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The bread basket - Smowz's PCT preview
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 28-11-2024 06:11
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Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| viking90 |
Posted on 06-04-2014 08:19
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4032
Joined: 24-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Our personal goals is to be better then last year and a 14th Place is 3 places better then last year, so I can take that 
But I`m just sitting down and waiting for Ahlstrand to be maxed.
All those previews out there just make me eager to start racing,
but nice work from all f you  |
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| cio93 |
Posted on 06-04-2014 10:48
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World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
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7th is neat, and thanks for the kind words in the analysis!
Though I have to admit race planning was somehow limited this time with a lot of commitments running parallel to this...
Actually you just made me realise I'm lagging behind massively on jersey and equipment stuff, that went completely past me in all the recent chaos 
A lot will depend on whether Ciolek can get consistent results in the Bennati-way and if my second-tier uphill leaders get some surprise Top 5's or such.
The relatively many C2 races I subscribed to mean that my leaders actually have too many race days between them so I can't utilize my puncheur duo quite as good as you could imagine.
I see some others you put below us slightly ahead and would happily settle for 9th or 10th as well, although this year's position actually doesn't matter to me apart from the bonus money for my Top 10 goal at all as next year is when we will strike 
Therefore I like that you put Quickstep on no.1 as we're going to be very similar, but even stronger than their current lineup in 2015.
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| fintas |
Posted on 06-04-2014 12:53
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2602
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
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I fully agree with the analysis of my team. I hope I have somehow managed to avoid confrontation with the big guns in most of the races.
An example of this is the participation of Karpets, in the Tour of Portugal which is one of the goals of the season, is also a race with 11 days I think will not have the big names present precisely by the number of race days.
The team is clearly a bit old, but with the target of the transfer market to reach ridiculous values had to leave the age issue aside and try to build the best possible team
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 06-04-2014 14:08
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World Champion
Posts: 10891
Joined: 19-11-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Thx Smowz for having so much faith into our team. I don't think winning division is on cards though, planning was bit rushed, but is still okay but we'll see.
With Lijke in the team I'd be more confident as we had few races like Quebec, Amissa Bongo or Plouay he'd enjoy - so in other words - as long as we promote I'll be happy
Great preview allround, well done/
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| cio93 |
Posted on 06-04-2014 14:22
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World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
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Yeah Alakagom, just remember to GTFO of that division ASAP so that Demare can dominate those races next season, and don't forget to take Van Stayen with you 
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| tyriion |
Posted on 06-04-2014 14:27
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Sprinter
Posts: 1510
Joined: 29-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Not relegating is all I want this year really. And getting the cobble goals. Should have gone for 4 goals on that terrain. Maybe I will get it right next year. Hoping to heavily train Trentin next year, so goals are very important.
Check out my ManGame team here
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| Ste117 |
Posted on 06-04-2014 14:31
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3684
Joined: 21-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Seeing the reviews is making me very worried for this season. I battled mid table with Eurovision in the old CTDiv2 and then battled hard down the bottom of C2 last season with Credexbank. Looking like another long hard stressful season, but coming up a division ahead of schedule was always going to be tough especially when you finished near the bottom last season. But it all adds up to the challenge and the fun, Really hoping Cavendish will deliver this season. I hope we do just survive so I can continue to build for the future.
MG Team manager Team Ticos Air Costa Rica
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 06-04-2014 14:52
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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I cant believe we arnt at the bottom! Petar wont win anything without serious luck, and if last season is a base i doubt he'll Top10 a lot. Thomas should do well, he was consistent and visible last season so with a bit more luck could be a surprise package. Behind that is was talent securing and planning for relegation.
If i got my planing right (big if) then Ewan will be competitive next season in a team still containing Thomas! Add in Yates growth with Hristovs and our future is bright.
Anything above last place will be a great result for the team, and as a bonus it means i wont be frustrated at all this season. Bad results just lead to lower wages and a better year in the future.
Great to flick through the rest and cant wait to go over it all properly at home with the screens. Yours have been my previews so far
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 06-04-2014 17:36
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1036
Joined: 17-06-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Smowz,
Nice job. Dead on the money with AMEXpc. We missed out on our elite targets in the transfer season and had to settle for a consolidation strategy for 2014. The cobble squad should be similar to last season, but the competition seems some improved. We sucked on the hills last season. Mehr-Wenige is a 2nd tier punchuer in the PCT but a step up from what we had last season. Marko Kump might sprint steal a less selective race along the way.
The sprints on paper look worse, but from our insiders view, we see improvement. Farrar never had a chance to do well, we botched his schedule. Kupfernagel needed training and we were not prepared to provide it so he was sent packing. In his place Grillo is better on the hills than Kupfernagel. Being flat out faster means nothing when you are not in the final sprint.
Our young German sprinters are all a year more experienced and a level higher. Selig, Reinhardt and Klemme will once again team up with American Jake Keough to provide Grillo support. Look at it this way we cannot do any worse than we did last season in the sprints.
Patrick Gretsch will earn points as a TT man, but probably not stand on a podium.
Once again we have selectively chosen not to contest the mountains or major PCT tours.
One Preview has us 16th the other 17th. They are probably right on target. I would like to see us in the top 15 so that is our personal goal.
Thanks for all you do Smoaz.
=========================================
Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 06-04-2014 21:15
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
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I'd agree that your top 4 ranked teams are probably the strongest teams in the division but after that teams are a lot harder to rank imo. Its nice to see my team in the Top 10 just ahead of our "rivals", Oz.
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| CountArach |
Posted on 06-04-2014 22:56
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8290
Joined: 14-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Magna is going to surprise you all, you'll see! It is the true Red Bull 2012 team - 4 75+ hilly guys, 3 75+ mountain guys, a few middling sprinters (though Vastaranta could have a field day if given the chance) and most riders capable of scoring in classics. Maybe not a top 5 team on paper but I have faith.
EDIT: Also I think you've vastly overestimated Jaguar's chances. SN is great with the team planning, as you would expect, but I think they are actually slightly weaker than last year.
Edited by CountArach on 06-04-2014 22:58
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 07-04-2014 13:35
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Great work on this preview, very enjoyable read. But Gazelle fifth? That is pretty crazy, same goes with high Jaguar and Puma placements, i would replace these three with Oz, RBC ahnd LaVieClaire, i see those three stronger than that.
9th for Metinvest is around where i would rate us (7-11th is my pick) too. Thanks for the nice words about my man-game activity and for the pic of Klichko bros. as they are my favourite boxing athletes.
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 07-04-2014 16:37
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2633
Joined: 20-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Wow! When I was at the 6th to 10th post and still didn't see my team I started scrolling back up because I was sure I had somehow missed it.
Thanks for the confidence, Smowz! I do think I'm going to disappoint you though. My strategy going into transfers was laying a foundation for the future and sign some old guys to avoid relegation. Gazelle 2014 isn't optimized for maximum performance in both roster and planning. I'll make up for it next year.
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| roturn |
Posted on 07-04-2014 16:56
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
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Kind of agree with Count here.
Have already thought quite a while ago during transfers that Magna is a huge outside favourite for promotion.
I think promotion might be a bit too high though but they could be in the mix of the next group Jaguar - Oz imo. |
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