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Tour of Northern Europe - Discussion Thread
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 14-08-2012 20:40
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Happy to keep the lead for so long  |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 14-08-2012 22:19
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The cobbled stage will be crucial for Posthuma. If he does well, a podium could be achieved here. If not, a top 5 should be a realistic goal as well.
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| CountArach |
Posted on 15-08-2012 09:13
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Good news for Cancellara though he will have to be sorely disappointed to miss out on the win.
In other news: Ignatiev is a beast.
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| SotD |
Posted on 15-08-2012 14:26
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Alright! Well done Pozzato. On paper he could keep the yellow all the way from here on, but I really doubt that he will. I am scared to shit, that the cobbled stages will fuck everything up, and give gaps around 10-15min, from some random, decent cobbler and that Cancellara and Boonen wil go balistics.
A stagewin and a 3rd place here combined with leading the race and the points is much better than ever anticipated though, so I'm happy for now. Don't crash, don't crash, don't crash!
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| roturn |
Posted on 15-08-2012 14:29
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Next stage will either come tonight or more probably tomorrow. I am not at home until Monday but I copied all files on my netbook and will make at least one report a day. |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 15-08-2012 15:14
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Well done Ignatiev.  |
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| SotD |
Posted on 15-08-2012 15:33
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roturn wrote:
Next stage will either come tonight or more probably tomorrow. I am not at home until Monday but I copied all files on my netbook and will make at least one report a day.
Cool roturn. Well done  - If you keep Pozzato winning I'll give you a kiss on the forehead. Of your choiche obviously 
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 15-08-2012 21:36
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Pretty damn stupid that Gusev, once again, failed. Did OK in the ITT, but I'm sure he will manage to screw up on the cobbles stage too.
Devolder's been stable, Schreurs will suck on the cobbles too.
Oh well, story of this season for my team, really. Not good enough. |
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| SotD |
Posted on 16-08-2012 13:24
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Another amazing result here. Really amazing! Pozzato managed to hang on despite being in trouble, thank god the best of the best didn't team up against him. Burghardt, Ballan, Cancellara and those likes could probably have done a minute or even 2 on him here.
Also Steurs doing a fantastic race so far. The first of the bad TT's for him is over, and hopefully he will be able to cope as well with the remaining hills as he did with the first. If he does we stand a real shot at making two guys in the top 10. Come on Pozzato. Keep it up!
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| Kami |
Posted on 16-08-2012 13:39
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I'm happy with the win, but obviously can't be with the GC standings. Burghardt lost way to much time in that strange hilly stage.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 15:38
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| roturn |
Posted on 16-08-2012 15:37
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I will try to bring another stage tonight.
Was quite hard to write the report on my netbook. Firefox was close to crash just like my whole netbook...at least 10 times, which let it last at least 1h more than normal.
The netbook is more for reading stuff and not for so much picture work.
But on the other hand the probably worst stage with most pictures is now written. 
To the stage: I had expected bigger gaps actually. Like Boonen, Bewley, Cance, Burghardt getting 1-2min on the others and Pozzato losing more than 4-5min while Gilbert/Posthuma come in at 8min or so.
But now even these last two have still chances to get a top5 or even win while Pozzato is still in yellow. |
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| SotD |
Posted on 16-08-2012 20:08
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I must say, I would have been very dissapointed if Pozzato had lost 5minutes on this stage. He is 75 cobbles, which is quite decent with his 80 flat and 79 hill and 80 endurance... He might not be the best at attacking on cobbles, but is very endurant on the type of terrain nontheless...
That he didn't lose anything though is way way better than I ever thought.
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 16-08-2012 21:29
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It's all a super secret plan to lull other teams into a false sense of security. Honestly, I'd have thought you'd have picked up on that 
I believe Pavarin is my "leader" and so Fenn was looking after him. I guess they went as fast as he could go... which wasn't that fast.
No worries really, wasn't expecting much here, just glad I've made it through my first Pro Tour season really! Plus, Ignatiev is back next season
[url=cleavercycling.co.uk]  [/url] |
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| Kami |
Posted on 16-08-2012 22:13
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Why the hell would Steegmans fall back :/.
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| SotD |
Posted on 16-08-2012 22:20
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That was a fairly strange finish. Seems like anyone could have won it if they wanted... 2nd from Drapac and 4th from Pozzato is very nice for the points haul, though I would have wished it was the other way around.
Only loosing time on Summerhill, and very little, is good though. This was probably the chance for Bewley and Boonen to try and win the race. They didn't - So the hilly stage tomorrow is going to be very decisive, as I don't think Pozzato will lose too much in the TT with the slightly hilly parcours.
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| Kami |
Posted on 17-08-2012 17:51
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Mancuso with a very strong performance, very happy with this.
Burghardt and Steegmans losing places again. Hope they can atleast top 20...
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 17-08-2012 18:10
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Great stage for Mertens, one of my signings of the season. Hopefully he can hold his GC position and Philipe can move up a bit in the TT. |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 17-08-2012 18:24
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Genius - get in the break everyday apart from the day the peloton lets it go.
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| Crommy |
Posted on 17-08-2012 18:27
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Hahaha, very funny roturn, you almost had me for a second there. Now post the real race reports.
GOD DAMMIT, YOU POST THE REAL RACE RIGHT NOW!
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| SotD |
Posted on 17-08-2012 18:52
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Steurs is a really fine domestique on a race like this. He could have even fought for podium himself, but the upcomming TT will probably put him out of the top 10.
Amazing ride again, and this shows that you must absolutely be in the leaders jersey on such stages. Too bad only Steurs and Voss relayed. If Pozzato had helped out himself, he might have taken quite some time on some of the worst competitors, also he could have put the break into a 7-8min gap instead of 10 where he get's himself a new dangerman...
Oh well, this is going to be very interesting. Can't quite figure out how difficult the TT is. Cancellara must be huge favorite again, though he didn't do too well on the first. Can he take 3'20" on Pozzato? Perhaps.
Florencio shouldn't be a threat, Devolder could be dangerous. Ballan, Summerhill and Steurs should lose time on the TT, Ballan could potentially move a spot ahead if he performs well.
Worst case scenario, Pozzato is 3rd after the TT, best case - Still leading. If he is, the last stage will need to be controlled, which could be difficult with the lack of quality helpers I have. GO POZZATO! I need the win!
EDIT:
And with shitloads of luck, Steurs can even sit in 10th after the TT. More likely though is 12th.
Edited by SotD on 17-08-2012 19:04
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