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Benelux Challenge - Discussion
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 02-04-2023 20:18
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Directeur Sportif
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Tx to Ollfardh for the preview.
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The History
Welcome back to the Benelux! The Low Countries! The Seventeen Provinces if you will! This six day stage race is rated as HC this year, but it wasn’t always the case. We started off in 2014, which is much longer ago than it feels, when the first race was won by Leonardo Duque.
The next year it was Carlsberg legend Marc De Maar winning the race, followed by Gregory Hugentobler in 2016. The 2017 and 2019 editions were won by good old Azteca with Robbie Squire and Johan Esteban Chaves respectively. In between it was Hassen Ben Nasser who won in 2018.
The last two years the race has gone to Lierse - Pizza Ullo, they’re definitely hoping for a three-peat. While they no longer have the 2020 winner Fernando Gaviria, last year’s winner Manuel Senni is back for more!
Fun but very interesting fact: Since 2017, not one rider has won a stage while winning the GC. So basically, if you win a stage, you won’t win the GC. Think about it.
The Route
As most of you will know, the term Benelux refers to the combination of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. But here’s the thing, one of the countries got left out for this race. Do you want to take a guess? Yes, it was the little guy!
So we start this Bene Challenge with a short prologue in Maastricht, known for it’s funny talking people. You can’t win the race here, but you can lose it. Next up are two hilly stages but the first one is still in the Netherlands so this one is “hilly”. Some would argue the starting town of Veenendaal deserves a mention, but no. The second hilly stage is in Wallonia though, so there will be some damage there.
Next up are two cobbled stages finishing in Ronse and Oudenaarde, two Belgian cities most cycling fans will have heard of. The stages have been switched around a bit this year, with the cobbles coming after the hilly stages. This also means the usual flat stage comes last. This will surely change the dynamics of the race.
The Startlist
As a HC race, this will feature many PCT teams, but for some reason no one liked this band and some CT teams jumped in. Let’s start with them!
Bordeaux brings Oscar Guerao, a name most PCT managers will remember, but he’s a bit weird now. Insausti should be their GC guy. Caja Rural has some interesting cobblers, Sinkeldam being the most notable, and sprinter Guardini. Colombini gives the finger to the PCT teams and brings Lahcen Saber with decent support, he’ll definitely find some stages he likes.
Eddie Stobart is looking to do something with a breakaway and maybe with Meyer on the hilly stages. Staffbase relies on Gianni Vermeersch. Tafjord brings Vegard Breen, who can get really far on one of his good days.
On to the PCT then. Despite having won the title already, Amaysim is not holding back. Both McCarthy and Bewley are here. Can they work together though? Bralirwa goes for Stallaert as team leader, not very original, but very effective. Carlsberg also bring a power combo of Guldhammer and Trentin, but again, can they work together?
Cedevita is relying on Eriksson, I think, but they might struggle. The Crabpack is here with Tsatevich, but he’s getting old. Gjensidige is here for unknown reasons. The HelloFresh team is looking very fresh, great depth but can they get in line for 1 leader?
Kraftwerk is here for the sprints with Haller, it doesn’t look like they have a GC rider though. LPU’s team led by Senni is as sad as last year’s team, when they won the race with Senni. The Minions seem to target stages rather than a GC. Philips is led by Tiesj Benoot, who has the perfect skill combo for this race. I have to name him the race favourite.
Project: Africa does not bring a team that could turn their season around. Red Bull isn’t going to fly. Sauber does have an interesting name with Tom David. The Looney Tunes bring their scary looking cobble squad, but I have strong doubts Vanbilsen can survive those hills. Finally Xero bring Robert Stannard, who might be ok here.
Prediction: While I can name no one else but Benoot the race favourite, Amaysim and Carlsberg can definitely hurt him if they play it right.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 02-04-2023 20:43
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
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McCarthy just here for one stage 
Obviously hoping for Bewley and Scotson (who could do well in the prologue) to do something on the cobbles. No real GC threats maybe, as we don't have a cobbler who can climb a bit, but I would be fine with some stage hunting here.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 02-04-2023 20:57
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Grand Tour Champion
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Some would argue the starting town of Veenendaal deserves a mention, but no.
Never heard of that place...
It's indeed stage hunting for us, with perhaps a minor GC from Marcos. Kalaba can take the yellow jersey on the early stages.
Thanks for the preview Ollfardh!
