|
Kwita Izina discussion
|
| tsmoha |
Posted on 22-03-2013 11:34
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
The CT has another visit to Africa, where the first edition of "Kwita Izina" will attract some of the best CT-riders to participate.
Kwita Izina? Some facts: Kwita Izina is a Rwandan ceremony of giving a name to a newborn baby gorilla. It is named after the ancestral baby naming ceremony that happened after the birth of a newborn.
The ceremony's main goal is in helping monitor each individual gorilla and their groups in their natural habitat. It was created as a means of bringing attention both locally and internationally about the importance of protecting the mountain gorillas and their habitats in the Virunga Mountains in the north of the country.
And we have some unique profiles for the stages: a short but tough looking mountain-stage will be the opener (10km finish-climb, 5.4% average slope, 8.9% max), followed by a 50km flat stage. The concluding hilly stage looks tricky as well, so it's not a race for climbers only.
Startlist/
Allrounders/
Given that both the mountain and the hilly stage will be decisive, let's take a look at the riders, who combine skills on both profiles:
 David Arroyo (MO 80/HI 74) is the top-favorite wherever he takes part (in C2-races). He's by far the strongest climber here and does stand good chances in the hilly stage as well.
 Iberia sends a strong duo of potential Top-3 contenders: Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (76/77) and Daniel Moreno (77/72). One of the strongest teams here and therefore a real danger for Arroyo.
Just like  Mikel Nieve (76/73), who's another allrounder from Spain, who should be able to be up the front in both crucial stages.
 Yasmani Martinez (76/72),  Przemyslaw Niemiec (75/72) and local hero  Adrien Niyonshuti (75/73) hold outside chances as well. It will interesting to see, how Niyonshuti will perform in his home country.
Ohter allrounders are  Markus Eibegger (73/72),  Juan Sebastian Tamayo Martinez (72/73),  Nazar Jumabekov (72/74),  Blaz Furdi (70/75) or  Pieter Serry (70/73).
The pure climbers/
A handful of riders do prefer the climbing only and given that the first stage is as selective as those riders hope for, they may stand a chance for a decent GC-position:
Zakayo Ndbri (MO 77) is definitely one of the strongest climbers here and is either a strong support for teammate Martinez or a good bet for a stage-win (which would give him good chances to finish high in final GC).
Banco not only has a decent allrounder in Jumabekov, but also two strong climbers, who may lead the team here: Deiber Esquivel (76) and César Rojas Villegas (76).
MTN won't count on Niyonshuti only, but also on Julián Rodas (76), who can become a real threat after the opening stage.
Same goes for Carl Naibo (75) or Ying Hon Yeung (73).
The unica/
Alongside the climbers and allrounders, we should also mention some "unique" but promising riders:
 Sergio Barrio ain't the best climber (68), but if he stays within reach on the mountain-stage, he's a dangerous rider for the final stage (HI 77).
 Michael Torckler (MO 67, HI 72, SPR 75/73) could do well in both the flat and the hilly stage, same goes for Michal Golas (MO 65, HI 71, SPR 74/72).
The sprinters/
And of course we have some sprinters, who are likely to battle for 2nd stage's podium at least:
Die Berg may hope for a "hattrick", both Rizza (SPR 78/73) and Duque (76/71) will be possible top-favorites for the flat stage.
Anton Martin (76/76) looks like their strongest contender for the sprints, followed by Lequatre (74/73), Van der Lijke (74/75) and Sohrabi (74/70).
MTN sent another local hero with Rafiki Uwimana (73/72). He may lack the needed speed, but not the motivation to go for a stage in his home country Rwanda.
Note: The reports will start once Dwaars door Vlaanderen and Scandinavian Open Road Race have been posted. |
| |
|
|
| Miguel98 |
Posted on 22-03-2013 11:39
|
World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Hard stuff here. Arroyo should easily win the GC here. |
| |
|
|
| dev4ever |
Posted on 22-03-2013 12:06
|
Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2282
Joined: 13-03-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
The first and the only goal I'm 100% sure of failing this season. 
|
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 02:59
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| Bjartne |
Posted on 22-03-2013 12:11
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2907
Joined: 15-07-2007
PCM$: 300.00
|
Hehe, I allways feel i send a decent team to the C1 and C2-races, but I allways ends up being ratest weakest 
Nice preview tsmoha, very interresting to compare the different leaders skill to eachother, great job!
