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Euskal Bizikleta - Discussion
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 14-03-2025 22:20
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.
 Euskal Bizikleta
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Preview
Going back to 2009, the Euskal Bizikleta has been a staple of the ManGame calendar for a long time. Starting off in C2, this is now the third edition as a C1 race and some big names are once again on the startlist.
But first, a look at the profile. The race has carved out a nice niche for punchy sprinters or puncheurs with an extra quick finish, as indicated by the last three winners: Marco Kump, Hugo Houle and, most recently, Christopher Lagane. While winning solo is far from impossible on the last two stages, it has more often been the case that reduced groups arrive at the line together, with bonus seconds often deciding the final GC.
| Rider | FL | HI | ST | RS | SP | AC |  Demare | 72 | 79 | 74 | 71 | 81 | 80 |  Lagane | 70 | 78 | 70 | 71 | 76 | 77 |  Bagioli | 71 | 79 | 77 | 73 | 71 | 78 |  Sagan | 70 | 81 | 75 | 71 | 71 | 73 |  Stannard | 73 | 81 | 75 | 76 | 69 | 78 |  Vakoc | 71 | 81 | 75 | 71 | 71 | 74 |  Kinoshita | 72 | 82 | 79 | 76 | 67 | 76 |  Turgis | 73 | 79 | 76 | 78 | 70 | 77 |  Edmondson | 70 | 79 | 75 | 72 | 70 | 76 |  Benoot | 71 | 81 | 75 | 74 | 69 | 71 |  McCarthy | 70 | 82 | 80 | 75 | 65 | 74 |  Bystrom | 72 | 79 | 75 | 72 | 68 | 76 |  Hirschi | 71 | 79 | 78 | 78 | 66 | 75 | | Van Niekerk | 69 | 80 | 72 | 75 | 64 | 74 |  Kelderman | 69 | 81 | 79 | 74 | 66 | 71 |  Jensen | 70 | 79 | 76 | 72 | 65 | 75 |
Overall, this is a very deep field of contenders, with many riders of similar caliber and only slight differences in strength and skillset. But two riders most certainly stand out: Demare and last year’s winner Lagane. They are both: capable puncheurs and sprinters.
Following those two is the group of the premier puncheurs who also have a decent sprint to them. These include this year’s PCT phenomenon Bagioli, as well as Sagan, Stannard, Vakoc and Kinoshita. A small step below as puncheurs, but no less fast are Turgis and Edmondson. ISA Hexacta actually comes with a two-pronged leadership here, as Van Niekerk is also present, though the South African does lack the speed of his teammate.
Similarly, the likes of Benoot, McCarthy and Kelderman are a bit on the slower side, although they will shine if the hilly stages are more selective than in previous years. Rounding out this list are Bystrom, Hirschi and Jensen.
| Rider | FL | HI | ST | RS | SP | AC |  Meurisse | 73 | 77 | 74 | 74 | 71 | 78 | | Calmejane | 74 | 77 | 73 | 76 | 72 | 76 |  Oliveira | 70 | 76 | 77 | 72 | 75 | 78 |  Korosec | 71 | 75 | 74 | 71 | 75 | 78 |  Narvaez | 70 | 77 | 71 | 71 | 73 | 74 |  Gabburo | 75 | 76 | 73 | 75 | 72 | 76 |  Wackermann | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 72 |  Serrano | 69 | 77 | 73 | 75 | 68 | 77 |  Vliegen | 71 | 77 | 76 | 70 | 66 | 74 |  Zordan | 67 | 77 | 72 | 72 | 65 | 74 |
There are a few team leaders that don’t quite reach the level of puncheur prowess of the guys above, but might have a shot at real success if they can stay with the bunch and rely on their sprint. These are Meurisse and Vakoc teammate Calmejane, as well as Oliveira, Korosec, Narvaez, Gabburo and Wackermann. Some of them, Oliveira, Rok and Wackerman in particular, need very unselective hill stages, though.
