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IWT Oetingen Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 30-03-2013 16:50
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The Northen Classic-season continues in Oetingen, Belgium, where the IWT Oetingen takes place. The C2-race is definitely a challenging race:
Even though it's "only" 165km long, the riders face 18km of cobbled sectors, with a tough final circuit, that has to be ridden four times. Several short steep climbs are featured as well (14,6% max slope).
Except of  AMEXpc no PCT-team entered the race and with only 8 teams in total, so it's a nice chance to grab some points here.
Startlist/
Teams and favorites/
The best CT-cobblers will hit the paved roads of Oetingen and if that's not good news for the spectators, what else could be? Well, there's no Belgian team, but still some local heros within the list of favorites:
 Nikolas Maes is the top-favorite here and will definitely aim for the win. His team Allianz also brought Arnaud Coyot, a useful support for Maes.
 Gert Steegmans is yet another Belgian CT-superstar, who's entitled to win every C2-race he enters. He lacks support on the cobbles, so he needs to join the decisive attacks and prevent his team from chasing.
 Geraint Thomas joins this two top-favorites, as he has the skills to ride the cobbles as good as the mentioned and adds some decent speed for a possible bunch-finish. His team Boeing is also one of the strongest here, with Martin Grashev and Jamie Sparling as decent cobblers.
 Die Berg Komt Er holds good chances, as well. Niki Østergaard proves to be one of the most aggressive riders on this terrain this year and veteran Sébastien Chavanel can also be a real threat if he stays with the leading group til the end.
 Gazelle teams up with Jonas Vangenechten and Roy Sentjens. Two decent cobblers and just like Østergaard, Sentjens could continue his attacking style put the top-favorites under pressure that way.
 Ekspa-Cision has Christopher Stevenson as their best cobbler, while the DS may prefer seeing Aleksei Saramotins surviving the splits and use his sprint-skills to finish as good as he did in Trofej Porec (3rd).
Veteran  Juan Antonio Flecha ensures some hopes for FC Barcelona - Estrella Damm to finish high in a Northern Classic. He's not as good as he once was, but can do well here.
PCT-team AMEXpc won't have huge expectations here, as their young US-boy Robert Bush will struggle to compete with the best groups. He will gain experience and who knows, maybe he can even crack the Top-5/10 on a good day? |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 30-03-2013 16:58
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I have a feeling that another breakaway will take this one. Still, my dark horse for this race will be Gert Steegmans. |
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| dev4ever |
Posted on 30-03-2013 17:16
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I'll be suprised if Steegmans don't come 2nd in this race too. 
And wonder if those steed Speedbumbs will be decisive.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 30-03-2013 17:17
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dev4ever wrote:
I'll be suprised if Steegmans don't come 2nd in this race too.
And wonder if those steed Speedbumbs will be decisive.
If he comes 2nd, he needs to get married. It helped Marcato start winning.  |
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| dev4ever |
Posted on 30-03-2013 17:19
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Miguel98 wrote:
dev4ever wrote:
I'll be suprised if Steegmans don't come 2nd in this race too.
And wonder if those steed Speedbumbs will be decisive.
If he comes 2nd, he needs to get married. It helped Marcato start winning.
We'll see, haven't given't up on him completly yet
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| Heine |
Posted on 31-03-2013 07:30
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Rooting for Maes, simply becuse Taubel is on his team
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| jaxika |
Posted on 31-03-2013 07:36
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My win goal, so my hopes are high |
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 31-03-2013 11:41
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Hoping for top 5 and another in top 10. Looks like a selective race.
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| ggDonovan |
Posted on 31-03-2013 11:49
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This is the first race I gave Flecha to shine. I'm not expecting a good result though.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 07:44
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| Smowz |
Posted on 31-03-2013 19:54
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Hmm small field classic not sure how these are working out, logic to me says Steegmans is too good to drop. But I think we will get a surprise here. Bucciero perhaps?
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 01-04-2013 00:37
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Ok this is our "line in the sand" moment. If we don't get a podium then its season over, plain and simple.
Its only a small C2 race but if we can't do well here, then where can we!
We send the best team possible full of decent and good cobblers, supporting a clear strong leader. Please please please do something!
So i'm backing Thomas of course.
It is a tough course and i expect a solo winner. Steegmans just doesn't have the help to win this one. Maes will be the one to watch
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-04-2013 19:09
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Finally a good showing over the cobbles!
5 in the Top20 and 2 in the Top5 i'll take, but probably we should of had more.
Not the most exciting of races, more of a tactical thriller over whether a chase would catch. Full plaudits to the winner of course.
Bring on more cobbles!
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| jaxika |
Posted on 02-04-2013 19:15
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Very, very dissapointed ... what a heck my team do?
Anyway, congrats for Gazelle. |
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| dev4ever |
Posted on 02-04-2013 19:21
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Break-away, break-away, break-aways...
I just wish next race my team would send a stronger cobblist to it Robby Meul or David Kopp would be ideal, since they're useless for anything else it seems.
Edited by dev4ever on 02-04-2013 19:21
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 02-04-2013 19:37
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Miguel98 said:
I have a feeling that another breakaway will take this one.
I warned. |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 02-04-2013 20:22
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As I expected, it's a tough time for the favourites but lets be fair the team chasing was not strong enough.
Gazelle don't need that sort of luck but they will take it - Maes much like Arroyo is totally bombing, in fact Die Berg are really suffering.
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 02-04-2013 21:59
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Wow, great job by Vangenechten! Thanks guys.
Obviously he got lucky with the tactical situation. But I like the way he finished it off. First he tried to win solo by attacking and when that didn't work he put himself on the front of the group and stayed there until the finish line. Sure didn't steal it. If Sentjens fails one more time, Jonas will be my new cobble leader.
Strange that Allianz had to chase all alone. I expected them to get help from at least Die Berg and BNCR. The latter did have Esquivel in the break, but he was never going to finish top 3 against Vangenechten (72 FL/74 COB), Sparling (69/74) and Striska (71/71). Allowing such decent cobblers almost 4 minutes with 32km to go is asking for trouble.
Very good tactics by Boeing btw. Sparling was the perfect rider to send with such an early move and I'm pretty sure Thomas beat Steegmans and Maes because he didn't have to work thanks to Sparling.
Also nice surprise podium for Ekspla.
And great report; kept me on the edge of my seat.
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| ggDonovan |
Posted on 02-04-2013 22:35
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mmm... 4 points... hurray! 
Congratulations to Gazelle and thanks tsmoha for the report
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 03-04-2013 06:09
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It looks like CT and PCT cobbled races are almost always the same. Breakaway, followed by stronger mid-stage break, where are riders from strong teams. But one strong team is missing, so they chase but it is not enough. So the leaders attack and we only wait if they will ctach the group or not. 
Great report anywayTsmoha and congrats to Gazelle, also Boeing and BNCR with strong results. Unlucky for Allianz and Die Berg.
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 03-04-2013 14:28
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OMG we scored points!
Willem Den Eynde got in the break and stayed with it all day. Considering this is just his 2nd pro race he showed toughness. Just maybe he can be a breakaway talent.
The team was there just for experience so the 14 points earned we welcome.
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Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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