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Bayern Rundfahrt Discussion
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| The Rider |
Posted on 23-01-2015 13:13
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Joined: 29-02-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Three potential sprinter stages, though stage 3 could well go to more of a rouleur, and two stages to decide the GC make up this c1 race. Interestingly the two stages which really decide the GC are a steep hilly finish and a flat TT, we might be in for some surprises. This race is making a comeback after an absence from the calendar in 2013, Oscar Freire of a team named Koppert was the last overall winner of this race in 2012. Will this race be endeared enough to stay on the calendar for next season?
GC Favourites: (Standout GC favourites highlighted.)
| Hills | TT |  Barrio | 79 | 58 |  Craven | 78 | 75 |  Mehr-Wenige | 78 | 63 |  McEvoy | 76 | 65 |  Tiernan-Locke | 76 | 61 |  Bibby | 76 | 77 |  Kangert | 76 | 77 | | Taborre | 76 | 62 |
 Hollenstein | 75 | 73 |  Popkov | 75 | 74 |  Westra | 74 | 76 | | Lloret | 73 | 75 |
| TT | Hills |  Rogers | 81 | 67 | | M Ford | 81 | 55 | | Ignatiev | 80 | 75 |  Reus | 79 | 74 | | Koren | 78 | 74 |  Lighart | 78 | 58 |  Nepommyachsniy | 77 | 74 | | Plaza | 77 | 72 |
With a few favourites highlighted it has to be Ignatiev who is considered as the favourite for this one. The Ukrainian has won this race overall two times before and will look to win it a third time to finally banish any relegation worries for Metinvest-Emirates. However, the days of Ignatiev winning every stage race he enters are behind us and the difficult summit finish on stage 2 may prove difficult for those more adept at TTs than hills.
Coming from the Volta a Portugal we see Bibby starting here on good form, both he and Koren will be expected to finish right up there in the GC here, despite the latter not having the best tour in Portugal.
Sprint favourites:
| SPR | ACC |  Lavoine | 80 | 78 | | Richeze | 80 | 79 | | Corioni | 80 | 76 | | Davis | 79 | 77 | | Grillo | 79 | 79 |
With three potential sprint stages and the points jersey up for grabs we see some quality sprinters make the startline, all of which have teams capable of setting them up well for the sprint.
Everyone has an eye on the rankings at this point in the season. At the top it looks like Heineken-Cal Giant will struggle to keep pace with Oz Cycling Project and Venchi - Ferranti in this one, not to forget Team CSC-Orbea. Whereas, concerning relegation, this race is massive for Allianz-BMW Cycling Team, a real make or break race.  Boeing-Bulgaria Bicycling have really been slipping down the rankings of late, they will hope Panyatov sees the finish on stage 2 as a mountain opposed to a hill.
Startlist:
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 23-01-2015 13:15
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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This is where i ran into race-day/planning issues and a sh*t team... Zero points? I think it's a solid probability considering recent form.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 11:04
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 23-01-2015 13:29
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Directeur Sportif
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PCM$: 300.00
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Hoping for Koren to be our leader here for the AI. A Top-10 is the goal and of course i'm hoping for our two TT-specialists to challenge for the stage-win on fourth day. Doubt they will stand a chance though, given how riders down the GC perform in TTs.
So... Koren... Please do show some more initiative than in Portugal! I fancy Bibby for the win, Ignatiev/Koren just have to limit their losses on that hill.
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| jph27 |
Posted on 23-01-2015 13:31
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Team Leader
Posts: 7339
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
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In theory, the hilly finish suits Reus better than Ignatiev - but I expect an Ignatiev win overall. Would like a Top 5, but with our recent form I'm expecting Reus to lose a ton of time in the hilly stuff and Proni, Mandri and Sonnery will do nothing  |
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 23-01-2015 13:40
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2073
Joined: 11-07-2010
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This should be an interesting race! I hope Craven can manage to get an advantage on the TT specialists on the third stage. If so, anything can happen. Corioni also has nice backup in Corti and Ascani. If we can get the train to work, this should be good!
