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Volta Ciclista a Catalunya discussion
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| Smowz |
Posted on 27-08-2011 16:29
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With the Italy and France's first stage races of the year under way we come to Spain for the most mountainous of the clashing trio of races.
It is the middle part of this race that will likely define the winner of this race, with the lumpy stage 3 and the steep late hill climb on stage 4 and the mountain top finish on stage 5.
As expected we have some fantastic climbers here including the recent winner of the Tour of Oman Pluchkin. The startlist in full:
Spoiler B&O
1. A. Pluchkin
2. A. Grivko
3. M. Hacecký
4. S. Kruijswijk
5. A. Rasmussen
6. K. Vanoverschelde
7. T. Vinter
Festina
11. A. Contador
12. D. Drapac
13. D. Holloway
14. S. Morabito
15. V. Reynès
16. R. RodrÃguez Segarra
17. R. Sentjens
18. J. Serpa
Santander
21. J. Tenorio
22. E. Gonzalo
23. A. Hernández Gutierrez
24. P. Merino Criado
25. D. Ortega
26. J. Rienda Segura
27. R. Serrano
28. R. Valls
Pearl
31. T. Machado
32. K. De Haes
33. W. De Vocht
34. S. Joseph
35. T. Leezer
36. P. Panayotov
37. M. Richeze
38. J. RodrÃguez
Vesuvio
41. B. Intxausti
42. M. Barth
43. J. Cabreira
44. D. Claerebout
45. M. Ford
46. M. Kittel
47. D. Medvedev
48. J. Wallays
Carmeuse
51. R. Taaramäe
52. B. Curfs
53. R. Di Gregorio
54. J. El Fares
55. J. Libert
56. O. Solis
57. J. Suaza
Jack Wolfskin
61. R. Plaza
62. X. Florencio
63. B. Giling
64. W. Poels
65. K. Sys
66. D. Van Winden
67. H. Zubeldia
Pokerstars
71. J. Rujano
72. G. Atkins
73. S. Clement
74. J. Degenkolb
75. C. Kern
76. R. Kluge
77. J. Van Goolen
78. J. Vermote
Nestlé
81. S. Denifl
82. Y. Delgado
83. M. Durán
84. I. Lo Cicero
85. J. Maillet
86. H. Mottin
87. D. Vitoria
Colombia
91. D. Abal
92. L. Duque
93. D. Montoya
94. E. Orozco
95. O. Pereiro Sio
96. F. Perez Sanchez
97. J. Tendero
UBS
101. J. Gomez Marchante
102. T. Frei
103. F. Marquez
104. C. Riblon
105. C. Sinelobov
106. J. Tschopp
107. D. Vorontsov
108. O. Zaugg
Pendleton's
111. D. Martin
112. T. Copeland
113. P. Deignan
114. T. Faiers
115. J. Ji
116. T. Kennaugh
117. D. Menchov
118. F. Mourey
Sony
121. B. Kohl
122. L. Fernández Oliveira
123. S. Lang
124. C. Meyer
125. W. Pedraza
126. V. Renäng
127. M. Öste-Macdonald
Wiggle
131. T. Kritskiy
132. I. Bibby
133. T. Costagli
134. A. Kunshin
135. M. Moser
136. D. Ratto
137. M. Rowe
138. P. Scarponi
Hollister
141. R. Kiserlovski
142. A. Davis
143. J. Hicks
144. P. Mach
145. Y. Martinez
146. Y. Monsalve
147. S. Scheirlinckx
148. S. Szmyd
Milka
151. T. Rohregger
152. L. Howard
153. Y. Hutarovich
154. L. König
155. Y. Nepomnyachsniy
156. Z. Stybar
157. M. Vysna
Webeffect
161. V. Rodrigues
162. O. Avelino
163. I. Camaño
164. T. Danielson
165. B. Khalilikhosroshani
166. L. Mas
167. R. Nelson
Bacardi
171. S. Pardilla
172. M. Burghardt
173. M. Mugerli
174. E. Sokolov
175. M. Van Stayen
Wikipedia
181. C. Mai
182. D. Atapuma
183. C. Barton
184. B. Bookwalter
185. J. Decouttere
186. K. Eeckhout
187. M. Goss
188. A. Semple
Spyker
191. J. Pecharroman
192. L. Bak
193. N. Edet
194. E. MartÃnez de Esteban
195. D. Teklehaimanot
196. A. Vichot
Warner Bros
201. J. Redondo
202. G. Coletta
203. D. Gallego
204. S. Perez Fernandez
205. T. Pinto
206. R. Van Houts
207. M. Van der Pluijm
He will find the Spanish riders his big rivals here you would expect with Contador, Intxuasti, Tenorio, Abal, Plaza and Gomez Marchente all leading teams here. Machado, Serpa, Pedraza, Marquez, Rujano, Menchov, Denifl, Taaramae, Kohl and Martin also need mentioning as very decent climbers. It will be fascinating to see how the tactics play out with three very tough stages.
