I am sorry to delay this game but I am not able to do the trentino reports atm, I wanted to do them already a while ago but I probably won't upload them for another week..
This is the result of a lot of spare time because it's just too hot outside
PREVIEW
RACE INFORMATION
Glava Tour of Norway is a 5-day stage race in Norway. First held in 2011, it wsa won by Wilco Kelderman. The second edition, moved forward this year to avoid a clash with the Giro, is about to begin, and the startlist is stronger as ever. Boasson Hagen, Hushovd and Freire are present here. The race is perfectly suited for sprinters who can come over the hills. Or maybe a succesful break can win?
ROUTE
Stage 1: Sandefjord - Tønsberg 187km
The first stage is a sprint which would normally end in a sprint. With a lot of good sprinters present, the chances of the breakaway succeeding are very small. But you never know!
Stage 2: Oslo - Drammen 149km
The second stage starts in the capital, Oslo, and finishes after a few local laps in Drummen. The stage should be one for the sprinters, but the break is hungry for stage wins!
Stage 3: Lillestrøm - Elverum 168km
The third stage is almost pancake flat. The perfect opportunity for the sprinters to win a stage!
Stage 4: Hamar - Lillehammer 197km
After 3 flat stages, we enter some hills today. The chances of a mass sprint are almost 0, but you never know. Will the favourites attack or can the break succeed?
Stage 5: Gjøvik - Hønefoss 165km
The last stage is classified as hilly. A few local laps around Hønefoss should decide who wins today's stage and who will win the GC. But are it the sprinters, the favourites or the break?
STARTLIST
Pro Team Haier
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
77
75
76
2
Rohan Dennis
68
72
67,525
3
Michael Mørkøv
69
72
71,475
4
Lars Petter Nordhaug
68
75
71,425
5
Danail Petrov
72
73
69,425
6
Frantisek Rabon
69
70
68,825
7
Janek Tombak
73
71
69,825
8
Nelson Vitorino
66
71
67
Pro Team Haier is sending a strong squad here. They are desperate to shine in their home tour, so they decided to select the best Norwegian, Edvald Boasson Hagen, as their leader. The other Norwegian in the team is also a good one, Lars Petter Nordhaug. They can do great things in sprints and uphill. The rest of the squad comes from other nations, mainly serving as domestique/lead-out, but they could go on a attack!
Spoiler
Now, your probably thinking: Haier did not have a planning sheet, so they should have their worst team. But dev4ever PM'ed me with a startlist when I first asked for them about a month ago. So i decided to include it.
TAP-Michelin's application from included 10 riders! So the organziers took out 2 random riders (Cardoso and Rutkiewicz) so they could still participate. But they are sending a pretty strong squad here nevertheless. Oscar Freire and Tom Veelers are their sprinters. They will score points here, I'm sure about that!
Tulip-Guinness
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
21
Thor Hushovd
75
73
74,375
22
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
73
68
69,075
23
Alexander Kristoff
77
69
71,95
24
Vegard Stake Laengen
63
69
67,5
25
Philip Lavery
70
67
67,45
26
Jens Erik Madsen
72
59
65,575
27
Lloyd Mondory
75
69
69,9
28
Havard Nybö
70
66
66,35
Tulip-Guinness it the other 'partly' Norwegian team out here, and they want to shine! With Norwegian champion Kristoff and former green jersey winner Hushovd, they are looking for some great results here!
There is a Japanese invasion in Norway! Nintendo-Ambuja comes with 4 Japanese riders here, but their leader is from Spain. Rojas is someone who can easily get a top-10 in the stages.
Pervyj
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
41
Rinaldo Nocentini
65
77
72,125
42
Oleg Chuzhda
69
70
68,225
43
Yegor Dementyev
61
66
62,975
44
Mikhaylo Khalilov
75
73
70,7
45
Alexander Kvachuk
61
72
66,5
46
Kanstantsin Siutsou
60
74
69,25
47
Zdenek Stybar
68
75
71,875
After the Asians, is time for the East-Europeans to come. Nocentini is capable of doing something in the hills, and Kvachuk is capable of doing something in the sprints!
