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Tour de Vineyards Discussion
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 06-02-2020 05:20
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 12681
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1961.50
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Tour de Vineyards Preview
The Tour de Vineyards returns to the MG calendar after a gap of six years. There's a very different look to the peloton now from what it was all those years ago. The course itself also sees a change, covering seven stages over the beautiful countrysides of New Zealand.
The course starts with a Prologue, followed by a flat stage. The Prologue specialists and the sprinters will be looking to get a hold of the GC leader's jersey on these stages. Stage 3, which looks like the possible Queen stage, throws in a couple of smaller climbs before the peloton need to tackle Takaka Hill. Following this is two more stages of (almost) flat roads. Stage 6 has the potential to throw a spanner in the works of the climbers, as the punchers could look to take advantage of the hill in Nelson which the pack will traverse eleven times. The race ends with a 40 km Time Trial, along the roads of a former NC Time Trial circuit.
The general consensus is that climbers who can hold their own against the clock should be favourites here, but there are enough opportunities for a puncher to spoil the party, if they are brave enough on the penultimate stage.
| MON | HIL | TT | STA | RES | REC | ACC | PRL |  Eastman | 81 | 71 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 76 | 69 | 73 |  Kwiatkowski | 78 | 79 | 70 | 74 | 76 | 75 | 75 | 75 |  Borisavljevic | 77 | 73 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 75 | 65 | 74 |  Kiserlovski | 79 | 74 | 71 | 71 | 74 | 72 | 65 | 70 | | Nibali | 78 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 71 | 67 | 53 | 73 |  Zoidl | 75 | 74 | 76 | 71 | 68 | 72 | 69 | 72 |  Cort Nielsen | 77 | 74 | 72 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 71 | 72 | | Ortega | 76 | 65 | 75 | 68 | 74 | 74 | 62 | 73 |  Brandt | 76 | 69 | 73 | 74 | 69 | 72 | 66 | 72 |  Potocki | 77 | 72 | 70 | 74 | 71 | 75 | 64 | 70 |
Ryan Eastman, with the perfect combination of climbing and TT, starts this race as the top favourite. His only slight weakness looks to be on the hills, and so tackling Stage 6 safely will perhaps be the biggest challenge for him in this race.
Kwiatkowski should be the rider providing the biggest challenge to the American for a shot at the overall victory. The Polish rider hasn't been on top form in recent races, and will want to get back to that in this race. Converse to Eastman, he will definitely be looking at the hills as a potential area of attack, given he is sure to give up considerable time to his rival in the TT.
The Euskaltel duo of Borisavljevic and Nibali make for a deadly combination, with both likely to challenge for podium places in a race like this. The latter still has slightly better legs on the climb than his younger teammate, but the latter makes up for it being slightly better against the clock. It remains to be seen whether both get co-leader roles, or team orders demand that one help the other to a high finish.
Similar to Nibali is the ageing legs of Kiserlovski, who is still a Top 5 shot for this race. Slightly weaker in the TT, he'll be looking to gain time in the mountains, and possibly in the hills.
Zoidl will be looking towards his TT ability to offset his slightly weaker capabilities on the climbs.
Cort Nielsen has been in excellent form this season, pulling out quite a few late bursts to over-perform in multiple races. He will want to continue his fine form, and another attack on the Top 5 looks likely.
Neither Ortega nor Brandt are good on the hill, but both are decent to good against the clock and so should start as Top 10 contenders. Ortega's GC chances might be hampered by his support role to Eastman.
