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roturn`s PT Preview
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 15:31
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| tastasol |
Posted on 14-08-2018 09:41
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3030
Joined: 11-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks for that, roturn. Agree om what you are saying and Bakelants isn't going to any GT as you correctly "predicted". Boeckmans very alone as you point out, so just have to hope he's good at picking wheels'
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| roturn |
Posted on 15-08-2018 06:17
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Team Manager
Posts: 22043
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
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Slowly coming to the end. Isostar, Moser and Porto being posted now. |
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| roturn |
Posted on 15-08-2018 08:44
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Team Manager
Posts: 22043
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
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Decided to get this finished today already.
All teams and final ranking predictions only on the first page now! |
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| viking90 |
Posted on 15-08-2018 09:08
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3836
Joined: 24-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks for doing this preview, it will be tough to avoid relegation this season but that was it last year aswell  Some surprising teams down in the relegation fight.
Guess I will have to start thinking about how to handle renewals with 1.000.000 less wage cap  |
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 15-08-2018 09:14
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Team Leader
Posts: 6177
Joined: 20-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Your take on our team is spot on, just can't agree that we will possibly end up in the top10 by any stretch of the mind 
I get the criticism around Claeys hindering Borges chances, but they will only be racing together for 15 race days during the season (in the Ardennes and other races not too suited for Borges, where I prefer him to support).
Around the overall predictions, I think you're being too harsh on yourself, Bennelong and ebuddy. Berg should end higher than us too, with correct planning. Also I think Desigual is being labeled with the "Tenorio can't perform" label everywhere which is a bit unfair. On the other hand I think Isostar is enjoying a bit of an excessive hype (sorry Cro!). Definitely a strong and clever team, but top5 may be a bit too much. I'd bet more like a 5-10 place (which would already be huge for a newly-promoted team!)
Great read, roturn, thanks!
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 15-08-2018 09:15
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11786
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Thanks for the work on this, roturn. Will re-read some stuff in detail soon.. it will come down to daily form and luck for some teams and to be honest, I was well aware of the fact, that we will probably face another "too thrilling" season No need to panic because of the Giro startlist, but it definitely won't help us having an "easy" year in the ProTour! I would rather have last year's startlist - guys, what did you do there? On the other hand, it may favor Jack Haig's chances at some point, so.. argh, I dunno. It will be close anyway.
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| roturn |
Posted on 15-08-2018 09:31
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Team Manager
Posts: 22043
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
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I agree on that Desigual, Tenorio will suck label being unfair.
But then he is the only rider in the team potentially scoring well and this on a terrain, that has the biggest depth and like 5 riders I would still rate higher even if he is better in 2018.
And don`t think any other rider in their roster can help him enough and just so many rd without a proper point scoring leader I feel.
Actually I felt, I was too less harsh on my own team. Didn`t want myself to have it on relegation area, hence decided to let me over Bennelong and eBuddy, which could have been considered other way as well.
Think the whole division is just getting stronger and while the same team could have made top10 in 2017, it might relegate in 2018, which is crucial for many teams. |
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| ember |
Posted on 15-08-2018 20:04
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Team Leader
Posts: 7058
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 900.00
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Really tricky to predict the PT this season, as it's super close between a lot of teams on paper. Think you've done a good job with it, eventhough I disagree on a especially a couple of teams. Especially eBuddy relegating, which I can't really see happening, as Dombrowski alone should bring home a lot of points. I think UBS will be closer to relegation than you've predicted, and then eBuddy and your own team should be safe, not being in a potential huge relegation battle.
For my own team, it would be great to be up there, fighting for a top 5, and I'll happily take 6th if that's what we get when the season is done
The title fight is difficult to predict, and as you point out, Puma could well take it, as I suspect Herklotz will be flying this season. I agree T-Mobile and Moser are the top favourites though, and if Sagan can perform similar to last year, surely Roman's team must finally claim the title. But then if he doesn't T-Mobile should be more than prepared to claim the crown, led by that amazing Estonian. |
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| Heine |
Posted on 16-08-2018 07:41
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4467
Joined: 08-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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While I love being predicted first I am pretty sure Moser will beat me, and I also believe Hugo Boss will do it, and maybe other teams (hence my own prediction). I have some glearing weaknesses in sprints and cobbles that will cost me, and I'm not sure if the other riders can take enough points to make up for it. Ideally I would've been able to train TVG, but someone (ember....) ran up the price
Thanks for a great writeup, I really agree that the division is tighter than ever, doubt we will see a two-horse race like we saw last year
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| cio93 |
Posted on 16-08-2018 13:01
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World Champion
Posts: 10616
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
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Another very knowledgeable author, another podium finish prediction...
Thanks for pointing out the Demare thing, I still consider it special enough to pursue it beyond reason. 
It'll surely not be the most efficient way to move forward, but let's first see how 83mo Herklotz and 82sp Demare work in this game before considering the next step.
You really didn't have to mention Demare's positioning though which only reminds me of that awful Paris-Nice edition that you hit the jackpot in. 
It's obviously mandatory that the pan-flat stages have enough better sprinters around to not get a train, while I do trust in my bunch of makeshift leadouts when the peloton has already been reduced and energy reservoirs sufficiently sapped.
I have too much of a sweet spot for riders who are useful in all of their race days and not only on a few where the AI plays along to spend the money on true leadouts instead for now.
On the stage racing aspect, it's funny that of those riders you mention holding Herklotz back from a possible GT win this season, he'll at most face only Madrazo. 
Still the Vuelta will be a crapshoot from a prediction side until we actually see maxed Herklotz in action and can judge how much, if at all, he overperforms his mountain stat.
I have to say Arndt probably won't be the kind of overperforming this season that we came to expect, at least in GTs since they all don't suit him in the slightest with either important TTTs or long TTs. I do hope he'll get some opportunities elsewhere. Bongiorno's inevitably worse season has to be somewhat compensated by Nerz being more consistent, although you are right that this might not be too likely.
Overall, I repeat that 5th certainly would satisfy me sufficiently and anything above that would be absolutely amazing. Even being considered a title contender under the right circumstances is truly an honor, and who knows if we'll get that high ever again.
And I surely hope you'll finish higher than 16th yourself, if only to reward this great review!
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| fintas |
Posted on 16-08-2018 13:17
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2597
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
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I could not be more in agreement with the analysis made to my team.
Gesink and Cattaneo are two quality riders, the problem is in the rest of the team that should not be able to get points regularly. Our liders do not have enough racing days to be the solution to our problems
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 20-08-2018 21:32
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2797
Joined: 20-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks! Fair analysis.
I agree not having any sprinters will cost us points. Being an offensive team without sprinters has always been our identity though, so I'm not going to change it. Keeping this identity alive is even more important because of the fact that there's hardly a clear nationality focus among the riders we sign.
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