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Strade Bianche Discussion
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 23-01-2020 06:37
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3991
Joined: 26-07-2011
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Welcome to one of the most famed races, as we reach the legendary course for the strong men of cycling. The white dirt roads are unique spectacle of this race, and can offer serious challenges to those not prepared. This will be the 11th edition of the route, and no one has won twice in those years.
The route is challenging with frequent dips and climbs though any of the serious climbing will be done in the first half of the race before the punchuers really go to work. A series of small hills near the finish will provide the answer for the winner and who has the best legs. The results have never been a difference of more than a handful of seconds since the inaugural season, and I'd expect another very close race all the way to the finish again this year.
This is always a tough route, but the climbers won't have any great effect on this race. Today we get the chance to focus on the punchuers, their ability to tackle hills, resistance to the challenging terrain and finally if they have the acceleration to pull away from their rivals in the end.
| | | | | | | | | Rider | HL | RS | AC | Rider | HL | RS | AC |  Bakelants | 83 | 77 | 77 |  Schreurs | 81 | 76 | 74 |  Skujins | 83 | 77 | 76 |  Buchmann | 80 | 73 | 73 | | Van Garderen | 82 | 75 | 79 |  Gautier | 80 | 76 | 77 |  Mohoric | 83 | 72 | 77 |  Betancourt | 80 | 72 | 74 |  Kelderman | 82 | 75 | 72 |  Prevar | 80 | 77 | 73 |  McCarthy | 81 | 75 | 74 |  Waeytens | 80 | 72 | 73 |  Gastauer | 82 | 70 | 76 |  Paulinho | 79 | 70 | 75 |  Koretzky | 81 | 70 | 79 | Anuar Aziz | 80 | 76 | 69 |
My list of favorites for this race gives a very deep an open field and most will be allowed to work for themselves. It will make the question of if Van Garderen gains an advantage with the very strong Buchmann in support, or if Buchmann is allowed to go on his own. As far as pure favorites are concerned it is a very fine margin between Bakelants and Skujins. Two notable returnees are former winners Kelderman who has a very real shot at becoming the first to win twice, and  Bellis who will need to find his younger legs to give the favorites a challenge. Sadly for the local Italians it may be a tough race to watch as Moscon,  Caruso or Zaini have the highest chances of success here, but all are outsiders at best.
AZTECA - NBCSN  |
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| SotD |
Posted on 23-01-2020 07:21
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World Champion
Posts: 12631
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Maybe MO should be added to the list of favorites rather than RS or ACC to give a proper indication of actual favorites... I'm not sure riders like McCarthy, Gastauer, Schreurs, Gautier and Koretzky is actually within a shot of top 5 here - top 10 could even be a struggle...
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| tastasol |
Posted on 23-01-2020 07:50
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3030
Joined: 11-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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No expectations here. A guy in the break would be nice.
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| redordead |
Posted on 23-01-2020 07:53
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Team Leader
Posts: 5511
Joined: 18-10-2017
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I agree the MO stat has the potential to offset a weaker RES stat, but I'm still hoping to see the "pure" puncheurs do well on this race profile.
Go Mohoric!!! 
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 23-01-2020 08:34
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3060
Joined: 15-07-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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We did send our prime puncheurs here and our best support team, and the team is ranked 19th
Hopefully we can prove the bookies wrong in the end.
Thank you for the preview, really looking forward to this one! |
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 23-01-2020 08:59
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2797
Joined: 20-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Cool race, shame we're not part of it. Good luck!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 16:37
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Bot Agent
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| fjhoekie |
Posted on 23-01-2020 08:59
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4368
Joined: 25-07-2010
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Just hoping for a top 10 from either Prevar, Laas or Bratashcuk... Some points would be very nice
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 23-01-2020 09:08
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15025
Joined: 08-08-2011
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No Senni to save Waeytens here, so the first real test for him!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 23-01-2020 13:45
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 12681
Joined: 27-07-2015
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Hoping for Kelderman to live up to his Top 5 billing. He finished on the podium last season and something similar would be delightful  Only his second race of the season, so looking forward to how he goes. He has the strongest available team in support.
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 23-01-2020 15:29
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 9137
Joined: 13-03-2013
PCM$: 2100.00
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Please Mohoric. You have a strong team that can do everything and you have the punch. For once show me a great race this year. Please 
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 23-01-2020 16:45
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11786
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Watson is no one to count on, so we just need some lucky rider to somehow manage to get us a few points here.
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 23-01-2020 17:47
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2130
Joined: 11-07-2010
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I've got low expectations, but I hope Schreurs can surprise!
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| knockout |
Posted on 23-01-2020 18:13
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8236
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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Ready to be disappointed again.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 24-01-2020 00:19
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2773
Joined: 31-12-2007
PCM$: 450.00
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This should be a fun race, although rightfully we are not mentioned in the preview, I believe in a good result!
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| fintas |
Posted on 24-01-2020 00:22
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2597
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
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I don't have high expectations for this race, none of our riders should be able to fight for anything significant.
A place in the top 20 should be the best we can get.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 24-01-2020 07:29
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11786
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Solid 74th place for Watson...
Seems like Bobridge actually could have had a chance here. That's quite a bummer 
Thanks for the report!
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| SotD |
Posted on 24-01-2020 07:32
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World Champion
Posts: 12631
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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5th from Koretzky is pretty much what I would have expected from the former game, so I can't complain with results being like this. Seems pretty spot on, except for Watson being just as crap as before
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| redordead |
Posted on 24-01-2020 07:42
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Team Leader
Posts: 5511
Joined: 18-10-2017
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That was a fun race, still waiting for that Mohoric win though
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 24-01-2020 08:08
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 9137
Joined: 13-03-2013
PCM$: 2100.00
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Great racing and great AI. As said, hilly classics seem fine with the db, The hilly stage races are the issue because the AI thinks stage race.
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| knockout |
Posted on 24-01-2020 08:10
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8236
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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Wow, didnt belive this would be possible anymore. Finally a much needed win by Skujins
However i still dont understand this game. Van Avermaet in 175th? How in the hell does that make sense?
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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