Tour of California - Discussion
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Posted on 22-11-2024 10:43
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Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 04-12-2022 15:14
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Tour of California - Preview
17 Continental Tour teams and 4 Pro Continental Teams have made the journey over to Cali for the C2 Tour of California, formerly sponsored by Amgen.
The race offers a bit for everyone. Those strong against the clock will be hoping to wear the first leaders jersey after the 4.6km prologue. They are then given another chance on the final stage with a 15.7km finale although that one may not be as straight-forward.
Stages 2 & 5 should be targeted by the Sprinters while stages 3 & 4 favour the punchier riders given the steep nature of their final kilometres.
All eyes are, however, on Stage 7. It is the longest stage of the tour, although it is only 176.9km. The reason for the focus on this is due to the 2 climbs which the riders will have to negate near the back end of the stage. This will be the most GC decisive stage.
Last year we saw a very strong performance from Amador who took the overall. In previous years we have seen a range of riders with Yates, Pluchkin and Herklotz all on the winners board. Most famously is Taylor Phinney who won this race 4 times. Who will be next to join some historic names?
Although his manager may argue otherwise, the favourite to win is the American in Lawrence Warbasse. He's the most well-rounded rider across the 3 potentially key terrains and is the equal 2nd best pure climber.
Iturria, Kozhatayev, Talansky and Mader are all very similar riders and only just behind the American and so would be expected to be fighting for the Top 5 at the very least.
It'll be a waiting game to see how Jose Alarcon goes here. He's the best pure climber but he's well past his best and may struggle to keep with the others on all other terrains. The TT may well ruin his tour. The same can be said for the likes of Fabbro and Aru who will also be battling for leadership within their own teams with Ratiy and Diaz likely to want to ride for themselves also.
| | | FLA | MO | HIL | TT | REC | FTR | DWH | PRO | | Lawrence | Warbasse | 70 | 78 | 75 | 74 | 72 | 72 | 68 | 74 | | Mikel | Iturria | 71 | 77 | 73 | 72 | 76 | 69 | 66 | 73 | | Bakhtiyar | Kozhatayev | 74 | 77 | 74 | 72 | 71 | 62 | 74 | 72 | | Andrew | Talansky | 69 | 77 | 75 | 70 | 74 | 61 | 64 | 70 | | Gino | Mäder | 69 | 77 | 71 | 75 | 77 | 70 | 67 | 76 | | Jose | Alarcon | 66 | 81 | 70 | 64 | 68 | 76 | 63 | 63 | | Matteo | Fabbro | 65 | 78 | 75 | 67 | 74 | 74 | 70 | 70 | | Fabio | Aru | 67 | 78 | 74 | 64 | 76 | 56 | 70 | 64 | | Vadim | Ratiy | 64 | 78 | 68 | 72 | 73 | 51 | 53 | 72 | | Daniel Ricardo | Diaz | 67 | 77 | 69 | 71 | 69 | 63 | 73 | 71 | | Jordan | Schleck | 64 | 77 | 73 | 53 | 78 | 61 | 61 | 61 | | Andrei | Amador | 63 | 77 | 68 | 71 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 70 | | Sebastian | Henao | 65 | 76 | 76 | 66 | 71 | 68 | 67 | 64 | | Andrei | Sakalou | 66 | 76 | 75 | 65 | 72 | 77 | 62 | 65 | | William | Barta | 69 | 76 | 72 | 73 | 70 | 65 | 56 | 75 | | Muhamma Afif | Ahmad Zamri | 70 | 75 | 70 | 75 | 75 | 71 | 59 | 75 |
Not many specialists in the hills have made the trip here. McCormick seem to have sent all their guns though as Boswell is here and is primary favourite for both stages. He'll have competition though as Teuns and Meyer are both strong riders while Vliegen is also very capable of an upset.
| | | MO | HIL | TT | REC | ACC | FTR | | Ian | Boswell | 71 | 80 | 67 | 71 | 76 | 72 | | Dylan | Teuns | 75 | 78 | 64 | 76 | 72 | 70 | | Travis | Meyer | 68 | 78 | 68 | 65 | 75 | 76 | | Loic | Vliegen | 67 | 77 | 61 | 70 | 74 | 71 | | Romain | Le Roux | 66 | 77 | 63 | 69 | 72 | 71 |
A number of strong sprinters here. Hard to really pick a favourite as Guerao is the strongest in terms of his craftiness but he's lost that burst of speed recently. Another McCormick rider to watch out for in Luke Keough who will be targeting the leaders jersey after Day 2. We'll watch Alaphilippe too as he has been in good form and may be able to influence the punchy stages too.