In the absence of his more illustrious teammate, Potocki leads the GCN cause in this race, and will be looking towards a Top 10 finish.
| MON | HIL | TT | STA | RES | REC | ACC | PRL | | Campero | 78 | 70 | 69 | 75 | 70 | 72 | 71 | 69 |  Durasek | 71 | 75 | 74 | 74 | 72 | 69 | 59 | 74 |  Giogieri | 78 | 73 | 66 | 71 | 74 | 70 | 67 | 67 | | Squire | 77 | 77 | 65 | 70 | 70 | 76 | 71 | 65 |  Saggiorato | 77 | 73 | 66 | 72 | 74 | 73 | 72 | 66 | | Bille | 69 | 74 | 73 | 73 | 71 | 73 | 75 | 77 | | Roche | 74 | 76 | 68 | 72 | 69 | 68 | 66 | 68 | | De Vos | 75 | 75 | 66 | 73 | 73 | 74 | 69 | 68 |  Elissonde | 78 | 73 | 63 | 76 | 77 | 79 | 66 | 63 | | Mannion | 77 | 71 | 64 | 72 | 76 | 65 | 71 | 64 |
Quite a few super-domestiques fill up the Outsiders including Campero, Squire, Bille, Roche and Mannion. The likes of Durasek and Giogieri lead their team, and are perhaps the more likely candidates to make an impact from the above list.
| FLA | TT | | Robert | 67 | 79 |  Hofer | 73 | 78 | | Downey | 73 | 77 | | Marchewka | 65 | 77 | | Van Baarle | 73 | 77 | | Rekita | 71 | 77 | | Eastman | 70 | 77 | | Rajapakshage | 72 | 76 | | Navardauskas | 75 | 76 | | Cheyne | 73 | 76 | | Zoidl | 69 | 76 | | Betilson | 74 | 75 |  Joeaar | 70 | 75 | | Ortega | 65 | 75 |
Robert starts as the Top favourite for the long ITT on the final stage. Hofer is expected to be his closest competition. Beyond that, it is expected to be a very closely fought affair, with a lot of good Time Trialists part of the startlist. Eastman, Zoidl and Ortega will be looking to make a big GC impact with their TTs.
| HIL | RES | ACC | | Kwiatkowski | 79 | 76 | 75 |  Mehr-Wenige | 78 | 69 | 67 | | Squire | 77 | 70 | 71 | | Hategeka | 77 | 69 | 66 | | Weiss | 76 | 70 | 74 | | Roche | 76 | 69 | 66 | | Nzeke | 76 | 67 | 68 | | Navardauskas | 75 | 74 | 70 |  Groselj | 75 | 73 | 72 | | De Vos | 75 | 73 | 69 | | Rabitsch | 75 | 73 | 68 | | Durasek | 75 | 72 | 59 | | Anderson | 75 | 67 | 75 |
Kwiatkowski is by far the strongest puncher in the race, both in terms of climbing ability, and in terms of backups. Mehr-Wenige, Squire and Hategeka will be looking to spring a surprise on the penultimate stage, although none of them are particularly likely to challenge in the GC.
| FLA | RES | SPR | ACC | | Guillen | 67 | 62 | 81 | 82 | | Thorsen | 60 | 54 | 81 | 83 | | Moser | 72 | 69 | 80 | 79 | | Carsi | 70 | 69 | 80 | 82 | | Krieger | 71 | 74 | 79 | 79 | | Keough | 73 | 73 | 79 | 79 | | Boivin | 74 | 70 | 79 | 80 | | Vingerling | 71 | 66 | 79 | 79 | | Altanzul | 72 | 73 | 78 | 75 | | Canelon | 77 | 69 | 78 | 83 | | Cisse | 74 | 67 | 78 | 77 | | Yamamoto | 72 | 67 | 78 | 78 | | Keough | 72 | 67 | 78 | 75 | | Nepomnyachsniy | 74 | 66 | 78 | 76 | | Sobota | 72 | 65 | 78 | 78 |
On the flat, Guillen and Thorsen are the fastest riders in the race. However, the roads are not the flattest of flat, in the flat stages and this swings the momentum towards Moser, Carsi, Krieger, Keough and Boivin in the fight for stage wins. Equinor have the best leadout in the form of Vingerling, which Carsi should look to exploit.
| FLA | TT | PRL | | Robert | 67 | 79 | 79 | | Hofer | 73 | 78 | 78 | | Rajapakshage | 72 | 76 | 78 | | Downey | 73 | 77 | 77 | | Van Baarle | 73 | 77 | 77 | | Marchewka | 65 | 77 | 77 | | Navardauskas | 75 | 76 | 77 | | Rekita | 71 | 77 | 76 | | Betilson | 74 | 75 | 76 | | Bille | 73 | 73 | 77 | | Stash | 71 | 67 | 76 | | Vingerling | 71 | 65 | 76 | | Keough | 73 | 58 | 80 | | Van Poppel | 75 | 62 | 76 |
The first stage offers the Prologue specialists to grab the leader's jersey early. Robert and Hofer will be the top favourites. None of the GC favourites are particularly good in this area. Keough is the best sprinter in the race in this aspect, and can potentially keep the jersey for the first two stages.
