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Balkans International Discussion
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 13-06-2019 21:45
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Grand Tour Champion
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 Balkans International
History has to start somewhere right? This is the first edition of the Balkans International, and it immediately progresses to the PTHC category. This is the division where PT and PCT meet. The former are the favorites for the win, but the latter are the underdog who hope to score a lot of points. The race goes over eight days in six different countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Greece), yet it is registered in Ukraine.
Profiles
If you like hilly stages then you are in luck, because there are six of them. The two remaining stages are sprinter stages. To the relief of many puncheurs, no time trials. The strongest puncheur will likely be the one to win here.
Startlist
| Favorites | HL | ACC | RES | Outsiders | HL | ACC | RES |  Bakelants | 84 | 78 | 78 |  Ulissi | 80 | 75 | 71 |  Bobridge | 83 | 80 | 74 |  Vakoc | 80 | 74 | 71 |  Skujins | 83 | 76 | 77 |  Klemme | 80 | 66 | 70 |  De Bie | 83 | 75 | 76 |  Reichenbach | 79 | 69 | 69 |  Van Garderen | 82 | 79 | 75 |  Dyrnes | 78 | 77 | 73 |  Sagan | 82 | 76 | 74 |  Caruso | 78 | 77 | 71 |  Gastauer | 82 | 76 | 70 |  Barbin | 78 | 76 | 73 |  Ginanni | 82 | 73 | 77 | Watson | 78 | 72 | 72 |  Lutsenko | 81 | 81 | 73 | Buchmann | 78 | 71 | 73 |  Kinoshita | 81 | 77 | 77 |  Mehr-Wenige | 78 | 67 | 69 |  Mohoric | 81 | 77 | 72 |  Yates | 77 | 80 | 70 | | Beltran | 81 | 76 | 72 |  Tsatevich | 77 | 75 | 73 | | Schreurs | 81 | 74 | 72 |  Moscon | 77 | 71 | 76 | | Flügel | 81 | 74 | 67 | Preidler | 77 | 69 | 77 | | Trofimov | 81 | 73 | 75 |  Dieteren | 77 | 66 | 70 |
Obviously this race attracts the strongest puncheurs, provided their team was allowed access to the band this race belongs to. Boasson Hagen and Ponzi are two notable absentees. But let's not talk about the riders who aren't here, but about the riders who are.
Bakelants is the bookies favorite. It's a tight field without any standout, but the Belgian has the highest hill stat so should be amongst the favorites.
Two riders come here from Portugal. Bobridge finished nearly every stage in the top five, including two stage victories and a sixth place in the GC. Skujins won a stage and was also amongst the best puncheurs before the mountain stage.
De Bie is equally rated, but did not ride in Portugal. Advantage of the fresher legs or missing race rhythm? Either way, podium candidate for sure.
Van Garderen, Sagan, Gastauer and Ginanni a slight step below the riders mentioned above. That doesn't mean they have no chance for a podium or the win. A top five will be their goal here.
The top PCT puncheurs in the race are Lutsenko, Kinoshita, Schreurs and Flügel. They can gain a lot of points for their managers, and who doesn't love an underdog beating the big boys?
Other names for a top ten are Mohoric, Beltran and Trofimov.
| Sprinters | SP | ACC | HL | | Vesely | 81 | 80 | 68 | | Itami | 80 | 82 | 61 | | Serebriakov | 80 | 77 | 61 | | Gaviria | 79 | 82 | 71 | | Afewerki | 79 | 80 | 63 | | Croket | 79 | 71 | 65 | | Sobota | 78 | 78 | 60 | | Bauhaus | 78 | 75 | 61 | | Reimer | 77 | 80 | 75 | | Kreder | 77 | 78 | 75 | | Mansilla | 77 | 78 | 71 | | Alaphilippe | 77 | 77 | 73 | | Dakteris | 77 | 77 | 64 | | Hoffman | 77 | 76 | 67 |
The top sprinters did not think it was worth to go here for only two chances. This, however, means sprinters who might normally serve as lead-out have a chance to go for their own chances.
