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Le Samyn Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 24-09-2018 13:59
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Directeur Sportif
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 Le Samyn
Welcome to Belgium, where the first edition of this Wallonian race will be held tomorrow: Le Samyn. An interesting new course on the MG calendar: the race is run entirely in the province of Hainaut, starting in Mons and finishing in Dour. During the course, 16 sectors of cobbled roads are traversed, prompting Belgian media to call it "The Little Paris–Roubaix".
While this "hyped" name from the Belgian media may be a little bit too much, it's certainly an exciting profile: both premium cobblers and sprinters will fancy their chances to be in the mix of writing the first name on the honour roll - surely, there some cobbles sectors, but not too long and intense like other one day classics.. it should make for a pretty uncertain outcome of the actual race.
The Startlist
The Favorites | Cobblers | FL | ST | CO | SP | Sprinters | FL | ST | CO | SP |  Vanspeybrouck | 76 | 78 | 82 | 67 |  Theuns | 72 | 76 | 78 | 77 |  Blythe | 76 | 76 | 82 | 76 |  Saber | 75 | 74 | 76 | 81 |  Zepuntke | 72 | 79 | 81 | 72 |  Thwaites | 73 | 74 | 76 | 78 |  Baugnies | 78 | 80 | 80 | 65 |  Nepomnyachsniy | 74 | 74 | 76 | 78 |  Vanbilsen | 78 | 80 | 80 | 72 | Van Asbroeck | 75 | 75 | 74 | 80 |  Burghardt | 75 | 74 | 80 | 65 |  Harrison | 72 | 73 | 73 | 78 |  Vanmarcke | 76 | 77 | 80 | 70 | Degenkolb | 76 | 73 | 72 | 84 | | Nolf | 74 | 77 | 80 | 63 |  Petit | 76 | 76 | 72 | 80 |  Ferreira | 73 | 74 | 79 | 71 |  Gatto | 70 | 69 | 71 | 77 |  Maes | 80 | 79 | 79 | 62 | Giaux | 73 | 72 | 71 | 77 | | Fenn | 72 | 75 | 79 | 70 | Kvist | 75 | 74 | 71 | 77 | | Thomas | 75 | 75 | 79 | 74 | Planckaert | 73 | 71 | 71 | 77 | | David | 74 | 76 | 78 | 70 | Peeters | 72 | 71 | 68 | 79 |  Van Keirsbulck | 72 | 75 | 78 | 70 | Rowe | 72 | 80 | 67 | 80 | | Albert | 75 | 76 | 78 | 63 |  Kreder | 73 | 75 | 66 | 77 | | Taubel | 73 | 69 | 78 | 61 | Te Brake | 75 | 74 | 66 | 79 | | Bush | 74 | 75 | 78 | 71 |  Holloway | 78 | 77 | 65 | 80 |  Breen | 77 | 72 | 77 | 73 | Lavoine | 73 | 71 | 65 | 80 |
Let's start with the cobblers: the known suspects feature the list of favorites. Vanspeybrouck and Blythe as those, who simply need to deliver in each cobbles race they enter. While Blythe has yet to prove his superior skills, Vanspeybrouck is coming off a great overall victory at the KBC De Panne Tour, where he also struggled in the first of two cobbles stages though. Anyway, he delivered his first victory of the season then and may have a small advantage over Blythe this way.
Baugnies surely another favorite, who did not shine at the Roma Maxima though. His performances against the big guns were pretty awesome, however, and so he is definitely someone to watch out for - yet again. Roma Maxima winner Vanbilsen as another real threat for a victory, especially since he proved his finishing speed in Italy last week. Of course there's also Zepuntke with a similar skillset, just like Vanmarcke and maybe even Ferreira, who hasn't been at this best so far this season though.
Burghardt, Nolf, Maes (who's definitely another podium contender if the race will be for the roleur-ish cobblers), as well as Gent - Wevelgem winner Thomas, Bush and Breen should all do well, if it comes down to a sprint from a reduced group. Also David, who's coming off a terrible De Panne Tour though..
And then, the sprinters: Saber, Theuns, Thwaites and Nepomnyachsniy as the best cobblers amongst those. Saber proved at Roma Maxima, that he can hang on with superior cobblers and he will certainly love the profile of this new race here in Belgium!
Also Van Asbroeck, Degenkolb and Petit will fancy their chances. While Van Asbroeck already enjoys a pretty good early season, Degenkolb has already some disappointing results in his bag. The last Blythe/Degenkolb setup didn't go too well for Degenkolb, but this course here looks more promising for him to reach the finish in a reduced bunch. And of course, he must be considered a top favorite then. A few more interesting names on the list of sprinters, obviously. A lot will depend on whether the peloton will go into pieces or not.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 24-09-2018 14:11
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World Champion
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You know what I like best about your previews? The detail of what happened earlier in the season. Of course you reported most of those races yourself, but it is so much nicer to read stuff like that than just listing rider stats.
Anyway, two leaders here which can both score depending on how the race develops, but I hope the AI follows me there.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 24-09-2018 14:24
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Tour de France Champion
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Hello. I'd like a top 5 please. 