Spoiler | Last Name | First Name | Team | | Zoidl | Riccardo | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Stoenchev | Valentin | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Navardauskas | Ramunas | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Kukrle | Michal | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Marchewka | Krzysztof | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Kamberaj | Xhuliano | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Losch | Max | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Canelon | Hersony | Adastra - Hell Energy Cycling | | Eastman | Ryan | Azteca - NBCSN | | Ortega | Sergio | Azteca - NBCSN | | Squire | Robbie | Azteca - NBCSN | | Mannion | Gavin | Azteca - NBCSN | | Martins Sandoval | Uri | Azteca - NBCSN | | Cheyne | Jordan | Azteca - NBCSN | | Keough | Luke | Azteca - NBCSN | | Corwin | Dadley | Azteca - NBCSN | | Evans | Alexander | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Sobrero | Matteo | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Barcelo | Fernando | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Scaroni | Cristian | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Lauk | Karl Patrick | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Dockx | Gert | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Ravasi | Edward | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Langeveld | Sebastian | Bianchi - Campagnolo | | Kiserlovski | Robert | BNZ Cycling Team | | Campero | Piter | BNZ Cycling Team | | Camier | Jean-Francois | BNZ Cycling Team | | Altanzul | Maani | BNZ Cycling Team | | Oste-Macdonald | Max | BNZ Cycling Team | | Flakemore | Campbell | BNZ Cycling Team | | Sunderland | Dylan | BNZ Cycling Team | | Baterdene | Narankhuu | BNZ Cycling Team | | Saggiorato | Mirco | Centovalli - Fiat | | Manfredi | Andrea | Centovalli - Fiat | | Kiriakidis | Ioannidis | Centovalli - Fiat | | Stocker | Manuel | Centovalli - Fiat | | Cisse | Issiaka | Centovalli - Fiat | | Walscheid | Maximilian | Centovalli - Fiat | | Guillen | Marco | Centovalli - Fiat | | Minali | Riccardo | Centovalli - Fiat | | Elissonde | Kenny | CYBEX Platinum | | Quintero | Carlos | CYBEX Platinum | | Van Baarle | Dylan | CYBEX Platinum | | Pozdnyakov | Kirill | CYBEX Platinum | | Grosser | Aaron | CYBEX Platinum | | Barbari | Adel | CYBEX Platinum | | Puccioni | Dario | CYBEX Platinum | | Keough | Jake | CYBEX Platinum | | Rajapakshage | Tushantha | DK Zalgiris | | Narvaez | Jhonatan | DK Zalgiris | | Hofer | Andreas | DK Zalgiris | | Hamilton | Lucas | DK Zalgiris | | Akhmaevi | Sulkhan | DK Zalgiris | | Beniusis | Justas | DK Zalgiris | | Ovsyannikov | Alexandr | DK Zalgiris | | Nepomnyachsniy | Alexandr | DK Zalgiris | | Agostini | Stefano | Eddie Stobart | | Sivakov | Pavel | Eddie Stobart | | Joeaar | Gert | Eddie Stobart | | Van der Ploeg | Neil | Eddie Stobart | | Cimolai | Davide | Eddie Stobart | | Andersson | Emil | Eddie Stobart | | Dahlberg | Linus | Eddie Stobart | | Thorsen | Daniel | Eddie Stobart | | Mehr-Wenige | Dietmar | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Kangangi | Suleiman | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Waersted | Syver | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Kurianov | Stepan | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Vingerling | Michael | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Townsend | Rory | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Carsi | Mustafa | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Ratto | Daniele | Equinor Pro Cycling | | Borisavljevic | Milos | Euskaltel - Elior | | Nibali | Vincenzo | Euskaltel - Elior | | Conci | Nicola | Euskaltel - Elior | | Mas | Enric | Euskaltel - Elior | | Robert | Stelly | Euskaltel - Elior | | Moser | Moreno | Euskaltel - Elior | | Jakobsen | Fabio | Euskaltel - Elior | | Batmunkh | Maral-Erdene | Euskaltel - Elior | | Potocki | Pavel | GCN ProTeam | | Bille | Gaetan | GCN ProTeam | | Hategeka | Gasore | GCN ProTeam | | Vinhas | Rui Pedro | GCN ProTeam | | Nzeke | Geremie | GCN ProTeam | | Krul | Stef | GCN ProTeam | | O'Loughlin | Michael | GCN ProTeam | | Welten | Bram | GCN ProTeam | | Brandt | Tyler | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Roche | Nicolas | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Downey | Sean | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | O'Connor | Ben | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Simpson | George | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | English | Felix | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Petrie-Armstrong | Adam | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Frame | Alex | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Habtemichael | Daniel | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Groselj | Ziga | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Fung | Ka Hoo | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Revard | Thomas | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Hoehn | Alex | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Rhim | Brendan | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Brown | Connor | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Mostov | Zeke | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Durasek | Kristijan | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | De Vos | Adam | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Piccoli | James | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Anderson | Ryan | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Van Poppel | Boy | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Stash | Mamyr | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Boivin | Guillaume | NENT Racing p/b Hootsuite | | Kwiatkowski | Michal | Netia - Vonin | | Veyhe | Torkil | Netia - Vonin | | Rekita | Szymon | Netia - Vonin | | Reckweg | Morten | Netia - Vonin | | Franczak | Pawel | Netia - Vonin | | Sobota | Kristian | Netia - Vonin | | Giogieri | Tyron | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Braico | Alexandr | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Majoral | Jordi | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Betilson | Manuel | OMV Petrom-Albania.al | | Weiss | Martin | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Rabitsch | Stephan | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Balkan | Onur | OMV Petrom-Albania.al | | Krieger | Alexander | OMV Petrom-albania.al | | Cort Nielsen | Magnus | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Burmann | Wolfgang | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Vingegaard | Jonas | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Zimmermann | Georg | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Larsen | Niklas | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Kanter | Max | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Pedersen | Casper | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team | | Yamamoto | Genki | Tryg Insurance Cycling Team |
Edited by AbhishekLFC on 08-02-2020 05:19
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 06-02-2020 06:24
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3991
Joined: 26-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Have to be pretty excited to not really see any top challengers for Eastman, its a risk to send him to a race with only one real climb, and that isn't even too daunting. He needs to win that stage comfortably, and use the TT to pad his lead.
Big hope will be for Keough to win the prologue and just hold that lead to hand over to Eastman on the climb. Not very worried about the one hilly stage, actually expect that will go to a sprinter anyway doesn't look challenging enough to have a hilly status.
AZTECA - NBCSN  |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 06-02-2020 07:23
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Team Leader
Posts: 5569
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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The day comes where Nibali and Borisavljevic are actually favourites and I'm not sure I'm happy about that as I now expect something good from them as opposed to Nibali surprising to get on the podium as he has done so often this season.
That said, it's vital that we continue our form so far this season in this race. We've got the leaders and the support to do so on almost every stage.
The first stage prologue should be of interest to us but Robert very much lacks the back-up stats, could still be in with a shot at the stage win.
I'm actually hoping Moser keeps within touch time-wise on the first stage in order to potentially get the leaders jersey on stage 2. He is definitely one of the most well-rounded sprinters here. He also has the support of Jakobsen and Batmunkh who should lead him out well. Obviously hoping he can work his magic on Stages 4 and 5, maybe even the more punchy stage.