Bulgari-Inditex
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
51
Egoi MartÃnez
60
74
69,1
52
Jonathan Castroviejo
69
72
70,2
53
Davide Cimolai
73
65
66,825
54
Sonny Colbrelli
72
66
67,725
55
Elia Favilli
74
74
72,2
56
Daniele Ratto
71
73
70,125
57
Enrique Sanz
72
66
68,1
Bulgari-Inditex comes with a good squad. Martinez is their leader, but we can also expect something from Favilli.
Lierse-Piza Ullo
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
61
Dries Devenyns
61
75
70,1
62
Nico Eeckhout
74
66
70,15
63
Francesco Gavazzi
73
73
70,075
64
Kristof Goddaert
74
67
69,675
65
Ben Hermans
69
74
69,7
66
Simone Ponzi
74
73
70,5
67
Michael Van Staeyen
74
64
68,025
68
Maxime Vantomme
73
72
70,1
Lierse-Pizza Ullo is one of the 5 WT-teams participating here. What can we expect? Devenyns is a good rider for in the hills, and there are some decent sprinters. Expect them to be at the front!
Triks Custom Season
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
71
Nicki Sørensen
63
74
69,775
72
Heimdal Grønborg
63
66
63,15
73
Henkjan Knol
73
69
67,625
74
Wesley Kreder
71
64
65,55
75
Sven Nys
68
67
67,725
76
Michael Rasmussen
62
70
68,025
77
Danny Van Poppel
57
65
62,875
The Danes are (partly) represented by Triks Custom Season. Sørensen and Rasmussen will do something on the hills! And for the others, attacking might be the best option.
Team Cymru Wales
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
81
Heinrich Haussler
76
72
73,55
82
Jack Bauer
68
72
68,875
83
Zakkari Dempster
71
65
65,375
84
Daryl Impey
76
71
72,075
85
Steele Von Hoff
74
66
67,9
86
Nicholas Walker
73
62
65,925
Tasty Coma Wife, oops sorry, Team Cymru Wales is a team to look out for. With 2 good sprinters (Haussler and Impey), they'll get some points for sure!
Domino's-ASR
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
91
Pieter Weening
60
74
68,8
92
Karsten Kroon
65
74
70,25
93
Martijn Maaskant
66
67
67,7
94
Aleksejs Saramotins
70
71
71,025
95
Kenny Van Hummel
76
66
69,8
96
Dennis Van Winden
67
70
68,875
They are known as 'The worst team', '0-pointers', 'The team which makes Danny Pate lose', but their official name is Domino's-ASR. And I don't know why, but I love this team. Really, I think they are the best team ever. And they've selected a very strong squad. Weening is by far the best rider who participates here in Norway, and Van Hummel is the world's best sprinter. The only thing I don't like about this squad is that Latvian guy. I hope he won't get bullied by his Dutch team-mates.
Spoiler
And now without joking, my team hopes to score some points to get off the last place!
Another WT-team has arrived in Norway. Caterham-Austar comes with a good squad. They hope to get some good results here!
AXA-Pinerello Cycling Team
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
111
Adam Hansen
60
68
67,225
112
David Clarke
62
69
65,725
113
Steven Lampier
63
66
65,1
114
Radoslav Rogina
66
68
67,225
115
James Sampson
68
62
64,25
116
Wouter Sybrandy
67
66
65,675
Due to some issues, AXA-Pinerello is here with it's worst squad. Their hope is that a break, with one of their riders in it, can succeed untill the end.
Magners Pro Team
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
121
Jesús Herrada
65
71
67,775
122
Fabio Aru
62
70
66
123
David Boily
67
70
66,775
124
Salvatore Puccio
68
68
68,6
125
Tosh Van der Sande
68
69
67,45
126
Sven Vandousselaere
65
69
68,275
Magners had the same issue. They must also get into the breakaway.
