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La Vuelta a Espana preview and discussion
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 14-02-2012 11:38
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SotD wrote:
EDIT:
Even Vesuvio in the strongest possible lineup would have a hard time beating this lineup.
Damiano Cunego > Frank Schleck
Danilo Di Luca > Rigoberto Urán
Alexandre Vinokourov = Benat Intxausti
Daniele Bennati > Ben Swift
Michael Rogers > Marcel Kittel
David de la Fuente = Maxim Iglinskiy
Joost Posthuma >= Michael Ford
Sergio Marinangeli > Nico Schinker
Sylvester Szmyd < Mwangi Samwel
I know SN could have put in riders such as Hoogerland, Paterski and Mehr-Wenige, but I had to use the same rider types. I don't recall whether or not La Gazzetta also had a few puncheurs not attending the race.
I disagree. The "nowadays" Vesuvio are better than the 2010 La Gazzeta.
The 2010 version of Di Luca, Vino and De La Fuente are no way better than Uran, Intxausti and Iglinski.
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| SotD |
Posted on 14-02-2012 11:49
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alexkr00 wrote:
Yes, they were dominant, because they were more complete. They were able to win mountain, hilly, flat and time - trial stages. Not to mention the whole Giro.
But when it comes to supporting the leader, Santander are a bit better I think. They are definitely not as complete as La Gazzetta were but they should do a hell of a job when it comes to protecting Madrazo in the mountains.
Both yes and no.
I don't think they are better in the mountainssupport than Di Luca, Vinokourov, de la Fuente, Szmyd and Rogers at that time. They were atleast on the same strenght imo.
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| SotD |
Posted on 14-02-2012 11:51
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alexkr00 wrote:
SotD wrote:
EDIT:
Even Vesuvio in the strongest possible lineup would have a hard time beating this lineup.
Damiano Cunego > Frank Schleck
Danilo Di Luca > Rigoberto Urán
Alexandre Vinokourov = Benat Intxausti
Daniele Bennati > Ben Swift
Michael Rogers > Marcel Kittel
David de la Fuente = Maxim Iglinskiy
Joost Posthuma >= Michael Ford
Sergio Marinangeli > Nico Schinker
Sylvester Szmyd < Mwangi Samwel
I know SN could have put in riders such as Hoogerland, Paterski and Mehr-Wenige, but I had to use the same rider types. I don't recall whether or not La Gazzetta also had a few puncheurs not attending the race.
I disagree. The "nowadays" Vesuvio are better than the 2010 La Gazzeta.
The 2010 version of Di Luca, Vino and De La Fuente are no way better than Uran, Intxausti and Iglinski.
If I don't remember things wrong, then Di Luca could have won the race himself, if he wasn't a helper. I think he was 81 MO and 83 HI or so.
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 14-02-2012 12:09
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SotD wrote:
alexkr00 wrote:
SotD wrote:
EDIT:
Even Vesuvio in the strongest possible lineup would have a hard time beating this lineup.
Damiano Cunego > Frank Schleck
Danilo Di Luca > Rigoberto Urán
Alexandre Vinokourov = Benat Intxausti
Daniele Bennati > Ben Swift
Michael Rogers > Marcel Kittel
David de la Fuente = Maxim Iglinskiy
Joost Posthuma >= Michael Ford
Sergio Marinangeli > Nico Schinker
Sylvester Szmyd < Mwangi Samwel
I know SN could have put in riders such as Hoogerland, Paterski and Mehr-Wenige, but I had to use the same rider types. I don't recall whether or not La Gazzetta also had a few puncheurs not attending the race.
I disagree. The "nowadays" Vesuvio are better than the 2010 La Gazzeta.
The 2010 version of Di Luca, Vino and De La Fuente are no way better than Uran, Intxausti and Iglinski.
If I don't remember things wrong, then Di Luca could have won the race himself, if he wasn't a helper. I think he was 81 MO and 83 HI or so.
I still have all the old Man-Game files in my computer. In 2010, Di Luca's best stat was in hills - 80.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 14-02-2012 12:29
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World Champion
Posts: 13662
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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rjc_43 wrote:
Looking for a similarly strong team performance here as in the Giro. Look forward to seeing just how well/badly the team does in that long TTT. Hoping for at least a Top 10 from Popovych, and a few Top 5 stage results from breaks and sprints.