Lastly Serrano, Vliegen and Zordan are team captains with neither great hill nor sprint stats, but still with outside chances at a decent result if things break their way.
| Rider | FL | HI | ST | RS | SP | AC | | Einhorn | 74 | 61 | 71 | 71 | 80 | 78 | | Afewerki | 73 | 64 | 77 | 70 | 79 | 80 | | Kalaba | 74 | 69 | 70 | 72 | 79 | 79 | | Walscheid | 73 | 63 | 71 | 74 | 79 | 79 | | Ovsyannikov | 74 | 68 | 75 | 72 | 79 | 78 | | Nur Hasan | 74 | 64 | 74 | 74 | 79 | 78 | | Contreras | 72 | 68 | 73 | 75 | 78 | 80 | | Losch | 73 | 65 | 72 | 68 | 78 | 79 | | Wouters | 75 | 68 | 73 | 75 | 77 | 79 | | Kiskonen | 74 | 68 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 | | Vingerling | 69 | 60 | 69 | 63 | 77 | 76 | | Dakteris | 74 | 63 | 72 | 68 | 76 | 75 |
In addition to Demare and Lagane, there are quite a few decent sprinters who are here to contest the first two stages – including, of course, the yellow jersey for a couple of days – as well as the points classification. It’s not easy to pick someone as the outright favorite, with as many as eight riders almost on par, so I’m not going to try. At least those Top 8, and maybe even one of the guys below, can certainly aim for a stage win here.
Spoiler | Afewerki | Elias | Benetton Bimex Cycling | | Vliegen | Loic | Benetton Bimex Cycling | | Olei | Federico | Benetton Bimex Cycling | | Onley | Oscar | Benetton Bimex Cycling | | Borg | Luke | Benetton Bimex Cycling | | Ruvalcaba Reyes | Davide | Benetton Bimex Cycling | | De Marigny-Lagesse | Llucie | Benetton Bimex Cycling | | Moiruri | Moses | Benetton Bimex Cycling | | Zordan | Andrea | Cervelo Test Team | | Waeytens | Zico | Cervelo Test Team | | McCormick | Hayden | Cervelo Test Team | | Watson | Calvin | Cervelo Test Team | | Magnusson | Kim | Cervelo Test Team | | Camrda | Karel | Cervelo Test Team | | Magnussen | Davur | Cervelo Test Team | | Vacek | Mathias | Cervelo Test Team | | Sagan | Peter | DK Zalgiris | | Januskevicius | Mantas | DK Zalgiris | | Budenieks | Kristaps | DK Zalgiris | | Vahtra | Norman | DK Zalgiris | | Tarvis | Peeter | DK Zalgiris | | Dakteris | Janis | DK Zalgiris | | De Lie | Arnaud | DK Zalgiris | | Mikutis | Aivaras | DK Zalgiris | | Oliveira | Rui | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Paulus | Daniel | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Le Gac | Olivier | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Pithie | Laurence | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Costiou | Ewen | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Juntunen | Antti-Jussi | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Lund Andresen | Tobias | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Belohvosciks | Kristians | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Bystrom | Sven Erik | Ethiopian Airlines | | Vendrame | Andrea | Ethiopian Airlines | | Hamilton | Chris | Ethiopian Airlines | | Schönberger | Sebastian | Ethiopian Airlines | | Goncalves | Gaspar | Ethiopian Airlines | | Khederi | Souheil | Ethiopian Airlines | | English | Felix | Ethiopian Airlines | | Kipruto | Ivan | Ethiopian Airlines | | Serrano | Gonzalo | Euskadi-Murias | | Quevedo | Xavier | Euskadi-Murias | | Barcelo | Fernando | Euskadi-Murias | | Scheit | Florian | Euskadi-Murias | | Sinkeldam | Ramon | Euskadi-Murias | | Acosta | Ruben | Euskadi-Murias | | Adriamihajanarivo | Herizo | Euskadi-Murias | | Iturria | Mikel | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Pacher | Quentin | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Wackermann | Luca | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Doubey | Fabien | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Rodriguez | Cristian | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Cabanas | Oscar | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Le Berre | Mathis | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Agirrebeitia | Mikel | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Stannard | Robert | Everesting | | Hindley | Jai | Everesting | | Silva | Thomas | Everesting | | Lau | Wan Yau | Everesting | | Phonarjthan | Patompob | Everesting | | Vasko | Levente | Everesting | | Riccitello | Matthew | Everesting | | Gelders | Gil | Everesting | | Jensen | Kristian Haugaard | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Bernard | Julien | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Robov | Momchil | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Hagen | Carl Fredrik | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Batmunkh | Maral-Erdene | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Stoenchev | Valentin | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Evangelos | Sarris | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Theorpanous | Stavros | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Bagioli | Andrea | Indosat Ooredoo | | Nur Hasan | Sandy | Indosat Ooredoo | | Yudha | Muhammad | Indosat Ooredoo | | Arifin | Muhammad Imam | Indosat Ooredoo | | Gani | Abdul | Indosat Ooredoo | | Venturini | Clement | Indosat Ooredoo | | Cahyadi | Aiman | Indosat Ooredoo | | Kusuma | Terry | Indosat Ooredoo | | Van Niekerk | Aidan | ISA - Hexacta | | Edmondson | Joshua | ISA - Hexacta | | Paez | Andres | ISA - Hexacta | | Contreras | Emiliano | ISA - Hexacta | | Cepeda Hernandez | Jefferson | ISA - Hexacta | | Sanogo | Abou | ISA - Hexacta | | Sepulveda | Eduardo | ISA - Hexacta | | Baska | Erik | ISA - Hexacta | | Gabburo | Davide | JEWA TIROL | | Lienhard | Fabian | JEWA TIROL | | Losch | Max | JEWA TIROL | | Grossschartner | Felix | JEWA TIROL | | Nys | Thibau | JEWA TIROL | | Gough | Regan | JEWA TIROL | | Degenkolb | John | JEWA TIROL | | Terada | Yoshiki | JEWA TIROL | | Turgis | Anthony | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Walscheid | Maximilian | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Rumac | Josip | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Cherkasov | Nicolay | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Helme | Sasu | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Hofstede | Lennard | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Mathis | Marco | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Teutenberg | Tim Torn | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Kelderman | Wilco | Llapi-Vita | | Kiskonen | Siim | Llapi-Vita | | Villella | Davide | Llapi-Vita | | Goos | Marc | Llapi-Vita | | Yzeiraj | Marildo | Llapi-Vita | | Masengesho | Vainqueur | Llapi-Vita | | Bechkov | Aleks | Llapi-Vita | | De Pooter | Dries | Llapi-Vita | | Vakoc | Petr | Lotto-Caloi | | Calmejane | Lilian | Lotto-Caloi | | Wouters | Enzo | Lotto-Caloi | | Drizners | Jarrad | Lotto-Caloi | | Chatarunga | Sameera | Lotto-Caloi | | Marzuki | Nur Amirul | Lotto-Caloi | | Christen | Fabio | Lotto-Caloi | | Changsheng | Sun | Lotto-Caloi | | McCarthy | Jay | Manada Coyote | | McKenna | Sean | Manada Coyote | | Rojas | Henry Antonio | Manada Coyote | | Rodriguez | Brandon | Manada Coyote | | Murillo | Luis Esteban | Manada Coyote | | Ruiz | Bredio | Manada Coyote | | Bulux | Fredy Domingo | Manada Coyote | | Peden | George | Manada Coyote | | Narvaez | Jhonatan | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Seigle | Roman | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Rota | Lorenzo | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Hecht | Gage | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Mohammad | Fikri Azka | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Simmons | Quinn | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Staune-Mittet | Johannes | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Milesi | Lorenzo | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Kinoshita | Tomohiro | Minions | | Kalaba | Dusan | Minions | | Vosekalns | Andris | Minions | | Dall'Oste | Daniele | Minions | | Quintana | Dayer | Minions | | Brown | Nathan | Minions | | Matthews | Darren | Minions | | Jiang | Zhihui | Minions | | Lagane | Christopher | Podium Ambition | | Mayer | Alexandre | Podium Ambition | | Campbell | Akil | Podium Ambition | | Le Court | Kim | Podium Ambition | | Marte | Jesus Roniel | Podium Ambition | | Forbes | Nathaniel | Podium Ambition | | Morris Berroa | James | Podium Ambition | | Delgado Gonzales | Ricardo | Podium Ambition | | Hirschi | Marc | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Einhorn | Itamar | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Eislers | Sandis | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Noia | Carlo | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Rossi | Diego | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Schoonbroodt | Bob | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Putti | Riccardo | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Garofoli | Gianmarco | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Benoot | Tiesj | Sony - Force India | | Van Dijke | Mick | Sony - Force India | | Shirota | Yamato | Sony - Force India | | Hayter | Leo | Sony - Force India | | Alben | Esow | Sony - Force India | | Trezise | Declan | Sony - Force India | | Singh | Ronaldo Laitonjam | Sony - Force India | | Meurisse | Xandro | Specialized | | Battistella | Samuele | Specialized | | Riesebeek | Oscar | Specialized | | Ayuso | Juan | Specialized | | Malacarne | Alex | Specialized | | Kench | Josh | Specialized | | La Grenade | Jeremie | Specialized | | Marsman | Tim | Specialized | | Korosec | Rok | Trans Looney Tunes | | Govekar | Matevz | Trans Looney Tunes | | Lecourt De Billot | Olivier | Trans Looney Tunes | | Pibernik | Luka | Trans Looney Tunes | | Peng | Yuan Tan | Trans Looney Tunes | | Vingerling | Michael | Trans Looney Tunes | | Murn | Bostjan | Trans Looney Tunes | | Tulett | Ben | Trans Looney Tunes | | Demare | Arnaud | Tryg - Eni | | Ovsyannikov | Alexandr | Tryg - Eni | | Honore | Mikkel | Tryg - Eni | | Silvestre | Fabio | Tryg - Eni | | Wright | Fred | Tryg - Eni | | Enggaard | Victor Grue | Tryg - Eni | | Van De Paar | Jarne | Tryg - Eni | | Holm Jorgensen | Adam | Tryg - Eni |
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| quadsas |
Posted on 14-03-2025 22:23
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2573
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Lets get it gamers
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 14-03-2025 22:55
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Grand Tour Champion
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Plenty of opportunities with the two Ks here, as long as they don't get in each other's way
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 15-03-2025 06:11
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Important race for us with Benoot here. Not sure it suits him perfectly well but hoping he can make an impact in the last couple of stages at least.