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
131
Maciej Bodnar
67
66
68,075
132
Sebastian Balck
65
67
66,9
133
Magnus Bäckstedt
72
58
66,05
134
Wim De Vocht
65
66
65,05
135
Daniel Foder
67
68
66,9
136
Alexander Wetterhall
64
67
64,975
Because of the lack of a Swedish race, Sony Ericcson-Posten might consider this as their 'home-race'. But they didn't fill in the papers correctly, so they are not good.
Red Bull-M&M's Pro Cycling Team
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
141
Matthias Brändle
67
70
67,3
142
Spencer Beamer
68
59
63,425
143
Michael Knopf
66
58
61,625
144
George Preidler
68
67
67,5
145
Martin Schöffmann
60
65
65,425
146
Robert Vrecer
65
69
67,375
Another team without the correct papers. Red Bull-M&M's are hoping that they could send someone in the break to gain some points.
ITV ProCycling
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
151
Thomas Faiers
60
69
65,55
152
Matt Cronshaw
73
66
68,075
153
Andy Fenn
73
68
69,3
154
Simon Gaywood
72
62
65,05
155
Ben Greenwood
64
66
65,6
156
James McCallum
72
62
64
157
Stijn Vandenbergh
63
68
67,075
ITV is the fifth WT-team. But when you see this squad, you might not think that. The team hopes to get into a break which can hold on untill the end.
Team CSC
No.
Cyclist
SP
HL
VPC*
161
Craig Lewis
60
71
64,975
162
Rahssan Bahati
70
66
65,15
163
Peter Femal
70
58
63,325
164
Gavin Mannion
61
68
65,85
165
Frank Pipp
70
65
65,4
166
Jackson Stewart
68
65
65,6
Team CSC is the 17th and final team to participate in this year's Glava Tour of Norway. But that could go unnoticed, because the team is not very strong.
* = Victory Possibility Calculation (see below)
PREDICTION
A crazy Norwegian made a calculation, called the Victory Predicition Calculation, to predict who will win. First, he gave every cyclist a number betweeen 50 and 85 for certain abilities, like sprint and hill. THen, he made a secret calculation with those numbers to see who has the best chance to win. According to him and his calulation, this should be the top 10:
So, this is going to be an exciting Glava Tour of Norway. The home lads are desperate for some good results, but the others are just as hungry. The races should come in the following days. Who will win? Who will suprise? Who will disappoint?
Edited by Marcovdw on 26-07-2013 09:21
Wow what a preview!! If only most of the other reporters could have this much free time! Hopefully Rojas can do something good here, he's got the combination of being able to get over the hills well whilst still having a kick at the end.
Oh and there's a mistake in your top 10 prediction: you listed Rojas as 5th - we all know he'll come 4th as always
The first stage is a sprint which would normally end in a sprint. With a lot of good sprinters present, the chances of the breakaway succeeding are very small. But you never know!
FAVOURITES
Edvald Boasson Hagen (HAI), Oscar Freire (TAM) and Alexander Kristoff (TUG)
Heinrich Haussler (TCW), Thor Hushovd (TUG), Daryl Impey (TCW), Jose Joaquin Rojas (NAC) and Tom Veelers (TAM)
Leonardo Duque (TAM), Nico Eeckhout (LPU), Elia Favilli (BUL), Sebastien Hinault (TAM), Kenny van Hummel (DOM), Samuel Love (TAM), Lloyd Mondory (TAM) and Chris Sutton (CAT)
THE RACE
187km to go
Welcome at the start of this year's Glava Tour of Norway. The first stage is a 187km stage from Sandefjord to Tønsberg. 117 riders are at the start of this year's edition, but only 1 can win!
153km to go
There are a lot of attackers in the first part of the race, but it takes a while for a group to get away. Someone from CSC wins the intermediate sprint while attacking. We are still awaiting confirmation of all the names, including the name of the winner of the sprint.
148km to go
The names are: Sprint winner Bahati (CSC), Kreder (TCS), Cronshaw, Faiers (both ITV), Maaskant (DOM), Lampier, Sybrandy (both AXA), Chuzhda (PER), Vandousselaere (MAG), Boogedal (NAC), Dempster (TCW) and Ewan (CAT). They have a lead of 3 minutes to the peleton, which is lead by Haier.
