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Giro dell'Appennino Discussion
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 01-05-2013 18:25
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The C1 hilly classics continue, with the Giro dell’Appennino being no exception to the rest as it has a packed startlist. With the full number of 20 teams attending, we should see lots of attacking riding. It has only featured once before in ManGame history, where last year Jelle Vanendert took a win for BPost.
The profile itself is an interesting one. Not an extremely long classic at only 181kms, and there is a flat run-in to the finish. The race should be decided though on the tough mid-stage hills, where the best puncheurs should be able to shake off the weaker riders.
 Roche is the big favorite, and would definitely benefit from a harder race, due to his climbing capabilities. He does lack support though, with the Dutch team only really bringing King in real support of the Irish rider.
 Bellis is also here after his Amstel exploits, and if he can hold onto the better puncheurs he would be the favorite in a sprint. He leads a strong Rothaus team, which also have Geschke and Iglinski if the race finishes in a bunch sprint.
The next two favorites are similar riders.  Efimkin is Cisco’s best hope and will benefit from good support from Taborre and Salerno. The Russian rider will be high on confidence after recently taking the overall at the Tour of Taiwan.  Flugel is very much like Efimkin in terms of strengths. Volkswagen also bring a strong squad in support of him, with notably there being Kessler and Delgado. The latter is probably more of a climber though.
BPost bring a strong squad here as well; in hope of defend their title as winners last year. The Belgian squad is notably headlined by  Gautier. He doesn’t have the best support squad, but Vansummeren and De Greef should be able to do the job. Pivovarna on the other hand have brought a squad packed with hilly talent.  Ben Nasser will lead, while Der should supply good support and Kump could have a shot in a reduced sprint.
That is probably the end of the biggest tier of riders, but there are many that could still do something and grab a higher finish. Names like  Schreurs,  Roy,  Kolobnev,  Lofkvist, Hermans,  Zaini and  Levarlet all probably fit into that category, and their team managers will be hoping they can pull out a surprise over the big guns.
Next, there is a category of riders who will hope to surprise but could struggle in getting a higher position. Bintang, Hollister and CSC all have a couple of riders of this caliber while lacking a stronger leader, and will hope one of their riders can pull off a good result.  Costa, Barrio,  De Maar,  Izagirre, Betancourt,  Mendes,  Lejman and Ghisalberti all are in and around the same level.
Finally there are the teams that come here for race days, or lack a decent leader for this terrain. Mobil, Vattenfall and Vespa are the teams earmarked. Vespa look like they are only here because this is a home race.  Montaguti could do something with his home bonus but he lacks the capabilities of the best riders attending. Continental squad Mobil has both  Vrecer and Dall’Antonia. Vrecer isn’t really a puncheur but could make a decent finish in a harder race while Dall’Antonia can sprint well but lacks the hilly talent. Another continental team Vattenfall brings  Gingsjo as a leader but he could struggle. The Swedish squad looks like they are here mainly for experience.
Edited by FroomeDog99 on 01-05-2013 18:35
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 01-05-2013 18:28
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Much depend's on how the race is handled. If it is handled hard, Vrecer might go for a good result. If it's handled easilly, Dall'Antonia might go for at least top 20. Hope for a great 1st report FroomeDog. |
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| roturn |
Posted on 01-05-2013 18:31
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I did not expect such a strong startlist in a race with a long flat in the end.
Still I think it`s a perfect race for a Bellis/Geschke combo. It`s the first test with both of them and we will see if the game favours the better puncheur or better sprinter.
I hope Geschke will work for Bellis in the end to bring him into a perfect position.
I think a win is definitely possible but a top 5 is the goal here. |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 01-05-2013 18:54
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I think Efimkin is racing thanks to some leftover race days. Hoping for a brutal race, although I'm quite confident of a decent result even if a bigger group comes to the finish together. I think the slight uphill finish is enough to take the punchy sprinters out of the victory discussion. Mainly because of all the earlier climbs.
I'm calling Schreurs to win.
Oh, and good job with the preview, Froomedog. 
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 01-05-2013 19:00
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Whoa, what's going on with this race. Sure it's a C1 hilly classic but the startlist is of an HC race. I was looking for a top5 but with so many contenders I'll be happy to hold onto a place in the top10.