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Selwink |
Posted on 24-09-2018 14:30
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8856
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Holloway gamble no#2, let's see how this one turn out. Please don't let the race be selective
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 24-09-2018 14:32
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Sep has done Top5 in all cobbled races so far, so it's fair to ask him for yet another Top5 here 
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 24-09-2018 15:23
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Tour de France Champion
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Normal stuff, so lets make sure we're at least in the Top10, ideally in the Top5. Or hope for another surprise like KBC or GW? Who knows 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 10:15
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 24-09-2018 17:03
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2073
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Many good cobblers here, but hopefully we can continue our fine performances from recent races. A top 10 here would be a great achievement in front of the Belgian crowd!
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 24-09-2018 19:43
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Grand Tour Champion
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Our cobbles squad seems to be on a roll and I see no reason why we should slow down now.
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 24-09-2018 19:45
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Classics Specialist
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Hopefully we can make the trip up to C1 worth it and take away something from this one. I don't really have any expectations but the way the squad seems to be on a roll gives me at least a little hope we can get something out of it, even if it isn't much.
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 25-09-2018 03:29
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Perfect race for Maes, flat with a whole bunch of cobbled sections! Obviously he’s gonna need to be having a very good day to challenge the big dogs, I don’t see a reason why he wouldn’t be able to wind up on the top-10
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 25-09-2018 06:50
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Directeur Sportif
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Do I dare to dream of another good day for the Saber/Per duo after their performance in Roma? We're even bringing a leadout(??) for Saber in case it comes down to a sprint, but it's unlikely either Te Brake or Krieger will have a role to play in this race.
Thanks for the preview
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| beagle |
Posted on 25-09-2018 08:57
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4200
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Come on, Adam, you have last chance to convince me keeping you in the team for next season.
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 25-09-2018 13:25
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2073
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Cobbled races have been sometimes up, sometimes down for WCC this season, hoping for the former this time around. Interested to follow how tough the racing is in terms of breaking up (or not), and hence how the sprinters who normally wouldn't sign on for cobbles fare.
Manager of ISA - Hexacta in the MG |
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 25-09-2018 14:17
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Would have prefered a better result, but a 6th place isn't a bad one, and this being the worst result for Vanmarcke in 5 cobbled races so far in the season talks a lot about his consistency in bringing home points. He's already around 250 points in the season, with 6-7 cobbled races left in his calendar (a shame we are not in Chesire's band, as he's missing on a big share of points there). But the important thing is that he's giving us the cobbles scores that i hoped when buying him from Vesuvio.
Another win for Baugnies, who is becaming the star of the cobbles season, i was really surprised that he won the sprint against Thomas or Blythe.
Thanks for yet another great report tsmoha!
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 25-09-2018 14:17
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Tour de France Champion
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Hell yeah! Thomas pulling off another great result with 3rd. Very close to the win, but 3rd is still a fantastic result in a very competitive division and keeps his frankly excellent season rolling very nicely. Marcus held onto the front group again to get use two in the Top10. He's strong but clearly lacking the ability in the late race moments. Luckily we have G!!!
Top result. Another great race and close finish. When i've got a podium and a 7th i don't mind losing the win.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 25-09-2018 14:41
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World Champion
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Complete offday for Vanbilsen, I'm a bit lost for words. 5 riders in the top 40 isn't enough for any points, right?
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 25-09-2018 15:00
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2073
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Bush in 11th is a bit mehh without any other scorers. Arissol did a decent effort trying to bring Bush back into things, and at least ensures we avoid a disaster here, even if ppRD is weak. Thought days like this (flat, minor cobbles + strong breeze) would have been when Feng would shine as luxury domesique for Bush et al. but he has been pretty quiet thus far since joining at the start of the season. In retrospect, hard to make s strong case for Bush beating many of those finishing above him, he needs a real good day to hang on to those coat-tails and then finish higher up with his competent sprint finish (Thomas shows the way in that regard again).
Congrats to Baugnies' crew on the win, a bit surprising that he seems to be the top scoring PCT cobbler I reckon thus far given that the likes of Blythe, Carlsberg trio, etc. look as good/better on paper. Finally, thnks to our reporter as always!
Manager of ISA - Hexacta in the MG |
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| Roman |
Posted on 25-09-2018 15:01
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Wow, superb results by my amateurs, with both Coronel and Batmunkh taking points here! 17th and 23rd, superb results, really! Already can't wait for Cyprus for Stybar's attempt to steal some points from PCT/CT teams! 
Tom David finally getting some nice points in the lower division, but Baugnies continues his impressive 2018 campaign, what a season for him so far. Blythe and Vanspeybrouck not that great, sadly for their managers.
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| Bikex |
Posted on 25-09-2018 15:36
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David trying to make up for his recent embarassing showing in Belgium, I like to see that. 2nd is obviously a great result!
Congrats on the win Booker and thanks for another great report tsmoha, really enjoyed reading it! |
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| beagle |
Posted on 25-09-2018 16:07
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4200
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At least Blythe was attentive this time. However, I don´t understand why the strongest (or TOP3) rider is failing in every race he participates. On the other side, Domene proved his consistency with decent 13rd place. On the last side, risk with Degenkolb didn´t work at all again.
Instead of promotion, relegation battle is coming closer and closer
Thanks for the report.
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
