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GP Wallonie Discussion
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 29-01-2021 05:34
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The second running of the hilly classic on the roads of Wallonie in Belgium sees the race move from HC to PTHC category. This means that many of the best punchers from both the PT and the PCT haave arrived to have a go at winning this race. Last year Dimitri Claeys proved too strong for everyone else as a part of a four rider late attack to win the inaugural edition. He and his team are not racing here this time meaning someone else's name will go up in lights when the finishing line comes around.
The course is an undulating, nearly 200 km ride ending with a short ascent to the line. Expect a lot of the action to happen in the second half as there are hardly any flat roads and the two hills leading up to the finishing climb are prime locations for the favourites to launch their winning moves from distance.
Let us now look at the contenders for this year's edition:
| MON | HIL | RES | SPR | ACC |  De Bie | 71 | 84 | 76 | 72 | 75 |  Hagen | 69 | 84 | 73 | 72 | 78 |  Lutsenko | 73 | 83 | 73 | 72 | 81 |  Bobridge | 69 | 83 | 74 | 69 | 80 |  Mohoric | 71 | 83 | 72 | 67 | 77 |  Bakelants | 73 | 82 | 75 | 71 | 75 |  Kwiatkowski | 78 | 81 | 76 | 67 | 75 |  Beltran | 79 | 81 | 72 | 66 | 76 |  Buchmann | 76 | 81 | 74 | 65 | 73 |  Koretzky | 71 | 81 | 70 | 71 | 79 |
Sean de Bie starts as the top favourite for this race with Boasson Hagen expected to run him close. The two stars are the strongest punchers in the race and should be overwhelming favourites to contest for the win. The former is better on harder climbs and energy stats while the latter has a better finishing kick.
Lutsenko and Bobridge are two more riders expected to challenge for the win, with their strong hill climbing capabilities and support stats.
Mohoric and Bakelants are just a notch below the above mentioned riders. The former is at his peak and hopes to improve his fortunes just a little. The latter is on the decline with age catching up but still has enough firepower to challenge for a podium finish.
Three riders who will be hoping that the climbs turn out to be harder than first presumed are Kwiatkowski, Buchmann and Beltran. All three are strong punchers in their own right, but are among the best climbers in the startlist, with good backup stats to boot.
Koretzky's trump card is his great finishing ability, and he will be hoping the race comes down to a reduced sprint up the final climb which allows him to kick his way into the lead and hold on.
| MON | HIL | RES | SPR | ACC |  Formolo | 79 | 79 | 76 | 69 | 71 |  Demare | 67 | 80 | 72 | 82 | 81 |  Jensen | 70 | 80 | 73 | 66 | 76 |  Betancourt | 73 | 80 | 71 | 67 | 74 |  Ulissi | 66 | 80 | 71 | 74 | 75 |  Yates | 70 | 79 | 70 | 77 | 80 | | Bystrom | 68 | 79 | 72 | 68 | 76 |  Bilbao | 67 | 79 | 71 | 71 | 75 |  Teuns | 75 | 78 | 73 | 66 | 72 |
Formolo is perhaps the strongest overall climber in the race but his slightly lower ability on shorter climbs moves him into the outsiders' list.
Demare is the rider who'll most be hoping for a reduced bunch sprint up the final hill, as he's clearly the fastest among the top punchers. Yates is in the same mould but weaker in both puncher and sprinting capabilities.
Jensen, Betancourt and Ulissi are quite strong punchers but no match for the top contenders, and will be aiming for a Top 10 finish as a good result.
Bystrom is exptected to play second fiddle to Hagen and might not be able to ride for his own ambitions. Bilbao and Teuns will ride their own race and will hope to pull off an unexpected result to bring in much needed points for their respective teams.