The flat run-in favours a team like Rothaus no doubt about that, but the climbs sure look tough and with a max gradient of 18% in such an aggressive field it could well be decided before the last 20km or so.
It really depends on how the peloton will behave in the climbs.
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| Heine |
Posted on 01-05-2013 19:15
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I hope that the long downhill will give Flügel a good chanse, looking forward to this race
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| ember |
Posted on 01-05-2013 19:20
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Great preview!
I enjoyed playing this race last season, and eventhough the route is changed, it has the potential to become a great race.
Bellis is the favourite for me whatever race we get though, and I do think Rothaus will continue their great season. |
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 01-05-2013 22:20
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Big startlist for this hilly classic. Froome and Ginanni biggest names missing. Not surprisingly two of the weaker sprinters between the top punchers.
This will probably end in a sprint between 20-30 riders. Bellis, Ben Nasser and Schreurs to podium for me.
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 01-05-2013 22:22
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Maar/Armee hopefully to surprise with good result once again.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 01-05-2013 22:41
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Hoping for an easy race to allow Costa to show off his sprinting abilities, but there are so many good punchuers I can't see that happening. I really don't know what to expect, could go very well or horribly wrong. 
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| CountArach |
Posted on 02-05-2013 00:58
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This is actually a pretty weak startlist IMO. Last year had a strong list of puncheurs as well as lots of climbers.
I have no idea how this will go but Gautier needs a strong result if I want to keep up in the promotion battle.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 02-05-2013 05:56
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Nice preview in your premiere Froomedog, best luck in your reporting career!
Bellis looks like the obvious favourite for me, he will handle it in the sprint against Roche, Efimkin, Flügel and Ben Nasser.
Rothaus can have maybe three riders in top10, if they will not get screwed by AI (but it loves Rothaus beer this year). 
Metinvest's two weeks long break starts now, with our weak hilly department not given any starts in next races.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 02-05-2013 05:57
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| roturn |
Posted on 02-05-2013 16:50
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Brilliant win by Bellis. I had hoped to get this but didn`t believed in it very much.
What happened to Geschke? With his sprint skills he should have been better than 31st in that group.
And I think you underestimated Schreurs in the info who got dropped. Imo he is equal to Ben Nasser at least as he also showed in the end. |
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 02-05-2013 16:55
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roturn wrote:
What happened to Geschke?
I think he was tired after going off the back of the front group mid-stage. Only the riders with the higher hill stats were really competitive at the end it seemed 
And I think you underestimated Schreurs in the info who got dropped. Imo he is equal to Ben Nasser at least as he also showed in the end.
I was judging by hill stats at that stage of the race, because loads of riders were getting dropped. I probably should have valued him a bit more though.
Edited by FroomeDog99 on 02-05-2013 16:56
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| Heine |
Posted on 02-05-2013 17:01
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Flügel strong, but weird AI-behavior fucked him over, he should've just contiued his fantastic downhill, it's his strongest skill ffs.
Anyway, 6th is an okay result, not fantastic but not bad. I wish Kessler could've been there however, could've gotten me some extra points
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 02-05-2013 17:32
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This race was a waste of race days to me. How did Dall'Antonia fall when he was at the main bunch and still lost 11 minutes? |
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 02-05-2013 17:37
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Miguel98 wrote:
This race was a waste of race days to me. How did Dall'Antonia fall when he was at the main bunch and still lost 11 minutes?
First he was dropped, then he fell. |
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 02-05-2013 17:38
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Good victory by Bellis. I was banking on a tougher race in the mountains but with a 7th there in the sprint from Mendes I can't complain. I just can't stop wondering what if I had brought Ventoso here. Bad call.
Nice report too FroomeDog
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| Smowz |
Posted on 02-05-2013 19:55
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New batch of reporters have been excellent and here we have another, really nice report there Froomedog. Some cool presentation and very nice victory pic.
The race panned out as we have often seen in hilly classics a mass sprint, with a medium selection. The hilly sprinters are having a field day. Rothaus back in the winning circle, they have been awesome in the European arena, real promotion contenders.
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| rycadinho |
Posted on 02-05-2013 20:41
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Was a bit risky to send Roche here, but he thankfully didn't fail and two second places in a row is quite good for us! Thanks for the report
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