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Olympia's Tour - Discussion
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 29-01-2023 15:03
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Team Leader
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 Olympia's Tour - Preview 
It's all Continental Teams for 6 days in the Netherlands made up of sprinting, individual time trials and team trials. Winning the Olympia's Tour is the prize at the end of it all.
The opening stage Time-Trial will be the first indication of who will be in the running to win this at a length of 17km. The other more GC decisive stages are Stage 4 which is an 18.4km TTT and then finally an 8.5km TT to finish the action on day 6.
We also have 3 stages for the sprinters at 182.1km, 214.4km and 190.7km. These are the only road stages and will suit the fast men well. In 2021, the 2nd stage proved decisive as Thomas was the only TT rider to be on the right side of an exclusive sprinter split who got a 1 minute gap.
| Winner | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | | 2021 | Thomas | Howson | Zmorka | Durbridge | Lammertink | | 2020 | Zmorka | Howson | Kittel | Viennet | Fiedler | | 2019 | Durbridge | Kittel | Cornu | Dillier | Stannard | | 2018 | Zmorka | Durbridge | Viennet | Viviani | Stannard |
A race dominated by Time Trialists which is not a surprise. Zmorka, Howson & Durbridge all consistently showing up when this was a C1 category race.
There are a number of very strong riders against the clock who are here.
 Glanbia is a team which has targeted Time Trials for multiple seasons. They have by far the strongest TTT squad and should win Stage 4 with ease. A strong enough performance will give their riders a great opportunity to succeed. Oram, Downey and Craddock are the stand outs within this team.
 Oktal Pharma are another strong team although they are top heavy. Sterobo is their best candidate for overall victory although Andersen will look to provide competition also.
Riders such as  Rekita,  Erdenebat and  Balloni will need to do well individually as they lack the team support of the riders above.
| | | FLA | TT | STA | RES | REC | PRO | TTT | | Szymon | Rekita | 72 | 79 | 70 | 73 | 73 | 78 | *** | | Bilguunjargal | Erdenebat | 75 | 78 | 77 | 78 | 74 | 79 | ** | | Rasmus | Sterobo | 70 | 78 | 74 | 69 | 69 | 78 | **** | | Alfredo | Balloni | 72 | 77 | 65 | 69 | 66 | 77 | ** | | James | Oram | 73 | 77 | 72 | 72 | 68 | 77 | ***** | | Freddy | Cruz | 74 | 77 | 66 | 70 | 67 | 77 | ***** | | Sean | Downey | 73 | 77 | 71 | 74 | 66 | 77 | ***** | | Krzysztof | Marchewka | 65 | 77 | 73 | 75 | 74 | 77 | *** | | Michael Valgren | Andersen | 70 | 77 | 73 | 74 | 67 | 77 | **** |  | Frederik | Frison | 71 | 77 | 73 | 71 | 67 | 77 | *** | | Jordan | Cheyne | 73 | 76 | 73 | 75 | 70 | 75 | ***** | | Lawson | Craddock | 71 | 76 | 75 | 75 | 72 | 76 | ***** | | John | Archibald | 70 | 76 | 69 | 72 | 62 | 75 | **** |
Glanbia are by far the strongest TTT squad and will expect to win Stage 4. Anything but a win would be a failure for them.
Oktal Pharma, Tryg and Jura are the 3 teams who will try to challenge Glanbia but will more likely be battling out for 2nd and 3rd.
| | Quality | | Glanbia | ***** | | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | **** | | Tryg - Gobik | *** | | Jura GIANTS | *** | | BNZ-Superhero Racing | ** |  | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | ** | | Caja Rural Cycling Team | ** |  | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | * |
Every team here has a sprinter capable of battling for a stage win on one of the 3 flat stages. Scully and Perera will certainly be 2 stand-outs to watch along with the fast-starting Rajovic.
