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Japan Cup - Discussion
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 02-06-2022 13:10
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Team Manager
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 Japan Cup
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Preview
The first edition of the Japan Cup dates all the way back to the 2008 season, but in 13 editions, we have yet to see a repeat winner. This might be the time though, with no less than 5 former champions at the start -  Di Maggio,  McCarthy,  Hagen,  Kinoshita and defending champ  Lutsenko.
It’s a circuit course - for the most part - with one major climb each round, followed by another very short ascent, then a steep descent, which will also lead to the finish line, at which only the last 500 meters or so are slightly uphill again. It will be key to head into that final descent as close to the front as possible, as there won’t be much road left to do any overtaking.
| MO | HI | ST | RS | AC |  De Bie | 71 | 84 | 77 | 76 | 75 | | Lutsenko | 73 | 83 | 76 | 73 | 81 | | Kinoshita | 72 | 83 | 80 | 77 | 77 |  Mohoric | 71 | 83 | 78 | 72 | 77 | | Hagen | 68 | 83 | 78 | 71 | 76 |  Kelderman | 71 | 82 | 80 | 75 | 72 |  Beltran | 79 | 81 | 73 | 72 | 76 |  Buchmann | 76 | 81 | 73 | 74 | 73 | | Izagirre | 74 | 81 | 73 | 72 | 64 |  Vakoc | 71 | 81 | 75 | 71 | 74 |  Yates | 70 | 81 | 77 | 70 | 80 | | McCarthy | 67 | 81 | 80 | 75 | 74 |
De Bie tops the list as the best puncheur, but it’s very close. Lutsenko won the race last year just a few bike lengths ahead of Kinoshita, who has won in 2018 and chases another victory on home soil.
Not much seperates those guys from the likes of Mohoric and Hagen, although the latter has the lowest climbing and resistance skills of the Top 5.
Kelderman then builds the bridge to the next tier of guys around Beltran and Buchmann, the two best pure climbers of the bunch. Izagirre, Vakoc and Yates are also just very competent riders, as is McCarthy, last year’s third place finisher.
| MO | HI | ST | RS | AC |  Formolo | 79 | 80 | 76 | 76 | 71 |  Jensen | 70 | 80 | 77 | 73 | 76 |  Gastauer | 69 | 80 | 75 | 67 | 73 |  Schreurs | 68 | 80 | 74 | 70 | 72 |  Trakhov | 69 | 79 | 78 | 74 | 75 |  Gerts | 66 | 78 | 76 | 80 | 70 |  Aranburu | 77 | 77 | 70 | 79 | 71 |  Meurisse | 74 | 77 | 74 | 74 | 78 |  Serrano | 72 | 77 | 73 | 75 | 77 |
Formolo headlines this tier of second row contenders. He can rely on his strong climbing and good backup skills, but lacks a bit of the punch that, for instance, Jensen has. Gastauer and Schreurs are good pure puncheurs but not super well-rounded, which is in contrast where Trakhov and Gerts shine.
Aranburu, Meurisse (6th here last year) and Serrano round out the list of team leaders with outside chances at a decent result, while Generali and Podium Ambition don’t bring anyone who could be considered as a contender. Their best shot comes likely through breakaway attempts with perhaps  Gaday or  Alaphilippe.
| MO | HI | ST | RS | AC | | Di Maggio | 64 | 81 | 72 | 67 | 74 | | Gidich | 76 | 80 | 78 | 77 | 75 | | Ulissi | 65 | 79 | 82 | 70 | 74 | | Dowsett | 64 | 79 | 73 | 68 | 70 | | Kanerva | 64 | 79 | 75 | 69 | 76 | | Teuns | 75 | 78 | 73 | 73 | 72 | | Errazkin | 74 | 78 | 76 | 75 | 73 | | Gaudu | 71 | 78 | 78 | 75 | 70 | | Landa | 69 | 78 | 70 | 69 | 69 | | Poljanski | 77 | 77 | 70 | 70 | 71 | | Zardini | 76 | 77 | 70 | 66 | 68 | | Sepulveda | 75 | 77 | 74 | 73 | 73 | | Tratnik | 73 | 77 | 74 | 75 | 70 | | Zordan | 73 | 77 | 72 | 72 | 74 | | Vincent | 71 | 77 | 79 | 72 | 71 |
Just a quick look at the best domestiques who might score some decent depth points. Eurosport x GCN, Cedevita and ISA - Hexacta stand out with two riders each, while Gidich is surely the best individual rider on this list and the most likely to be in the fight for maybe even a Top 10-15 result.
