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Viana do Castelo Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 07-08-2015 10:25
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
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 Viana do Castelo
A new cobbled classic on the calendar, as we are going to Portugal, where the Viana do Castelo makes it's debut tomorrow.
A fascinating route has been designed here: 206km in total, the challenging circuit features a steep climb and a few sectors with pavé. This ascend (also to the finish then) certainly as the most interesting part, where those cobbles could make for some (dangerous) action.
The Startlist
The Favorites | Allrounders | HI | COB | | Cobblers | HI | COB | |  Summerhill | 73 | 82 | |  Vanmarcke | 66 | 79 | |  Vanspeybrouck | 71 | 82 | |  Thomas | 60 | 79 | |  Trentin | 74 | 77 | | Albert | 69 | 78 | |  Nuyens | 70 | 77 | |  Vandenbergh | 67 | 78 | |  Langeveld | 72 | 76 | | Veelers | 64 | 78 | |  Declerq | 72 | 75 | | Daniel | 68 | 77 | | | Boom | 75 | 74 | | Steurs | 68 | 77 | | | Pozzato | 77 | 73 | | Stallaert | 67 | 77 | | | Selvaggi | 73 | 73 | | Nooytens | 64 | 76 | |  Armee | 74 | 71 | | Grashev | 69 | 75 | | | Del Nero | 71 | 71 | | Fouquet | 67 | 75 | |  Roy | 79 | 70 | | De Backer | 64 | 75 | |
With so many cobbles on the menu, we surely should expect Summerhill and Vanspeybrouck as the clear favorites (again). Both climbing pretty decent and clearly the best cobblers in this startlist. But then it becomes (more) interesting:
We may not see those usual suspects like Vanmarcke or Vandenbergh amongst the most promising contenders here. It depends on how hard those hills will be raced though. Someone like Thomas should struggle anyway though.
So speaking of serious threats for the podium, we may expect riders like Trentin (also a strong finisher), Nuyens, Langeveld, Boom and Pozzato doing well thanks to the hilly profile. Roy may actually be a dark horse, too. Wouldn't it be funny, if he delivers big time in a cobbled classic after tending to struggle in hilly classics?
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 07-08-2015 10:27
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3215
Joined: 23-07-2008
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Another filling race hoping the 4 man attack of Armee, Van Zyl, Naud and Boros can hit the top 20 with at least one of them |
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| roturn |
Posted on 07-08-2015 10:29
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
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Thought I send Boom here different to the other cobbled classics. Hopefully he and Vanmarcke can both shine here.
With the cobbles mainly on the descent I have no idea if PCM handles this good enough though.
Could also lead to a breakaway win due to a big enough gap and less advantage for the cobblers on the downhill paves.
Top 5 is needed here with at least one other in top15. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 07-08-2015 10:32
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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Interesting profile. And not too big a start list, might be a very entertaining race! |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 05:04
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 07-08-2015 10:38
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3999
Joined: 26-07-2011
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Well I certainly think Summerhill can be completely dominant here as he is tops in cobbles, and also just a bit stronger in the hills, but I'm also terrified that we don't have the firepower to close down a breakaway, and if BPost gets anyone in that group, we may never see them again (as BPost will probably need to do most of the chasing).
AZTECA - NBCSN  |
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 07-08-2015 10:49
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2073
Joined: 14-09-2013
PCM$: 4500.00
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This parcours may well create a Wacky Races type situation on those downhill cobbles:
With a small start-list, odd parcours and most teams lacking good depth, may well be the perfect recipe for a successful BoTD? Opportunity for some teams to score big, others perhaps zero - Nutresa hope to be in the former camp although fear the latter!
Manager of ISA - Hexacta in the MG |
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| The Rider |
Posted on 07-08-2015 10:50
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
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tsmoha wrote:
Roy may actually be a dark horse, too. Wouldn't it be funny, if he delivers big time in a cobbled classic after tending to struggle in hilly classics?
Hilarious! It looks like he has a better chance here than in a non cobble race. Top 10 via breakaway, yes, let's go for that!
tsmoha - Looks like the Volcan de Agua Classic race has been skipped on the calendar. Any reason?  |
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| sgdanny |
Posted on 07-08-2015 10:51
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3591
Joined: 18-03-2014
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The preview for Volcan de Agua Classic is up The Rider
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 07-08-2015 10:52
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15274
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Very curious how this one will pan out. Profile should make for an interesting race!
Not here myself since my punchers can't cobble and my cobblers can't climb. Looks like more people had that problem looking at the small startlist, though.
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| The Rider |
Posted on 07-08-2015 10:56
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
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Thanks. So it is. My bad!
- Gone for 1 day and so much happens! |
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| tastasol |
Posted on 07-08-2015 12:30
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2889
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This should fit Trentin very good, but well. That parcour is something different, that's for sure. Hopefully he can deliver like he did in Dunkerque.
Steurs was good in the first cobbled classic (Kigali, hilly rated), so hope he can show up in this race as well.
My money is on Pozzato here. Don't think Roy will be good enough on the cobbles, but that hill, surely, must make it a hard race for the likes of Thomas.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 07-08-2015 12:40
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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The profile is insane but with the small size of teams I'm actually hopeful for some much needed Strava point glory. Bring 'em in! 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 07-08-2015 13:43
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1036
Joined: 17-06-2009
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AMEXNavigon totally botched this race by not understanding it had cobbles. Somehow we missed that. Painful.
=========================================
Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 07-08-2015 18:16
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Team Leader
Posts: 6036
Joined: 20-07-2008
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Stunning preview, tsmoha. Incidentally, I'm in Viana do Castelo's region atm, so I'll be following this closely. Also, the climb in questiion has been tackled in Volta a Portugal just a few days ago, so it's even more relevant.
Good luck everyone
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| knockout |
Posted on 07-08-2015 18:50
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7735
Joined: 21-12-2010
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Once again a great preview!
It would have been very interesting what Boonen could have done but with so few RD it was an easy decision to go for an additional flat classic.
Summerhill looks once again like the favourite but I think it is the perfect route for Pozzato. Wouldn't be surprised at all if he would take the glory.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 07-08-2015 23:02
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2633
Joined: 20-04-2008
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Interesting race! This should be a good profile for Pozzato, so I hope we manage to control the break.
Summerhill scary as always and Roy might be dangerous indeed. Also Trentin has proven his quality in such terrain very recently. Looking forward
Edited by DubbelDekker on 08-08-2015 08:10
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| cio93 |
Posted on 08-08-2015 02:08
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World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
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The race I'm the most curious about all season long with the positioning of the cobbles.
Declerq should like this, but if he likes this as much as the similar stage in Dunkerque...
It's been a while since Herklotz tried something on the cobbles mid-stage, this race looks perfect for that scenario.
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| CountArach |
Posted on 08-08-2015 04:26
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8290
Joined: 14-07-2008
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My money is actually on someone like Trentin who can deal with the hills better. Still, I can already tell that the AI is going to absolutely freak out so who knows what could happen?
Thanks for the preview, I'm curious to see what goes on here.
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 08-08-2015 11:24
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World Champion
Posts: 13915
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This would have been a perfect race for Sinkeldam.
Congrats, roturn!
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| Shonak |
Posted on 08-08-2015 11:37
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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So at last Summerhill was brought down.
Langeveld <3 <3 <3
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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