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Tour de Romandie - Discussion
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 01-02-2024 13:06
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4655
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
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Home win! While not one of the most crucial stages scoring-wise, this definitely was one of the races we absolutely wanted to win this year - and the boys did an amazing job! Dropping Bol early definitely was the right call, with Bralirwa bringing a more well-balanced TT team and getting really close. It was a gamble whether to bring Bol instead of Brunel (making it -11 TT), but it just worked here.
Stüssi being the 6th rider is obviously another tactical stupidity - who knows what a 3" difference will mean in the end... But he's still in a great position now; a lot could be possible if he manages to keep up with the strongest on days 3 and 4, like he did last year. The gap to Meintjes is obviously tiny, with Choi and Oomen pretty close behind, too. But maybe there's something like a "home bonus", which we'd gladly take for him 
Well done to Bralirwa, as strong as expected. Genii definitely surprising in 3rd place, with UBS having the clearly stronger TTT lineup (actually the strongest overall), but the latter probably had too many uphill slouches given the steep final kilometer.
Big commiserations to Indosat, really no clue what happened there... In terms of stats, they should be close to Genii - both have a good lineup in general, both have one TT slouch. Genii lose 8", Indosat more than a minute - I can simply not see a valuable reason for that... Maybe PCM somehow just shafts a TTT lineup if there's one sub-60 TTer in there, but that seems pretty far-fetched... Almost hoping Yates will crush the opposition now on the uphills!
Now, it's Bol's task to show that bringing him was the right call - if he fails big like in Lithuania, it'd probably have been smarter to bring Brunel instead, hoping to gain a couple more seconds in the TTT... we'll see!
Thanks for the really comprehensive report, obviously was a pleasure to read
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 01-02-2024 15:08
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1110
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Congrats Fabi!
Our TTT was pretty good regarding our poor lineup and Chevrier losing big time is kind of a bonus as he now should have a gap big enough for stage hunting.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 01-02-2024 18:18
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11654
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
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That was a good enough TTT from us. We've never been much of a TT team, so this was a nice turnaround. Hoping Choi does the business from here.
Congrats to Fab and thanks for the report!
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 02-02-2024 08:32
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Team Manager
Posts: 6507
Joined: 14-09-2008
PCM$: 1090.00
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6th is fairly disappointing by Silvestre in this field. Looks like he had a decently quick finish, just poor positioning. Not much you can do about it. At least Uwizeyimana didn't lose any time in that split. And tomorow is much more important anyway. 6th on that uphill finish would be even more disappointing, even if that is asking a lot from Meintjes. We'll see ...
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 02-02-2024 09:53
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2904
Joined: 15-07-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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Slooowly climbing the GC. Hoping to advance further when the mountains starts to show up.
Happy with Kaislavuos breakaway today, has put himself in a good position.
Bring on the next.
Thank you sean!  |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 16-11-2024 18:06
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 02-02-2024 11:13
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World Champion
Posts: 11391
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1020.00
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Was gonna be annoyed about how crappy we have been recently at getting in the breakaway… but Jams was cooking. Love him so much. Would be amazing one of these days his random sprints against much better riders could result in a really special result, but for now we just love our man creating something out of nothing.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 02-02-2024 12:01
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4505
Joined: 05-10-2010
PCM$: 900.00
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It’s taken 8 and a bit seasons, but finally we have an Indonesian rider getting a win for the team! It’s been a long time coming, I almost thought the day would never come - very happy that it’s finally happened. Whilst not the first Indonesian victory in the MG (Novardianto?), this feels like a natural progression for the team. In 2015 we started with a tiny pool of old Indonesian riders, then eventually a couple of bang average talents, a few decent talents and now finally Indonesia has riders that can properly compete at a level like this - with some of the riders coming through, hopefully it keeps getting better
Good to see Einhorn do well too after some bad early season luck.
but wtf why was Yates part of the leadout? Have we already been scrubbed out by the game for the GC?
Thanks for the report
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 02-02-2024 12:08
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Team Manager
Posts: 6507
Joined: 14-09-2008
PCM$: 1090.00
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Eden95 wrote:
It’s taken 8 and a bit seasons, but finally we have an Indonesian rider getting a win for the team! It’s been a long time coming, I almost thought the day would never come - very happy that it’s finally happened. Whilst not the first Indonesian victory in the MG (Novardianto?), this feels like a natural progression for the team. In 2015 we started with a tiny pool of old Indonesian riders, then eventually a couple of bang average talents, a few decent talents and now finally Indonesia has riders that can properly compete at a level like this - with some of the riders coming through, hopefully it keeps getting better
That is so cool! Congrats on that milestone!
