Tour of Beijing Discussion
|
the_hoyle |
Posted on 25-01-2017 19:52
|
Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Tour of Beijing
HC Stage Race
Hello, and welcome to China for the 4th edition of the Tour of Beijing. Since its first edition in 2013, the GC battle has normally gone down to the big named puncheurs in the peleton. Will it be the same again in 2016.
The Favourites
| Hill | Sta | Acc | | | Hill | Sta | Acc | Kinoshita | 81 | 80 | 77 | | Bystrom | 79 | 75 | 76 | Flügel | 81 | 79 | 74 | | Bilbao | 79 | 77 | 75 | Anuar Aziz | 81 | 78 | 71 | | Betancourt | 79 | 72 | 74 | Gautier | 80 | 76 | 77 | | Cunego | 79 | 74 | 74 | Ulissi | 80 | 83 | 75 | | Schumacher | 79 | 75 | 69 | Roche | 80 | 78 | 72 | | Barrio | 79 | 69 | 67 | Zaini | 80 | 74 | 70 | | Caruso | 78 | 76 | 77 | van der Hugenhaben | 80 | 77 | 66 | | Roux | 78 | 78 | 75 | Vogt | 80 | 78 | 61 | | Vanendert | 78 | 77 | 72 | Ben Nasser | 79 | 76 | 77 | | Landa | 78 | 70 | 69 |
Last year’s winner Jonathan Bellis is not present on the startlist, but we do see a return of the 2014 winner and runner-up in 2015 Carlos Betancourt.
Stopping him from becoming the first two-time winner in the Chinese capital are a number of riders, who all stake a good claim to the winner’s crown themselves. Kinoshita, Flügel and Anuar Aziz lead the stat charts in the list of favourites, but closely followed by Ulissi, Roche and Ben Nasser, who have all ridden well on similar terrain this season.
No one should count out Gautier and van der Hugenhaben during the race, whilst Cunego, Schumacher, Vogt and Bilbao all have outside chances of a podium place.
The Sprinters
| Fl | Sp | Acc | | | Fl | Sp | Acc | Vanderbiest | 74 | 82 | 77 | | Matthews | 75 | 79 | 79 | Impey | 74 | 80 | 81 | | Hayakawa | 73 | 79 | 79 | Bouhanni | 74 | 80 | 77 | | Aberasturi | 74 | 79 | 78 | Serebriakov | 74 | 80 | 77 | | Reinhardt | 71 | 78 | 84 | Haussler | 73 | 80 | 76 | | Kruopis | 73 | 78 | 77 |
Whilst the GC may favour the Puncheurs, there are still two stages that are a sprinter’s paradise. Stages 3 & 5 are tailor-made for the peleton’s fast men, and it is clear from the startlist that a number of teams saw the opportunity in a race normally dominated by hillier rider.
Vanderbiest is the clear favourite for these stages, but will no doubt be pushed all the way by the likes of fellow countryman Bouhanni, Impey, Serebriakov and Haussler.
Matthews, Hayakawa and Aberasturi could be a good shout for strong finishes also, along with Reinhardt and Kruopis.
However, with a number of these riders having team-mates aiming for GC honours, it will be interesting to see how many domestiques will be sacrificed in the lead-outs.
The Startlist
Former Winners
2015 | Jonathan Bellis | RBC Pro Cycling | 2014 | Carlos Betancourt | FCB - Polska | 2013 | Fabian Wegmann | Sram-Riboxx Cycling Team |
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
|
|
|
|
Selwink |
Posted on 25-01-2017 20:22
|
Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8856
Joined: 17-05-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
I don't think we can be entirely ruled out here. Kadri has been performing extremely well so far this season and he may hopefully continue this. Serebriakov is among the best sprinters here as well, but a stage win might be harder to grab. The goal in this race is GC top-10 and/or a stage win.
|
|
|
|
Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 23:56
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
IP: None |
|
|
fjhoekie |
Posted on 25-01-2017 20:26
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4476
Joined: 25-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Well, let's see if Cunego and Prevar can continue their good form. Also have good hopes for Vanderbiest to take his 3rd stage of the season.
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game
|
|
|
|
Shonak |
Posted on 25-01-2017 20:27
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
|
Not sure what to expect. Vanendert has been pretty great so far so a Top 10 is definitely within reach. Stage wins, maybe too, but more likely by breakaway. I hope Roux comes out to shine. The one time he was close to finishing Top 10 in a stage race, he crashed out sigh.
Thanks for preview hoyle, looking forward to the race.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
|
|
|
|
matt17br |
Posted on 25-01-2017 22:59
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 10525
Joined: 28-09-2013
PCM$: 200.00
|
Nice preview, even nicer startlist for Ulissi who has a lot less opponents than expected
I'd say the route doesn't really favour Diego at all because of the potential influence of the mo stat, but he also is significantly better than everyone else on the long run, and 2 of the hardest stages are unusually long.