115km to go
The first mountain sprint is won by Vandousselaere. Their lead has increased to a breathtaking 9 minutes! Haier is leading them, but not very fast!
39km to go
The last intermediate sprint is won by Ewan. Haier got some help from Tulip-Guinness and TAP-Michelin in the chase. The gap is down to 3 and a half minutes, but will the break get caught before the finish line?
30km to go
Vandousselaere will be in the mountain jersey tomorrow, because he wins another mountain sprint. The gap is closing rapidly, down to 2 minutes now!
16km to go
MASSIVE CRASH IN THE PELETON! Important victims are: Haussler (TCW), Kristoff, Mondory (both TUG), Rasmussen (TCS) and a lot more! We hope everyone is OK.
10km to go
10 kilometers left for the break, which has a 1 minute lead over a small 'chasing group' of 21 riders who were in front of the crash. Present there are: Freire (TAM), Rojas (NAC), Boasson Hagen (HAI), van Hummel (DOM) and Sutton (CAT). 40 seconds behind is a small group with Impey (TCW), who are trying to get back. Far behind them is the group with crashers. Abandonees: Foder (SEP), Colbrelli (BUL), McCallum (ITV) and Hansen (AXA). We hope they don't have any serious injuries.
5000m to go
The break can benefit from the crash, because they are still in front. Group Impey joined the others in the meantime, with TAP-Michelin in front. They have the most cyclist left.
2000m to go
The break is going to make it! The sprint, is about to get started, with Bahati in the lead.
1000m to go
Cronshaw takes over the lead in the final turn under the flag, but can he keep his speed!
0m to go
Yes he can! Matt Cronshaw from ITV wins the first stage! Chuzhda came close, but he has to settle with second place. Vandousselaere finished third, Kreder fourth, Ewan fifth and Maaskant sixth. Boogedal takes seventh place just in front of Dempster and Lampier. Bahati completes the top 10.
Boasson Hagen wins the sprint 40 seconds behind them in the favourites group. He beats Rojas and Favilli (BUL). A small sprint 1 and a half minutes behind that group with the ones who crashed is won by Haussler, in front of the Tulip-duo: Kristoff and Hushovd.
but he doesn't lead the mountain classification. That one is for Vandousselaere...
Rank
Name
Team
Points
1
Sven Vandousselaere
Magners Pro Team
10
2
Steven Lampier
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
4
3
Matt Cronshaw
ITV ProCycling
3
4
Rahsaan Bahati
Team CSC
1
-23:
who is second in the -23 classification behind Cronshaw.
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Matt Cronshaw
ITV ProCycling
4h35'14 (1)
2
Sven Vandousselaere
Magners Pro Team
+ 10 (2)
3
Caleb Ewan
Caterham - Austar
+ 16 (3)
4
Zakkari Dempster
Team Cymru Wales
+ 18 (4)
5
Thomas Faiers
ITV ProCycling
+ 20 (5)
Spoiler
6
Wesley Kreder
Triks Custom Season
+ 22 (6)
7
Klaas Boogedal
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
+ 22 (7)
8
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Pro Team Haier
+ 1'00 (8)
9
Elia Favilli
Bulgari - Inditex
+ 1'00 (9)
10
Andrew Fenn
ITV ProCycling
+ 1'00 (10)
11
Jonathan Castroviejo
Bulgari - Inditex
+ 1'00 (11)
12
Salvatore Puccio
Magners Pro Team
+ 1'00 (12)
13
Egor Silin
Caterham - Austar
+ 1'00 (13)
14
George Preidler
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'00 (14)
15
Tosh Van der Sande
Magners Pro Team
+ 1'00 (15)
16
Spencer Beamer
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'00 (16)
17
Jordan Lewis
TAP - Michelin
+ 1'00 (17)
18
Chris Opie
Caterham - Austar
+ 1'00 (18)
19
Alexander Kristoff
Tulip - Guinness