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 02-04-2023 21:59
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World Champion
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So we got a fluke win last year when it didn't matter. This year, we can actually use some point if we want to promote. Not a win, but a little bit of Senni magic would be awesome.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 02-04-2023 22:50
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2905
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We need big points here to have a shot at being able to get back on track for any potential disband promotion spots. Thanks for the preview, we have a shot at winning every stage outside of the TT, looking forward to watching the chaos unfold!
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 02-04-2023 23:35
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Classics Specialist
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We bring a strong squad of hybrids built around Tom David on a course that should play to his strengths as he tries to continue his very strong season.
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 03-04-2023 00:14
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World Champion
Posts: 11392
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Would love to see Jams and Stannard being active - doubt the AI will be so kind
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
5x  x5
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 06:02
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 03-04-2023 06:45
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Directeur Sportif
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This really should favour Benoot more than any other rider on the startlist but seeing TvA as the 1 bib for us isn't a promising sign. Let's hope for no funny business.
Thanks for the preview Ollfardh and Ulrich
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| redordead |
Posted on 03-04-2023 06:52
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Grand Tour Specialist
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I don't have many expectations for this one, but it's a weird race so maybe we score some unexpected points.
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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| cunego59 |
Posted on 03-04-2023 09:18
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With the exception of Kigali, which I'm not sure how he'll do there, these are the last non-wild card race days for Stallaert. He's shown before that he can at least somewhat compete on hills, too, but this has been a very weird and unpredictable race in the past. I guess much of it comes down to how stage 3 plays out and if Stallaert incurs a big deficit there.
Benoot and David are the clear favorites for me, Trentin should be decent as well, though if I'm not mistaken he hasn't had the best season. Other than those, I don't think Stallaert has to fear many riders, so I think Top 3-4 is a realistic goal and I would be disappointed if it's worse than that. If he performs well, this could be a big one for us in the promotion race.
Thanks for the nice preview!
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 03-04-2023 10:54
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Protected Rider
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Thanks for the preview UU!
The third stage starts almost in my backyard, so that is something to look forward to Apart from that, I don't have high expectations.
Maybe Carsi in the last stage. Kung has a nice TT-cobble combo, but TT kilometers are limited here.
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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| quadsas |
Posted on 03-04-2023 13:22
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2518
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I am here so I dont get fined (and get some lucky breakaways)
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 03-04-2023 13:36
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
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I'm pretty sure this is the boldest planning I've ever done. After last year, I became convinced that I needed to bring a climber here. Since Guldhammer has decent cobble and hill as well, it seemed like an opportunity to potentially punch well above our weight here. Or, it could be the worst waste of 6 race days imagineable.
Of course, as the preview notes, I couldn't not bring Trentin too, so it becomes an issue of them working together as well.
Thanks Ollfardh for the preview!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 03-04-2023 21:54
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Thanks for the preview!
Not sure what to expect here. Some Guerao magic in the last stage, and whatever Rodriguez or Insausti can bring I guess.
“...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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| KaiserAdler |
Posted on 03-04-2023 22:32
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Domestique
Posts: 570
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No idea how this will play out. But I'm certainly hoping Saber can continue his form here and score big points for our team. I'm already in love with the man so he can do nothing wrong in my eyes, but he might turn himself into a God for me if he scores big. Who knows. Good luck everyone nonetheless 
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 03-04-2023 23:38
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Team Leader
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quadsas wrote:
I am here so I dont get fined (and get some lucky breakaways)
You and me both!
<Great preview and GL everybody
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 04-04-2023 00:06
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2905
Joined: 07-08-2011
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Strong opener from Vingerling, Rowe still within striking distance as well, overall just positives to derive from this. Hopefully the next stages brings some great racing from us!
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 04-04-2023 00:12
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World Champion
Posts: 11392
Joined: 17-12-2014
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Didn't want to jinx it beforehand but obviously was hoping for a Schomber win here. 4th is decent-ish
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
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 04-04-2023 00:54
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
Joined: 27-07-2011
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Those were huuuuuuuuuuuuuge gaps compared to what I was expecting. Wow. Lot of catching up to do now.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 04-04-2023 01:32
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
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Indeed quite some gaps there! Obviously a pretty good start for Scotson, who hopefully will benefit from this early GC position on the podium. Also Bewley with quite a solid prologue to give us a lead in the team's classification. As said before, I rather see us in a stage hunting position here, so that's a nice opener of course.
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