Track riders : good at short efforts. That doesn't systematically make them sprinters, but they generally can do (much) better than average when it comes to sprints.
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar!
Frank is an idiot for celebrating before the line...could've gotten the yellow.
How does Sagan maintain this form!
Edited by 547984 on 20-08-2013 22:31
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar!
547984 wrote:
Frank is an idiot for celebrating before the line...could've gotten the yellow.
How does Sagan maintain this form!
He is not maintaining form, this is just how he rolls (he trained in Colorado last two weeks for this part of season).
And yeah, WC is said to be his main goal after the Tour and he improves climbing day after day during this year, so i would not count him out completely, but spaniards+colombians+Nibali will be tough to crack, especially with rather weak Slovakian team.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 21-08-2013 07:03
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Nice win for the Terminator after the break, looks going the right direction right from the start of his August/September campaign.
Btw, Alakagom, those teams mentioned at Avenir startlist are all that will join the race? I am pretty sure at least Vakoc is going from Czech riders, dont know if whole team will be sent. How many teams are allowed there?
Some other intrseting names in the field ( and there's many )
France brings Alaphilippe ( goes to OPQS next year ). For the U23 ranks he's a solid punchy guy with solid kick. 8th in Tour de l'Ain sprint stage few days ago.
Caleb Ewan is here to take out the sprints. He should get a stage win somehwere at some point and show off his talent once again.
They also have two favoruites for the opening prologue. Flakemore and Howson ( goes to OGE next year ). Can't split them really, but my bet is Howson to win the prologue.
Konrad should lead the Austrian team. He'll hope to improve from his 9th place in GC last year.
From the mixed African team, a big talent, Merhawi Kudus ( only 19, from 1994!!!!!). He already finished 17th in Tour de l'Ain few fays ago!! He could well deliver a massive win for African cycling here.
has Michael Valgren ( Saxo next year), Lasse Normann Hansen ( Garmin next year ) , Magnus Cort Nielsen ( 2 impressive stage wins in Tour of Denmark ). They all are solid riders and should take some results, and they are riders that could well do very well in Avenir.
Simon Yates ( Avenir stage winner 2011 ) will lead GB in the sprints. He also will have a very good leadout if it comes to full on sprint.
Cannondale bound Davide Formolo will lead Italian GC aspirations. 2nd at Giro Valle d'Aosta Mont Blanc this year behind Villela, so definitely has talent to do very well.
Dylan Van Baarle will be hoping to do well in prologue and is good enough to steal a win on the flat stages, from late attack most likely. Van Der Lijke also gives them options on the punchier stages.
Other intresting names are Toms Skujins, he got plenty of results this year. Luka Pibernik and Matej Mohoric are two big Slovenian talents alongside Polanc and will hope to deliver as well.
In other words, should be a great race this year.
Edited by Alakagom on 21-08-2013 10:32
So i got it wrong apparently, Vakoc said on his pages that he goes to Livigno with Konrad and PöSTLBERGER to train for Avenir. I supposed from it that he is going too, while he maybe thought only about his team colleges.
That is real shame, i suppose that it is the money problem, or countries are choosen somehow? Vakoc, Hirt, Cerny could have left some mark there.
Hmm, not sure if satisfied with the Dutch line-up. Well, Van Baarle & Van der Lijke might pick up a win, but would've liked to have a GC hope like Olivier or possibly Bovenhuis or one of the stronger Dutch sprinters. (Though Teunissen is okay)
CountArach wrote: The prologue will be interesting. The Australian duo you mentioned (I'd rate Howson as the faster of the two) against Sutterlin and Normann.
I'd be surprised if Ewan doesn't take out however many sprints there are. He is just that quick.
Didn't know he was a sprinter.
USA Pro Cycling Challenge - Tour of Colorado (102.7 km) (2.HC)
GP Stad Zottegem (1.1)
Tour du Limousin, Stage 1: Limoges - Rochechouart (168 km) (2.1)
Caleb Ewan is here to take out the sprints. He should get a stage win somehwere at some point and show off his talent once again.
Konrad should lead the Austrian team. He'll hope to improve from his 9th place in GC last year.
has Michael Valgren ( Saxo next year), Lasse Normann Hansen ( Garmin next year ) , Magnus Cort Nielsen ( 2 impressive stage wins in Tour of Denmark ). They all are solid riders and should take some results, and they are riders that could well do very well in Avenir.
Simon Yates ( Avenir stage winner 2011 ) will lead GB in the sprints. He also will have a very good leadout if it comes to full on sprint.
Cannondale bound Davide Formolo will lead Italian GC aspirations. 2nd at Giro Valle d'Aosta Mont Blanc this year behind Villela, so definitely has talent to do very well.
Dylan Van Baarle will be hoping to do well in prologue and is good enough to steal a win on the flat stages, from late attack most likely. Van Der Lijke also gives them options on the punchier stages. 
Toms Skujins, he got plenty of results this year. 
Luka Pibernik and Matej Mohoric are two big Slovenian talents alongside Polanc and will hope to deliver as well.
