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Tour of South Africa Discussion
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| jph27 |
Posted on 29-04-2020 22:14
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Team Leader
Posts: 7339
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PCM$: 900.00
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 Tour of South Africa
The 2019 Tour of South Africa takes a similar format to previous editions - four hilly stages and a TTT, with a flat stage thrown in to lure unsuspecting sprinters. The hilly stages vary in difficulty, with Stage 5 the most likely to see major gaps, while the flat rated Stage 3 is itself relatively lumpy. Even the TTT should favour the puncheurs more than usual, with the first half being mainly uphill, meaning that teams relying on pure TTers may be disappointed.
The Favourites
| HIL | MO | STA | RES | ACC |  Claeys | 83 | 67 | 74 | 68 | 73 |  Di Maggio | 82 | 65 | 73 | 68 | 75 |  Kelderman | 82 | 71 | 80 | 75 | 72 |  Schreurs | 81 | 69 | 76 | 72 | 74 |  Flügel | 80 | 71 | 77 | 65 | 72 |  Jensen | 80 | 70 | 77 | 73 | 76 |  Vogt | 80 | 62 | 78 | 71 | 63 |  Prevar | 80 | 71 | 77 | 70 | 73 |  Gautier | 80 | 68 | 76 | 72 | 77 |  Klemme | 79 | 73 | 73 | 69 | 65 |  Yates | 79 | 70 | 77 | 70 | 80 | | Paulinho | 79 | 75 | 70 | 72 | 75 | | Gebrezgabihier | 79 | 70 | 74 | 74 | 69 |  Costa | 79 | 70 | 71 | 70 | 70 |  Bilbao | 79 | 67 | 77 | 71 | 75 | | Ben Nasser | 78 | 68 | 75 | 69 | 76 | | Landa | 78 | 69 | 70 | 69 | 69 | | Quevedo | 78 | 71 | 72 | 72 | 75 |  Bellis | 78 | 68 | 80 | 71 | 75 |  Siskevicius | 78 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 75 |  Roux | 78 | 65 | 78 | 71 | 75 | | Palini | 78 | 70 | 75 | 68 | 74 |  Dyrnes | 78 | 72 | 73 | 73 | 77 |
Claeys and Di Maggio are the strongest pure puncheurs, but their weaker supporting stats may work against them. Kelderman is the best of the more well rounded puncheurs, but beyond the aforementioned three riders and Schreurs it is anyone's guess as to who the pick of the bunch will be.
The Sprinters
| SP | ACC | FL | RES | HIL | | Maksimov | 81 | 84 | 72 | 69 | 60 | | Houle | 79 | 78 | 78 | 71 | 75 | | Kreder | 78 | 80 | 73 | 68 | 70 |  Angarita | 78 | 77 | 72 | 65 | 62 |  Canelon | 78 | 83 | 77 | 69 | 57 | | Kreder | 77 | 78 | 73 | 71 | 75 |  Tleubayev | 77 | 77 | 72 | 70 | 66 | | Bercz | 76 | 77 | 72 | 68 | 70 | | McEvoy | 75 | 79 | 70 | 70 | 76 | | Li | 75 | 75 | 75 | 68 | 61 |
Maksimov is easily the quickest of the very small number of sprinters making the trip to South Africa, but attention should perhaps be on the hybrids - headlined by Houle, Kreder and McEvoy.
TTT Strength
| Average (Best 5 TTers) | | Valio - Viking Genetics | 76.6 | | cycleYorkshire | 75.6 | | ENI - MOL | 73.8 | | Minions | 73.8 | | DK Zalgiris | 73.2 | | Xero | 73.2 | | Philips | 72.6 | | Delvaux | 72.4 | | Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | 72.4 | | Swisslion | 71.8 | | Kraftwerk Man Machine | 70.8 | | Volvo acc. by Spotify | 70.6 | | Berg Cycles | 70 | | Carrefour - ESPN | 69.6 | | Desigual | 69.4 | | KazMunayGas - Champion System | 68.4 | | Euskaltel - Elior | 68 |  Centovalli - Fiat | 67 |  Rostrum Initiative | 66.4 | | Adastra - Hell Energy | 66.2 | | Netia - Vonin | 66.2 |  Tryg Insurance | 66 | | World Cycling Centre | 64.6 |
Valio - Viking Genetics and cycleYorkshire bring the standout TTT teams, which should bode well for Gautier and Bellis respectively. However, with the undulating profile of the TTT it may be the teams which have brought stronger all round stage racers which come to the fore. |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 29-04-2020 22:33
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World Champion
Posts: 11392
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1020.00
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One of only two home races for us on the calendar and, given the other one is a PTHC sprint race, the only one we have any hope of a result in! Last year we had two stages, 10th on GC, a spell in yellow and the points jersey and I'd take that again in a heartbeat. Hopefully Houle decides he wants to be a sprinter in this race, but he's two on the bounce of not being one. If he is then this could be great with three stages at the least looking like he could win and he could also do a decent GC, otherwise we're banking on Dyrnes having his first good race of the season to match the heroics of Roux last year 
For some reason we have the sixth best TTT team by average which is just nuts, definitely the best TTT squad I've brought to any story game race ever  Hopefully they can help us out on GC but I doubt we'll actually finish sixth
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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| quadsas |
Posted on 29-04-2020 23:08
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2518
Joined: 18-01-2013
PCM$: 300.00
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I think Siskevicius has a decent chance to upset here, even though co.petition is fierce my dude can sprint with the top dogs
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 30-04-2020 05:12
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11675
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
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It's now or never Keldi! A lot more depends on this race at this point of the season than I would like. But what's life without a challenge, eh?
