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Tour of Vancouver - Discussion
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 21-02-2023 14:48
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Team Leader
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 Tour of Vancouver - Preview
16 Continental Tour teams and 2 Pro Continental teams make their way to the stunning South-West city of Vancouver in North America for a challenging week long tour.
There are 4 stages which will be the most decisive. The opening stage time trial is short at only 6.2km but it is almost all uphill as the riders make their way up Coquitlam mountain. This will be the first chance for the GC favourites to flex their muscles.
Stage 4 is decently long at 182.2km and bumpy throughout. The feature though is a long, steep final climb to Upper Joffre Lake. We finally have a 3rd mountain stage, the longest of the week at 192.6km, which features 4 hills before a tough mountain top finish up Zoa Peak.
We can't forget about finishing with a flat 18.4km Team Time Trial trial which will provide an opportunity for those who aren't as strong in the mountains to benefit from their collective team strength against the clock.
Numerous riders will also be present to contest the 3 stages which favour the sprinters. Stage 2 is short at just over 100km while the other 2 are longer and may well offer an opportunity for the breakaway to succeed.
A strong well-rounded climber is most likely to succeed here, although a very strong pure climber may be able to open up the gaps significantly and hold on for the win or a podium.
| Winner | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | | 2021 | Amador | Elissonde | Mas | Brandt | Kozhatayev | | 2020 | Pinot | Ranaweera | Keinath | Novak | Garby | | 2019 | Eastman | Pinot | Valls | Kiserlovski | Faiers | | 2018 | Pluchkin | Keizer | Uran | Meintjes | Penasa |
 Jose Alarcon is by some way the strongest pure climber present here but he's lacking the back-up stats to win a race like this nowadays and he has no TTT support.
The trio of  Jura GIANTS riders have to be fighting for the win here as they have a far superior TTT set-up here. Stussi is likely the main favourite but, if he suffers a bad day, then Mader and Masnada will be there to back him up and take team leadership instead.
A quartet of team leaders, capable across the board and especially in Time Trials, are also likely to be fighting where it matters. The first 3 have storng TTT set-ups. This trio is made up of  Andrew Talansky and  Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev and  Sepp Kuss . Ben O'Connor and  Mikel Iturria are no slouches either but have a bit less support than the other 3.
Finally we have 2 strong climbers who will need to ensure they have gaps going into the final TTT as they're lacking a bit of support. These 2 are  Aru and  Schlegel.
| | | MO | HIL | TT | STA | RES | REC | ACC | FTR | TTT | | Jose | Alarcon | 81 | 70 | 64 | 66 | 69 | 68 | 73 | 76 | * | | Colin | Stüssi | 79 | 73 | 75 | 77 | 73 | 78 | 66 | 65 | ***** | | Fabio | Aru | 78 | 74 | 64 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 70 | 56 | | | Sepp | Kuss | 78 | 71 | 64 | 74 | 76 | 71 | 69 | 66 | **** | | Aberlardo | Ablenado | 78 | 67 | 72 | 73 | 77 | 77 | 65 | 59 | * | | Michal | Schlegel | 78 | 77 | 65 | 71 | 74 | 76 | 75 | 73 | *** | | Ben | O'Connor | 77 | 70 | 71 | 70 | 72 | 75 | 68 | 68 | *** | | Andrew | Talansky | 77 | 75 | 70 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 66 | 61 | **** | | Gino | Mäder | 77 | 71 | 75 | 73 | 75 | 77 | 64 | 70 | ***** |  | Jordan | Schleck | 77 | 73 | 53 | 71 | 71 | 78 | 73 | 61 | | | Mikel | Iturria | 77 | 73 | 72 | 77 | 74 | 76 | 61 | 69 | ** | | Bakhtiyar | Kozhatayev | 77 | 74 | 72 | 71 | 75 | 71 | 69 | 62 | ***** | | Fausto | Masnada | 77 | 76 | 73 | 76 | 75 | 73 | 73 | 69 | ***** |
We have to wait till the final day to see the real teamwork here in Vancouver but it could well be a stage which turns the GC on its head. Jura and BWT are two of the top teams in this discipline and both, along with Glanbia and McCormick have riders with GC winning aspirations so it's going to be a hugely important 18km.
| | Rating | | Jura GIANTS | ***** | | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | ***** | | Glanbia | **** | | McCormick Pro Cycling | **** | | Amaysim Cervélo | *** | | Tryg - Gobik | *** | | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | ** |
We have numerous riders to compete here with Krieger and  Boivin the 2 strongest but they'll have to be on their A-Game to succeed in the 3 flat stages.