Spoiler | Last Name | First Name | Team | | Navardauskas | Ramunas | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Thill | Tom | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Lander | Sebastian | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Grashev | Martin | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Kristoff | Alexander | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Stauff | Andreas | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Marchewka | Krzysztof | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Drapac | Damion | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | De Bie | Sean | Aegon - Peroni | | Zardini | Edoardo | Aegon - Peroni | | Vliegen | Loic | Aegon - Peroni | | Stuyven | Jasper | Aegon - Peroni | | Carboni | Giovanni | Aegon - Peroni | | van der Poel | Mathieu | Aegon - Peroni | | van der Hoorn | Taco | Aegon - Peroni | | Vanhoucke | Harm | Aegon - Peroni | | Hagen | Edvald Boasson | Air France - KLM | | Bystrom | Sven Erik | Air France - KLM | | Gaudu | David | Air France - KLM | | Lietaer | Eliot | Air France - KLM | | Paez | Andres | Air France - KLM | | Ludvigsson | Fredrik | Air France - KLM | | Edet | Nicolas | Air France - KLM | | van Zyl | Johann | Air France - KLM | | Kwiatkowski | Michal | Aker - MOT | | Freuler | Jan-Andre | Aker - MOT | | Sosa | Ivan | Aker - MOT | | Jacobsen | Tormod | Aker - MOT | | Trondsen | Trond Hakon | Aker - MOT | | Foss | Tobias | Aker - MOT | | Larsen | Niklas | Aker - MOT | | Yzeiraj | Marildo | Aker - MOT | | Ulissi | Diego | Aramco DP | | Teklit | Tesfar | Aramco DP | | McEvoy | Jonathan | Aramco DP | | Conci | Nicola | Aramco DP | | Richardson | Alexander | Aramco DP | | Joseph | Stijn | Aramco DP | | Allonca | Daniel | Aramco DP | | Al Murawwi | Mohammed | Aramco DP | | Vichot | Arthur | Bakkafrost | | Hindley | Jai | Bakkafrost | | Stork | Florian | Bakkafrost | | Vingegaard | Jonas | Bakkafrost | | Veyhe | Torkil | Bakkafrost | | Akhmaevi | Sulkhan | Bakkafrost | | Konychev | Alexander | Bakkafrost | | Zariff | Nur Aiman | Bakkafrost | | Bobridge | Jack | Bennelong - Mitchelton | | Hamilton | Chris | Bennelong - Mitchelton | | Lane | Patrick | Bennelong - Mitchelton | | McCormick | Hayden | Bennelong - Mitchelton | | David | Tom | Bennelong - Mitchelton | | Gunman | Taylor | Bennelong - Mitchelton | | Christensen | Ryan | Bennelong - Mitchelton | | Culey | Marcus | Bennelong - Mitchelton | | Yates | Simon | Desigual | | Errazkin | Xuban | Desigual | | Svab | Jernej | Desigual | | Wackermann | Luca | Desigual | | Narvaez | Jhonatan | Desigual | | Cherkasov | Nicolay | Desigual | | Herrera | Erick | Desigual | | Olei | Federico | Desigual | | Koretzky | Clement | Festina - OAKA | | Van Niekerk | Aidan | Festina - OAKA | | Budyak | Anatoliy | Festina - OAKA | | Kastrantas | Charalampas | Festina - OAKA | | Spanopoulos | Ioannis | Festina - OAKA | | Morin | Emmanuel | Festina - OAKA | | Miltiadis | Andreas | Festina - OAKA | | Giannoutsos | Miltiadis | Festina - OAKA | | Formolo | Davide | Gazelle | | Tratnik | Jan | Gazelle | | Furdi | Blaz | Gazelle | | Vysna | Matej | Gazelle | | Konrad | Patrick | Gazelle | | Senyenov | Roman | Gazelle | | Hofland | Moreno | Gazelle | | Carcueva | Jonel | Gazelle | | Teuns | Dylan | Generali | | Talansky | Andrew | Generali | | Masnada | Fausto | Generali | | Rosskopf | Joey | Generali | | Gaday | Lucas Manuel | Generali | | Theuns | Edward | Generali | | Sequera | Pedro | Generali | | Rodrigues | Joao | Generali | | Lastra | Jonathan | Grieg-Maersk | | Serrano | Gonzalo | Grieg-Maersk | | Grossschartner | Felix | Grieg-Maersk | | Gillett | Rhys | Grieg-Maersk | | Jansen | Amund Grondahl | Grieg-Maersk | | Hofstetter | Hugo | Grieg-Maersk | | Vermote | Julien | Grieg-Maersk | | Stokbro | Andreas | Grieg-Maersk | | Bakelants | Jan | Indosat Ooredoo | | Le Roux | Romain | Indosat Ooredoo | | Kulimbetov | Nurbolat | Indosat Ooredoo | | De Souza | Christopher | Indosat Ooredoo | | Luchshenko | Sergey | Indosat Ooredoo | | Setiawa | Andreas Odie Purnama | Indosat Ooredoo | | Xandri | Jan | Indosat Ooredoo | | Wolf | Justin | Indosat Ooredoo | | Mohoric | Matej | Isostar - Specialized | | Calmejane | Lilian | Isostar - Specialized | | Bugge | Vegard Robinson | Isostar - Specialized | | Peters | Nans | Isostar - Specialized | | Gabburo | Davide | Isostar - Specialized | | Tarvis | Peeter | Isostar - Specialized | | Jans | Roy | Isostar - Specialized | | Gradek | Kamil | Isostar - Specialized | | Lutsenko | Alexey | King Power | | Azman | Muhamad Zawawi | King Power | | Sirironnachai | Sarawut | King Power | | Boonratanathanakorn | Thurakit | King Power | | Quita | Ronnilan | King Power | | Fung | Ka Hoo | King Power | | Vanthourenhout | Michael | King