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Transfagarasan GP discussion
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| Smowz |
Posted on 03-06-2013 21:12
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A relatively modern concept the Transfagarasan Grand Prix centres around the mammoth climb over the central mountain pass in Romania.
The main climb of 14km averages at around 7% but its it contains several short 20+% sections particularly near the top of the climb.
It is a case of making that selection on the climb and either soloing clear as Alarcon did in the first edition in 2011 winning ahead of 2012 Giro champion Riccardo Ricco.
That first edition in 2011 was heavily selective and 2012's race saw Alarcon on the attack again. But his attack was not quite timed to perfection and he had company from two earlier attackers over the top, the tunnel marking the end of the gruelling climb.
Both of these outsprinted Alarcon at the finish with Osella outkicking Kern for a surprise win. Following a thrilling descent where Alarcon desperately tried to hold off Van Den Broeck and Rujano who were chasing behind.
The baton has passed to the C2 teams, and we have 11 CTour teams here and the headline acts are likely to be Spanish climbing squad  Iberia led by Daniel Moreno and Joaquin Rodriguez.
They do appear to be the class of the field with  FC Barcelona's Nieve veteran babyfaced American  Tom Danielson and experienced Italian  Carrara possibly the next big names but it is an open field.
There is the rivalry between the airline sponsors also to keep an eye on. Kenya Airways Kenyan climber  Ndbri, Boeing Colombian fliers  Colorado/ Parra Bustamante and how about budget journeyman French climber  Naibo or Austrian Eibegger.
Edited by Smowz on 03-06-2013 21:15
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 03-06-2013 21:27
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Cheering for my former Colombians  Colorado/ Parra Bustamante. 
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 03-06-2013 21:32
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The creator of that race was definatly thinking about Moreno when designing the profile. I want the win! No doubt we have the team to make it work 
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| ggDonovan |
Posted on 04-06-2013 14:53
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Hope Nieve can hold it with the bests of the peloton. Let's see how the IA surprises us this time...
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| CountArach |
Posted on 04-06-2013 14:55
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Purito is a solid bet in my eyes.
Great preview smowz.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 08:59
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 04-06-2013 14:58
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Seeing the screen from last year's race brings back some fond memories. 
Not sure if this edition will play out as selective as previously, due to the PCM12 AI. Hard to look past Iberia when talking about potential winners. Moreno or Purito to take this.
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| Firefly21 |
Posted on 04-06-2013 15:06
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Can Naibo do anything? All previous results indicate that he's somewhat of a failure this season. Maybe Eibegger will get something if its a bunch sprint type of ending, hes a reasonable sprinter for a mountaineer.
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 04-06-2013 17:32
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We need to start scoring if we want promotion, and this seems a perfect place to start. If the climb isn't selective enough, watch out for Ghafari. Otherwise Ndbri should manage a top 5. |
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 04-06-2013 17:54
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Finally a good result 
Great from Ndbri, nice attacking riding. Shame he couldn't get second but I'll settle for a podium. Also good that Abrekov and Ghafari got some points.
Thanks for the report Smowz. Good to see some good AI as well. |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 04-06-2013 17:58
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No surprise there. |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 04-06-2013 17:58
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No surprise there. |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 04-06-2013 18:04
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Literally nothing interesting came out of that race... In my opinion its not a great route but thats another issue.
The expected winner and nothing surprising anywhere in the Top10... So congrats to Iberia for winning anyway.
Colorado and Bustamante in the Top10 is good for us, keeping the recent run of team form going. Nice to see both of them performing together as well actually.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 04-06-2013 18:12
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TheManxMissile wrote:
Literally nothing interesting came out of that race... In my opinion its not a great route but thats another issue.
Just wondering what you wish for? Finish atop the climb?
I thought it was a pretty decent race with a worthy winner.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 04-06-2013 18:14
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Smowz wrote:
TheManxMissile wrote:
Literally nothing interesting came out of that race... In my opinion its not a great route but thats another issue.
Just wondering what you wish for? Finish atop the climb?
I thought it was a pretty decent race with a worthy winner.
It was alright as a race with several attacks yes but to me it just lacks that spark a one-day race really needs. A finish at the summit wouldn't work either as the race would be too short. If it had another big climb and a shorter decent finish it might be a bit better.
And the winner was obviously worthy, no winner ever isn't, but it was always obvious that an Iberia winner would appear...
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 04-06-2013 18:19
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Great attack by Rodriguez! Deserved win after riding away from the chasing duo inside the last 10 kilometres. Good tactics with Rodriguez attacking and Moreno waiting for the sprint. 4th aswell gives us a very nice points haul here.
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| Firefly21 |
Posted on 04-06-2013 19:48
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Domestique
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Naibo always disappoints. Oh well.
Deserved win for Iberia,
Nice report Smowz.
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| CountArach |
Posted on 05-06-2013 01:01
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Congrats to Iberia, still clearly in flying form. It looks like we might get the fight for the top 2 between them and Gazelle that we were all promised for the divisional win.
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 05-06-2013 01:13
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Great result for Iberia, congrats. With such a rival staying first in the PPrD will be a real challenge for us.
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| ggDonovan |
Posted on 05-06-2013 10:49
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I have to be happy because we placed two riders in the Top 10.
Congratulations to Iberia and thanks to Smowz for the report. I really liked the screen shots style!
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