In terms of the GC, Nibali and Borisavljevic obviously need to do well on stage 3. I'm definitely hoping that the stage is ridden very hard over the earlier bump in the road and that a high pace is kept up until the base of the climb. Nibali relies on that diesel engine of his so the harder the race the better as he'll just keep grinding the gears. Borisavljevic has sacrificed himself in other races so far this season so I wouldn't be too unhappy for him to do that again. I do also have Conci and Mas to provide support on this stage as well as Stage 6 which could be a threat to a good GC result. Nibbles has proven strong enough to hold on so far this season so we'll hope for the best. The TT again could be a threat but both Nibbles and Milos are fairly strong in this discipline.
Best case scenario- Nibbles finished Top 3 in GC, Moser wins a stage, Robert podiums the prologue and Milos wins the U25 classification.
I'll settle for a Nibali Top 5 GC and Moser putting up a fight to at least podium a couple stages.
Good luck to all!!
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 06-02-2020 09:29
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3124
Joined: 09-05-2011
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We might have sent well balanced team, but would this be a weakness?
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 08-12-2025 15:23
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Bot Agent
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| MacC |
Posted on 06-02-2020 09:45
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Sprinter
Posts: 1712
Joined: 15-07-2008
PCM$: 1000.00
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2 Time Trials for Downey to shine in as well as his usual breakaway tricks. Brandt for a top 10 overall and hopefully Roche can make an impact on the hills |
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| Azerbaijan |
Posted on 06-02-2020 14:28
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 276
Joined: 08-07-2013
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Krieger, Betilson, Braico and Giogieri can all potentially snag top 10 places on stages, but GC wise, I am not hoping for much.
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| quadsas |
Posted on 06-02-2020 15:21
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2728
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We here to stage hunt, Nepo is probably good for a few points here
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 07-02-2020 23:57
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Team Leader
Posts: 5569
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Great first stage for us. Robert 2nd is all we can ask from him really. Nibbles 7th is really positive and says to me that he's in form ready to go for the GC here.
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| quadsas |
Posted on 08-02-2020 00:10
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2728
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Lost the lottery of getting the 2nd. Always keeping the balts down
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 08-02-2020 00:46
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3991
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Awful start for Keough, sadly 9.5km is too much of an ask for him as this felt more like a short ITT than a prologue.
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 08-02-2020 07:12
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3991
Joined: 26-07-2011
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Terrific result for us and Luke! The 2nd place and now a race lead we were looking to have from the start!
AZTECA - NBCSN |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 08-02-2020 10:02
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Team Leader
Posts: 5569
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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Love when one of the big stage favourites on a sprinters stage finishes outside the Top 50... Useless
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| cio93 |
Posted on 08-02-2020 10:24
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World Champion
Posts: 10616
Joined: 29-10-2007
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That bump definitely looked like it could cause trouble, and it did!
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| Azerbaijan |
Posted on 08-02-2020 11:59
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 276
Joined: 08-07-2013
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Krieger is on fire this season
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 08-02-2020 13:25
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Team Leader
Posts: 5948
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Krieger playing with the rest so far this season!
Another note, great to see our leadout work. We just need to finish it!
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| quadsas |
Posted on 08-02-2020 16:55
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2728
Joined: 18-01-2013
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Of course Nepo gets a puncture out of all people lmao
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 09-02-2020 08:04
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World Champion
Posts: 11621
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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."
[PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
1x  x1
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 09-02-2020 10:28
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Team Leader
Posts: 5569
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I wasn't happy to see Nibali dropped but it looks like he may have done it for Borisavljevic who I'm very pleased to see take an amazing 3rd on the stage and up to 3rd in the GC. The TT should be an opportunity for him to strengthen that but he's still got a few other tough stages to fight through.
On another note, happy to see Kwiat doing well here as he has definitely been below par so far this season. Could be a sign of big things to come!
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 09-02-2020 13:17
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3991
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Little disappointed not to have the race lead with Eastman, but can happily sit in 2nd until we get to the TT where he should have a pretty good advantage on Kwiat and should hold off all those below him as well.
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 10-02-2020 19:06
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Team Leader
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Why the hell is Moser not competing for a stage win in this field???? This is beyond a joke.
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