There should be a couple of sprint oppurtunities with three flat stages. Wildcard teams Pokerstars and Hollister have got Degenkolb and Davis here to challenge the likes of Van Stayen, Holloway, Lo Cicero, Avelino, Meyer, Matt Rowe, Goss, Holloway and Hutorovich.
First two stages should be with you tomorrow!
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| beagle |
Posted on 27-08-2011 17:37
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it´s going to be exciting race, I´m only wondering why I didn´t send Mohs here??
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 27-08-2011 18:10
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 27880
Joined: 20-10-2006
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I have an absolutely horrible line-up for this race, but one can always hope for a breakaway stage victory. |
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 27-08-2011 20:51
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The Management-Game Gazzette Issue #6
The two classic European PT season openers, T-A and P-N, have already started by now, but there's still one more week-long stage-race to do before we kick off with the classics season. I'm talking obviously about the Volta a Catalunya, which will open the hostilities in Spain this season. And who better than the Santander DS, mb2612, to analyse this race with us? That's it, no one:
Q. This is one of your teams' biggest goals of the season, being yourselves interested solely in the first step of the podium. Who will lead Santander here and which opponents are you most afraid of?
 Fresh off the back of his 3rd overall in Oman Justo Tenorio will lead us here, we expect him to lead from start to finish, picking up a stage win in the opening prologue. Really though, it's all about getting ourselves psyched up for the Vuelta proper, where Santander are really bringing out the big guns. As far as rivals, Intxausti is probably the big one, however we have looked over his racing styles and have plans for him.
Q. Your team has set some pretty high standards for a PT débutante, but having just taken a much wanted 3rd place in Oman, how much of a threat do you think the other teams consider Santander to be?
In the mountains we have no equal, with I feel the greatest strength in depth ever assembled. I hope the other teams are not worried, as that will allow us to surprise and destroy them come the Vuelta
Q. Besides being far from flat, the Volta a Catalunya seems to have only one real decisive stage. Do you think it will all be decided in Stage 5, or will we see some audacious moves in other hilly/mountainous stages?
If Justo takes the lead then you cane expect Santander to control the other stages, not allowing anyone to get clear, if we need to make up time however, expect fireworks. Stage 4 has a couple of vicious climbs, so it will be as hard to control Justo's attacking instinct here as it will be to beat Santander in the Vuelta.
Q. Your team has been criticised by the lack of versatility before, namely in the cobbles and time-trials department. Are you confident enough your side will be able to gather enough points in stage-races, so that you can finish in the Overall Team Rankings Top10?
Santander have no interest in people who don't arrange proper races, and are petitioning for the banning of non mountain stages for next years pro tour. As far as the overall ranking goes, a top ten would be nice, but victory in the Vuelta is our real aim, that's what we will judge our season on.
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| Roman |
Posted on 28-08-2011 00:52
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Well, at least I don't have the worst squad here, as I expected!
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| CountArach |
Posted on 28-08-2011 01:21
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Another great interview Gustavovskiy.
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| niconico |
Posted on 28-08-2011 01:37
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Classics Specialist
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I need a good showing from Pluchkin.
*Hopes he hasn't jinxed it already*
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| roturn |
Posted on 28-08-2011 09:45
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Fresh off the back of his 3rd overall in Oman Justo Tenorio will lead us here, we expect him to lead from start to finish, picking up a stage win in the opening prologue. Really though, it's all about getting ourselves psyched up for the Vuelta proper, where Santander are really bringing out the big guns. As far as rivals, Intxausti is probably the big one, however we have looked over his racing styles and have plans for him.
First goal acchieved.  Let`s see if you can be totally right here.
Ford was quite a surprise for me as I thought the flat stat would be more important in time trials, but obviously not in prologues, what is still a bit weird imo. |
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Posted on 07-12-2025 18:00
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| SotD |
Posted on 28-08-2011 12:06
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May the best climber win, hopefully that is Contador! Top 3 here is the goal...