| | | FLA | REC | SPR | ACC | | Tom | Scully | 74 | 78 | 79 | 80 | | Madushanka | Perera | 71 | 77 | 79 | 80 | | Alexander | Krieger | 71 | 75 | 79 | 79 |  | Luke | Keough | 73 | 73 | 79 | 79 | | Thomas | Boudat | 73 | 78 | 79 | 78 |  | Christian | Bertilsson | 73 | 76 | 79 | 77 | | Andrea | Guardini | 71 | 69 | 79 | 80 | | Dusan | Rajovic | 72 | 70 | 78 | 82 |  | Darshana | Prasad | 74 | 80 | 78 | 79 |  | Guillaume | Boivin | 73 | 77 | 78 | 79 |  | Max | Losch | 73 | 75 | 78 | 79 |  | Kenji | Itami | 73 | 73 | 78 | 79 |  | Ryan | Gibbons | 75 | 73 | 78 | 78 |  | Maris | Bogdanovics | 73 | 75 | 78 | 77 | | Grzegorz | Stepniak | 71 | 73 | 78 | 77 |  | Phil | Bauhaus | 74 | 77 | 78 | 75 |  | Jay | Major | 74 | 74 | 77 | 78 | | Alex | Frame | 71 | 72 | 77 | 76 |
Start List
Spoiler | Shane | Archbold | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | | Ziga | Horvat | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | | Frederik | Nolf | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | | Adam | Phelan | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | | Salvatore | Puccio | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | | Tom | Scully | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | | Evgeny | Shalunov | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | | Jakub | Skala | Air New Zealand p/b Pirelli | | Sameera | Chatarunga | Bianchi - Panerai | | Ryan | Gibbons | Bianchi - Panerai | | Mikiel | Habtom | Bianchi - Panerai | | Trond | Larsen | Bianchi - Panerai | | Viktor | Manakov | Bianchi - Panerai | | Ramunas | Navardauskas | Bianchi - Panerai | | Maani | Altanzul | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Narankhuu | Baterdene | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Maral-Erdene | Batmunkh | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Bilguunjargal | Erdenebat | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Markus | Kopfauf | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | German Anibal | Orue | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Dusan | Rajovic | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Timothy | Roe | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Rudy | Barbier | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Thomas | Boudat | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Alexander | Edmondson | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Mikhail | Kochetkov | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Tim | Merlier | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Anthony | Perez | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Clement | Russo | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Lukas | Talacka | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Max | Losch | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Tomas | Paprstka | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Chequan | Richardson | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Momchil | Robov | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Valentin | Stoenchev | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Polychronis | Tzortzakis | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Jay | Vine | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Herizo | Adriamihajanarivo | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Xabier Mikel | Azparren | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Alfredo | Balloni | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Fernando | Barcelo | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Jhojan | Garcia | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Matevz | Govekar | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Andrea | Guardini | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Ramon | Sinkeldam | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Jose Pablo | Aguilar Mendez | Colombini-Adler AP | | Andrea | Aquilani | Colombini-Adler AP | | Luigi | Giulietti | Colombini-Adler AP | | Andre Alexander | Gonzales | Colombini-Adler AP | | Kenji | Itami | Colombini-Adler AP | | Richard Laningo | Laizer | Colombini-Adler AP | | Stan | Martino | Colombini-Adler AP | | Soren | Waerenskjold | Colombini-Adler AP | | Hakon Frengstad | Berger | Eddie Stobart | | Maris | Bogdanovics | Eddie Stobart | | Davide | Cimolai | Eddie Stobart | | Linus | Dahlberg | Eddie Stobart | | Damion | Drapac | Eddie Stobart | | Gert | Joeaar | Eddie Stobart | | Dmitri | Medvedev | Eddie Stobart | | Fabien | Taillefour | Eddie Stobart | | Jordan | Cheyne | Glanbia | | Lawson | Craddock | Glanbia | | Freddy | Cruz | Glanbia | | Sean | Downey | Glanbia | | Alex | Frame | Glanbia | | Francis | Juneau | Glanbia | | James | Oram | Glanbia | | Miles | Scotson | Glanbia | | Leonardo | Basso | Jura GIANTS | | Christoph | Janssen | Jura GIANTS | | Panagiotis | Karatsivis | Jura GIANTS | | Krzysztof | Marchewka | Jura GIANTS | | Alexandros | Matsangos | Jura GIANTS | | Szymon | Rekita | Jura GIANTS | | Erick | Rowsell | Jura GIANTS | | Grzegorz | Stepniak | Jura GIANTS | | Alan | Boileau | Le Creuset | | Guillaume | Boivin | Le Creuset | | Joris | Delbove | Le Creuset | | Arman | Garibian | Le Creuset | | Rokas | Kmieliauskas | Le Creuset | | Matis | Louvel | Le Creuset | | Geremie | Nzeke | Le Creuset | | James | Piccoli | Le Creuset | | Noah | Granigan | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Gage | Hecht | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Luke | Keough | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Zeke | Mostov | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Jakob | Rathe | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Michael | Rodriguez Galindo | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Michael Valgren | Andersen | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | | John | Archibald | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | | Gabor | Fejes | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | | Madushanka | Perera | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | | Alexander | Richardson | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | | Rasmus | Sterobo | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | | German Nicolas | Tivani | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | | Wouter | Wippert | Oktal Pharma - TotalTV | | Felix Emilio | Besada | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Christopher | Juul-Jensen | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Alexander | Kristoff | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Matteo | Moschetti | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Darshana | Prasad | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Johan | Price-Pejtersen | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Nathan | Alexander | Podium Ambition | | Tyler | Cole | Podium Ambition | | Abner | Gonzalez | Podium Ambition | | Jacob | Kelly | Podium Ambition | | Jay | Major | Podium Ambition | | Jacob | Morales Ortega | Podium Ambition | | Andrew | Norbert | Podium Ambition | | Connor | White | Podium Ambition | | Phil | Bauhaus | Staffbase - BHP | | Felix | Engelhardt | Staffbase - BHP | | Aaron | Grosser | Staffbase - BHP | | Roy | Jans | Staffbase - BHP | | Jonas | Koch | Staffbase - BHP | | Jensen | Plowright | Staffbase - BHP | | Kevin | Predatsch | Staffbase - BHP | | Dylan | Sunderland | Staffbase - BHP | | Emil | Andersson | Tafjord Kraft | | Christian | Bertilsson | Tafjord Kraft | | Ole | Haavardsholm | Tafjord Kraft | | Jesse | Kaislavuo | Tafjord Kraft | | Peter | Pruus | Tafjord Kraft | | Syver | Waersted | Tafjord Kraft | | Fatiu | Abolaji | Tryg - Gobik | | Juraj | Bellan | Tryg - Gobik | | Frederik | Frison | Tryg - Gobik | | Rasmus | Iversen | Tryg - Gobik | | Alexander | Krieger | Tryg - Gobik | | Similo | Nyoni | Tryg - Gobik | | Ingvar | Omarsson | Tryg - Gobik | | Torjus | Sleen | Tryg - Gobik |
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 29-01-2023 16:27
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2933
Joined: 09-05-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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I'll just pretend that this race doesn't exist for me and that I'll not fight for promotion
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 29-01-2023 19:44
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
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So, here we are, the first real test for Rekita!
Honestly, I expected us to be further down the TTT pecking order, but if we can get a Top 5 on that day, that'd be amazing. It's true that we're very top-heavy with Rekita/Marchewka (79/77), but when playing PCM I often saw those top-heavy teams beating the well-balanced ones... We'll see.
Anyway, I guess the time gaps will be more significant on stage 1 than on stage 4, which is why we left at home our TTers #3, #4 and #5. So I could even imagine Rekita winning this race, but I could as well see Glanbia run away with a 1-5. I'm just hoping for all teams with good TTers that there won't be any such stupid splits like there was one last year.
In terms of sprints, we'll take what we can get. Stepniak obviously isn't a big favorite in this stacked field, and he doesn't have any notable support, either. But he's already won an HC stage this year, so why not score some more points here?
Thanks for preview & reports to LLS, and good luck (and not too many daily form shenanigans) to all!
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 29-01-2023 20:17
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3262
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Could be a huge haul for Glanbia here. We roll the dice with the sprint lottery. Mostov just off the favorites list, maybe he can sneak in with a few points in the TTs.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| MacC |
Posted on 29-01-2023 21:16
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Sprinter
Posts: 1594
Joined: 15-07-2008
PCM$: 700.00
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Here we go 
Seriously, hoping for serious top 10 depth, I don't think any of my guys will win the GC and that's OK as long as they bring home the points.
Glad to see I didn't do anything stupid like bring a Sprinter or Dan Martin !
Thanks for preview and good luck all
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 29-01-2023 21:48
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Team Leader
Posts: 7293
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Keen for this! Hopefully the boys can perform here. 2 stage wins are definitely an ideal goal here!
