Meiji, which is obviously having a big race here. It should be interesting to see, how they handle the double leadership, with also Hiratsuka as a strong premium support behind the duo. Shikai amongst the best prologue specialists of all GC contenders: it probably won't make a big difference, but any seconds may be become crucial afterall.
Let's talk about the best climbers now though: Sicard as the top-favorite for yellow. The premium climber comes with strong skills on both hills and timetrials. That's obviously a great allround package for a race like this. Also Kudus and Denifl with the needed ability to survive the hilly stages in the front group, with Denifl (as always) lacking the acceleration to be considered the top-favorite for yellow here.. Quintana may fear the hilly stages the most (at least from the main GC contenders), but comes an advantage over other climbers like Duarte in particular.
Kwiatkowski (2nd in 2015) as another real contender for at least the GC podium: his allround package is almost as great as Sicard's - the best puncheur amongst the best climbers, a strong acceleration and also a minor contender for the prologue Top-10. Other mountain/hill contenders are Roglic, Poljanski, Roche, Zardini and - if he's given a free role - LL Sanchez Gil.
Klemme and Vogt the next best puncheurs behind Kinoshita: while Klemme comes with some decent climbing skills as well, Vogt will definitely fear the Mt Fuiji challenge. Both are lacking the needed acceleration for a puncheur, too.. Moazemi, Palini and Edet as possible dark horses for the GC then.
The Stage Hunters | Sprinters | SP | AC | | | Prologue Specialists | MO | HI | PRL | | Van Heerden | 82 | 73 | | |  Dennis | 74 | 75 | 81 | | Lavoine | 80 | 78 | | | Ignatiev | 66 | 75 | 80 | | Serebriakov | 80 | 77 | | | Viennet | 54 | 67 | 80 | | Rowe | 80 | 70 | | | Robert | 57 | 60 | 79 |  Chen | 79 | 78 | | | Hamza | 52 | 63 | 79 | | Santos | 79 | 75 | | | Balloni | 60 | 66 | 78 | | Sobota | 78 | 78 | | | Li | 53 | 61 | 78 | | Tewelde | 78 | 77 | | | Rolland | 74 | 70 | 77 | | Lobato del Valle | 77 | 80 | | | Tennant | 63 | 69 | 77 | | Planckaert | 77 | 77 | | | Ghyselinck | 61 | 68 | 77 |  Giacoppo | 77 | 75 | | | Bodnar | 59 | 68 | 77 |
The sprinters won't have an easy time here in Japan, but there's still some talent around: Van Heerden, Lavoine, Serebriakov, Rowe and Chen as the most promising sprinters to battle for the flat stages. The first one ain't easy at all though and we haven't seen too many sprinters taking this particular stage in the past. Time to change this fact.
The prologue will give us the first GC leader and that's obviously a nice bonus for everyone: Dennis (who may actually be considered a minor GC threat as well, finishing 11th in the GC here back in 2015) as the strongest specialist, who also comes with a solid allround package to maybe survive the hilly stages in a front group. Just like Ignatiev, of course, who's not as good in the mountains though. Opposing to Rolland, who may be another prologue specialist hoping for a notable GC result.
Viennet, Robert, Hamza, Li, Tennant, Ghyselinck or Bodnar will only aim for the stage-win and we know, that everything is possible on a good day and such a short and technical prologue.
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 26-03-2018 13:18
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2809
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With PCT competition I don't expect anything out of here.. Hoping on luck and breakaways again
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| Selwink |
Posted on 26-03-2018 13:46
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Grand Tour Champion
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Hoping for another good result here. Not sure if I can expect anything really out of this race, we'll just have to see where it ends up.
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 26-03-2018 14:27
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Yeah, we have the defending champion in the race, and despite that i can't expect anything better than a Top20. So please, breakaways!!!!!
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| knockout |
Posted on 26-03-2018 16:13
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7735
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Go Kwiatek!
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 26-03-2018 19:02
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World Champion
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Go Shikai and Kinoshita! Our goal is to win here, I think Kinoshita is our best hope of that, Shikai needs to be up there on the hilly stages and win the mountain TT basically to have a chance.
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| tastasol |
Posted on 26-03-2018 19:42
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Classics Specialist
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So here's Sicard. Makes sense I guess. Will be a very important race for both him/Orange and Netia and Kwiatkowski, and probably the two biggest favourites as well. Should be a nice race to follow!
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| ryant |
Posted on 27-03-2018 00:46
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Small Tour Specialist
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Dennis is a bit of a wildcard here, but I hope he manages a top 10 GC overall, to help us recover from our recent slump in form. If we can bag a stage win or two - that would be welcome as well 
Good luck people!
 John St Ledger in Team Bunzl-Centrica and Team U25Red Bull Driver in RFactor
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 27-03-2018 01:02
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Team Leader
Posts: 7295
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Really don’t know what to expect from this race with such a strong field! But we will fight for the breakaway and maybe get some nice results in the sprints!
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 27-03-2018 07:23
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Team Leader
Posts: 7366
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We really really need some serious points here, on paper Kwiat should be first or 2nd against Sicard in Round 2 after Romandie and I'd be disappointed not to get at least 2nd given our desperate need for points, on paper, anything can happen, we kinda need LLS or even Rabottini to be in form as well and maybe Sobota with some luck, though we'll see, that's probably unlikely. 
Thanks for the preview tsmoha, looking forward to the reports!
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 17:42
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 27-03-2018 07:29
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Team Leader
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Ikibe or Matsumoto with a good breakaway result and Cataldo with a surprisingly good GC.
Thanks for the prewiew
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 27-03-2018 07:36
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Directeur Sportif
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Go Kwiatek! We've almost sent Brajko here.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 27-03-2018 07:44
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Team Manager
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Always a race I've enjoyed. Bibby came close many times, now it's time to see what Kudus can do here.
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| sgdanny |
Posted on 27-03-2018 13:19
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Classics Specialist
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Really hope we can get a Top 5 here, but that might be asking for too much. Lets see
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 27-03-2018 19:12
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World Champion
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Not a bad start for Shikai, but Kinoshita is further down than I had hoped.
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 27-03-2018 20:59
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4191
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Well, i obviously didn't expect anything of the TT, not having even a 70 prologue rider in the race, so hard to define today's performance  Let's hope we are featured in the following stage's reports Also, not ideal for us that Yorkshire took 1 and 3 in the stage 
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 27-03-2018 21:15
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Team Leader
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Cool report and good top 20 for Kwiat (plus a funny 26th for Pedersen ), congrats ryant!
Tomorrow should be interesting, clearly too tough for Sobota, but too easy for GC action probably, I should've brought Morkov.
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 27-03-2018 21:29
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Team Leader
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Congratulations to Ryant, great start.
We have no options in this stage, hope we can pull up a rabbit tomorrow. To make some result or at least try.
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 27-03-2018 23:02
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Tour de France Champion
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On paper an interesting race which can turn out in lots of different ways ,,, but obviously I have high hopes for Sicard, backed up by a good squad here. |
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| Selwink |
Posted on 28-03-2018 11:09
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8856
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Decent start in Japan, now let's see what the following stage brings
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