Even more shocked than jandal to be the seventh best TT team here
Thanks for the preview. Can you add the startlist please?
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 30-04-2020 07:22
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
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Well, we're definitely not among the favorites here, so really hoping for our best puncheurs to participate in some breakaways. The last C1 stage race (Romandie) worked out pretty well for us, so why not do it again? Most team members are just here to gain some experience, though...
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 30-04-2020 08:53
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7593
Joined: 04-07-2012
PCM$: 15345.00
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Could be a very good race for us with Claeys and the TTT team, could also end up very badly.
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 30-04-2020 11:54
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2433
Joined: 07-07-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Looking for either Flugel or Kreder to be in contention for a decent finish in each of the stages, the TTT will let us down, hope it doesn't impact a possible GC placing too badly.
Thanks for the preview jph.
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| ryant |
Posted on 30-04-2020 13:03
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2322
Joined: 15-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Think were going to have to over perform to well in the GC here, but Bellis has been impressive this season so fingers crossed!
 John St Ledger in Team Bunzl-Centrica and Team U25Red Bull Driver in RFactor
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 30-04-2020 13:05
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World Champion
Posts: 11392
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1020.00
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ryant wrote:
Think were going to have to over perform to well in the GC here, but Bellis has been impressive this season so fingers crossed!
One of my sprinters is here, so he's practically guaranteed a win
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 07:46
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| jph27 |
Posted on 30-04-2020 18:51
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Team Leader
Posts: 7339
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
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Apologies everyone for the poor quality of the screenshots - it wasn't until midway through the race that I discovered how to move the camera around in PCM18. |
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| cio93 |
Posted on 30-04-2020 19:06
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World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
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WILCOOOOOOOOO!
Finally. 
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| quadsas |
Posted on 30-04-2020 19:11
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2518
Joined: 18-01-2013
PCM$: 300.00
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Dang jph throw me a bone, 9th is literally worst place to finish
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 30-04-2020 20:28
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8057
Joined: 22-06-2009
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Yates: 27th. 
I don't understand how that even happens. Yates please just try.
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| ryant |
Posted on 30-04-2020 20:34
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2322
Joined: 15-08-2012
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Bellis let himself down with that shoddy positioning, he clearly had the speed in the end so that seems to be something lost for us in the end 
Happy to see us working in the finale though, that may mean Bellis is treated like a favourite.
John St Ledger in Team Bunzl-Centrica and Team U25
Red Bull Driver in RFactor
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 30-04-2020 20:45
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7593
Joined: 04-07-2012
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Stage 1 survived: check
Claeys sprinting for the win is a good sign.
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 30-04-2020 21:54
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World Champion
Posts: 11392
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1020.00
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Kelderman! Awesome start to the race for Philips
A shame Houle got trapped in the second row, seems like he was ready for the sprint and had some speed, but nice to see him leading and sticking around. Hopefully he can do well on the easier finishes coming up, and either him or Dyrnes do well on Stage 5.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 01-05-2020 06:40
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11675
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
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Yessssssss, finally!!
Guess that was about perfect from the team.
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| fjhoekie |
Posted on 01-05-2020 06:49
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4476
Joined: 25-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Prevar is still alive it seems, great result! Not really expecting too much from this race, so anything is a bonus
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 01-05-2020 10:56
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
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What was that? No breakaway attempt, not a single rider in the first group - although none of our riders was among the top favorites, it's still an unacceptable result. GC-wise, we never had big hopes, but given that even the small ones were already destroyed on that first stage, I at least expect some breakaway action. Really disappointing stage.
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 01-05-2020 11:33
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2433
Joined: 07-07-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Congrats to Abhi - Wilco comes good at last
Very happy with 4th from Flügel, right in the mix at the end.
Thanks for the report jph, looking forward to more top 5 finishes team.
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