Thanks for the preview!
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 15-03-2025 08:48
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A race I have absolutely no idea what to expect results wise, and one that should have Demare’s name written all over it. Bagioli is back after a few months off to finally spend a couple more RD’s, he should be suited to the route and I’d expect him to land somewhere in the top-10 hopefully, but that will depend on how the race is ridden. I’d love for a hard race, but can see quite a few sprinters being there or thereabouts at the finish. Should be exciting anyway 
Thanks for the preview!
Indosat - ANZ HQ
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 15-03-2025 13:53
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This race has never brought us anything but misery.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 15-03-2025 18:25
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Thanks for the preview, cunego!
With all this puncheurs and sprinters at the start we have to hope for some really good stages from Oliveira. At least I know why I didn't send APP here now.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 20-03-2025 01:19
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| SotD |
Posted on 16-03-2025 12:46
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Perfect execution by the strongest team - by far. Well done!
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 16-03-2025 13:56
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Misery commenced. Somehow we get three riders on the right side of the split but Narvaez finishes last among our team. Not sure what that means for our strategy but it can't be good.
Good to see Demare doing his thing. Got to watch himself on the downhills this year.
Thanks for the report.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 16-03-2025 17:38
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Kalaba fails the first test
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 16-03-2025 17:50
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Hopefully the next stage will go a bit better for Einhorn, but at least Hirschi was the correct side of the split
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 16-03-2025 18:46
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Congrats to lief for the first stage win here and thanks to cunego for the great report!
Oliveira being already in the mix in the flat stages is a good start for us, he just needs to stay with the favourites in the hilly stages, too.
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| KaiserAdler |
Posted on 16-03-2025 20:31
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2nd is as much as we could expect from Afewerki here. Glad to see the hard riding on the back end of the stage had its positives. Vliegen and Onley staying on the right side of the split could aid us here in the final GC, maybe even Olei too if he shows his Luxembourg magic again.
Thanks for the report and congrats to lief!
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| seancoll |
Posted on 17-03-2025 00:58
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After all the challenging disappointments for Demare throughout the year, I love seeing him get a win. Just feels like time for him to get his wins! Congrats!
I thought Korosec might end up being an outside favorite for this race and tough to see him lose time.
Am sure this will be a great race start to finish - can't wait to watch and happy I'm not here to join the misery!
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 17-03-2025 05:59
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Nothing stage for us. MVD shouldn't really be on the wrong side of the split, so that sucks. Nice little bonus with Trezise wearing White though!
Congrats to lief and thanks for the report!
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 17-03-2025 09:10
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Good start from Zordan here who seems to be our lead guy gaining a few seconds |
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 17-03-2025 13:23
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Great win from Wouters  And luckily Vakoc was on the good side of the split in S1.
Calmejane is out of the mix, so all focus goes to Vakoc.
Thanks cunego for the reports!
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 17-03-2025 14:42
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Congrats Laurens, Wouters is really doing well this season!
Oliveira in the mix again gives him a bit of a cushion for the hilly stages.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 17-03-2025 14:52
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Another nothing stage for us. Benoot staying out of trouble is the only bright spot.
Congrats to Laurens and thanks for the report!
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 17-03-2025 19:31
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Much better result from Kalaba even though a slightly better timing could have brought him the win here
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