| | | HIL | REC | SPR | ACC | PRO | | Oscar | Guerao | 63 | 78 | 81 | 73 | 55 | | Michael | Matthews | 65 | 73 | 79 | 79 | 64 | | Sam | Bennett | 64 | 80 | 79 | 79 | 58 | | Andrea | Guardini | 63 | 69 | 79 | 80 | 58 | | Luke | Keough | 62 | 73 | 79 | 79 | 80 | | Grzegorz | Stepniak | 66 | 73 | 78 | 77 | 72 | | Ryan | Gibbons | 65 | 73 | 78 | 78 | 72 | | Dusan | Rajovic | 64 | 70 | 78 | 82 | 62 | | Maris | Bogdanovics | 62 | 75 | 78 | 77 | 63 | | Julian | Alaphilippe | 73 | 81 | 77 | 77 | 64 |
Many of the same riders who we saw do well in Jelajah are here too. Chavanne won stages there but it was Kopfauf who prevailed with the GC win. Keough is the one who really needs to step it up though.
| | | FLA | PRO | | Gabriel | Chavanne | 75 | 82 | | Markus | Kopfauf | 69 | 81 | | Luke | Keough | 73 | 80 | | Alex | Frame | 71 | 79 | | Bilguunjargal | Erdenebat | 75 | 79 |
Full Start List
Spoiler Teodoro | Costagli | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | Daniel Ricardo | Diaz | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | Matteo | Fabbro | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | Taylor | Gunman | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | Ziga | Horvat | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | Adam | Phelan | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | Evgeny | Shalunov | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | Michael | Vink | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | Sameera | Chatarunga | Bianchi - Panerai | Lorenzo | Fortunato | Bianchi - Panerai | Ryan | Gibbons | Bianchi - Panerai | Trond | Larsen | Bianchi - Panerai | Romain | Le Roux | Bianchi - Panerai | Simone | Petilli | Bianchi - Panerai | Narankhuu | Baterdene | BNZ-Superhero Racing | Bilguunjargal | Erdenebat | BNZ-Superhero Racing | Markus | Kopfauf | BNZ-Superhero Racing | Nick | Miller | BNZ-Superhero Racing | Dusan | Rajovic | BNZ-Superhero Racing | Timothy | Roe | BNZ-Superhero Racing | Jordan | Schleck | BNZ-Superhero Racing | Lars | Van den Berg | BNZ-Superhero Racing | Franck | Bonnamour | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | Thomas | Bonnin | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | Tanel | Kangert | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | Mathieu | La Lavandier | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | Martin | Laas | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | Rudy | Molard | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | Antonio | Pedrero | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | Anthony | Perez | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | Bruno | Armirail | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | Fabien | Doubey | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | Oscar | Guerao | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | Mikel | Iturria | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | Hugues | Mottin | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | Quentin | Pacher | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | Alexis | Renard | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | Jordi | Simon | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | Muhamma Afif | Ahmad Zamri | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | Flavio | De Luna | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | Kristjan | Hocevar | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | Tormod | Jacobsen | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | Yoan | Kolev | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | Bakhtiyar | Kozhatayev | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | Valentin | Stoenchev | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | Martijn | Tusveld | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | Aberlardo | Ablenado | Caja Rural Cycling Team | Jose | Alarcon | Caja Rural Cycling Team | Xabier Mikel | Azparren | Caja Rural Cycling Team | Alfredo | Balloni | Caja Rural Cycling Team | Matevz | Govekar | Caja Rural Cycling Team | Andrea | Guardini | Caja Rural Cycling Team | Benat | Intxausti | Caja Rural Cycling Team | Marek | Konwa | Caja Rural Cycling Team | Goldwijnn | Cannister | Carlsberg - Danske Bank | Jacob | Eriksson | Carlsberg - Danske Bank | Biniam | Girmay | Carlsberg - Danske Bank | Samuel | Lord | Carlsberg - Danske Bank | Matija | Mestric | Carlsberg - Danske Bank | Patrick | Olesen | Carlsberg - Danske Bank | Mattias | Skjelmose Jensen | Carlsberg - Danske Bank | Jose Pablo | Aguilar Mendez | Colombini-Adler AP | Darijus | Dzervus | Colombini-Adler AP | Abolfazl | Gilanipoor | Colombini-Adler AP | Richard Laningo | Laizer | Colombini-Adler AP | Yves | Lampaert | Colombini-Adler AP | Loic | Vliegen | Colombini-Adler AP | Soren | Waerenskjold | Colombini-Adler AP | Hakon Frengstad | Berger | Eddie Stobart | Maris | Bogdanovics | Eddie Stobart | Asmund Romstad | Lovik | Eddie Stobart | Davide | Malacarne | Eddie Stobart | Dmitri | Medvedev | Eddie Stobart | Travis | Meyer | Eddie Stobart | Salvador | Moreno Hernandez | Eddie Stobart | Nikita | Umerbekov | Eddie Stobart | Sam | Bennett | Glanbia | Lawson | Craddock | Glanbia | Liam | Curley | Glanbia | Conor | Dunne | Glanbia | Alex | Frame | Glanbia | Ben | Healy | Glanbia | Daniel | Martin | Glanbia | Andrew | Talansky | Glanbia | Gabriel | Chavanne | Jura GIANTS | Noam | Cohen | Jura GIANTS | Panagiotis | Karatsivis | Jura GIANTS | Gino | Mäder | Jura GIANTS | Krzysztof | Marchewka | Jura GIANTS | Mauro | Schmid | Jura GIANTS | Grzegorz | Stepniak | Jura GIANTS | Manuel | Stocker | Jura GIANTS | Julian | Alaphilippe | Le Creuset | Alan | Boileau | Le Creuset | Clement | Chevrier | Le Creuset | Joris | Delbove | Le Creuset | Michael | Gogl | Le Creuset | Sebastian | Henao | Le Creuset | James | Piccoli | Le Creuset | Dylan | Teuns | Le Creuset | Ian | Boswell | McCormick Pro Cycling | Noah | Granigan | McCormick Pro Cycling | Alex | Hoehn | McCormick Pro Cycling | Luke | Keough | McCormick Pro Cycling | Jakob | Rathe | McCormick Pro Cycling | Brendan | Rhim | McCormick Pro Cycling | Michael | Rodriguez Galindo | McCormick Pro Cycling | Lawrence | Warbasse | McCormick Pro Cycling | Michael Valgren | Andersen | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | Gabor | Fejes | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | Mateo | Frankovic | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | Borislav | Ivanov | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | Stefan | Petrovski | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | Emanuel | Piaskowy | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | Andrei | Sakalou | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | Rasmus | Sterobo | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | Fabio | Aru | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | Julius | Johansen | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | Michael | Matthews | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | Matteo | Moschetti | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | Johan | Price-Pejtersen | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | Vadim | Ratiy | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | Idan | Shapira | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | Christoph | Taubel | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | William | Barta | Philips - Force India | Clement | Champoussin | Philips - Force India | Oscar Samuel | Galvan Ramirez | Philips - Force India | Joonas | Henttala | Philips - Force India | Gijs | Leemreize | Philips - Force India | Dan | McLay | Philips - Force India | Yannick | Stoltz | Philips - Force India | Mick | Van Dijke | Philips - Force India | Tyler | Cole | Podium Ambition | Jonathan | Croes | Podium Ambition | Abner | Gonzalez | Podium Ambition | Jacob | Kelly | Podium Ambition | Kim | Le Court | Podium Ambition | Kemp | Orosco | Podium Ambition | Dylan | Redy | Podium Ambition | Connor | White | Podium Ambition | Felix | Engelhardt | Staffbase - BHP | Jai | Hindley | Staffbase - BHP | Florian | Lipowitz | Staffbase - BHP | Luke | Plapp | Staffbase - BHP | Jensen | Plowright | Staffbase - BHP | Dylan | Sunderland | Staffbase - BHP | Tim | Van Dijke | Staffbase - BHP | David | Wohrer | Staffbase - BHP | Andrei | Amador | Volcanica - Fox | Sergio | Arias Villanueva | Volcanica - Fox | Sergio | Chumil | Volcanica - Fox | Nicolas David | Gomez | Volcanica - Fox | Jesus | Herrada | Volcanica - Fox | Bryan Fernando | Mendoza | Volcanica - Fox | Santiago | Montenegro | Volcanica - Fox | Joseph Ivan | Samudio | Volcanica - Fox | Mingrun | Chen | Voyagin - Bird | Richard | Huera | Voyagin - Bird | Miori | Kawasaki | Voyagin - Bird | Xianjing | Lyu | Voyagin - Bird | Shoi | Matsuda | Voyagin - Bird | Leszek | Plucinski | Voyagin - Bird | Yamato | Shirota | Voyagin - Bird | Edoardo | Zardini | Voyagin - Bird |
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baseballlover312 |
Posted on 04-12-2022 15:33
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Tour de France Champion
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Mandatory C2 race days gonna mandatory C2 race day. We had a very limited selection of riders to choose from unfortunately, with a lot of our domestiques just crossing the stat maximums. Probably a mistake with C2 getting a points boost this year, but it is what it is.
