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Down Under Classic Discussion
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 02-11-2020 15:52
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Directeur Sportif
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Down Under Classic Preview
Here we go!
The first race of the PCT calendar is upon us, and we're in the land Down Under for the traditional season opener, the Down Under Classic. A race for the pure sprinters - very short and expected to be ridden at a very fast pace. Stamona is not expected to play a role here but do look out for sprinters who're good on the flats to possibly get an advantage in the closing kilometers. Also, look out for late attacks in case the break is caught early. Everyone will be hoping to make a good early impression and set the tone for the season.
| FLA | RES | SPR | ACC |  Ewan | 75 | 71 | 83 | 81 |  Guarnieri | 75 | 75 | 81 | 80 |  Bonifazio | 79 | 75 | 80 | 80 |  Manninen | 74 | 75 | 81 | 80 |  Swift | 73 | 69 | 83 | 81 |  Saber | 75 | 72 | 81 | 79 | | Silvestre | 78 | 71 | 80 | 81 |  Van Asbroeck | 75 | 72 | 80 | 78 |  Lander | 77 | 72 | 79 | 77 |  Vesely | 73 | 68 | 81 | 80 |  Rowe | 78 | 70 | 79 | 80 |
Unsurpsingly, Caleb Ewan starts off as the top favourite for this race. Expect this to be a common feature for most of his races this season.
The aging Guarnieri is expected to be the top challenger to the Aussie in this race. The defending champion is hoping to go back-t0-back and become only the third rider to win this race twice in its 11 year history.
Bonifazio is also expected to be a strong contender for the podium. Very similar to Guarnieri, just a shade slower but perhaps with better backups needed for a race like this, he should not be discounted to lead his team well in the absence of Gaviria.
The improved Manninen and the declining Swift round out the Top 5 contenders for this race. The youngster on Valio's roster will look to impress, having improved on his top speed in the off-season. The latter is back to the PCT after an prolonged career in the PT, and while his aging legs have lost some punch, he's still got enough of a sprint left to beat the best on his day.
Saber has a good record in this race, finishing in the Top 5 in the last two editions, beating better sprinters for the same. He has moved teams in the off-season and will be hoping to make a good start for the same.
The likes of Silvestre, Van Asbroeck, Lander and Rowe always have a surprise in them. = Van Asbroeck has finished 6th and 2nd in 2017 and 2018 in this race, and is back racing in new colours this time around.
Another new name in the PCT peloton is Vesely who should be a Top 10 contender for sure in a race like this.
| FLA | RES | SPR | ACC | | Boeckmans | 72 | 70 | 80 | 82 |  Itami | 75 | 67 | 80 | 82 |  Guardini | 72 | 69 | 80 | 82 | | Perera | 71 | 73 | 79 | 80 | | Aberasturi | 74 | 71 | 79 | 78 |  Ciolek | 73 | 66 | 81 | 76 |  Avelino | 70 | 65 | 82 | 77 |  Lutsyshyn | 70 | 73 | 79 | 80 |  Scully | 74 | 70 | 79 | 80 |
A lot of interesting riders in the outsiders group, who would easily be a favourite in other races. A few leaders in Itami, Guardini, Ciolek and Avelino, mixed in with co-leaders like Boeckmans should make for an interesting contest.
