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Paris - Tours Discussion
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| Selwink |
Posted on 18-02-2015 18:53
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Grand Tour Champion
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Paris-Tours is one of the few races that survived throughout the years. Its history dates back to 2007, and every year we have seen different winners. This year will be no exception due to the absence of all previous winners. The favourites can be distincted in three types: pure sprinters, punchy sprinters and late attackers.
In the first it's pretty much the usual suspects for the PCT teams.  Cavendish is present with his insane sprint team,  Meiji - Cannondale has brought Lo Cicero/Napolitano, and many other sprinters are present, most notably  Vantomme,  Ciolek,  Goss,  Vanderbiest and  Richeze. Many more are here as well though, looking for a good result too.
The punchy sprinters can get much attention here, but with the small amount present it's not really possible.  Van Stayen is here. Maybe  Gasparotto or  Haussler rival him, but apart from that it's pretty much nothing.
The late attackers can, on this course be distincted in punchers and flat specialists. For the punchers I can end quickly, as only  Bilbao is worth mentioning. For the flat specialists it's mainly the cobblers, with  Thomas, Baugnies and  Nuyens present. Otherwise it's probably Del Nero the pack needs to watch out for.
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 18-02-2015 18:56
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Hopefully the Lo Cicero/Napolitiano combo finally works  Its a tough startlist and even with those two, we are not one of the Top 3 teams according to the startlist so I figure the race must value the hill stat a bit higher than I had hoped for.
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| jph27 |
Posted on 18-02-2015 18:57
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I expect nothing, so can't be disappointed. |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 18-02-2015 19:03
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Tour de France Champion
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Chicchi race so probably zero points again. However i am praying to almighty Atheismo that Geraint can do something here. Whether it be a power attack late on or a power sprint i don't care. Or perhaps Yates can get some breakaway pay-off he's long overdue, or Robov could take win #4... JUST GIVE ME SOMETHING PLEASE!
Also we need Allianz and Hornbach to not score whatever happens. No inspiring speech this time around 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 10:51
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| cio93 |
Posted on 18-02-2015 19:07
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A Top 5 goal and with training hopefully playing an important part in this off-season...go figure.
Those hills won't be nice but we successfully suffered through worse already.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 18-02-2015 19:16
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Goss had a solid season, but could please add a special result now  Top-5 looks achievable and that must be the goal here. Del Nero indeed my hope for a tougher race. So pretty much set for any kind of outcome, which will hopefully pay off.
Would love to see valv/Meiji with some luck here though.
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 18-02-2015 21:44
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Hoping for a tough race here that suits Gasparotto's punchy style. The length of the race should also benefit him so hopefully we can grab a result against the odds. |
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| ggDonovan |
Posted on 18-02-2015 23:17
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0 points expected... Gimme a BA bug!
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 18-02-2015 23:33
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Don't expect much here.
But if that bump at the end manages to blow up some pure sprinters, Steegmans and Oss might be able to repeat their Philadelphia performance. I'm also hoping for wind, giving the FL stat more importance.
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| Kami |
Posted on 18-02-2015 23:59
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I've got Bilbao for when it gets harder and Aberasturi for a normal sprint. Aberasturi has shown he can sprint with the best, but he'll need a very good position and a lot of luck .
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 19-02-2015 06:21
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Nolan Hoffman has not made the preview, but we target the top10 with him. With his perfect flat and endurance abilities and decent hill skill, he should be capable of that with some good positioning. Like he did in Philly few days back and this could suit him even more. If the race goes harder, Grosu can be our man, but he does not handle 200+km distances so well, at least for now.
Good luck to all!
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 19-02-2015 15:16
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Once again the AMEX sprint squad is under estimated. No will will not podium but with think Grillo can be in the mix late.
Grillo is steady on the hills and a 2nd tier sprinter a decent combination for this track.
Michael Kurth could be very dangerous if he can get in the day's breakaway.
Season winding down with just to races in the Orient after Paris-Tours. OMG a new DB and then resigning - Can't Wait!
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Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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| Ste117 |
Posted on 19-02-2015 21:15
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Expecting a win with the team we have here. Top 3 minimum, anything else won't be good enough for us now.
MG Team manager Team Ticos Air Costa Rica
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 19-02-2015 22:39
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Allianz +11, Hornbach +11, Boeing +5.... We now need 81 points more than Hornbach in 3 races, still doable just much trickier. Allianz now over 100points ahead, pretty much out of reasonable range.
WHY DID YOU ATTACK THOMAS! I reckong he could have cracked the Top20 otherwise to grap a few extra points. Also it's another no-show for Chicchi *officially the worse sprinter F*CKING EVER!*
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 19-02-2015 22:41
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YAASSSSSS!!!!!! Finally a big win from one of my sprinters. That was a perfectly executed race. Only way it could have been better is if it was a 1-2
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 19-02-2015 22:45
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valverde321 wrote:
YAASSSSSS!!!!!! Finally a big win from one of my sprinters. That was a perfectly executed race. Only way it could have been better is if it was a 1-2
So Mr. Manager, was Lo Cicero's drop off tactics or fatigue?
I'd really love to give PCM the benefit of the doubt on the smart tactical move to build some seperation, but I think we can be pretty confident which one it was... |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 19-02-2015 22:48
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tsmoha wrote:
Would love to see valv/Meiji with some luck here though.
Glad this happened
Goss, well.. When seeing the trains, i had hoped for more than a 7th here. Especially with a guy like Grillo going so strong. But still a fairly good result with Del Nero in 16th and Sulzberger going for an attack. Always nice to see the Aussie Nats shirt in action.
Thanks for yet another detailed report!
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 19-02-2015 22:52
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Deadpool wrote:
valverde321 wrote:
YAASSSSSS!!!!!! Finally a big win from one of my sprinters. That was a perfectly executed race. Only way it could have been better is if it was a 1-2
So Mr. Manager, was Lo Cicero's drop off tactics or fatigue?
I'd really love to give PCM the benefit of the doubt on the smart tactical move to build some seperation, but I think we can be pretty confident which one it was...
Napolitiano obviously told Lo Cicero he was going to win today, so Lo Cicero backed off. Perhaps there is a rift between the two in the team bus.
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| Kami |
Posted on 19-02-2015 23:08
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I don't think a saw a Bacardi jersey in that whole race .
Thanks for the reports and congrats to Meji!
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 19-02-2015 23:24
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Team Leader
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valverde321 wrote:
Deadpool wrote:
valverde321 wrote:
YAASSSSSS!!!!!! Finally a big win from one of my sprinters. That was a perfectly executed race. Only way it could have been better is if it was a 1-2
So Mr. Manager, was Lo Cicero's drop off tactics or fatigue?
I'd really love to give PCM the benefit of the doubt on the smart tactical move to build some seperation, but I think we can be pretty confident which one it was...
Napolitiano obviously told Lo Cicero he was going to win today, so Lo Cicero backed off. Perhaps there is a rift between the two in the team bus.
So which one is which? Seems like Napolitiano is Tokugawa and Lo Cicero is Toyotomi, right?
Wow, I'm ashamed at myself. |
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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)