Power | | Revard | Thomas | King Power | | Bilbao | Pello | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Moazemi | Arvin | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Klemme | Domenik | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Denz | Nico | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Scheit | Florian | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Bol | Jetse | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Gonzalez Cortes | Josue | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Vermeersch | Gianni | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Buchmann | Emanuel | Mapei | | Wohrer | David | Mapei | | Lemus Davila | Luis Enrique | Mapei | | Grosser | Aaron | Mapei | | Palyi | Csaba | Mapei | | Brkic | Benjamin | Mapei | | Velasco | Simone | Mapei | | Ravanelli | Simone | Mapei | | Dyrnes | Kristian | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | | Duchesne | Antoine | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | | Villella | Davide | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | | Diggle | Tom | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | | Piccoli | James | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | | Eenkhoorn | Pascal | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | | Philipsen | Jasper | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | | Medvedev | Sergey | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | | Betancourt | Carlos | Polar | | Rodriguez Galindo | Michael | Polar | | Gougeard | Alexis | Polar | | Barthe | Cyril | Polar | | Nych | Artem | Polar | | Garcia Cortina | Ivan | Polar | | Gallego Martin | Juan Abenhamar | Polar | | Bush | Robert | Polar | | Mosca | Jacopo | Repsol - Netflix | | Rodriguez | Cristian | Repsol - Netflix | | Trofimov | Yuri | Repsol - Netflix | | Barbero | Carlos | Repsol - Netflix | | Valter | Attila | Repsol - Netflix | | Lyu | Xianjing | Repsol - Netflix | | Mas | Lluis | Repsol - Netflix | | Meeus | Jordi | Repsol - Netflix | | Beltran | Eduard Alexander | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Giogieri | Tyron | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Gilanipoor | Abolfazl | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Penko | Izidor | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Stavrakakis | Georgios | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Marin | Gabriel | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Antonijevic | Goran | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Rajovic | Dusan | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Demare | Arnaud | Team Puma - SAP | | Mager | Christian | Team Puma - SAP | | Egger | Mike Aaron | Team Puma - SAP | | Helme | Sasu | Team Puma - SAP | | Niu | Yikui | Team Puma - SAP | | Sagiv | Guy | Team Puma - SAP | | Madouas | Valentin | Team Puma - SAP | | Declerq | Tim | Team Puma - SAP | | Gautier | Cyril | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Kanerva | Joni | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Meijers | Jeroen | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Gebremedhin | Awet | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Paajanen | Paavo | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Omarsson | Ingvar | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Hänninen | Jaako | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Hasta | Gokhan | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Jensen | Kristian Haugaard | Volvo acc. by Spotify | | Eriksson | Lucas | Volvo acc. by Spotify | | Blikra | Havard | Volvo acc. by Spotify | | Asgreen | Kasper | Volvo acc. by Spotify | | Vendrame | Andrea | Volvo acc. by Spotify | | Tiller | Rasmus | Volvo acc. by Spotify | | Sweeck | Laurens | Volvo acc. by Spotify | | Beukeboom | Dion | Volvo acc. by Spotify |
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| matt17br |
Posted on 29-01-2021 05:36
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 10525
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Idk, far from a flagship race for us this one, but maybe the gang can redeem themselves a bit after the horrorshow of a Giro we've had. Except for Talansky who was great, I do hold some hope in him keeping his momentum going. Thanks for the preview Abhi!
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 29-01-2021 05:55
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Posts: 11819
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Would be great, if Bobridge can pick up the momentum (Giro podium by Haig) and get us another nice result here. As always, I'm not sure about his chances, but it looks promising on paper. A Top-5 must be the goal, if the MO stat is as less important as I expected it to be here.
