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Nelspruit Classic Discussion
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 30-01-2018 09:46
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We are in South Africa for the 6th edition of the Nelspruit Classic, where most of the top PCT puncheur will challenge for the win in this race of just over 200 km.
The top favourite, as in every race he takes part, is  Edvald Boasson Hagen. The Norwegian is having a great season so far, although ironically he's yet to win in a HC/C1 race this season.
 Tejay van Garderen is a clear favourite for the second place behind Hagen, being way better than other puncheurs in this field
 Flügel is always a risky bet, but he has won this season Strade Bianche, showing what he's able to do in a great day.  Schreurs might lack the strenght to actually fight for the win, but a podium shouldn't be out of range for him.  Di Maggio can be perfectly a top favourite for the win if the race is ridden rather slow until the last 5 kms, where he could use his puncheur strenght to even challenge Hagen or TVG. He's also a former winner of the race in 2014
 Anuar Aziz and  Gautier should be other two riders fighting for a podium place, especially the French if he's able to use his great acceleration in the uphill sprint
 Kwiatkowski,  Roche and  Paulinho could be dangerous if the climb is hard enough to see the mon stat involved. In a normal hilly race they should fighting at best for low top10's, but could surprise the favourites. Remember that the Irishman is the reigning winner of the race, although he has declined since last edition.
And other riders that will be in the fight for a top10 place (or better) are  Betancourt,  Barbin,  Caruso, Costa or  Zaini
| Rider | HILL | STA | ACC | SPR | Rider | HILL | STA | ACC | SPR | | Hagen | 85 | 81 | 79 | 73 | Van Garderen | 82 | 78 | 79 | 70 | | Flügel | 81 | 79 | 74 | 68 | Schreurs | 81 | 76 | 74 | 71 | | Gautier | 80 | 76 | 77 | 68 | Di Maggio | 82 | 73 | 75 | 64 | | Kwiatkowski | 79 | 74 | 75 | 67 | Anuar Aziz | 81 | 78 | 71 | 67 | | Caruso | 78 | 76 | 77 | 70 | Betancourt | 80 | 72 | 74 | 67 | | Costa | 80 | 73 | 72 | 69 | Barbin | 78 | 75 | 75 | 71 | | Roche | 79 | 77 | 71 | 68 |  Waeytens | 79 | 72 | 73 | 66 | | Tsatevich | 77 | 74 | 75 | 75 |  Boily | 78 | 72 | 74 | 68 | | McEvoy | 76 | 75 | 79 | 75 | Paulinho | 78 | 70 | 75 | 68 | | Zingle | 77 | 74 | 76 | 66 | Zaini | 80 | 74 | 70 | 65 | | Palini | 78 | 75 | 74 | 68 |  Moazemi | 78 | 72 | 73 | 65 |  Reichenbach | 79 | 76 | 69 | 62 |  Levarlet | 79 | 70 | 68 | 63 |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 30-01-2018 09:52
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We screwed planning hard by sending Roux to a flat classic and stage race and a cobbled classic and not here (or c1 hills in general). Break please, and maybe Diggle being okay so I'm less scared for San Luis!
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT]  Xero Racing
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 30-01-2018 09:53
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Finally after a long break, Kwiatkowski is back, many more hilly races though and our finish to the season will depend a lot on how he handles these sorts of days.
Should be EBH's day of course, but I'm going with Van Garderen to win.
Wonderful preview Aquarius, thanks for that, absolutely loving this pace! 
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| sgdanny |
Posted on 30-01-2018 10:09
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So...Roche winning this again is very very much impossible in my eyes, however he is a strong underdog alongside Kwiatek. This route has been good for him in the past and even though he won it last year, that was with a much weaker startup. Just hope that we can collect a nice Top 5 from this route
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 01:01
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 30-01-2018 10:16
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Obvious pick for the win. Hoping for a proper AI and no crashes.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 30-01-2018 10:17
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Betancourt, I beg you...
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 30-01-2018 10:21
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Well, need to perform in all races from now in order to promote ... so, Schreurs, do your thing. Please. |
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| tastasol |
Posted on 30-01-2018 10:44
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EBH back in (PCT) competition again! Need a good result here after the fiasco in Slovenia. Podium at the very least.
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 30-01-2018 11:14
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It's starting to get old to say but I really need a good result by now and with Gautier being the only leader not underperforming it's up to him to get us going.
A podium would be nice but I don't have too high expectations.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 30-01-2018 12:38
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I'm wondering if Waeytens will have found a new way to disappoint me.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 30-01-2018 13:16
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Nice to have a PCT hills race again. Home success is unlikely for Eritel, but just needs one of my trio to have a good form day, to maybe grab a good result.
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 30-01-2018 14:37
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Anuar Aziz back racing after a lengthy break - as seems to be the case for a lot of other PCT punchy types. EBH should win without breaking a sweat, but the podium fight could be interesting.
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 30-01-2018 15:38
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TVG going for team win goal 3 out of 3 on the season. Got to get through EBH to do it. Should be fun. 
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 30-01-2018 15:46
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Stepping up to C1 here, not at all surprised to be so far down the start-list. Boily is still good enough that challenging for top 15 has some realism to it. As for the others, really hope to feature in the BotD and get some camera time!
Hard to see past EBH and TvG for the top 2 spots. Being well known enough to have your own distinct 3 letter acronym pretty much ensures a 3-star favourite ranking!
Manager of ISA - Hexacta in the MG |
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| fintas |
Posted on 30-01-2018 18:52
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I do not expect a top result here because the competition is very strong, but I hope that once again the depth of the team gives good final result with several riders scoring.
Costa, Paulinho, Vogt and McEvoy have been pretty good this season and I hope this continues.
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 30-01-2018 22:13
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Depends on which Flügel turns up for this race, not a goal race for Kraftwerk so fairly relaxed about this one, anywhere in the top 10 is OK.
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 31-01-2018 00:02
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Hope Zaini can grab a Top 10,
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 31-01-2018 08:44
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Hmm, 16th. Not what I hoped for, but not horrible either. What does bother me is that I can't see him on any picture except for the very last one, so he's probably been sleeping in the back all day then used his +5 legs to overtake a lot of guys.
Thanks for the report, Aquarius!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 31-01-2018 08:45
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Quite a fun race with TVG putting some early pressure on EBH! Didn't really get away, but when Hagen disappeared for a moment, it looked quite promising. Eventually, the big favorite played it smart though. Must be great to have such a dominating rider on your team Glad TVG hang on for 2nd. Well deserved! Also Crue should be happy with Schreurs here. Well needed points. Betancourt though...
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 31-01-2018 08:52
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8th is nice, Kwiatek clearly had the legs for more but missed the split for some inexplicable reason despite being placed for it the whole race, was probably one of the fastest in the final metres, so a little unfortunate but I'll take 8th.
Thanks for the report Aquarius, congrats as well to Grieg with EBH finally striking gold!
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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