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 02-02-2024 13:22
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World Champion
Posts: 14555
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9000.00
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Congrats Indosat!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| quadsas |
Posted on 02-02-2024 13:26
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2517
Joined: 18-01-2013
PCM$: 300.00
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Pronskiy losing time is cringe, but a good start, maybe slight time loss for Dion will encourage him to attack more
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 02-02-2024 13:54
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1114
Joined: 26-04-2020
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Congrats Eden! 
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 02-02-2024 16:19
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1110
Joined: 07-07-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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First of all thanks to sean for the reports and congrats to jandal and most of all to eden. After waiting this long for an Indonesian win I can't even imagine how glad you have to be.
It was already a nice race for us (and for Bordeaux too, nice to see Le Berre and Doubey doing fine), 5th place should be Russos best result for us so far. And seeing Vauquelin doing well as a neo-pro is great (especially regarding what we're paying him atm  ). Hopefully he'll show the KoM jersey tomorrow, so we have a nice picture to showcase how his great career started.
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 02-02-2024 16:19
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Team Manager
Posts: 6507
Joined: 14-09-2008
PCM$: 1090.00
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Good job, Louis! Stage win would have been nice, but coming second to Bennett is perfectly reasonable, congrats jandal! It's great to be in the yellow jersey, hopefully that gives a little boost for tomorrow's stage. Ideally, Louis needs some more time on Choi, Oomen and Stüssi before the TT. If he gets that, the overall win is possible. I'm slightly miffed that Uwizeyimana lost 3 minutes, but he'll probably sacrifice himself as a helper tomorrow anyway.
Thanks for the nice report once again, looking forward to tomorrow a lot!
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 02-02-2024 17:58
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2900
Joined: 07-08-2011
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Always love to see a Bennett win even if it's not for the best for us in terms of a potential top 10 fight in PCT standings
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 02-02-2024 18:19
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World Champion
Posts: 14555
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9000.00
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I really need Oomen to do better here.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 02-02-2024 20:40
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World Champion
Posts: 11391
Joined: 17-12-2014
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Wow Eden had no idea that was your first Indonesian win, incredibly special moment! Love to see it. Not sure on any others, feels like there should have been, but otherwise yes Novardianto won a Giro stage during his PT loan.
As for Stage 3… hell yeah George Bennett Absolutely love that no matter the PCM version these hilltop finishes are his bread and butter, have to add up his career wins on them because it’s absolutely ridiculous for a guy with 76HI and 73ACC, well into double digits now. Something in his stat line and status as a GC guy just clicks I guess.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 02-02-2024 21:43
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4505
Joined: 05-10-2010
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Thank you all, a very nice moment
Yates with some shithouse positioning there - not so keen on his ability to claw back a few seconds let alone over a minute if that’s how he’s gonna ride. Congrats jandal on another Bennett Masterclass!
Thanks for the reports Sean!
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 02-02-2024 22:15
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4655
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
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Well, after the great start, it's been far less productive for us in stages 2 and 3. May just doesn't seem to be Bol's preferred month - he easily had the winner's speed on day 2, but his positioning was awful once again. One more chance...
On stage 3, the main goal obviously was to somehow keep Stüssi in the front group. But given that he took 3rd on the same stage last year, expectations were even slightly higher - taking over the yellow jersey would have been crucial. Well, unfortunately Meintjes had a "normal" day and got the expected bonus seconds...
We're still 2nd in GC, which hopefully will help Stüssi's positioning on the decisive mountain stage.
Despite some rather mediocre results, I'd still like to point out another team milestone; after wearing the yellow jersey for the first time on home soil during stage 2 - with Marchewka the lucky one to do so - stage 3 then was even better: Our first yellow jersey in Switzerland worn by a Swiss rider - and with Bissegger it even was a homegrown one! Despite the fun lasting for just one day (thanks Meintjes ), and despite it not being worth many points, it's still a big moment in team history
Now, what to expect from the second half of the race? No clue... Stüssi should be around 6th to 7th in the pecking order of the climbers, but he's shown in the Giro he can keep up with most 80 climbers. I'm just hoping for some really, really great legs on day 4 - and hopefully some help from Darbellay, who once again threw any kind of potential depth result out of the window today... But the high mountains will hopefully suit him better.
Congrats to Eden on that first Indonesian stage win in team history, great to see that milestone finally achieved
Congrats to Xero for Bennett's win, looks like you just (almost) can't lose on such stages this year!
And obviously thanks for the reports to sean - although I hope the next ones will again be more fun to read from my perspective as a team manager
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 03-02-2024 02:36
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World Champion
Posts: 11391
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1020.00
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Poor stage there, looked like maybe Bennett did too much on the front? Never a good sign for us that we need a TT to save our race
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 03-02-2024 08:00
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World Champion
Posts: 14555
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9000.00
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Good effort by Oomen, but just not good enough. The gaps going into the TT feel very small.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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