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| roturn |
Posted on 29-01-2021 06:22
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
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De Bie for once should justify his favourite role and minimum reach the podium.
I expect a late top 5-10 though as he usually underperforms against those riders on the startlist.
But in Belgium it would be a good time to turn this around. Support is very strong. |
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| redordead |
Posted on 29-01-2021 06:29
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4881
Joined: 18-10-2017
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It seems a bit harsh to expect a big performace from Beltran in a PTHC race with some of the biggest hitters here, but we simply need it!
Thanks for the preview Abhi 
"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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| SotD |
Posted on 29-01-2021 07:25
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World Champion
Posts: 12187
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Strong startlist. Probably also a bit stronger than I would have hoped for. Koretzky with an outside chance for top 5 due to his SPR/ACC if things aren't shattered all over the place. He was 4th, 9th and 10th in the ardennes last season, so if he can keep that up we should be OK. All of van Niekerk, Budyak and Kastrantas are here with him, so he doesn't really have any excuses and on paper it looks like a pure hills race, without much presence of mountainstat.
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| ember |
Posted on 29-01-2021 07:27
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Those top 5 favourites seem to be in a class of their own, at least on paper, making a 5th-10th realistic for Kwiatkowski. However, I'm hopeful those final three hills can be to his advantage, giving him a shot at a top 5. Our support team isn't great here, which makes me hope we get an aggressive race where other favourites are isolated too.
I've got EBH and Lutsenko for the two top spots, with De Bie the obvious favourite for a podium finish too. That could all swing though, depending on the racing, as Démare is a potential problem for most riders if we get a slow and very controlled race before the finishing hill.
Looking forward to the report! |
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| tastasol |
Posted on 29-01-2021 07:57
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2889
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Don't expect much when there's such a good level among the top guys. Presence in the break would be nice.
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 29-01-2021 08:23
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2433
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Any points here will be a bonus.
Thanks for the preview Abhi.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 03:37
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 29-01-2021 19:08
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This one suits the pure puncheurs pretty well, so my expectations for Formolo are not too high. But if he catches the right form he can definitely pull a top 10 here.
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| viking90 |
Posted on 29-01-2021 19:37
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Races like this we need KHJ to overperform if we want to stay in PT!
He has been rather dissapointing what I can remember this season. |
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| tastasol |
Posted on 30-01-2021 08:59
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Aker on a hot streak suddenly! Congrats on another win ember! Even some depth with Larsen in 14th place, that's a surprise.
Nothing race for us, as expected unfortunately. Thanks for the report Abhi.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 30-01-2021 08:59
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Gutsy ride by Bobridge and while it might have lead to him having no finishing kick against Kwiat, I'm obviously happy with his performance. Lightning up the race and finishing it off with a nice 2nd place - that's good stuff!
Thanks for the report and congrats to those, who did well.
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| matt17br |
Posted on 30-01-2021 09:03
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 10525
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Jesus fucking christ dude, PCM AI is straight up throwing darts at our team this year  At least Rodrigues got in the break.
Congrats ember, good last couple days for Aker. Thanks Abhi!
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 30-01-2021 09:04
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I'm really surprised that Grashev managed to hang onto Top 20 spot - really impressive. Nava and Kristoff also scored 2 points each so a little boost in the survival battle perhaps?
But man, Beltran - one of the favorites, finishing outside Top 30? Yikes.
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| viking90 |
Posted on 30-01-2021 09:16
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Boho, nothing special from KHJ there..About where he should be
Aker - MOT is on fire lately! Congrats! |
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| SotD |
Posted on 30-01-2021 09:28
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World Champion
Posts: 12187
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Koretzky in 3rd is a great result here. Very unexpected too. After the Giro this was exactly what we needed!
To have two very strong 77HI riders consequently performing nothing at all is not great though!
Great win from Kwiatek! Congrats!
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| redordead |
Posted on 30-01-2021 09:30
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Posts: 4881
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I don't even have the will to get angry or rant anymore. I have no idea what the problem is, but it is what it is 
Thanks for the report.
"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 30-01-2021 10:12
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Not our race.
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 30-01-2021 10:39
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2633
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Aker are flying; congrats!
Formolo did a decent job here. Not a big score, but in this terrain and with this field it'd be unreasonable to demand more than 12th from him.
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