The biggest name in the race is Vesely, who usually operates in the shadow of Ciolek. The 26-year old might want to show his manager that he is ready to replace him as lead sprinter.
Itami and Serebriakov are lead sprinters for their PCT outfits. They might have a golden opportunity here.
Gaviria, Afewerki and Croket are decent sprinters who can snatch a good result here.
A couply of punchy sprinters hoping to get a stage that suits their style. Reimer, Kreder and Alaphilippe are the names to mention in that case.
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| knockout |
Posted on 13-06-2019 21:54
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7735
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After the huge disappointment in Portugal we need this race to get back on track and enjoy some succesa in the hills again...
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 13-06-2019 22:36
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
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Leadership for Gaviria, Moscon and Cerny. Let's hope at least one of them proves me right.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 02:57
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 13-06-2019 23:06
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World Champion
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Lets go. We need a big race from Kinoshita and Itami.
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 13-06-2019 23:08
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2433
Joined: 07-07-2013
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Kraftwerk need some luck to gain desperately needed points, fingers crossed.
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 14-06-2019 02:34
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Sprinter
Posts: 1907
Joined: 07-02-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Alright Trofimov you have to do something this year. It will be hard though, this is a tough field.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 14-06-2019 06:22
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Directeur Sportif
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We're here to enjoy the views, travel 6 countries and enjoy some exciting racing from what is a superstar startlist. Dieteren getting mentioned even as an outsider in this startlist is an achievement 
Thanks for the preview!
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| redordead |
Posted on 14-06-2019 06:56
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4881
Joined: 18-10-2017
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Go Mohoric and Isostar 
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| ember |
Posted on 14-06-2019 07:15
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Team Leader
Posts: 6849
Joined: 27-03-2008
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Fingers crossed Beltran can punch above his weight here! With no TT, and stage 3, 6 and 8 all looks more difficult than the normal hilly stage, which makes me hope he can make a difference for the better with his combined abilities on hills/in mountains.
Vesely as the top sprinter here is a nice surprise, hopefully he can deliver at least one stage win, eventhough our leadout could be shaky  |
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| Heine |
Posted on 14-06-2019 09:55
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4116
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Hoping for a good result from TVG here, I feel the course fit him, but the competition is really strong
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 14-06-2019 10:42
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 9099
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PCM$: 2100.00
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Wait, did I really not bring Kump to the race
We Need a Podium from Mohoric here!
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 14-06-2019 10:43
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 9099
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Oh and the idiot that categorized our home race as Ukrainian should be fired.
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 14-06-2019 11:45
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Team Leader
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I don’t exactly know how it’s going to happen but I need something miraculous from Caruso, Zingle and Le Gac here. A lucky GC from the breakaway would likely be the best chance. Come on Euskaltel! Let’s start the final part of our season well!
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| tastasol |
Posted on 14-06-2019 22:34
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2889
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Not the start we hoped for, but not too shabby. Hopefully more selective racing the next days. Congrats to Heine on a flying start!
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 15-06-2019 04:06
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8057
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Always bitter sweet seeing TVG. Proud of him. Wish we could have kept him, but it didn't make sense to do so with our long-term plans. Congrats Heine.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 15-06-2019 10:30
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
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Stage made for Cerny - doesn't do anything. We won't stay in like this guys.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| ember |
Posted on 15-06-2019 11:29
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Team Leader
Posts: 6849
Joined: 27-03-2008
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Anonymous performance from our team, which is good as long as it doesn't give any time loss. Now over to Vesely. Would be great if he could bring us a stage win on the upcoming stage, that's why we brought him here afterall |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 15-06-2019 12:35
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Team Leader
Posts: 5533
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No one lost time yet and that’s what matters.
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 15-06-2019 12:41
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2633
Joined: 20-04-2008
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Excited for this race!
That first stage was quite disappointing though.
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| knockout |
Posted on 15-06-2019 12:57
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7735
Joined: 21-12-2010
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Woah. T-Mobile benefitting massively from one of those downhill sprint finishes. Congrats!
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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