With that in mind, we tried to choose race days that had breakaway potential, so that's what we're here for. Olesen's probably the only one with a chance to win from a break on stage 4 or 6, but getting some screen time or holding a jersey for a day would be very cool if we can swing it.
As for the overall, I will obviously be rooting for Warbasse. This race suits him perfectly, so time to deliver!
Thanks for the preview LLS!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
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TheManxMissile |
Posted on 04-12-2022 15:46
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Tour de France Champion
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so many chances for breakaways!
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Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 04-12-2022 15:46
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It's Jelajah all over again. Thought I elected not to send Keough here but guess I went all in again.
I am going to say the sponsors really wanted this one, as I can't really justify 7 RD from a game perspective. Hilly stages aren't hard enough for Boswell and not sure his presence helps Warbasse that much. Prologue maybe too long for Keough and bringing the sprint team weakens the MT squad.
So Warbasse needs to perform, I don't think a podium GC finish is too much to ask. And the sponsors better close a bunch of deals in the hospitality tent to justify the rest of the squad.
Thanks LLS for making this happen.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling
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KaiserAdler |
Posted on 04-12-2022 16:43
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Domestique
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Yeah I don’t see us doing very well here. Maybe an upset here or there and a decentish performance in the prologue. Stage races just aren’t our thing this year unfortunately.
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Croatia14 |
Posted on 04-12-2022 16:56
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Directeur Sportif
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Loving the Roleplay moves of UU, hope it turns out to be a great choice and Warbasse takes home the bacon. Cool preview as well!
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AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 04-12-2022 17:20
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Directeur Sportif
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First of two C2 races for us, with Barta the designated leader for the very first time for us. Hope he can live up to the Top 15 placing he's been given in the preview. The rest of the team are here in support but we do hope for some action. Prologues being Prologues might mean Stoltz could be up near the front, but it's a long shot.
Thanks for the preview LLS
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Fabianski |
Posted on 04-12-2022 19:23
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Too many mountain races this year to send the strongest everywhere, so with just one mountain stage and a mid-length TT I thought this could be Mäder's chance to shine. He's the best PRL and TT rider among the favorites and on a good day should be able to stay with Warbasse. At least in the mountains - and that's the issue. I'm afraid he might lose too much time on the hilly stages to be competitive GC-wise.
However, I definitely expect him to take the U25 standings here, given that he's our leader. He only has Schmid to support him on the uphills, though...
On the other hand, we're sending quite some firepower for the sprints and the TTs. Stepniak will be our lead sprinter for the first time, with Cohen and Stocker as a support, while Chavanne targets the prologue once again. Marchewka will hopefully deliver some better TTs than he did recently, too.
But it's definitely hard to look past Warbasse as the race's top favorite. McCormick really send their full armada here, so they have to do well to make it worth the lineup!
Thanks for the preview, LLS
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kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 04-12-2022 20:35
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This should be an interesting race for us as we should be competitive in every terrain (except the TTs). Hopefully Henao won't disappoint us in the GC as he could end anywhere from Top 5 to 25th looking at the other GC riders. Mayber he's not the strongest mountain or TT rider, but he could steal some time on the hilly stages.
