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Volta a Portugal Discussion Thread
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| roturn |
Posted on 17-09-2013 11:27
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11 stages, 2 mountains, 2 time trials, 2 hills, 5 flat stages, of which actually most are hilly as well. Time for a HC stage race again I guess.
And with such a hard course it`s no surprise that we see several stage racers here, who will try to get big points here to change their actual situation, no matter if relegation or promotion.
But with the length of 11 days it`s also no surprise that the startlist is not as hard as you might have expected in a HC race. So we have lots of teams, who did not send their strongest climbers or not the best support. Still we have a great peloton here where also some CT teams could surprise.
As a small fun fact. The only rider, who was in the top10 last year to come back in 2013 is Perez Cuapio, riding for the Control Team...but I promise, I will try to not play out the favourite role.
 Kritskiy is surely the topfavourite here and his season proved, that he is one of the best riders in this division. Several stage and race wins so far for him and actually it would be a surprise if he can`t add more here. With some good points here, promotion might already be secured more or less.
 Karpets/Iglinski. Tough opponents come from the own country. The Russian teams surely want to perform well here and so also LukOil with a very strong squad. Both their leaders could reach the podium here and so they might collect hugely here in the fight against relegation.
 Plaza. The team of last years winner LL Sanchez has changed their squad a bit. But in Plaza they still have a podium contender here, so their top5 goal in their biggest home race should be possible. With Ventoso they also have a great sprinter here for the hilly sprinter stages and also Portuguese puncheur Mendes should be expected to fight for a stage win or two, if he gets some freedom.
 Caruso proved to come into form for the 2nd half of the season after a pretty disappointing first half. In this field a top5 is a good goal for him and eventually the team could create a gap to the relegation zone. He surely will have some solid support here.
 Suaza is quite a poor guy here. Despite being a great climber he proved to perform well in those stage races. But then he has only 4 team mates and none of those is really a help in those hard stages. So expect him to fight for a top5-10 but it might end in a disaster as well when being isolated quite early. In especially as he hates the hilly stages in long races.
 Nazaret leads the Bintang squad, who might have expected far more this season with their strength in the mountains. If they want to improve their standings they need a good rush in the end of the season and definitely a good start here.
 Rohregger leads the first mentioned CT team and his 7th in 2011 shows that he will again fight for a top10, which would be a great result for Magna. Belletti for the sprints could also get a few decent results.
 Ivars could do well here due to the time trials. But also lose lots of time in the hills as he is a similar climber as Suaza, who prefers the long climbs. Except for him the team has some nice options for the breakaways or in reduced groups and could fight for stage wins.
 Costa leads his team here together with Barrio. So two Portuguese in their home race. So expect them to fight for stage wins on the hilly stages. First one did already win the first stage last season. GC wise they need a perfect race by Costa, then even the top10 is possible but more likely top20.
 Konovalovas might lead the team here and has advantages on the hills and time trials. But also Richardson (11th in 2012) should do well here fighting for a top15.
 Vrecer to lead another CT team and depending on his loss in the high mountains I wouldn`t say a top10 is impossible for him. He definitely should do well here and has a bit support here.
 Cabreira leads the 2nd Portuguese team in his home race. So depending on his performance in the hills a top15 might be possible. In the sprints Salleh must hope for some good results.
 Lo Cicero is a good sprinter, no question. But is this race really suited for him? No real flat stage, 11 race days, looks a bit wasted to be honest and might cost them important points in the relegation fight. They need to hope for above average performances by Banihammad and the other climbers.
 Andriato might fight for decent sprint results but it won`t be enough to collect a lot of points. Kashechkin, who could have fought for the podium is not here and so it will be hard to leave the last spot in the standings and relegation looks probable.
 Kupfernagel might be the team's sprinter and has great support by Farrar. But just like PFG-Armavia this race doesn`t really suit him and even the possible HC points don`t really help here with a flat sprinter train. Chavanel could bring in some good points or even a stage win though. Problem could be that the sprinters won`t allow him to attack on the tough flat stages, that actually could suit him.
 Reus might be the leader and a good bet for the time trials and some decent results in the other terrain. Even a top20 GC is not impossible. But the main points might come in the sprints as Lorenzetto and Gavazzi can climb over those hills better than most others.
 Kappa-ENI does not have a guy, who really can be expected in the first positions anywhere. Appollonio has to fight for the top10 in sprints, Wellens eventually in a breakaway in the mountains, Hacecky possible top10 in the time trials but mainly a breakaway team.
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| tyriion |
Posted on 17-09-2013 11:38
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Sprinter
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Seeing this startlist I'm pretty confident we will walk away with at least 1 stage. Reus should have the TT covered and Gavazzi/Lorenzetto could very well win something as well. If Reus does really well in the TT and limits his losses elsewhere maybe a top 20 is possible.
But stages have to be the main target.
