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Smowz's Protour preview
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:15
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It promises to be the most competitive Protour in some time with 20 active teams, who seem all eager to do well in 2013. Most teams have at least one rider who could land one or two really big results, with possible exception to the time trials the very best riders are here.
The Grand Tours come down to the question of who goes where. Usually it would be the case that the top Spanish and Italian guys would ride and be favoured for their home tours.
The worlds number 1 climber and cyclist where will he race?
Madrazo surely will ride a hilly Vuelta, but will his teammate Tenorio accompany him? I think not this year, though he should still have more than enough support it will not be a suffocating as 2012. Valverde likes the route, though could suffer in the few truly mountainous stages, I think Franck Schleck may give it a go along with Trofimov and maybe a few more hilly classics style stage racers even perhaps Ricco.
Cunego finally took on the tour and won, whats left in the Little Prince's box of tricks
Madrazo will surely also ride the Tour though other names like Pluchkin and Andy Schleck could be added to THE stage race rivalry in the ManGame. So Cunego the who has just one grand tour to ride, will it be the tour or the more 'safe' bet returning home to the Giro? Surely Lotto will go for the Tour with that chrono heavy Giro making it risky to expect one more Cunego dominanted Giro.
The sight dreaded for all stage racers - the mass crash!
So the Tour looks mouthwatering and the designers have one that favours the mountain climbers really which will likely attract the improving Machado and possibly Contador to add to those already named as well as some of the best. Pluchkin has confirmed his entry and I doubt Vesuvio will have spent all that money on Andy Schleck to then avoid the one race the world truly cares about.
Ricco became the first non Cunego winner of the Giro in 2012
The Giro on the other hand doesn't suit last years protagonists Ricco or Sella, though both may well still be present. Gesink seems to have ruled himself out but other chrono favouring stage riders like Phinney, Tenorio, Fothen, Uran and Amador could possibly be the first non Italians to take the Giro. That said Nibali could return and become the thinking tifosi's choice?
These named riders and other stage racers such as Van den Broeck, Denifl, Brajkovic, Eastman, Pedraza, Velits, Duarte, Sicard and Keinath will battle it out over the other 'minor' stage races such as the two Swiss stage races, Colombia, Dauphine, California, Deutschland and Volta Catalunya lots of glory to share round but then lots of stage racers out there.
Frank Schleck won La Doyenne again in 2012
In the Classics with it's a case of seeing whether the two man game legends Frank Schleck and Tom Boonan can hold off the challengers for another year. Jan Bakelants pushed Franck Schleck very hard last year, though Schleck just about held the upper hand. You fancy though the Belgian could be the better this year with improved Hagen and Trofimov coming more into prominence.
Boonan wins an exciting Roubaix velodrome sprint
On the cobbled stuff Bewley has been seen as the hier apparent to Boonan. Though dangerous German Burghardt is still kicking around, as is Cancellara who have both won the queen of the classics in the past. It's probably a year too early for the likes of Summerhill and Blythe but they could take one of the lesser cobbled classics particular Blythe in the UK.
Bennati outsprints the protour men as a wildcard in one of last years flat classics
There are a number of sprinters classics on the calendar and after doing so well in this style of racing in the CTour Bennati will look to challenge the likes of Swift, Boonan, Bewley, Goss, Van Heerden and the improved Guerao in this arena. Against the clock, stripped of Z man and rapid Rogers we are left with Coppel, Fiedler, Cancellara and Phinney who are closely matched. In the team event the foregone Jack Wolfskin result has disappeared Coppel could lead his Milka squad there.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:16
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Here are the first five teams - gone for a photogenic preview here, hope you enjoy. Team standings predictions to follow...
Edited by Smowz on 14-01-2013 21:19
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:16
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Edited by Smowz on 14-01-2013 21:30
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:16
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Edited by Smowz on 14-01-2013 21:37
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| Ad Bot |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:16
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Edited by Smowz on 14-01-2013 21:43
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:16
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Team standings predictions -
I fancy Pearl Adidas this year, they are strong in almost all areas. The two seasons I have been involved in the man game the combination of a big punchaer and strength in depth elsewhere has been the key. Vesuvio lost a bit of that depth chasing a different goal.
I think Koeniggsegg, Milka and Festina will also be in the top five with Vesuvio and Pearl Adidas in this order.