Generally it would be Cunego vs Kinoshita here, but hopefully our former MSR winner can mix it up even if for just a podium which would mean several points.
|
|
|
|
valverde321 |
Posted on 26-01-2017 00:42
|
World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
|
One of our most important races of the year, and it suits Kinoshita maybe perfectly. I really need a win with how our season has been going, but its a tough field as always.
|
|
|
|
Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 26-01-2017 02:10
|
Team Leader
Posts: 5533
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
|
Hoping for a good result from Caruso/Roy in the GC here which should be possible. Bouhanni has enough support to get some good placings in the sprints as well.
|
|
|
|
dev4ever |
Posted on 26-01-2017 06:54
|
Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2282
Joined: 13-03-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
sending a decent squad here with opportunity to do welll in every stage. really not expecting any wins here but some decent points should still be possible to reach
sweet preview hoyle!
|
|
|
|
jph27 |
Posted on 26-01-2017 08:24
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7339
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
|
Hoping Gautier can pull a top 5 out of the bag here, but his low mountain stat will hurt him. If he can just cling onto the front group on Stage 1 and then perform well on Stage 3 (which looks to suit his skills), a top 5 may be just about achievable. |
|
|
|
fintas |
Posted on 26-01-2017 11:54
|
Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2602
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
|
I'm not sure what to expect from the team in the race, but given the recent past I can not expect much. Vogt will surely fail again and Haussler can no longer beat the best
|
|
|
|
Bjartne |
Posted on 26-01-2017 14:14
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2907
Joined: 15-07-2007
PCM$: 300.00
|
Looking forward to this race. Dekker and Matthews will be our leader, but we doubt they will be winning anything. We're mostly here to please our sponsors by racing in Chinese territory.
Also exciting to see if "local" Korean Park can get some time in front of the camera, hopefully do a good job pulling Matthews in position for a sprint podium.
Dekker can in a good day do some trouble to, although he shines more in the mountains than the hills.
Thanks for the well-written preview the_hoyle! |
|
|
|
fjhoekie |
Posted on 26-01-2017 14:42
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4476
Joined: 25-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Nope. Not good. Cunego should be more to the front on stages like this, and Prevar seems hopeless, just like last season. Tomorrow for Romain then...
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game
|
|
|
|
sgdanny |
Posted on 26-01-2017 14:45
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3591
Joined: 18-03-2014
PCM$: 200.00
|
Being 1 minute behind the favorite already is not acceptable, as the goal is top get a podium. Hopefully Roche will repeat what he did earlier this season and go all-in on another stage. Stage 3 does look good for him, if the mountain stat has any significance
|
|
|
|
matt17br |
Posted on 26-01-2017 14:50
|
Directeur Sportif
Posts: 10525
Joined: 28-09-2013
PCM$: 200.00
|
Awesome! Can't think of a way this could have gone better except maybe not being gapped by Kinoshita or winning the stage Ulissi really showing why I paid him half a milli lately, and I like the great support Molard gave him, while he's been sorta lacking the rest of the season.
Thanks for the fast work roturn and congrats valv.
|
|
|
|
Shonak |
Posted on 26-01-2017 15:04
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
|
Good to have both riders inside the large group of chasers, this should help our goal for Top 10. Thanks for the report, gratz Valv.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
|
|
|
|
Bikex |
Posted on 26-01-2017 15:15
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7257
Joined: 25-08-2012
PCM$: 600.00
|
Well that's not how I hoped the race would go. Hopefully Nepo can do something in the sprint stages. |
|
|
|
Bjartne |
Posted on 26-01-2017 15:18
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2907
Joined: 15-07-2007
PCM$: 300.00
|
Cool with a Kinoshita-victory in this Asian HC-race, happy for Valverde! Good to see some splits behind Dekker who now sits in 7th position. This should be a really interresting continuation down the next stages.
Thank you for the report roturn! |
|
|
|
Bushwackers |
Posted on 26-01-2017 15:31
|
Sprinter
Posts: 1907
Joined: 07-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Congrats to valverde, and great reporting as usual. I'm just happy Reichenbach stayed in the big chase group. Its really strange that Reinhardt was trying to stay at the front, I wonder what the AI was thinking there
|
|
|
|
dev4ever |
Posted on 26-01-2017 15:53
|
Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2282
Joined: 13-03-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Okayish start here, hope the team will contribute to more though. Other puncheurs like Landa doing nothing is not really ideal.
Gratz to valv for the win on 'home-turf' aswell.
|
|
|
|
jph27 |
Posted on 26-01-2017 15:53
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7339
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
|
Well there goes the top 5... |
|
|