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 17-09-2013 12:42
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Classics Specialist
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This race is a disaster for us, and yes I can say that before the actual start. Why on earth did I choose Lo Cicero to start here? He won't even get a top 20 in any of the stages. The worst thing is that I wasn't drunk either. Oh well. The preview was really great though  |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 17-09-2013 12:47
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Directeur Sportif
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Looks like a couple of relegation-"contenders" can score valuable points, which is not good from my point of view 
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| CountArach |
Posted on 17-09-2013 13:43
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Grand Tour Champion
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Well this is usually the premier stage race on the calendar but not so much this season apparently. Kritsky seems like an obvious pick and that is great news for Tinkoff.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 17-09-2013 14:01
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Costa has to get the opening win on the prologue. It just needs to get done.
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Posted on 24-11-2024 11:50
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 17-09-2013 17:17
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Great preview roturn. Very enjoyable and informative read.
Bjartne wrote:
This race is a disaster for us, and yes I can say that before the actual start. Why on earth did I choose Lo Cicero to start here? He won't even get a top 20 in any of the stages. The worst thing is that I wasn't drunk either. Oh well. The preview was really great though
He's got #1 for some reason. Even Kritsky is rated after him 
CountArach wrote:
Well this is usually the premier stage race on the calendar but not so much this season apparently. Kritsky seems like an obvious pick and that is great news for Tinkoff.
I believe last year it was already a bit of a let down. But this year with Tour of Hellas the focus was taken further away.
As for the GC, there's no chance Kritskiy will miss the top step of the podium. I hope Plaza can take one of the other two.
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| fintas |
Posted on 17-09-2013 17:39
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Small Tour Specialist
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The only reason I chose this race was to be the largest that could run in my country. Actually I think it will just be a waste of race days, Cabreira will lose too much time in the TT and in the hill stages to can think of a good overall rating. Salleh can not be competitive in C2 races so this will be even less. Our only hope goes through the breaks and a possible conquest of the mountain jersey....
I can not see anyone capable of facing Kritskiy, it seems clear his victory
Edited by fintas on 17-09-2013 17:46
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| ANFreeman |
Posted on 17-09-2013 17:45
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Thought I'd sent Lowe here as opposed to Kono. No idea what i was thinking when i picked the team for this one.
For GC, no looking past Kritskiy, although I think some of the stage ratings (flat, when hilly) are gonna do some odd things to the results.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 17-09-2013 18:10
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Let's see. Maybe we can get a stage win from a breakaway and Vrecer to finish in the top 10. |
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| Stevenag |
Posted on 17-09-2013 18:14
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Domestique
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This looks great.
Small team, 11 stages, no one in the team better then meh. And a HC-race.
If i get anything out of this race (stage win, jersey win, top 10 GC) i will donate a goat.
I can't really even understand how i registrered for this race. |
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| Firefly21 |
Posted on 17-09-2013 18:28
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Domestique
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I think Rohregger loses too much time on the hilly and flat stages to accomplish too much in the GC standings, but stranger things have happened. Oh well, should be a fun race with a pretty strong team for us - maybe we'll be active in breakaways.
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 17-09-2013 18:43
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Easy one for Kritskiy
Pleased to see a relatively soft competition for Caruso, as I was hoping when picking this race. One of the few good choices I made regarding his schedule this season. I'd be over the moon with a top 5.
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| brownwm |
Posted on 17-09-2013 20:11
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Not sure why I didn't send any climbers here, so no chance of doing anything in overall. Hopefully I can get in the mix on the hilly and flat stages.
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| Heine |
Posted on 18-09-2013 05:36
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Not sure if I'm happy or sad about not being here, 11 race days are many for a race, but on the other hand it would've been perfect for Keizer. Kritisky will most likely win this, but we can always hope for a suprise 
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 18-09-2013 06:34
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World Champion
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Kritskiy to win the GC + three stages.
One of the Lukoil boys should be on the podium, together with Plaza, but there should be some surprises for sure.
Good luck to all.
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 18-09-2013 12:36
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AMEXpc should have amble opportunities to grab some points here. In the GC Sylvain Chavanel has been in good form and with 2 TT's that should help him. Gretsch and Sebright should both fair well in the tt's and the AMEX sprinters should have a few opportunities.
This will not be a strong race for us but points are points.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 18-09-2013 13:42
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Prio, I thought we made a deal on the offseason that you would give Costa the opening TT and I wouldn't bother you for the rest of the race? This is war now, I need that stage win.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 18-09-2013 14:26
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Well, that was a pretty good prologue by Vrecer. |
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| tyriion |
Posted on 18-09-2013 14:59
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Expected result for Reus in a prologue. He should be top notch for the longer TT, even though Kritskiy might come close.
Next stage looks really tough, so I'm curious what the AI will do with it. Reus should be able to hang on though.
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