Alaphilippe should be a contender in all flat and hilly stages, though not the favourite in either.
And Teuns makes his first real race for us (Gent-Wevelgem was more of a warm-up) and we're eager to see if he really is the strong contender we expect him to be especially in the C2 races.
So we're really looking forward to this race, hoping to see our jerseys a lot and continue the upwards trend we started in March.
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MacC |
Posted on 05-12-2022 09:32
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Sprinter
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Just here to ruin McCormick's big important race
Seriously though, a top 5 from Talansky would help keep up the momentum which sagged during March.
I'm a bit surprised how light I am on TTers here, guess all eyes were on the GC!
Another shot for Frame to show his prologue ability while there might be a couple of nice stages for Dunne and Sam Bennett to have a go.
I'm hoping Craddock can get some GC points too.
Thanks for preview and good luck all
Edited by MacC on 05-12-2022 09:53
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Jakstar22 |
Posted on 05-12-2022 12:10
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Team Leader
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Keen for this one! Plenty of stage win opportunities and maybe even a high GC finish with Schleck. Really excited to get started!
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Fabianski |
Posted on 09-12-2022 18:28
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Very bad day at the lottery for us. Especially Chavanne obviously, with the two other 80+ specialists finishing on top. Bad daily form ruins it all I guess.
Mäder OK, should've beaten Warbasse, but he's in a fine position already. Marchewka probably had his best prologue so far, but if Balloni can finish 2nd he should be able to do the same at one point. Can't complain about Stocker, though, 22nd is more than solid from him.
So 4 between 16th and 22nd sounds nice, but in a prologue just means bad luck. Don't like to say it, but congrats to BNZ again. Hopefully luck will again be on our side next time, two in a row is enough
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baseballlover312 |
Posted on 09-12-2022 18:30
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Tour de France Champion
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Nothing much to say for us, but Skjelmose as our highest finisher feels nice enough.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
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SotD |
Posted on 09-12-2022 19:02
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The Kopfauf Beast! To think not many teams wanted him? What a mistake!
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Fabianski |
Posted on 09-12-2022 20:36
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Grand Tour Specialist
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SotD wrote:
The Kopfauf Beast! To think not many teams wanted him? What a mistake!
I just thought it'd be enough to have Chavanne, as he should be better than Kopfauf. I guess I simply should've gone for both - what a scoring potential
By the way, if prologues should yield more reliable results with PCM22, prologue specialists definitely should get their OVL bumped up a bit. Not too much, given that there aren't that many prologues out there, but they're honestly too cheap right now - given that they already seem to perform pretty consistently (Kopfauf, Chavanne and Keugh Top5 in 2/3 iirc) even with +/-5 daily form in PCM20.
Edited by Fabianski on 09-12-2022 20:44
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whitejersey |
Posted on 09-12-2022 20:36
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Kopfauf's been beasting it up lately! Congrats to BNZ on a very nice prologue!
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Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 09-12-2022 23:20
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Kopfauf on fire.
Better than I expected from Keough. But is it unreasonable that the drop from 2nd to 4th changed my perspective from positive to neutral? Maybe because a correction like that was the difference in winning the points jersey in a race last year.
Nice time from Warbasse lets hope he can keep the momentum on other stages.
Pure PRL guys might be cheap but not sure the sprinter/prl guys like Keough are.
Looking forward to the rest of the race. Thanks LLS.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling
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Jakstar22 |
Posted on 10-12-2022 01:19
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Yes Kopfauf!!!! Really happy for another stage win from him!! Erdenebat in 3rd as well is a really encouraging and exciting result!
Keen to have a great start!!!
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KaiserAdler |
Posted on 10-12-2022 09:00
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Domestique
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Laizer doing exactly why we got him. Scoring odd points against the clock. Don’t expect much moving on but its something atleast. Thx for the report
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AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 10-12-2022 17:40
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Directeur Sportif
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Great start for us with three in the Top 11 in the Prologue. Love to see Stoltz still among the top riders on any stage! Barta also doing well is quite ideal also.
Congrats to Jakstar and thanks for the report
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