Corsica International Discussion
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tsmoha |
Posted on 16-07-2015 16:09
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Corsica International
One of the most prestigious climber's stage races in the PCT, this HC race is going into it's fourth edition: two-time winner Jose Alacorn (2012, 2013) and Domenico Pozzovivo (2014) as the most prominent names on the honour roll here, this short stage race surely suits the premium climbers.
Allround skills are welcome, too, though: Kicking off with a short flat stage for the sprinters, an 8km timetrial (prologue-style) will make for some first gaps between the GC contenders. You may not lose the race here, but in a race packed with great climbers, any seconds may count eventually.
The Startlist
The Favorites Rider | MO | PRL | Rider | MO | PRL | Machado | 84 | 74 | Moschella | 79 | 69 | Intxausti | 82 | 77 | Talansky | 79 | 72 | Contador | 82 | 74 | Lövkvist | 78 | 73 | Keizer | 81 | 81 | Reis | 78 | 74 | Brajkovic | 81 | 78 | Rodrigues | 78 | 67 | Abal | 81 | 77 | Stetina | 78 | 64 | Van den Broeck | 81 | 75 | Panayotov | 78 | 68 | Rujano | 81 | 70 | Quintana | 78 | 69 | Sella | 81 | 66 | Hacecký | 77 | 68 | Nerz | 80 | 73 | Arroyo | 77 | 66 | Eastman | 80 | 73 | Hirschlein | 77 | 69 | Krasnoperov | 80 | 73 | Majka | 76 | 69 | Marquez | 80 | 70 | Rohregger | 76 | 73 | Nazaret | 80 | 65 | De la Cruz | 76 | 72 |
Huge startlist, as to be expected: Of course it's - as always - Machado with the race to lose here. The competition is fierce though: Intxausti and Contador as the next best climbers (on paper) will surely aim for overall victory as well. Intxausti as last year's 2nd here (missing out on the win by 6 seconds) with some kind of extra motivation to claim the top of the podium this time.
Also last year's 3rd - Brajkovic - and 4th - Abal - missed the victory quite close there and should be amongst the top-favorites without any doubts. Keizer (5th in 2013) as another top-favorite, who will already try to win the short timetrial for the "yellow bonus" in the concluding queen stage.
The list goes on and on: Van den Broeck, Rujano, Sella, Marquez, Nerz, Eastman, Krasnoperov and Buff's co-leader Nazaret make for a startlist packed with fourteen 80+ climbers.
The Stage-Hunters Pure Chronomen | PRL | | Sprinters | SP | ACC | Cornu | 81 | | Ahlstrand | 81 | 80 | Schädlich | 80 | | Guillén | 81 | 82 | Reus | 79 | | Nelson | 81 | 81 | Robert | 79 | | Keukeleire | 80 | 79 | Quaade | 76 | | Kip | 80 | 82 | Oliveira | 78 | | Castañeda | 80 | 79 | Dumoulin | 78 | | Drapac | 80 | 79 | | | | Groenewegen | 80 | 79 | | | | Coquard | 79 | 81 | | | | Aberasturi | 79 | 78 |
With the other two stages held prior to the key stage, the race was always going to attract sprinters and pure TT-specialists as well: Cornu, Schädlich and Reus/Robert as promising riders for the timetrial.
Ahlstrand, Guillén and Nelson as the fastest sprinters, though facing some tough competition with riders like Keukeleire, Kip, Castaneda, Drapac or Groenewegen aiming for that short opener, too.
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Miguel98 |
Posted on 16-07-2015 16:10
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World Champion
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Top 5 please. |
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roturn |
Posted on 16-07-2015 16:13
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Top 5 goal here.
Keizer just needs to be ahead in the TT and then stay with the others I guess. Yellow jersey would clearly help but I guess Cornu might steal the TT.
Schädlich and Dumoulin for a top10 in the ITT as well I hope.
Groenewegen for the opener with Krieger with him. But the competition is tougher than I had hoped. Please just sprint at least then...
Aru/Olivier hopefully don`t stay in the peloton and help Keizer as much as possible.
Quite surprised Aru/Olivier weren`t listed by you, when riders like co-leader Stetina are. |
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fjhoekie |
Posted on 16-07-2015 16:15
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Grand Tour Specialist
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If I score points, I'll be happy...
