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UCPCL Continental Tour - Various Starlists needed
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| Bikex |
Posted on 22-04-2013 16:37
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Team Leader
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The test of time is the ultimate arbiter as to what constitutes a classic, and Strade Bianche has some years to go before attaining that lofty status, but the organisers certainly have a head start when it comes to the setting. Just as Paris-Roubaix is defined by its pavé, the Tour of Lombardy by its falling leaves and the Tour of Flanders by its jarring chain of hellingen, the dirt roads of Tuscany give Strade Bianche a unique feel.
Fifty-seven of the race’s 190km take place on the white roads themselves, and unlike Paris-Roubaix, where the cobbles arrive in short staccato bursts, there are just eight dirt sections, but half of them are 8km and above in length.
The first and longest section arrives 35km after the peloton leaves the start at Gaiole in Chianti. At 13.5km in length over some rolling rather than rugged terrain, the section over the Colle Malamerenda gives the riders an early taste of what is to come. A shorter 5.5km stretch follows shortly afterwards, before the bunch tackles the smooth climb to Montalcino, scene of a dramatic stage at the 2010 Giro d’Italia.
The midpoint of the race comes between twin dirt sectors of 11.9km and 8km, and these should force the first principal selection of the race. The denouement begins in earnest on the toughest sector of strade bianche with 60km to go. The 11.5km near Monte Sante Marie are punctuated by a succession of steep climbs and descents, and those dropped will struggle to regain contact on this technical part of the course.
The dirt climb of the Colle Pinzuto (2.4km at 15%) is another crucial juncture with 20km to go, while the final section of strade bianche at Le Tolfe rears up to 18 percent at one point. The final 14km into Siena present additional difficulties, as the run-in features a sharp climb into the city itself, before a grandstand finish in Piazza del Campo.
Better known as the scene of the biannual Palio horse race, positioning ahead of the final righthand bend has proved to be all-important. Last year, Gilbert gave a fine exhibition of his innate racecraft by swooping in ahead of Alessandro Ballan on that final bend to take a win that set the tone for the remainder of his spring.
 Fabian Cancellara
Filippo Pozzato
 Alessandro Ballan
 Oscar Freire
 Enrico Gasparotto
 Nick Van der Valde
 Sep Vanmarcke
 Jose Rojas
 Johan Veenhof
Daniel Oss
 Elia Favilli
 Oscar Gatto
 Robert Hunter
Matteo Trentin
 Pim Ligthart
Samuel Dumoulin
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 22-04-2013 16:40
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Bikex - Liking the preview mate  |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 22-04-2013 16:42
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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Cancellara and Pozzato 
Motorex the team to beat, by far
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| Bikex |
Posted on 22-04-2013 16:43
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Team Leader
Posts: 7255
Joined: 25-08-2012
PCM$: 600.00
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sutty68 wrote:
Bikex - Liking the preview mate
Thanks! 
but just that you know I copied the text from cyclingnews.com, I wouldn't be able to write all that by myself  |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 22-04-2013 16:44
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Motorex has a strong team, but gogo Rudy!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| mvhoogdalem |
Posted on 22-04-2013 16:44
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2244
Joined: 30-06-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice preview, but really confused at some of the one-star favourites, while Cunego (one of the best hilly riders in the DB) isn't even mentioned
I know it is classified as a flat race in the game, but I always have hilly riders in front of sprinters |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 08:09
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Bot Agent
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| jaxika |
Posted on 22-04-2013 16:47
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3148
Joined: 16-07-2008
PCM$: 9200.00
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I haven't understand something. The dirty hills are classified as normal hills or as cobble hills? |
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| mvhoogdalem |
Posted on 22-04-2013 16:48
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2244
Joined: 30-06-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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jaxika wrote:
I haven't understand something. The dirty hills are classified as normal hills or as cobble hills?
Normal hills |
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 22-04-2013 17:05
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15274
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Hope it gets to an uphill sprint, Veenhof is the man-to-beat then...
