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Tour of California Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 23-07-2015 19:17
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Note Preview made by me, reports written by Selwink and posted by SN!
 Tour of California
There's not just the Giro, there's also the Cali! Being a key event in the ProTour since 2009 (with the first edition in 2008 held as a CT-event), the Tour of California goes for the traditional Giro-clash, offering an interesting mix of almost every kind of stage terrain. The US fans are looking forward to a race, that has often produced a local hero winning the GC (3x Phinney, 2x Zabriskie).
And of course the 2015 route will again favor the most complete allrounders: two early hilly stages (featuring a short, but steep uphill finish on the fourth day) may see a few pure puncheurs aiming to drop the climbers and TT-beasts. While the abosulte key stage should still be the summit finish up 'Mosquito Flat' on sixth day.
A brand new feature this year: a 15km TTT on day three. Surely it won't see the biggest gaps, but anyway - a nice chance to gain valuable time. The concluding 35km ITT will hopefully see a thrilling fight for yellow then.
The Startlist
The Favorites | Climbers | MO | HI | TT | Puncheurs | MO | HI | TT |  Spilak | 85 | 82 | 77 |  Trofimov | 78 | 83 | 77 |  Machado | 84 | 77 | 74 |  Gastauer | 71 | 82 | 66 |  Gesink | 82 | 81 | 80 |  Schumacher | 68 | 81 | 74 |  Phinney | 82 | 77 | 83 |  Roche | 78 | 80 | 72 |  Dekker | 82 | 76 | 79 |  Bobridge | 69 | 80 | 77 |  Dombrowski | 82 | 73 | 69 |  Gautier | 68 | 80 | 64 | | Henao Montoya | 82 | 71 | 71 |  Zaini | 66 | 80 | 61 |  Monsalve | 81 | 76 | 72 |  Bilbao | 67 | 79 | 63 |  Sella | 81 | 74 | 66 |  Sagan | 74 | 78 | 68 | | Kiserlovski | 80 | 75 | 72 | Kinoshita | 71 | 78 | 65 | | Ji | 80 | 75 | 69 | Vanendert | 72 | 78 | 71 | | Morton | 80 | 74 | 71 | Valverde | 77 | 77 | 69 |  Fothen | 80 | 73 | 76 | Vysna | 77 | 76 | 65 |  Cattaneo | 80 | 69 | 77 | | | | | | Keinath | 79 | 76 | 75 | | | | |  Wellens | 79 | 73 | 70 | | | | | | Shikai | 78 | 71 | 76 | | | | |
A packed startlist and of course we have to start with the two last winners here: local favorite Phinney obviously the man to beat here, while also Machado (winner in 2013) should be in the mix for another great GC-result. Also Gesink is back here after finishing as 2nd one year ago and of course Spilak as another premium climber/allrounder. They all need to gain time on Phinney before the final stage.
Trofimov as a less strong climber, but still one of the most complete stage racers here. The Russian definitely is capable of controlling the race in the first days. Also Gastauer, Schumacher and Roche will aim to gain time in the hilly stages.
Several other climbers like Dekker, up and coming Dombrowski or Monsalve should be considered real threats for the Top-5/10 at least, while better TTlers like Fothen, Keinath or Shikai could surprise here.
The Stage Hunters | TTT favorites | Rating (1-5) | | | Sprinter | SPR | ACC | | Festina-Canal+ | ***** | | | Swift | 84 | 82 | | Project 1t4i | ***** | | | Mohs | 83 | 82 | | Oz Cycling Project | **** | | | Guarnieri | 82 | 81 | | Venchi | *** | | | Howard | 82 | 79 | | Tinkoff Bank | *** | | | Avelino | 82 | 78 | | Pokerstars.com | ** | | |  Kristoff | 81 | 79 | | Pendleton's | ** | | | Bennati | 81 | 73 | | Bouygues Telecom | * | | |  Holloway | 80 | 82 | | Movistar - US Postal | * | | | Kip | 80 | 82 |
Looking at the TTT-lineups, there's two clear favorites: Gesink (Project) and Spilak (Festina) will know some great support behind them. Also Phinney (Venchi) amongst the stronger teams though.. the ever dangerous Oz's, as well as Tinkoff with a shot at the stage, too.
Three (easy) flat stages and therefore an elite selection of sprinters: Swift and Mohs as the favorites, with Guarnieri, Howard, Avelino or also local favorite Holloway amongst the most dangerous challengers.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 23-07-2015 19:30
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Grand Tour Champion
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Was a real struggling deciding not to send TVG here. So, hopefully Fothen delivers.
And now would be a good time for the Comeback trio to make an appearance. 