+ 2'24 (20)
20
Simone Ponzi
Lierse - Pizza Ullo
+ 2'24 (21)
21
Daniele Ratto
Bulgari - Inditex
+ 2'24 (22)
22
Anthony Roux
Caterham - Austar
+ 2'24 (23)
23
Michael Van Staeyen
Lierse - Pizza Ullo
+ 2'24 (24)
24
Davide Cimolai
Bulgari - Inditex
+ 2'24 (25)
25
Henkjan Knol
Triks Custom Season
+ 2'24 (26)
26
Enrique Sanz
Bulgari - Inditex
+ 2'24 (27)
27
Liam Holohan
Caterham - Austar
+ 2'24 (28)
28
Matthias Brändle
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'24 (29)
29
Yegor Dementyev
Pervyj
+ 2'24 (30)
30
Sebastian Balck
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
+ 2'24 (31)
31
David Boily
Magners Pro Team
+ 2'24 (32)
32
Steele Von Hoff
Team Cymru Wales
+ 2'24 (33)
33
Jean-Eric Rousseau
TAP - Michelin
+ 2'24 (34)
34
Rohan Dennis
Pro Team Haier
+ 2'24 (35)
35
Nicholas Walker
Team Cymru Wales
+ 2'24 (36)
36
Jesús Herrada
Magners Pro Team
+ 2'24 (37)
37
Vegard Stake Laengen
Tulip - Guinness
+ 2'24 (38)
38
Danny Van Poppel
Triks Custom Season
+ 2'24 (39)
39
Dennis Van Winden
Domino's - ASR
+ 2'24 (40)
40
Philip Lavery
Tulip - Guinness
+ 2'24 (41)
41
Martin Schöffmann
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'24 (42)
42
Fabio Aru
Magners Pro Team
+ 2'24 (43)
43
Gavin Mannion
Team CSC
+ 2'24 (44)
44
Tomohiro Hayakawa
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
+ 2'24 (45)
45
Heimdal Grønborg
Triks Custom Season
+ 7'46 (46)
Team:
2 men in the break for ITV, which means they are leading the team classification.
Rank
Team
Time
1
ITV ProCycling
13h47'26 (1)
2
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
+ 0 (2)
3
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
+ 38 (3)
4
Caterham - Austar
+ 38 (4)
5
Team Cymru Wales
+ 38 (5)
Spoiler
6
Magners Pro Team
+ 38 (6)
7
Domino's - ASR
+ 38 (7)
8
TAP - Michelin
+ 1'16 (8)
9
Pro Team Haier
+ 1'16 (9)
10
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'16 (10)
11
Team CSC
+ 2'02 (11)
12
Bulgari - Inditex
+ 2'40 (12)
13
Lierse - Pizza Ullo
+ 2'40 (13)
14
Triks Custom Season
+ 3'26 (14)
15
Pervyj
+ 3'26 (15)
16
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
+ 4'04 (16)
17
Tulip - Guinness
+ 5'28 (17)
Spoiler
Before someone complains about the breakaway succeeding again, this one has a simple explenation. The break was down to 40 seconds before the crash, but the peleton slowed down because of it. The gap increased to 1 minute and 30 seconds. Only TAP had a few riders in front after that, but they were already tired. They could not manage to close the gap down again. I promise there will be a mass sprint this tour
Marcovdw - First of all Congratulations on a Great preview of the race and i laughed my arse off at this ''Tasty Coma Wife, oops sorry, Team Cymru Wales''
As for the first stage, i was shocked to see Dempster getting involved at the finish
The second stage starts in the capital, Oslo, and finishes after a few local laps in Drummen. The stage should be one for the sprinters, but the break is hungry for more!
FAVOURITES
Edvald Boasson Hagen (HAI), Alexander Kristoff (TUG) and Tom Veelers (TAM)
Oscar Freire (TAM), Heinrich Haussler (TCW), Kenny van Hummel (DOM), Thor Hushovd (TUG) and Jose Joaquin Rojas (NAC)
Leonardo Duque (TAM), Kristof Goddaert (LPU), Sebastien Hinault (TAM), Daryl Impey (TCW), Elia Favilli (BUL), Samuel Love (TAM), Lloyd Mondory (TAM) and Chris Sutton (CAT)
THE RACE
149km to go
114 riders are at the start today. 4 riders had to abandon yesterday due to the crash, which made a big impact on the peleton. A lot of riders are having bruises etc. Are they recovered?
