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Milano - Torino Discussion
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 16-01-2014 18:26
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Welcome to Italy as we enter the final month of the cycling season with the Milano - Torino, the first of the autumn Italian classics. Who will win the fifth edition of this tough hilly classic, and help finish off their season with a bang?
The route takes the Pro Continental peloton across 196 kilometres of northern Italy. It is mostly flat, before the 5.7 kilometre Colle di Superga is climbed twice towards the end of the race, leading to a summit finish in Torino. With an average slope of 7%, only the strongest will be able to make it to the top in the lead.
As mentioned before, there have been four previous editions, the most recent one being last year, where Massimo Iannetti took the race for Pirelli - Alfa Romeo. Of the previous three winners, only one was not Italian, Mikhail Ignatiev in 2010. With 3/4 victories, the home crowd will be hoping that home riders can continue their home dominance.
The full allocation of 20 teams attend, meaning that this will no doubt be a hotly contested race. Many teams will want to use this as a springboard towards promotion or avoiding relegation, so the outcome could prove to be crucial.
The favourites to take the fifth title here are all big puncheurs.  Efimkin is the bookie's favourite, with  Froome and  Flugel both following closely behind. Those three could all be on the top step of the podium.
The list of potential winners doesn't end there though.  Sinkewitz,  Ben Nasser,  Bellis,  Levarlet,  Hoogerland and  Zaini are all attending and could all get a great result on their day. Even the out of form  Gautier is being tipped to get a top ten, and deserves a mention.
The full startlist:
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| cio93 |
Posted on 16-01-2014 18:36
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This could very well have a significant mountain-hill-ratio, which could change the favourite situation quite a bit.
Of course, I'm hoping for a good Rothaus result to boost their WT chances again, but this has Efimkin from our friends at Cisco written all over it for me, dunno why.
Oh, and it would be about time for a good performance by Gautier, it nearly hurts to watch him underperform all season long when Count would definitely deserve better for all his reporting efforts.
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| roturn |
Posted on 16-01-2014 18:57
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Bellis needs to deliver here. But as it`s an uphill finish I think it`s hard to beat Efimkin, Flügel, Froome, Sinkewitz or even Roy.
Podium would be awesome. Top5 wanted. Top10 more realistic. |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 16-01-2014 19:18
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Maybe something.... |
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| viking90 |
Posted on 16-01-2014 19:46
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As usual it´s up to Hoogerland  |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 13:53
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 16-01-2014 22:06
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Final month, no mistakes allowed from now on.
Definitely not one of our best chances. With Froome, Flugel and Efimkin, it's going to be tough for anyone else to grab a podium place. The rest of the top10 may be more open though and the difference between a 4th and a 10th may be the tonic for your team's performances in the final month of the season.
This has an uncommon profile for a classic, I wonder how that will influence race tactics.
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| CountArach |
Posted on 16-01-2014 22:19
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Oh god I'd kill for even a top 10. I just need to keep racking up points.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 17-01-2014 00:29
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CountArach wrote:
Oh god I'd kill for even a top 10. I just need to keep racking up points.
+1 Except I would take a top 25 from Barrio. 
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 17-01-2014 01:04
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Kolobnev (2nd in 2011) with the support of Rovny, Zakarin and Rybakov; Go, Tinkoff, Go!
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| Heine |
Posted on 17-01-2014 12:41
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This is going to be Alexandars month, starting by dominating this race 
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 17-01-2014 13:35
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The start of the run of some quite important races for promotion and relegation - once the riders return from the World Championships. Number of HC/C1/C2 races left nearly at single figures.
Obviously Id like to see Froome annoy all teams desperate for points, by taking the win.
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| tyriion |
Posted on 17-01-2014 14:47
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SportingNonsense wrote:
The start of the run of some quite important races for promotion and relegation - once the riders return from the World Championships. Number of HC/C1/C2 races left nearly at single figures.
Can't wait for the conclusion of this great season. Gonna be so exciting either way for us.
Our biggest opponents are here with CSC, so even though we're not racing it's still important.
Check out my ManGame team here
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 24-01-2014 17:41
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2nd with do nicely. Nice race, and well reported!
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| Smowz |
Posted on 24-01-2014 17:52
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Hmm could this be the sign of a late VW run? The German was strong there.
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| roturn |
Posted on 24-01-2014 18:05
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7th is okay for me here.
With a bit of luck a top 5 could have been possible as Levarlet and Hoogerland could have been beaten.
But I prefer to see him going for the win like here. Unfortunately his brave attempt failed but still a strong 7th then. |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 24-01-2014 18:30
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Why did I come here?  |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 24-01-2014 18:42
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I think that was kind of a cool finish. Froome and Flügel thinning the peloton by dropping one rider after another, as opposed to the usual series of unsuccessful attacks.
Couldn't have asked for more from Efimkin, either. This should put us ever so slightly further above the relegation zone
Thanks for reporting, Froomedog. I really liked the screens 
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| CountArach |
Posted on 24-01-2014 19:25
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Thanks for the report! Congrats to VW!
Well I'm actually not super disappointed by 13th. It is better than I have come to expect.
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 24-01-2014 20:14
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Nice from Roy he is continuing to provide a stream of points. |
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 24-01-2014 20:18
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Great victory by Flugel. It shows Volkswagen-Mapei can't be discounted in the promotion race. I'm happy with 11th by Mendes. With this profile and this startlist he couldn't be doing much better.
Nice report Froomedog, thanks 
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