| | | FLA | STA | RES | REC | SPR | ACC | | Giacomo | Nizzolo | 72 | 68 | 65 | 69 | 79 | 77 | | Alexander | Krieger | 71 | 71 | 74 | 75 | 79 | 79 | | Ricki | Nelson | 70 | 67 | 61 | 74 | 79 | 78 |  | Ryan | Gibbons | 75 | 73 | 72 | 73 | 78 | 78 | | Grzegorz | Stepniak | 71 | 68 | 68 | 73 | 78 | 77 | | Guillaume | Boivin | 73 | 73 | 69 | 77 | 78 | 79 |  | Darijus | Dzervus | 73 | 73 | 72 | 75 | 77 | 77 |  | Hakon Frengstad | Berger | 73 | 72 | 68 | 75 | 77 | 77 |  | Jay | Major | 74 | 74 | 70 | 74 | 77 | 78 |
Full Start List
Spoiler | Ryan | Christensen | Amaysim Cervélo | | Rhys | Gillett | Amaysim Cervélo | | Cyrus | Monk | Amaysim Cervélo | | Ben | O'Connor | Amaysim Cervélo | | Callum | Scotson | Amaysim Cervélo | | Alex | Wohler | Amaysim Cervélo | | Sameera | Chatarunga | Bianchi - Panerai | | Ruben | Eggenberg | Bianchi - Panerai | | Lorenzo | Fortunato | Bianchi - Panerai | | Ryan | Gibbons | Bianchi - Panerai | | Karel | Hnik | Bianchi - Panerai | | Trond | Larsen | Bianchi - Panerai | | Simone | Petilli | Bianchi - Panerai | | Nihal | Silva | Bianchi - Panerai | | Maral-Erdene | Batmunkh | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Nick | Miller | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Luke | Mudgway | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Giacomo | Nizzolo | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | German Anibal | Orue | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Timothy | Roe | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Jordan | Schleck | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Lars | Van den Berg | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Thomas | Bonnin | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Deins | Kanepejs | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Tanel | Kangert | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Mathieu | La Lavandier | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Rudy | Molard | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Markus | Pajur | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Anthony | Perez | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Jason | Tesson | Bonduelle - Eesti Energia | | Bruno | Armirail | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Clement | Berthet | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Mikel | Bizkarra | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Mikel | Iturria | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Sergio | Martin | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Hugues | Mottin | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Dario | Puccioni | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Jordi | Simon | Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren | | Muhamma Afif | Ahmad Zamri | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Matthias | Brändle | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Flavio | De Luna | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Tormod | Jacobsen | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Bakhtiyar | Kozhatayev | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Valentin | Stoenchev | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Martijn | Tusveld | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Polychronis | Tzortzakis | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Aberlardo | Ablenado | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Herizo | Adriamihajanarivo | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Jose | Alarcon | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Xabier Mikel | Azparren | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Carlos | Barbero | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Jhojan | Garcia | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Matevz | Govekar | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Benat | Intxausti | Caja Rural Cycling Team | | Jose Pablo | Aguilar Mendez | Colombini-Adler AP | | Carlos | Betancourt | Colombini-Adler AP | | Darijus | Dzervus | Colombini-Adler AP | | Abolfazl | Gilanipoor | Colombini-Adler AP | | Luigi | Giulietti | Colombini-Adler AP | | Andre Alexander | Gonzales | Colombini-Adler AP | | Felix | Sprenger | Colombini-Adler AP | | Soren | Waerenskjold | Colombini-Adler AP | | Hakon Frengstad | Berger | Eddie Stobart | | Davide | Cimolai | Eddie Stobart | | Gert | Joeaar | Eddie Stobart | | Asmund Romstad | Lovik | Eddie Stobart | | Davide | Malacarne | Eddie Stobart | | Dmitri | Medvedev | Eddie Stobart | | Salvador | Moreno Hernandez | Eddie Stobart | | Daniel | Savini | Eddie Stobart | | Freddy | Cruz | Glanbia | | Sean | Downey | Glanbia | | Ben | Healy | Glanbia | | Francis | Juneau | Glanbia | | Gavin | Mannion | Glanbia | | Ricki | Nelson | Glanbia | | James | Oram | Glanbia | | Andrew | Talansky | Glanbia | | Leonardo | Basso | Jura GIANTS | | Gino | Mäder | Jura GIANTS | | Krzysztof | Marchewka | Jura GIANTS | | Fausto | Masnada | Jura GIANTS | | Szymon | Rekita | Jura GIANTS | | Erick | Rowsell | Jura GIANTS | | Grzegorz | Stepniak | Jura GIANTS | | Colin | Stüssi | Jura GIANTS | | Alexandre | Balmer | Le Creuset | | Antoine | Berlin | Le Creuset | | Guillaume | Boivin | Le Creuset | | Chris | Hamilton | Le Creuset | | Sebastian | Henao | Le Creuset | | Rokas | Kmieliauskas | Le Creuset | | James | Piccoli | Le Creuset | | Cyrile | Thiery | Le Creuset | | Gage | Hecht | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Alex | Hoehn | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Welle | Jallays | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Sepp | Kuss | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Charles | Matte | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Fikri Azka | Mohammad | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Zeke | Mostov | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Thomas | Revard | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Fabio | Aru | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Alexander | Kristoff | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Matteo | Moschetti | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Johan | Price-Pejtersen | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Idan | Shapira | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Mario | Vogt | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Jyme | Bridges | Podium Ambition | | Abner | Gonzalez | Podium Ambition | | Jacob | Kelly | Podium Ambition | | Jay | Major | Podium Ambition | | Darren | Matthews | Podium Ambition | | Jacob | Morales Ortega | Podium Ambition | | Kristian | Vanderpool | Podium Ambition | | Connor | White | Podium Ambition | | Sebastian | Berwick | Staffbase - BHP | | Felix | Engelhardt | Staffbase - BHP | | Florian | Lipowitz | Staffbase - BHP | | Luke | Plapp | Staffbase - BHP | | Kevin | Predatsch | Staffbase - BHP | | Maximillian | Schachmann | Staffbase - BHP | | Dylan | Sunderland | Staffbase - BHP | | David | Wohrer | Staffbase - BHP | | Frederik | Frison | Tryg - Gobik | | Rasmus | Iversen | Tryg - Gobik | | Alexander | Krieger | Tryg - Gobik | | Similo | Nyoni | Tryg - Gobik | | Ingvar | Omarsson | Tryg - Gobik | | Michal | Schlegel | Tryg - Gobik | | Torjus | Sleen | Tryg - Gobik | | Sergio | Arias Villanueva | Volcanica - Fox | | Sergio | Chumil | Volcanica - Fox | | Harold Martin | Lopez | Volcanica - Fox | | Bryan Fernando | Mendoza | Volcanica - Fox | | Santiago | Montenegro | Volcanica - Fox | | Lenin Javier | Montenegro | Volcanica - Fox | | Gabriel Francisco | Rojas | Volcanica - Fox | | Joseph Ivan | Samudio | Volcanica - Fox |
Edited by Luis Leon Sanchez on 21-02-2023 16:53
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| MacC |
Posted on 21-02-2023 15:40
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Sprinter
Posts: 1594
Joined: 15-07-2008
PCM$: 700.00
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Cough, cough, Team Time Trial ...cough, ciugh
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 21-02-2023 16:53
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Team Leader
Posts: 5533
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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MacC wrote:
Cough, cough, Team Time Trial ...cough, ciugh
What are you talking about? 
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 21-02-2023 23:52
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3262
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Really Kuss' first chance to lead this year, he gets the full TTT team in support, which includes a solid set of climbing domestiques (much better than he has ever had before with McCormick).
A top 10 on GC is a must, a top 5 ideal, particularly since we sacrificed South Africa for this.
Looking forward to it.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| DarkWolf |
Posted on 22-02-2023 07:50
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1025
Joined: 21-09-2020
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We're here because our young riders need experience. Hopefully this will pay off on the long term.
Also, we have fond memories from last year's edition, so we-re reliving those too.
Thank you very much for the preview and good luck to all!
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| MacC |
Posted on 22-02-2023 08:03
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Sprinter
Posts: 1594
Joined: 15-07-2008
PCM$: 700.00
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Thanks LLS.
Really, really regretting splitting the TTT set-up for South Africa...
Still Talansky couod still get a top 5 if he can stay with the leaders in the Mountains. Realistically, if he can be in the top 10 going into the TTT that could happen. First time Mannion has been in action which should help.