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 28-08-2011 12:18
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roturn wrote:
Fresh off the back of his 3rd overall in Oman Justo Tenorio will lead us here, we expect him to lead from start to finish, picking up a stage win in the opening prologue. Really though, it's all about getting ourselves psyched up for the Vuelta proper, where Santander are really bringing out the big guns. As far as rivals, Intxausti is probably the big one, however we have looked over his racing styles and have plans for him.
First goal acchieved. Let`s see if you can be totally right here.
Ford was quite a surprise for me as I thought the flat stat would be more important in time trials, but obviously not in prologues, what is still a bit weird imo.
 , the field is rather stronger than I had hoped, it looks likely that the winner of the mountain stage will get the overall, so I'll need to get lucky.
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 28-08-2011 13:08
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Good start for Plaza even though a stage win would have been nicer.
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| SotD |
Posted on 28-08-2011 18:37
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Good effort from Holloway. Hopefully he can edge a couple of podiums this season also. More important though is that Contador was not implemented in anything today. That is positive, as we have had some fairly bad luck so far...
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| mattiasgt |
Posted on 28-08-2011 18:48
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Bernhard! Stay on your damn bike!
(Previously) Manager of Koenigsegg
Koenigsegg: ( Media)
Livin' Loud |
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| ltt |
Posted on 28-08-2011 18:49
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Excellent win by Davis, super happy with him at the moment, that's already his 4th or 5th win of the season.
Does anyone know if wildcard stage victories can count towards your goals?
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| niconico |
Posted on 28-08-2011 19:05
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3926
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Wow Tenorio beating Pluchkin be SEVEN seconds! That's alot! Especially when you think about how they are equally good in TTs. Guess the national bonus weighs quite a lot here.
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| ember |
Posted on 28-08-2011 19:33
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niconico wrote:
Wow Tenorio beating Pluchkin be SEVEN seconds! That's alot! Especially when you think about how they are equally good in TTs. Guess the national bonus weighs quite a lot here.
Isn't there daily form too? If it is, the difference can easily be 7 seconds. If it's not, then the national bonus indeed weighs quite a lot  |
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| beagle |
Posted on 28-08-2011 20:15
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ltt wrote:
Excellent win by Davis, super happy with him at the moment, that's already his 4th or 5th win of the season.
Does anyone know if wildcard stage victories can count towards your goals?
firstly, big congrats to another win
secondly, yes stage wins from PT races count toward "15 stage wins goal"
personally, I glad to see my boys in action, attacking (Van Goolen, Atkins & loanie in Vesuvio outfit Wallays), falling down (Van Goolen), relaxing far away behind pack (Vermote) and sprinting (Degenkolb & Holloway in Festina jersey)...in total good stage for me  ...I just still waiting for 1st picture of Rujano in his national jersey (friendly reminder for reporter)
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| niconico |
Posted on 28-08-2011 20:40
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ember wrote:
niconico wrote:
Wow Tenorio beating Pluchkin be SEVEN seconds! That's alot! Especially when you think about how they are equally good in TTs. Guess the national bonus weighs quite a lot here.
Isn't there daily form too? If it is, the difference can easily be 7 seconds. If it's not, then the national bonus indeed weighs quite a lot
You reckon daily form could made that much of a difference. 5th for pluchkin should mean he didn't have bad daily form, so the difference in that department couldn't have been that significant I'd reckon. I don't know the exact effects of the daily forms though.
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 28-08-2011 21:16
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niconico wrote:
ember wrote:
niconico wrote:
Wow Tenorio beating Pluchkin be SEVEN seconds! That's alot! Especially when you think about how they are equally good in TTs. Guess the national bonus weighs quite a lot here.
Isn't there daily form too? If it is, the difference can easily be 7 seconds. If it's not, then the national bonus indeed weighs quite a lot
You reckon daily form could made that much of a difference. 5th for pluchkin should mean he didn't have bad daily form, so the difference in that department couldn't have been that significant I'd reckon. I don't know the exact effects of the daily forms though.
I think to win a prolouge like this requires good daily form, everyone is separated by such a small amount anyway that it's the bonus you need to go from top 10 to 1st
[url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
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| Heine |
Posted on 29-08-2011 08:31
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Could have been some slight wind-differences aswell?
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