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 23-07-2015 19:34
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World Champion
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Breaks/KoM please..probably our worst lineup this year so no expectations, they should really attack on most of the stages so hopefully we'll get odd point or so.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 23-07-2015 19:36
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Directeur Sportif
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Two possible GC riders with Morton and Bobridge. I fear Morton will take the hilly stages a bit too easy, but here's hoping he will limit the losses. Bobridge repeating last year's stage win wouldn't be too bad either 
Less strong TTT squad, which gives me hope that we will take that stage 
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 23-07-2015 19:40
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World Champion
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Gesink would better podium here.
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| SotD |
Posted on 23-07-2015 19:43
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One of our biggest goals of the season. We have put everything on the board for Spilak here. The best possible helpers (deducting Ricco, who is basically alone in the Giro), are available, and the best possible TTT setup - Also leaving Ricco in a really poor situation in the Giro.
So I guess Spilak will fail miserably
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| Heine |
Posted on 23-07-2015 19:46
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Tried to split the team a bit, even though Monsalve is far from the best rider here. Got Preidler to help him and I want a top 10, fighting for top 5. Spilak/Phinney or Trofimov as a long shot to win this. I hope though that Machado comes top 3 and take quite some points from my competitors
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| Smowz |
Posted on 23-07-2015 20:03
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Wow what a startlist. Holloway with slim sprint chances and few break chances, could be slim pickings in this race for us.
Phinney may not win wow!
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-07-2015 21:00
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Dombrowski looking to step up on home soil, will probably lose on the hills and lose badly in the TT but mountain with the nationality bonus should see him up front.
Thanks tsmoha, Selwin and SN.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 01:16
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 23-07-2015 21:08
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Three opportunities for Swift. Stage 1 would be particularly nice to take. Perhaps some decent opportunities for Gastauer, but those stages are always unpredictable.
Should be an interesting GC fight.
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| ember |
Posted on 23-07-2015 21:16
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The only stage race this season where we go without a leader for the GC. I guess I can cross fingers that gives Kristoff a bigger chance to get a train, but that's obviously not going to happen with such a line up for the sprints, neither was it expected. One or two top 5s would be really nice from him, but 5th-10th seems more likely.
Other than that we're happy stage hunters. Admittedly it will be very hard to copy last year's success in that regard, but hopefully Bystrøm, Dyrnes or Hoelgaard manage to sneak away in a successful breakaway on a hilly/flat stage, here's for hoping!
Thanks for the preview, tsmoha. |
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| Bikex |
Posted on 23-07-2015 21:37
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My second WT stage race this season. I hope it goes better than the last one where Sella did quit for no reason. With Sella and Kiserlovski I hope to achieve a top 10 here. For that it will need a good result in the mountain stage as their HI stats aren't so impressive and our TTT lineup is rather weak like seen today.
Kip could secure us some top 10s in the panflat stages here. |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 24-07-2015 06:47
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Worst lineup in any race for Metinvest here, we are basically here for a nice ride in a nice US state.
No TTT setup, terrible main climber, hilly sprinter for pan flat stages, that says it all. 
We can only get lucky with some random breakaway success, good luck to all, startlist seems packed with great riders on all terrains.
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 24-07-2015 07:18
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World Champion
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Thought I brought a decent squad, but we are way at the bottom of the startlist. Hoping for lots of action with Kinoshita, Zaini, Shikai, Ji and Bennati.
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 24-07-2015 11:39
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Small Tour Specialist
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I have no idea how this race will evolve, so I've send in a very strong all-round team, let's hope it will pay off.
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| jph27 |
Posted on 24-07-2015 13:45
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Elissonde not being mentioned pretty much sums up the extent of my hopes here. Hoping Gautier can do something in the hilly stages and Petit get in the top 10 in the sprints, but apart from that anything is a bonus. |
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| beagle |
Posted on 24-07-2015 21:54
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Competition is much harder than I expected, but I still hope for decent result here. If we build our own sprint train, then Mohs could deliver some success. Both Keinath and Roche have potential finish in TOP 20.
Spilak is obvious favourite for overall, will someone have balls to challenge him?
Thanks tsmoha for great preview, looking forward to reports.
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| beagle |
Posted on 24-07-2015 22:06
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Poor Zepunkte, it would be amazing start for VW if he would survive. Dominant win for Swift ain´t surprising, I´m pretty satisfied with 2nd place in opener here. Now into hills!
Thanks SN and Selwink for report.
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| Roman |
Posted on 24-07-2015 22:21
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Howard LOL 
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 24-07-2015 22:31
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Now we see where all the GC riders have gone 'on holiday' while avoiding the Giro - this start list should be for a full GT, not a pretend jumped up US race  . Many are going to go home disappointed as this is a lot of race days to spend and come up against this start list!
Manager of ISA - Hexacta in the MG |
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