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 31-01-2023 07:35
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2907
Joined: 15-07-2007
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We're coming here with some good sprinters, and none that are good against the clock. We'll have to hope for a stage win I guess |
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 31-01-2023 14:03
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2933
Joined: 09-05-2011
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Don't expect anything from this race and I expect a huge dip after the TTT, mainly because we didn't send all of our top TT racers, which are also climbers - Ahmad Zamri, De Luna and of course Brändle. Therfore, we deemed that it was not worth the effort to spend 6 RD on a flat race with TT in it. Still, we have Tzortzakis and Stoenchev to make us proud in the ITT stages tough. Chapeau to Oktal Pharma - TotalTV for the stage win and to LLS for the report
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 05:26
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| MacC |
Posted on 31-01-2023 18:23
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Sprinter
Posts: 1594
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Well, that sort of shows our weakness, lots of good riders but no stand out TT leader.
The top 2 are from teams with a very competitive TTT set up too.
Feeling pessimistic about our Win goal but definitely still going to be a strong points haul !
Thanks LLS and congrats Oktel
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 31-01-2023 19:46
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
Joined: 29-09-2018
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That was by far Marchewka's strongest performance so far this year, and he timed it perfectly right
Slightly disappointed by Rekita, of whom I was expecting a stage podium at least, but 4th clearly isn't the end of the world, and his compatriot's 3rd place definitely outweighs that
Now let's try to avoid stupid gaps on the sprint stages, and then let's see how much time we drop on S4. Looking at the gaps and TTT lineups, I guess Sterobo now is the favorite to win this, with the boys in green all having a rather mediocre race. Would have expected at least one of them to have a great day, but apparently it wasn't to be. I still won't rule them out, though!
Congrats to Oktal on the stage win, and thanks for the report, LLS!
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 31-01-2023 21:35
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Team Leader
Posts: 7293
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Always hard living up to the status of stage favourite. Erdenebat did his best but wasn't good enough today. Perhaps another chance in the final stage. Now we move on to the sprints and Rajovic!
Congrats to the winner!
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| MacC |
Posted on 01-02-2023 15:50
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Sprinter
Posts: 1594
Joined: 15-07-2008
PCM$: 700.00
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I'm ok with a noting day ! and tomorrow please! Had a little doubt halfway through about whether I should have sent a sprinter then copped myself on
Always nice to see Keough win
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 01-02-2023 20:19
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
Joined: 29-09-2018
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Looks like Keough is winning every flat stage he races this month  Congrats to McCormick, so far going all-in on the sprints is paying off!
Stepniak unfortunately wasn't very smart during the positioning phase, so he never was in contention for the top spots. Taking 7th with a great late surge is nothing to be ashamed of in this field, though! Let's just be ten positions closer to the front next time, and a podium could be at stake
But most importantly, no gaps - let's hope the two remaining flat stages will be alike.
Thanks for the report to LLS, and congrats again to UU!
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 02-02-2023 00:34
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3262
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Nice stuff by Keough, two wins this month, helping prop up what is a quiet month for us.
Would be nice if he stays competitive for the points jersey but that might be greedy.
Thanks for the reports.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 02-02-2023 00:58
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Team Leader
Posts: 7293
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Another good performance but again not quite...We are looking strong here but I dont know if we will be able to convert into a victory. We will see.
Rajovic is sprinting well and Erdenebat is riding well too. Hopefully we can grab that victory!
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 02-02-2023 07:00
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2907
Joined: 15-07-2007
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Why on earth did we sign up for this race? |
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 02-02-2023 12:22
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2933
Joined: 09-05-2011
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Honestly, I'm asking myself the same question
I've already braced myself for terrible TTT, because I've decided to not bing an addional strong TT'er or two
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| KaiserAdler |
Posted on 03-02-2023 06:11
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Domestique
Posts: 570
Joined: 13-07-2022
PCM$: 5800.00
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Just keeping up appearances here. Can’t win everything I compete in. But congrats to the ones that can!
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| MacC |
Posted on 03-02-2023 19:47
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Sprinter
Posts: 1594
Joined: 15-07-2008
PCM$: 700.00
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Professional stuff from Glanbia not losing a second
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 03-02-2023 19:54
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
Joined: 29-09-2018
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Not at all happy with Stepniak's performance, given that his position looked much better than yesterday - but that's all peanuts anyway, the far more important thing being not losing too many guys here. Of the capable TTers, only Rowsell lost out, which might be a minor GC placing gone. But both Rekita and Marchewka finished in the first group, so everything's fine.
Now onto the TTT, where for once our ambitions can't be overly high. Keeping both my riders in the GC Top10 would be nice, though.
Congrats to Boudat on the win, and good to see Krieger finally scoring a notable result, too.
Thanks for the report.
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