121km to go
It takes pretty long before a group can go, because Tulip and Haier are riding very fast. Eventually, a group of 12 cyclists forms today's break. The members are: Moutain sprint winner Hunt (CAT), Kroon (DOM), Nys (TCS), Clarke (AXA), Goddaert (LPU), De Vocht (SEP), Suzuki (NAC), Beamer (RBM), Greenwood (ITV), Aru (MAG), Von Hoff (TCW) and Femal (CSC). Their lead is 1 and a half minute at the moment, while Wetterhall (SEP) is somewhere in between.
77km to go
He joins the breakaway in the downhill. The maximum gap of the break was 6 minutes, but is now down to 5 and a half minutes. Goddaert wins the intermediate sprint halfway through the stage.
30km to go
We have arrived in Drummen, where the Belgian wins another sprint. The gap is down to 2 minutes and 15 seconds with 30 km to go! It's raining in Drummen, which results in spectators staying at home.
25km to go
Oh no, not again. Sanz (BUL) crashed inside the peleton. Luckily, everyone else manages to avoid him and he can rejoin the race behind the peleton.
18km to go
2 riders attack out of the peleton. They are: Ratto (BUL) and Saramotins (DOM). The gap to the break is down to 1 minute.
15km to go
Beamer attacks out of the break when the 2 join them. The peleton, led all-day by Haier and Tulip-Guinness, is very close!
10km to go
The American is the last one to get caught toady, which means we are heading towards a mass sprint!
9000m to go
ANOTHER CRASH! Involved are green-jersey wearer Chuzhda (PER), a lot of Lierse-Pizza Ullo cyclists including Eeckhout, Gavazzi and Goddaert. Bahati (CSC) is the only one who has to abandon.
5000m to go
A group of 52 cyclist is still out front, with Haier and Tulip-Guinness preparing their trains! Important people who are not present: Impey (TCW), van Hummel (DOM), Sutton (CAT) and a few members of yesterday's break. GC-leader Cronshaw (ITV) is in the front group.
2000m to go
Two trains are starting the sprint now. On the left we have the Haier-train with Tombak and Boasson Hagen with Roux (CAT) behind them. On the right we have the Tulip-train with Hushovd leading out Kristoff, with Veelers (TAM), Rojas (NAC) and Haussler (TCW) in their wheel.
1000m to go
Boasson Hagen is on his own now, while Kristoff still has his lead-out. Which Norwegian will win today?
500m to go
The Norwegian champion is on his own now too, but will it be a Norwegian winning, because Veelers is coming alongside Kristoff rapidly!
0m to go
It's the Dutchman from TAP-Michelin who spoils the party for the Norwegians! Kristoff finishes second and Rojas third. Haussler beats Boasson Hagen on the line for fourth place, while Favilli (BUL) finishes sixth. Roux grabs seventh place and Freire (TAM) grabs eight place. Hushovd finishes in ninth and Ratto (BUL) completes the top-10. Cronshaw finishes in the front group to maintain his jersey. Behind them are small groups of cyclists crossing the line. What a carnage today!
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Rohan Dennis
Michael Mørkøv
Danail Petrov
Frantisek Rabon
Janek Tombak
Nelson Vitorino
Óscar Freire
Leonardo Duque
Sébastien Hinault
Jordan Lewis
Samuel Love
Tom Veelers
Philip Lavery
Tomohiro Hayakawa
Anuar Manan
Rinaldo Nocentini
Oleg Chuzhda
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Dries Devenyns
Daryl Impey
Aleksejs Saramotins
Liam Holohan
Grégory Rast
Egor Silin
Radoslav Rogina
David Boily
Maciej Bodnar
Sebastian Balck
Matthias Brändle
Robert Vrecer
Hopefully Rojas can do something good here, he's got the combination of being able to get over the hills well whilst still having a kick at the end.
