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Tour of the Czech Republic Discussion
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 26-05-2013 17:04
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 Michael Rogers and  Dave Zabriskie finally go head to head here in the Czech Republic, for the HC race. Stage 2 will provide a tough test for them both - but the flat 25km time trial could make these 2 favourite for GC. It is the first individual time trial they have competed against each other in this season, with their schedules tending to differ.
 Cornu,  Reus,  Tennant,  Boom,  Karpets, Elijzen,  Costa,  Kiryenka and  Konovalovas should also feature highly here. While  Gerdemann has done well in similar races this season.
There are of course riders who will look to shine on the hills:  Roy,  Ben Nasser,  Zaini,  Schreurs and Bellis lead them. The Brit could go well on some of the flat stages too, although Rothaus have again brought their anti-ranking points device Cucinotta.
 Ivano Lo Cicero is the stand out sprinter - but he could struggle over the bumpy stages on offer. Mezgec, Docker, Bazajev, Park, Feillu and Lorenzetto are the leading contenders against the Italian.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 26-05-2013 17:06
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"although Rothaus have again brought their anti-ranking points device Cucinotta."
Laughed at this. Interesting race here. I'll bet on Gerdemann. |
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 26-05-2013 17:06
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We have our quite successful combo so far in division here in Maar / Armee / Lijke. Hopefully that will get us some points.
Stacked field. Reus to win. Cornu 2nd and Costa to finish 3rd.
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 26-05-2013 17:07
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Hoping for huge gaps on the hills 
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| rycadinho |
Posted on 26-05-2013 17:11
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Nice preview SN, though it's rather unpleasant to see all those great riders lining up to beat Zabriskie!
I honestly don't have any huge expectations for this race since the team has been followed by a lack of luck, something that probably will cost us the chance of promoting.
Completing our goal (which is to finish 5th in the GC) would be nice, but I fear that Zabriskie will fail on the hilly stage. My pick is on Rogers!
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| CountArach |
Posted on 26-05-2013 17:14
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Zabriskie should win this. Hoping that Cornu takes a podium but a top 5 would certainly be acceptable.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 26-05-2013 17:16
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Should be possible for Rogers to finish high. My favorite choice of HC-races (beside Vancouver, which went horribly wrong). So definitely need a result here.
Also hoping for our puncheurs to show something. At least Visconti but also Gerrans or Ford like to attack.
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| ember |
Posted on 26-05-2013 17:16
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rycadinho wrote:
Completing our goal (which is to finish 5th in the GC) would be nice, but I fear that Zabriskie will fail on the hilly stage. My pick is on Rogers!
Stat wise, Zabriskie is better than Rogers on the hills
Bpost have had a great season so far, and Cornu could make it continue. I fancy his chances for the overall win. Boom is the big outsider for me, would be nice to see an aggressive world champion on the hilly stage. Will definitely be interesting to watch how Boom/Bellis do in such a stage race.
Nice preview, SN!
Edited by ember on 26-05-2013 17:17
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 08:45
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| Firefly21 |
Posted on 26-05-2013 17:41
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Here to make up the numbers - would like to see the team be aggressive and attack considering we posses nothing even resembling a GC hope (somehow I don't think Ilias' 75 hill and terrible TT will amount to much...)
Any points are good ones for us, I have to say.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 26-05-2013 18:02
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It really does depend on how the TTers and the rest of the riders race on the tough stage 2, the fact that it is just 144km tells me those climbs are tough.
If they ride like a bunch of pansies then it is the chrono strongman's race.
I suspect as the hilly stage comes before the long time trial then it will be raced hard. Still they will have to put some distance between themselves and Rogers/Zabriskie to deny them.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 26-05-2013 18:04
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Man that was a fast report. Vueling are on fire. |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 26-05-2013 18:12
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Perfect. If Rogers will continue this bad positioning in the bunch, he will certainly get dropped on next day.. Could be a disaster with the rest of our team dropping back to help him.
Oh, you were right about the confidence, SN 
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| Firefly21 |
Posted on 26-05-2013 18:24
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Well Belletti was well placed for the sprint but he got passed by just about everyone. Oh well, at least my team got a mention (#success)
Vueling really doing well recently
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| tyriion |
Posted on 26-05-2013 18:53
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Alakagom wrote:
We have our quite successful combo so far in division here in Maar / Armee / Lijke. Hopefully that will get us some points.
Stacked field. Reus to win. Cornu 2nd and Costa to finish 3rd.
I'll take that. Hoping for Lorenzetto to grab a stage. Too bad v Poppel didn't do a better lead out on stage 1.
Stage 2 will feature this climb twice, usually a real killer.
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 26-05-2013 19:05
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Perfect start by Armee and Maar.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 26-05-2013 19:13
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Hopefully Barrio and Costa work well together on stage 2 like they did earlier in the season in Australia. Top 5 would be great considering it's a HC race but Costa tends to surprise so fingers crossed for a top 3.
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| ANFreeman |
Posted on 26-05-2013 19:43
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Imagine if Docker had stayed on Kono's wheel...
Hoping for a top 10, obviously. Kono seems in good form, so maybe top 5.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 26-05-2013 19:45
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ANFreeman wrote:
Imagine if Docker had stayed on Kono's wheel...
Hoping for a top 10, obviously. Kono seems in good form, so maybe top 5.
Wouldnt have helped much I dont think - Docker went backwards quickly once he did start to sprint
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| felix_29 |
Posted on 26-05-2013 19:45
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Terrible start, but at least it's hard to get worse now.
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| roturn |
Posted on 26-05-2013 19:52
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Not that great.
Cucinotta is taking so many chances from Geschke and Bellis, who would do better...
If Schreurs won here, Bellis could have taken this one as well obviously...
Looking forward for the harder 2nd stage. |
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