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 22-04-2013 17:58
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3507
Joined: 06-10-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice preview - looking forward to this race - I just somehow feel that Rojas is going to do well here, I don't know why
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 22-04-2013 18:04
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
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Much depend's on what happens. Like in the MG, a puncheur with a strong attack can take this or a sprint for the win in the uphill. |
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| fcancellara |
Posted on 22-04-2013 18:59
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5194
Joined: 18-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Yes I sent in a very strong team, but I also did that in Omloop and I didn't even get on the podium there.
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 22-04-2013 19:23
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15274
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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fcancellara wrote:
Yes I sent in a very strong team, but I also did that in Omloop and I didn't even get on the podium there.
Hope it turns out the same as it did with Omloop. ING won
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 22-04-2013 19:26
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World Champion
Posts: 11971
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Pim Ligthart
Samuel Dumoulin
first of all, Lightart Favorite
second of all Samuel Dumoulin isn't on my team
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 22-04-2013 19:28
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15274
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Give me Dumoulin back! MINE.
But you will be cheering for Johan Veenhof, won't you?
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| fcancellara |
Posted on 22-04-2013 19:49
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5194
Joined: 18-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Oh and how is Albasini not a favorite, he is just a little bit less good than Gasparotto
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| fcancellara |
Posted on 22-04-2013 20:19
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5194
Joined: 18-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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mvhoogdalem wrote:
jaxika wrote:
I haven't understand something. The dirty hills are classified as normal hills or as cobble hills?
Normal hills
PCM should add a Dirt stat
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 22-04-2013 22:32
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Team Leader
Posts: 7294
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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I think Vanmarcke can produce an upset. He's gonna have to feel very good but I think he can do it.
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 23-04-2013 11:08
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World Champion
Posts: 11971
Joined: 21-07-2012
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Jesleyh wrote:
Give me Dumoulin back! MINE.
But you will be cheering for Johan Veenhof, won't you?
more for Lightart since he get's more points if he wins
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| Bikex |
Posted on 24-04-2013 21:05
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Team Leader
Posts: 7255
Joined: 25-08-2012
PCM$: 600.00
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Welcome to Strade Bianche 2012. Today is a very hot day for this time of the year in Italy. Some riders will like that some won't! Let's go!
After just one kilometre it's Carrara(FWB) who makes the first attack! Popkov(PER), Kadri(NAC), Zaugg(MCS), Amador(MAG), Vrecer(RBM) and Malori follow.
But this is a way to big group for a lot of the favourites, so AXA brings the pack together immediately! There are a lot of attacks in the beginning. Almost every team tries to get someone in the break. Only CSC, ING and AXA are staying calm. The last two are making the pace in the pack later joined by TAM. After 17 kilometres of racing there seems to be a successfull break. Popkov(PER), Rodriguez(SEP), Beyer(DOM) and Amador(MAG) will spend the day in the break!
With 100 km the break has a gap of 5'50 minutes, the pace in the peloton is controlled by TAM, AXA and ING, joined by NAC some kilometres later, their leaders seem to feel good!
Only ten kilometres later the break reaches their maximum gap to the peloton which is 6'10 minutes. TAM is taking the reponsibility for the pace for the next 30 kilometres.
With 40 kilometres to go NAC is making the pace in the peloton and are winning second by second over the break. The high speed is leading to major splits in the peloton. NAC is pacing so hard that their own leader Rojas looses contact along with him are Mosby (TCW), Oss (FWB), Veenhof (ING), Favilli (BUL) and a lot of others. The peloton has been reduced to 45 men!
Three kilometres later the most important riders that were caught behind reunite with the peloton, that has slowed down a bit. The break has with 30 kilometres to go still a margin of 2'12 minutes! TAM is doing the pace again!
A big question today is the form of the MCS leaders, as the whole team has refused to help with the pace the whole day so far. Instead ING and NAC are surprisingly helping in front of the peloton almost the entire day! With 20 kilometres to go the break is still 1'19 in front! It doesn't look good for them!
As if he heard me questioning his form Pozatto is the first favourite to attack with 16 kilometres to go! Only Fastwebs Ballan is following! Now there are two of the most called names for the win infront of the field but 16 kilometres is a long way...
The attack only lasted for a kilometre, the two Italians wouldn't work together and are brought back by Pires!
Back at the front the break is only 26 seconds in front and Beyer is the first to attack...
but the other three follow!
In the end it's Beyer who gets reeled in by the peloton first, nice try though!