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 23-01-2015 13:40
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1036
Joined: 17-06-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Should be an interesting race. AMEX's punchuers get hurt by the ITT, but Grillo had two stage podiums in his last race and Marko Kump is decent on the Hills and the Sprints. Not sure what to expect here, but I know this we need points in the bank, so somebody better step up and shine.
=========================================
Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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| viking90 |
Posted on 23-01-2015 13:48
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4032
Joined: 24-01-2009
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Hoping Hermans can get a solid GC position and Kreder to sprint well. And atleast one guy making a good TT preformance, Wetterhall or Johansson. |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 23-01-2015 13:55
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Another important race for Metinvest is here and we need to continue good "summer" run.
For once, i actually dos not expect a GC win from Ignatiev, but top5 is a must and also i would like to see him finally winning a PCT time-trial stage this season. But again Oz landed trillion TT beasts in the race, i am really looking forward to you going to PT Tsmoha.
I see Reus, Kangert, Koren and most of all Bibby as biggest threats for Mikhail. Popkov should support our leader and could maybe snatch top15-20 himself.
All is about stage 3 here.
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| roturn |
Posted on 23-01-2015 14:01
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
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This is a nice startlist for the race without a clear favourite.
I guess Bibby is winning it as he is having a nice season.
But also Craven or Ignatiev can make it.
And then there is still all the others like Kangert, Koren, Westra...
The less good time trialist might need a big selection obviously, which makes this route really interesting. Looking forward to it. |
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 23-01-2015 14:14
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15274
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Oh crap, why the heck did I sign up here.
More TTists here than I had initially hoped.
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| Stevenag |
Posted on 23-01-2015 14:16
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Domestique
Posts: 452
Joined: 26-05-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I assume Scarponi is left out of the picture, and not out of the race right?
This has to be my weakest line up ever, and I will be impressed if we can get anything out of it at all.
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 23-01-2015 14:43
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2633
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Going for a top 10 with Westra and atleast one breakaway.
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| fintas |
Posted on 23-01-2015 17:12
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2602
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
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Having regard to what has happened lately, I did not have high hopes for this race. Perhaps some top 10 of stages and nothing more than that
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| Margh Norway |
Posted on 23-01-2015 17:15
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Sprinter
Posts: 1507
Joined: 23-07-2010
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Nice preview, rider!
Another chance for us to compete with the best on continental level... and an important region for our main sponsor (at least Uli Hoeneß is a famous customer).
When everything's clicking Reto Hollenstein can scratch at the top10 and Armindo Fonseca can try himself before his season highlight at GP Plouay starts.
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| ryant |
Posted on 23-01-2015 17:17
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Small Tour Specialist
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hmmmm, it would take something special for us to get something out of this tour but i hope JTL can deliver us that on stage 2, other than that I guess the word of the day will be attack attack attack! 
 John St Ledger in Team Bunzl-Centrica and Team U25Red Bull Driver in RFactor
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 23-01-2015 18:59
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8059
Joined: 22-06-2009
PCM$: 650.00
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Anybody got the HL/MO ratio for stage 2? I still want to believe that Plaza has a realistic shot to do well here. 
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| roturn |
Posted on 23-01-2015 19:04
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Team Manager
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Mresuperstar wrote:
Anybody got the HL/MO ratio for stage 2? I still want to believe that Plaza has a realistic shot to do well here.
It`s about 50/50 if I remember correct. |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 23-01-2015 19:05
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
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roturn wrote:
Mresuperstar wrote:
Anybody got the HL/MO ratio for stage 2? I still want to believe that Plaza has a realistic shot to do well here.
It`s about 50/50 if I remember correct.
I thought we reduced it for the MG version?
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 23-01-2015 19:13
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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roturn wrote:
Mresuperstar wrote:
Anybody got the HL/MO ratio for stage 2? I still want to believe that Plaza has a realistic shot to do well here.
It`s about 50/50 if I remember correct.
Doesn't really look like a too mountainous stage, imo
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| The Rider |
Posted on 23-01-2015 20:32
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
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^All teams started with 7.
Not too much doing in stage 1, other than some surprises at the finish, so thought I'd put it up today.
As for the hill/mountain, well you will have to find out tomorrow. |
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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)