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| redordead |
Posted on 02-06-2022 13:24
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Grand Tour Specialist
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The final 'warm up' race before Emilia 
Super strong startlist as expected. Let's see how we handle it. Thanks for the preview
"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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| Eden95 |
Posted on 02-06-2022 13:31
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A team of youngsters along with Jensen means he’s not gonna have much support so if he can manage a good result, it’ll be a miracle with this field. Hoping for a +5 day otherwise we might slip back down the rankings
Thanks for the preview!
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| tastasol |
Posted on 02-06-2022 14:05
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Classics Specialist
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Serrano hasn't been close to anything all year. Hope that he can show himself here, because it doesn't look good for his contract next year ...
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-06-2022 15:59
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Tour de France Champion
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Thinking we could get someone into the break, the break staying clear, and said rider winning a small sprint. I mean, weirder things have happened right?
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 02-06-2022 16:54
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Grand Tour Champion
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Unless EBH wins this by an hour this will be his last month in the team
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 02-06-2022 23:21
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Directeur Sportif
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Go Lutsenko, this is your time to shine!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 15:06
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 02-06-2022 23:47
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We're in this race. 
Great preview though!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 03-06-2022 00:00
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World Champion
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Would love Meurisse to repeat his amazing result from last year here but I fear that with PT competition and not being in the promotion chase this time chances are rather slim 
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
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 03-06-2022 04:39
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Directeur Sportif
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Kelderman has got a callback after an average audition in MT. His second time in the spotlight for whoever wishes to sign him next season. The competition is tougher, so he'll have to up his game. Hasn't happened all season, but there's a first time for everything!
Thanks for the preview cunego
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| SotD |
Posted on 03-06-2022 13:55
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World Champion
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I guess this seals the faith of Amaysim... Aegon is also under heavy pressure by De Bie now. Obviously De Bie is a better rider for Giro di Lombardia but a win here to Zwift is definately an issue.
It will be interesting to see if Aegon can bounce back in the final races.
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| redordead |
Posted on 03-06-2022 14:07
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Probably the first race this season where Beltran is under par, but just barely since 10th is still pretty okay. Awesome unexpected depth from Cepeda Hernandez though 
So the total scoring is pretty good, but not spectacular enough to give us a boost in the promotion race. Which is pretty much what I predicted. We're doing well, but not quite well enough
Huge implications for the PT though Congrats to Zwift
Thanks for a very nice report Cunego
"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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| Eden95 |
Posted on 03-06-2022 14:23
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Wank from Jensen, couldn’t have been feeling too bad hanging around the front for so long yet Luchshenko was our leader? 75hil against the best puncheurs in the world 16th is better than I thought he’d get.
Co grata to Zwift.
Thanks for the report!
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 03-06-2022 15:28
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Directeur Sportif
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82 HILL?
Congrats to Mre and thanks for the report cunego.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 03-06-2022 15:35
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Directeur Sportif
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Well I thought it will happen in Emelia but PCM heard me and got it over with early
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| ryant |
Posted on 03-06-2022 16:14
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Small Tour Specialist
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Obviously the race was stacked but I would have hoped for a little more than 11th even in this field. Missing the move and eventually tagging on after a few km seemed to drain him too much in the end.
Its gives us some points but not a lot given our lack of depth points, although I'm glad to see both Romo and Skaarseth in the early break.
Congrats to Mre and Yates for a well deserved win here.
 John St Ledger in Team Bunzl-Centrica and Team U25Red Bull Driver in RFactor
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 03-06-2022 16:22
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Grand Tour Champion
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Where has this Hagen been all season?
Thanks cunego and congrats Mre
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| Bikex |
Posted on 03-06-2022 16:28
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Team Leader
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Wtf team
Seems like all of my riders were on a good day except for my captain. Sirironnachai in 12th is amazing and Gidich also seemed quite strong. Unfortunately he was held back by not being the captain.
Additionally, Kasperkiewicz hold on quite long and Mano was someone of the strongest in the break.
In the end I get some depth points, but I definitely hoped for more after I won this race last year.
Thanks for the report, Cunego and congrats mre on an important victory in the battle against relegation. |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 03-06-2022 20:56
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Grand Tour Champion
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Yates! Huge win but not out of the woods just yet.
Thanks for the report and the kind words.
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 03-06-2022 21:10
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Massive results for Zwift and Voyagin in their respective relegation fights, congrats! Especially for the latter Kinoshita's performance could be a real game-changer, as everything's so incredibly close - and I'd guess Kinoshita still has Emelia left to definitely propel them out of the relegation zone.
Thanks for a thrilling report (from a neutral perspective )
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