Good luck with Popovych, i will be chearing for him as the manager of Div2 team from Ukraine. Popo could end his career in our team somewhere in the future, if he will not be happy at Wiggle, or Wiggle with him, same with Martynenko 
Good luck to all the teams, this Vuelta looks brutal.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 14-02-2012 12:29
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| SotD |
Posted on 14-02-2012 12:36
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World Champion
Posts: 12631
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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alexkr00 wrote:
SotD wrote:
alexkr00 wrote:
SotD wrote:
EDIT:
Even Vesuvio in the strongest possible lineup would have a hard time beating this lineup.
Damiano Cunego > Frank Schleck
Danilo Di Luca > Rigoberto Urán
Alexandre Vinokourov = Benat Intxausti
Daniele Bennati > Ben Swift
Michael Rogers > Marcel Kittel
David de la Fuente = Maxim Iglinskiy
Joost Posthuma >= Michael Ford
Sergio Marinangeli > Nico Schinker
Sylvester Szmyd < Mwangi Samwel
I know SN could have put in riders such as Hoogerland, Paterski and Mehr-Wenige, but I had to use the same rider types. I don't recall whether or not La Gazzetta also had a few puncheurs not attending the race.
I disagree. The "nowadays" Vesuvio are better than the 2010 La Gazzeta.
The 2010 version of Di Luca, Vino and De La Fuente are no way better than Uran, Intxausti and Iglinski.
If I don't remember things wrong, then Di Luca could have won the race himself, if he wasn't a helper. I think he was 81 MO and 83 HI or so.
I still have all the old Man-Game files in my computer. In 2010, Di Luca's best stat was in hills - 80.
I must be mistaken then seasons then. I'm quite sure there was a season where Di Luca was the 2nd best contender for the title.
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| SotD |
Posted on 14-02-2012 12:37
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World Champion
Posts: 12631
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
rjc_43 wrote:
Looking for a similarly strong team performance here as in the Giro. Look forward to seeing just how well/badly the team does in that long TTT. Hoping for at least a Top 10 from Popovych, and a few Top 5 stage results from breaks and sprints.
Good luck with Popovych, i will be chearing for him as the manager of Div2 team from Ukraine. Popo could end his career in our team somewhere in the future, if he will not be happy at Wiggle, or Wiggle with him, same with Martynenko
Good luck to all the teams, this Vuelta looks brutal.
How about Bileka?
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 14-02-2012 12:41
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SotD wrote:
How about Bileka?
Not bad 
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 14-02-2012 15:42
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Team Manager
Posts: 31706
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SotD wrote:
alexkr00 wrote:
SotD wrote:
alexkr00 wrote:
SotD wrote:
EDIT:
Even Vesuvio in the strongest possible lineup would have a hard time beating this lineup.
Damiano Cunego > Frank Schleck
Danilo Di Luca > Rigoberto Urán
Alexandre Vinokourov = Benat Intxausti
Daniele Bennati > Ben Swift
Michael Rogers > Marcel Kittel
David de la Fuente = Maxim Iglinskiy
Joost Posthuma >= Michael Ford
Sergio Marinangeli > Nico Schinker
Sylvester Szmyd < Mwangi Samwel
I know SN could have put in riders such as Hoogerland, Paterski and Mehr-Wenige, but I had to use the same rider types. I don't recall whether or not La Gazzetta also had a few puncheurs not attending the race.
I disagree. The "nowadays" Vesuvio are better than the 2010 La Gazzeta.
The 2010 version of Di Luca, Vino and De La Fuente are no way better than Uran, Intxausti and Iglinski.
If I don't remember things wrong, then Di Luca could have won the race himself, if he wasn't a helper. I think he was 81 MO and 83 HI or so.
I still have all the old Man-Game files in my computer. In 2010, Di Luca's best stat was in hills - 80.
I must be mistaken then seasons then. I'm quite sure there was a season where Di Luca was the 2nd best contender for the title.
In 2010, Di Luca might have done better than he did had the AI been more supportive of the 2nd best rider in a team in that version of PCM, but he wouldnt have come 2nd. Di Luca's only other strong Giro was 2007, when did come 2nd to Cunego - but on different teams.
Doing the comparison:
Cunego > Schleck
Di Luca < Uran (Di Luca better on the hills, but Uran a much more complete GC rider, better on Mountains and much better in TT)
Vinokourov <<< Intxausti (Vino had 73 MO and 72 hills...)
Bennati > Swift
Rogers > Kittel
De la Fuete < Iglinski
Posthuma > Ford
Marinangeli > Schinker
Szmyd < Samwel
So Gazzetta would edge it 5-4. But as you acknowledge, that isnt my strongest team. Ford and Kittel would be there if there was a key TTT, otherwise not in. And Schinker would never be in it at all. Hoogerland, Paterski, or Mehr-Wenige would complete the team, which I would argue makes it a stronger lineup than Gazzetta's.