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game
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Mresuperstar |
Posted on 16-07-2015 16:17
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Grand Tour Champion
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Our first HC race of the season. Great to be back at Corsica. We brought a bunch of decent climbers to hopefully survive stage 3 or attack at the start of it. It's going to be weird racing against Abal.
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baseballlover312 |
Posted on 16-07-2015 16:27
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I'm hoping that Garby will show himself at some point here, or at least do well in minor placings.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
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viking90 |
Posted on 16-07-2015 16:47
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Lövkvist has been 12th,10th and 7th the 3 last time here doubt he can do so good this time. But Ahlstrand should be able to get a good sprint in its not a breakaway. |
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sammyt93 |
Posted on 16-07-2015 17:45
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Classics Specialist
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I'm hoping Chavanne can put in a good time on stage 2 with his 77 Prologue, that should be enough to net him a top 10 on that stage, and with Hofer having 76 Prologue then I'm hoping he'll make it 2 in the top 15 for the second stage.
Apart from that we are probably going to need a break to get any success from this as Rohregger will be doing really well to get a top 20 judging by the startlist.
That said we have got a lot of similar strength climbers here so hopefully at least one of them will be allowed in the break on the final stage to challenge for the KOM Jersey.
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Kentaurus |
Posted on 16-07-2015 18:42
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Not any big expectations here, startlist is loaded, would be thrilled with a top 10, happy with anything that gets points.
AZTECA - NBCSN
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DubbelDekker |
Posted on 16-07-2015 19:37
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Small Tour Specialist
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The 15th and 16th best climber in the race have 79 CL. And only two of the best 14 have under 70 TT. Crazy shit, man.
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Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 04:44
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Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 16-07-2015 21:48
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Well, didn't see that startlist coming.
Hoping for one of my guys to get in the breakaway on stage 1.
Arroyo, Lopez Garcia, Jeannesson, Txurruka will hopefully put pressure on the big favourites with attacks on that final stage. Hopefully a mid stage attack from the likes of Arroyo or something.
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CountArach |
Posted on 17-07-2015 00:49
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Grand Tour Champion
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Big race here. Cornu really needs to game the opening prologue and that would be worth quite a lot of points. Keukeleire can hopefully podium in the second stage and then VDB can go for somewhere in the top 10.
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The Rider |
Posted on 17-07-2015 09:32
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How many races does Contador have to win before he starts as the race favourite!
A GC podium has to be the goal here, a top 3 sprint on stage 1 would be a nice starter. |
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roturn |
Posted on 17-07-2015 10:42
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Jeez. Where is the Keizer`ed button?
Honestly. I was highly surprised to see my team making a sprint train...of 2...why not use Schädlich as 1st rider then.
Then though scrolling down and down seeing the result I was like wtf. Van den Brock in 2nd? Where are my riders...
Then I saw Krieger and behind him Groenewegen...screw you Dylan, start doing something. 2 points so far this season is real underperforming.
Then seeing Keizer in 7th...so he basically equals Groenewegen`s best sprint performance this season.
So obviously not very happy with todays stage and my sprint chaos. Reminds me on back old Vantomme days, when it looked the same.
At least the 7th for Keizer could mean, he has very good chances to grab the point jersey with a TT and mountain stage left. |
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fjhoekie |
Posted on 17-07-2015 10:43
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Krasnoperov hasn't lost time yet, that's good
Also saw a rider on a screenshot, just can't read his number.
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game
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cio93 |
Posted on 17-07-2015 10:49
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World Champion
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What the fuck was that. Bar taking points doesn't make up for Heider, Bongiorno AND Herklotz losing time. FFS. Nerz needs to Top 10.
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Heine |
Posted on 17-07-2015 10:50
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Really strong stage from Bpost
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Miguel98 |
Posted on 17-07-2015 11:44
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Jesus Bpost. That was seriously op.
11th for TIziano is good. Shame no points came from that. |
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Mresuperstar |
Posted on 17-07-2015 12:42
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Grand Tour Champion
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BPost OP!
Shame Fraile got dropped. He could have jumped up into the top 10 overall after the stage 2 ITT. But I can complain too much considering everyone else on the team stayed alert.
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viking90 |
Posted on 17-07-2015 12:46
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Domination by Bpost there, congrats!
Had higher hopes for Ahlstrand, at least for a podium... |
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