1. Pearl Adidas
2. Vesuvio
3. Koeniggsegg
4. Festina
5. Milka
Santander have probably the biggest gun and individual standings winner in Madrazo. The Project, Bacardi, UBS all also have a good bunch of heavyweights that should secure top tens. I think Lotto will squeak in the top 10 also, though they are hard to place.
6. Santander
7. UBS
8. Bacardi
9. Project 1t4i
10. Lotto
I am biased but I'll put SRB in the 11-15 bunch, though if I am honest I don't really know what to expect. Wikipedia should do okay, I am not underestimating Pendletons or my rivals Pokerstars either. Wiggle seem unfancied by a few but they'll be good I think scoring heavily in some stage races and classics.
11. Wikipedia
12. Simply Red Bull
13. Pendletons
14. Wiggle
15. Pokerstars
So we come to the danger zone, I do think Venchi and probably Puma are doomed. Both seem to have prepared for relegation using protour wages to buy young 'uns. Heineken look a little undercooked, Pozzato is a unreliable bugger ask SotD. It leaves Aker or B and O, I'll go with B and O to go down. It really will depend on their leaders Pluchkin and Hagen. It could be sort of a funny battle considering the transfer between the two teams. Aker have Spilak albeit massively overpriced which trumps Keinath and Guldhammer for me.
16. Aker
17. B and O
18. Heineken
19. Puma
20. Venchi
Edited by Smowz on 14-01-2013 21:45
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:30
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I'm excited by the previews, both yours and embers.
I am really taking a risk this year with my team, so I hope it pays off.
 [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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| ember |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:32
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You're spot on for my team, I feel. Hopefully we'll get that needed magic from Boasson Hagen 
I really like your layout, and it's really well written. A very enjoyable read so far  |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:34
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mb2612 wrote:
I'm excited by the previews, both yours and embers.
I am really taking a risk this year with my team, so I hope it pays off.
Hope you enjoy the Santander one... here it comes...
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:37
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Smowz, are you going to do to the CT and the PCT? Great preview btw. |
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| cio93 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:42
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Best EBH pic ever 
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| Kami |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:43
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Classics Specialist
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I'm actually taking huge risks this year. Intxausti will ride Le Tour. Ricco will ride both the Giro & Vuelta + LBL/Lombardia. We'll see how it plays out.
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:44
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Angel 'McLovin' Madrazo 
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| roturn |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:49
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That`s absolutely great to read and very nice design. You must have worked hours on these. Well done. |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-01-2013 21:51
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Right there done for the Protour one.
ember will enjoy the slow drip feed for your one, but after I posted the first five I thought what the hell lets get my powerpoints out there! Anyway should be very interesting to compare notes, I think we are both fairly similar so far, but I am intrigued to see how you place some of the less predictable teams.
Miguel98 - got a pretty nice PCT one and will release the CT one in a moment I think! But I spent a bit more time on the protour one to be honest.
Kami - Vuelta could be really nice - F Schleck, Ricco already announced and I wouldn't be surprised to see Trofimov there also, though matthiasgt is a wily one and may have seen that bloodbath coming.
roturn: It's a labour of love and besides I have to compete with guys like ember
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| fernando97 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:00
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Great previews Smowz, despite not being in the man-game myself, it was certainly pleasuring to read, you really made me eager to follow the season! |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:00
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Only read the first post so far, reading while possibly playing the first races of the season
I wouldnt bet on the 2nd tier of stage racers being able to win the smaller stage races in the absence of the GT leaders - some of those races are going to have some epicly strong fields as well!
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:09
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Like the style Smowz
SN - Cliffhanger! Can't wait for the new season |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:25
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World Champion
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Amazing work Smowz!
Let's see if anyone can stop Pearl this season
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| cio93 |
Posted on 14-01-2013 22:33
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Exactly my prediction of the bottom 5, with a fluke win or a crash here or there probably shuffling it around quite a bit.
10th to 18th pretty close imo (with maybe a gap somewhere in the middle), and we definately need a Bennati streak and some surprise results to join the battle.
Very well spotted 2014 preparation posts, but I guess it's obvious to see what we focused on, and it was really fun
Though I think our promotion was the most unexpected one, so it should be equally unsurprising that I found this approach to be more appropriate (but keep in mind I was this || close to get Burghardt or Fothen  )
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