Any sprint action from Nelson would be a bonus here.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 06:50
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 22-02-2023 08:33
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I wonder whether this my support TTT team (which is only meant to not completely abandon it and try to keep it up will not hurt us in the end. Though having no TT team didn't help us in South-Africa.
It's not too long either.
Well, we'll see. I guess the mountains will be more important for Itturia anyway. Let's go guys.
Good luck everyone, thanks for the preview!
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 22-02-2023 10:01
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Team Leader
Posts: 7293
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Questioning my selection here…still. Could be successful in the sprints with Nizzolo. And hopefully Schleck does alright in the mountain stages. We will see
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 22-02-2023 22:27
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
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Big race for us - in part also because we kind of sacrificed South Africa for this (i.e. we didn't send any TTers there). Our climbers should be among the favorites for the opening TT - especially Stüssi, who has clearly the best Mo/TT combo on the favorites list. Also expecting Masnada and Mäder to live up to their skillsets here, unlike in Romandie.
We'll hopefully play the mountain stages much smarter than we did in Catalunya, and then complete the job in the TTT. In theory, we should win this race, but unfortunately it takes place in Canada, not in theory.
Oh yeah, there's also Stepniak for the sprints, I just have to hope he doesn't fall in that 4th sprinter trap.
Thanks for the preview 
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 23-02-2023 16:32
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
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Hmm... Not the start we wanted. Can't really figure out why Stüssi lost to both Alarcon and Ablenado. Alarcon is a better climber, OK. Ablenado is a worse climber and worse TTer, but has higher Res. Alarcon has bad Res. So I'll just say Stüssi didn't have his best day in a TT (again), and the Caja duo was lucky with daily form.
Otherwise, having 3 in the Top 8 looks good, it's just Stüssi who was a bit disappointing. Two mountain stages and a TTT to turn things around, plus hopefully some good sprint results.
Thanks for the reports, congrats to Caja.
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| MacC |
Posted on 23-02-2023 18:48
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Sprinter
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I really don't think the TT atar plays any role at all in these stages and that's fine.
Given the rest of the parcours there is probably no reason Mannion shouldn't take over as Glanbia leader.
Congrats Caja on the dominant mountain display
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| MacC |
Posted on 23-02-2023 18:48
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Sprinter
Posts: 1594
Joined: 15-07-2008
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I really don't think the TT atar plays any role at all in these stages and that's fine.
Given the rest of the parcours there is probably no reason Mannion shouldn't take over as Glanbia leader.
Congrats Caja on the dominant mountain display
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 23-02-2023 22:27
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4505
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Fond memories of this race. I remember our first PCT season bringing our big money off-season signing Benat Intxausti here for his first hit out. It was an awesome battle between him and Riccardo Ricco throughout the race that ultimately came down to the final TTT - Ricco’s team rode really well and he ended up winning the GC by 2 seconds over Intxausti. Heartbreaking at the time but fun to look back on look forward to seeing you report this LLS
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 23-02-2023 22:30
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4505
Joined: 05-10-2010
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Good to see the old mountain goat take a dominant victory like that. I imagine he’ll struggle from here to keep a good GC, but good to see
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 24-02-2023 02:25
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3262
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Not great from Kuss but not terrible. Nice rides from his 3 MT support guys to put 4 in the top 15. Unfortunately none of them in the top 8 maybe would have been better off with all that good form going to Kuss. But not a bad start.
Thanks for the report and congrats to Caja on a dominant day.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 24-02-2023 06:21
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2933
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Not the best of start for us, but not the worst either. It will all come down to how teams are structured for the mountain stages and what energy is left for the TTT which could make or break this race. And this will be IMO the closest TTT yet with 4 teams considered pre-stage favorites and had already proven themselves in previous TTT stages even though in differend rider configurations.
Congrats to Caja Rural for the 1-2
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| redordead |
Posted on 24-02-2023 06:50
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Nice win by Alarcon. This is probably the best race for him.
"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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| Fabianski |
Posted on 24-02-2023 21:24
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
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Good job by Stepniak, another podium finish for him. Good to see Krieger doing something useful for Tryg, congrats to lief!
Thanks for the report
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 25-02-2023 12:05
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Team Leader
Posts: 7293
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I was hoping for a better start in the sprints for us but it is early days. Still 2 more opportunities for Nizzolo.
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| KaiserAdler |
Posted on 25-02-2023 13:23
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Domestique
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Nice job finishing 4th for Dzervus after starting so far back.
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