Oh well, bring on the breakaways!
|
| |
|
|
| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 22-03-2013 13:01
|
Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2633
Joined: 20-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
Very nice preview! Gives a good overview of the contenders.
This is going to be a hard race for us. In stage 1 we will be trying to hang on as long as possible, but probably lose a lot of time. In stage 2 our best chance is a long breakaway. In stage 3, Furdi is actually one of the favorites. But that descend and flat part before the finish might allow the peloton to come back.
Do look forward to it though.
|
| |
|
|
| cio93 |
Posted on 22-03-2013 13:08
|
World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
|
Isn‘t the stage 2 profile quite misleading due to the short lenght and thus the climb rather difficult?
|
| |
|
|
| Miguel98 |
Posted on 22-03-2013 13:13
|
World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
cio93 wrote:
Isn‘t the stage 2 profile quite misleading due to the short lenght and thus the climb rather difficult?
It's a 2nd cattegory climb, depends on much steep it is to hold off pure sprinters. |
| |
|
|
| aidanvn13 |
Posted on 22-03-2013 14:06
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2797
Joined: 06-11-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
FML. The competition here is crazy 
|
| |
|
|
| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 22-03-2013 16:41
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4573
Joined: 07-10-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Well, it's our win goal. We want a win 
The stages here seem really short, especially 1 & 2. I think Ndbri is our best bet, but we will see. |
| |
|
|
| ggDonovan |
Posted on 22-03-2013 20:43
|
Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 897
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Not very confident but well, I hope for a top 10
|
| |
|
|
| Firefly21 |
Posted on 22-03-2013 20:46
|
Domestique
Posts: 506
Joined: 15-09-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
That is a hell of a startlist. This is an interesting little race, I'm interested in how it turns out, though I think our chance of any outstanding success is beyond minimal.
|
| |
|
|
| Alakagom |
Posted on 22-03-2013 20:55
|
World Champion
Posts: 10891
Joined: 19-11-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Looking forward to see what Morton, Lijke and Serry can do here. Nothing big expected, any points will be nice.
|
| |
|
|
| Vien |
Posted on 22-03-2013 21:45
|
Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2322
Joined: 16-06-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
Ready to screw up another goal! 
|
| |
|
|
| Spilak23 |
Posted on 23-03-2013 01:12
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7357
Joined: 22-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Looking forward how this ends. probably all or nothing for my team.
Arroyo has failed two times so far. Can't see him not winning a third time.
|
| |
|
|
| Ste117 |
Posted on 23-03-2013 10:50
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3684
Joined: 21-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
This is one of our goals for the season, we have Golas and Niemiec but I feel because of the competition here winning is out of the question, hopefully we get a top 5
MG Team manager Team Ticos Air Costa Rica
 |
| |
|
|
| aidanvn13 |
Posted on 23-03-2013 14:32
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2797
Joined: 06-11-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
We have a top 3 goal here, which isn't going to happen! I'll be very very happy with a top 5 considering the level of competition.
Both Dwaars door Vlaanderen and Scandinavian Open Road Race have been posted, so I'm anxiously awaiting stage 1
|
| |
|
|
| tsmoha |
Posted on 23-03-2013 14:55
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
aidanvn13 wrote:
Both Dwaars door Vlaanderen and Scandinavian Open Road Race have been posted, so I'm anxiously awaiting stage 1
will post it soon!
|
| |
|
|
| aidanvn13 |
Posted on 23-03-2013 15:46
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2797
Joined: 06-11-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
tsmoha wrote:
aidanvn13 wrote:
Both Dwaars door Vlaanderen and Scandinavian Open Road Race have been posted, so I'm anxiously awaiting stage 1
will post it soon!
No rush. Do it when you are able to
|
| |
|
|
| tsmoha |
Posted on 23-03-2013 16:03
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
aidanvn13 wrote:
tsmoha wrote:
aidanvn13 wrote:
Both Dwaars door Vlaanderen and Scandinavian Open Road Race have been posted, so I'm anxiously awaiting stage 1
will post it soon!
No rush. Do it when you are able to
Wanted to post it anyway
I know there will be some frustation here. Can't change it though.
|
| |
|
|
| roturn |
Posted on 23-03-2013 16:05
|
Team Manager
Posts: 22246
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
|
That was once again a pretty disappointing mountain stage.
I am quite happy that I don`t take part here as the pure climbers like Arroyo should have done something to get a gap. |
| |
|