But yes, Santander's lineup here is pretty strong, and also Spanish. They could be unstoppable. But then, this is PCM, so you never know!
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| jph27 |
Posted on 14-02-2012 16:16
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Hoping that the British riders fail, and we do well in Holland to make us look good.
Nah, in all seriousness it should be good to watch. Can't look past Santander. |
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 14-02-2012 20:36
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 27880
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Very well done, Smowz. Spot on about my team, by the way. Didn't have any proper riders to send to this race, so it ended up with a good mix of stage hunters  |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 14-02-2012 22:25
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I'm hoping with Santander being so strong that whoever plays domestique just drags the other strong climbers up the mountains and there are no big gaps on any of the stages due to Santander pacing. Course, they could just go and blow everyone off their wheels. |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 15-02-2012 16:08
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Posts: 6490
Joined: 13-10-2007
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SotD wrote:
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
rjc_43 wrote:
Looking for a similarly strong team performance here as in the Giro. Look forward to seeing just how well/badly the team does in that long TTT. Hoping for at least a Top 10 from Popovych, and a few Top 5 stage results from breaks and sprints.
Good luck with Popovych, i will be chearing for him as the manager of Div2 team from Ukraine. Popo could end his career in our team somewhere in the future, if he will not be happy at Wiggle, or Wiggle with him, same with Martynenko
Good luck to all the teams, this Vuelta looks brutal.
How about Bileka?
I'm sure all three would prefer to be riding for a team from their own country rather than an Anglo-Italian team. Let's hope you stick around to get promoted to the Continental level of teams.
[url=cleavercycling.co.uk]  [/url] |
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| jph27 |
Posted on 15-02-2012 16:27
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Team Leader
Posts: 7374
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
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rjc_43 wrote:
SotD wrote:
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
rjc_43 wrote:
Looking for a similarly strong team performance here as in the Giro. Look forward to seeing just how well/badly the team does in that long TTT. Hoping for at least a Top 10 from Popovych, and a few Top 5 stage results from breaks and sprints.
Good luck with Popovych, i will be chearing for him as the manager of Div2 team from Ukraine. Popo could end his career in our team somewhere in the future, if he will not be happy at Wiggle, or Wiggle with him, same with Martynenko
Good luck to all the teams, this Vuelta looks brutal.
How about Bileka?
I'm sure all three would prefer to be riding for a team from their own country rather than an Anglo-Italian team. Let's hope you stick around to get promoted to the Continental level of teams.
Every rider has a price, eh?
Anglo-Italian cuisine is tasty though, that could sway them. |
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 15-02-2012 16:30
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Really hope for Madrazo to win would be good for Santander considering all the effort into the Veulta should be good fun to watch good luck guys! |
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 18-02-2012 16:25
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Posts: 5535
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Solid result, not great, but nicking a few seconds off most leaders is nice.
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 18-02-2012 16:33
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Bloody hell, this field is just way too strong.
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 18-02-2012 18:20
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Can't ask for any of my riders to beat either Coppel or Rogers, even though the Frenchman wasn't that far away. So taking the places for 3rd to 6th is good enough for me.
Also nice to see Van Winden leading the young riders classification here, after doing the same thing in the Giro.
Edited by alexkr00 on 18-02-2012 18:21
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| jph27 |
Posted on 18-02-2012 18:30
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alexkr00 wrote:
Can't ask for any of my riders to beat either Coppel or Rogers, even though the Frenchman wasn't that far away. So taking the places for 3rd to 6th is good enough for me.
Also nice to see Van Winden leading the young riders classification here, after doing the same thing in the Giro.
You appear to have Dysonitis - the talent for putting a load of riders into the Top 10, without winning.
Great ride there from Rogers, can he hold on until the Mountains though, or will a break take it from him? |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 18-02-2012 18:34
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World Champion
Posts: 13561
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jph27 wrote:
alexkr00 wrote:
Can't ask for any of my riders to beat either Coppel or Rogers, even though the Frenchman wasn't that far away. So taking the places for 3rd to 6th is good enough for me.
Also nice to see Van Winden leading the young riders classification here, after doing the same thing in the Giro.
You appear to have Dysonitis - the talent for putting a load of riders into the Top 10, without winning.
No, I don't. Because I'm not trying to win this kind of stages.
I have JWFitis - going only for the TTTs
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