Amador can shake off his companions! He is twelve seconds in front of the remaining break and another 20 seconds to the field!
Rodriguez and Popkov give up and are back in the pack with 12 kilometres to go. It was a long day in the break for them, they were almost 150 kilometres in front. Amador still has a gap of 30 seconds.
Rojas is able to learn as we see him positioning himself at the front just before entering the ultimate dirt section with 10,5 kilometres to go! Other favourites will loose contact here and won't have a chance to come back. Most famous Favilli (BUL), Burghardt (NAC) and Matteo Trentin (MCS).
Amador manages to save 20 seconds into the last 10 kilometres. It doesn't look good for him!
Just after that it's again Ballan who starts an attack!
First it's Cancellara following.
Then Vanmarcke
In the pack Pozzato decides to reel in the attackers. Seems like there is a fight about who is the captain at MCS as Cancellara already has a comfortable gap of 25 seconds together with Ballan.
First Amador is reeled in and then it's Vanmarcke who takes over the pacemaking. With 5 kilometres to go the pack is still nine seconds back!
With 4 kilometres it's over for Cancellara and Ballan!
The pack is reduced already to 23 men. We now get the infos who didn't get the split. Veenhof (ING), Oss (FWB), Favilli (BUL) and Burghardt (NAC) cross the five kilometre mark 3'33 minutes in a large bunch after Cancellara did.
With 2,3 kilometres it's Ballan in front -> Cancellara -> Pozzato -> Freire -> Rojas next to them is Vanmaracke and also surprisingly Amador is still right at the front!
When coming through the medieval ports of Siena everybody is still sitting back and waiting to start the sprint!
Then all of a sudden Gasparotto starts the sprint and gets to the front right away, everybody is trying to react panically and the sprint gets a real mess! At the moment it is Gasparotto -> Cancellara -> Ballan -> Vanmarcke -> Pozatto -> Rojas -> Amador -> Albasini -> Dumoulin -> Freire -> Zaugg -> Gatto -> Bole
Many are boxed in but it's still open for the spots on the podium!
Gasparotto increases his gap spectacularly! After that it's very close! In the front row there are Rojas, Dumoulin and Pozzato after that we have Cancellara, Freire and Ballan!
With starting his sprint early Gasparotto is a deserved winner and took the win tactically smart!
For second place it's really close! Freire just edges out Pozzato. In the end both of them would have won if they had started sprinting in the same time like Gasparotto, because they were a lot faster and were decreasing the gap to Gasparotto!
Verboven wins the sprint of the large pack for 24th ahead of Oss
| 1 | Enrico Gasparotto | | Pervyj | 4h35'36 | | 2 | Óscar Freire |  | TAP - Michelin | s.t. | | 3 | Filippo Pozzato | | Motorex - Credit Suisse Pro Cycling | s.t. | | 4 | José Joaquín Rojas | | Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling | s.t. | | 5 | Samuel Dumoulin | | ING - InBev Cycling Team | s.t. | | 6 | Oscar Gatto | | Sony Ericsson Cycling Team | s.t. | | 7 | Alessandro Ballan | | Team Fastweb | s.t. | | 8 | Fabian Cancellara | | Motorex - Credit Suisse Pro Cycling | s.t. | | 9 | Ted Mosby |  | Team Cymru Wales | s.t. | | 10 | Giovanni Visconti | | Team Fastweb | s.t. | | 11 | Sep Vanmarcke | | AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team | s.t. | | 12 | Robert Hunter | | Magners Pro Team | s.t. | | 13 | Leonardo Bertagnolli | | Magners Pro Team | s.t. | | 14 | Steven Kruijswijk | | Team Cymru Wales | s.t. | | 15 | Michael Albasini | | Motorex - Credit Suisse Pro Cycling | s.t. | | 16 | Andrey Amador | | Magners Pro Team | s.t. | | 17 | Nick Van der Valde | | Team CSC | s.t. | | 18 | Grega Bole | | ING - InBev Cycling Team | s.t. | | 19 | Paul Martens | | Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling | s.t. | | 20 | Sandy Casar | | TAP - Michelin | s.t. |
Edited by Bikex on 26-04-2013 14:20
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