Spoiler | Last Name | First Name | Team | | Lander | Sebastian | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Drapac | Damion | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Stauff | Andreas | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Robov | Momchil | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Marchewka | Krzysztof | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Higuita | Sergio | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Grashev | Martin | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Otruba | Jakub | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | | Vanspeybrouck | Pieter | Andorra Cycling Project | | Awang | Azizulhasni | Andorra Cycling Project | | Majoral | Jordi | Andorra Cycling Project | | Townsend | Rory | Andorra Cycling Project | | Urcelay | Adria | Andorra Cycling Project | | Rubio | Einer Augusto | Andorra Cycling Project | | Reynders | Jens | Andorra Cycling Project | | Eekhoff | Nils | Andorra Cycling Project | | Avelino | Oscar | Aramco DP | | Prasad | Darshana | Aramco DP | | Tewelde | Jani | Aramco DP | | Fonseca | Armindo | Aramco DP | | Batmunkh | Maral-Erdene | Aramco DP | | Abdul Halil | Mohamad Izzat Hilmi | Aramco DP | | Richardson | Alexander | Aramco DP | | Thijssen | Gerben | Aramco DP | | Vaquera | Cesar | Azteca - NBCSN | | Garcia | Jhojan | Azteca - NBCSN | | Florez | Miguel | Azteca - NBCSN | | Acosta | Ruben | Azteca - NBCSN | | Cepeda | Jefferson Alexander | Azteca - NBCSN | | Rivera | Kevin | Azteca - NBCSN | | Alba | Juan Diego | Azteca - NBCSN | | Garrison | Ian | Azteca - NBCSN | | Guarnieri | Jacopo | Bakkafrost | | Breen | Vegard | Bakkafrost | | Perera | Madushanka | Bakkafrost | | Sarreau | Marc | Bakkafrost | | Veyhe | Torkil | Bakkafrost | | Hermans | Ben | Bakkafrost | | Dainese | Alberto | Bakkafrost | | Konychev | Alexander | Bakkafrost | | Swift | Ben | Berg Cycles | | Silvestre | Fabio | Berg Cycles | | Kupfernagel | Danilo | Berg Cycles | | Aular | Orluis | Berg Cycles | | Kortsidakis | Michail | Berg Cycles | | Tzortzakis | Polychronis | Berg Cycles | | Orken | Ahmet | Berg Cycles | | Reckweg | Morten | Berg Cycles | | Lay | Saulo | Campari Asahi Procycling | | Nooytens | Sven | Campari Asahi Procycling | | Christian | Mark | Campari Asahi Procycling | | Lasca | Francisco | Campari Asahi Procycling | | Petilli | Simone | Campari Asahi Procycling | | Moschetti | Matteo | Campari Asahi Procycling | | Allegaert | Piet | Campari Asahi Procycling | | Neuman | Dominik | Campari Asahi Procycling | | Reinhardt | Theo | Centovalli - Fiat | | Scully | Tom | Centovalli - Fiat | | Cisse | Issiaka | Centovalli - Fiat | | Stocker | Manuel | Centovalli - Fiat | | Mundle | Benedikt | Centovalli - Fiat | | Walscheid | Maximilian | Centovalli - Fiat | | Bissegger | Stefan | Centovalli - Fiat | | Young | Eric | Desigual | | Svab | Jernej | Desigual | | Wackermann | Luca | Desigual | | Eaton | Daniel | Desigual | | Verona | Carlos | Desigual | | Olei | Federico | Desigual | | Sureda | Jaume | Desigual | | Rhim | Brendan | Desigual | | Havik | Yoeri | Duolingo | | Ciolek | Gerald | Duolingo | | Merlier | Tim | Duolingo | | Oliveira | Rui | Duolingo | | Archbold | Shane | Duolingo | | Kiskonen | Siim | Duolingo | | Vahtra | Norman | Duolingo | | Kopfauf | Markus | Duolingo | | Itami | Kenji | GCN Racing | | Matthews | Michael | GCN Racing | | Vingerling | Michael | GCN Racing | | McLay | Dan | GCN Racing | | Archibald | John | GCN Racing | | Burke | Steven | GCN Racing | | Walls | Matthew | GCN Racing | | Gall | Felix | GCN Racing | | Bennett | Sam | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | King | Ben | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Ford | Michael | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Frame | Alex | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | McCarthy | Eoin | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Petrie-Armstrong | Adam | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | English | Felix | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Simpson | George | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Bonifazio | Niccolo | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Vanbilsen | Kenneth | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Mareczko | Jakub | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Gamper | Patrick | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Biermans | Jenthe | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Van Aert | Wout | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Fedeli | Alessandro | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Sajnok | Szymon | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Guardini | Andrea | Mapei | | Favilli | Elia | Mapei | | Balloni | Alfredo | Mapei | | Ostergaard | Niki | Mapei | | Atkins | Josh | Mapei | | Grosser | Aaron | Mapei | | Palyi | Csaba | Mapei | | Vandousselaere | Sven | Mapei | | Vesely | Daniel | Minions | | Lindeman | Bert-Jan | Minions | | Hodeg | Alvaro | Minions | | Albert | Niels | Minions | | Rekita | Szymon | Minions | | Rosas | Laureano | Minions | | Champoussin | Clement | Minions | | Bjerg | Mikkel | Minions | | Ewan | Caleb | Podium Ambition | | Keukeleire | Jens | Podium Ambition | | Nelson | Ricki | Podium Ambition | | Alaphilippe | Julian | Podium Ambition | | Aberasturi | Jon | Podium Ambition | | Edmondson | Alexander | Podium Ambition | | Matthews | Darren | Podium Ambition | | Steimle | Jannik | Podium Ambition | | Van Asbroeck | Tom | Polar | | Bush | Robert | Polar | | Mullen | Ryan | Polar | | Garcia Cortina | Ivan | Polar | | Brockhoff | Jan | Polar | | Nych | Artem | Polar | | Gallego Martin | Juan Abenhamar | Polar | | Stenersen | Sten | Polar | | Saber | Lahcen | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Boeckmans | Kris | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Marin | Gabriel | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Rajovic | Dusan | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Groselj | Matic | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Kurianov | Stepan | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Christodoulos | Michael | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Siric | Ivan | Swisslion Cycling Team | | Lutsyshyn | Roman | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Golovash | Oleksandr | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Riabushenko | Aliaksandr | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Kochetkov | Mikhail | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Pszczolarski | Wojciech | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Bakari | Amadou | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Gladysh | Roman | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Aniolkowski | Stanislaw | Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff | | Manninen | Matti | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Daniel | Maxime | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Chatarunga | Sameera | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Kulppi | Olli | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Kaislavuo | Jesse | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Minali | Riccardo | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Aaltio | Risto | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Nieuwenhuis | Joris | Valio - Viking Genetics | | Rowe | Luke | Xero Racing | | Schreurs | Hamish | Xero Racing | | Van Niekerk | Morne | Xero Racing | | Novardianto | Jamalidin | Xero Racing | | Nikiema | Bachirou | Xero Racing | | Stannard | Robert | Xero Racing | | Schomber | Nils | Xero Racing | | Kipkemboi | Salim | Xero Racing |
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 02-11-2020 15:58
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2904
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Content with having not sent a team here, obviously an incredibly strong field as a season opener should be, looking forward to seeing how the sprinters in the division get along!
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 02-11-2020 16:01
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Damn... did not expect Itami to be an outsider...
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 02-11-2020 16:15
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World Champion
Posts: 14562
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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The first Bonifazio vs. Van Asbroeck of the year, only time will tell if I made the right choice. Nice touch to give him our jersey while talking about his past results!
Sudden flashback to our first ICL race of the season where Van Poppel's flat stat encouraged him to attack with 6K to go instead of wait for the sprint. Let's hope Bonifazio doesn't do anything similar 
And hyyyyyyyyyype
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 02-11-2020 16:18
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7593
Joined: 04-07-2012
PCM$: 15345.00
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First race for Vesely, going in with fresh hope of finally being able to challenge in the sprints.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 02-11-2020 16:19
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
Joined: 08-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I assume the course has been adjusted this year, away from the twisty F1-circuit of Albert Park. That should make for a fairer contest. Will of course be cheering for former rider Swift!
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-11-2020 16:21
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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Lets f*cking go! Pocket Rocket is here to party y'all, supported by three riders who could all make the preview in their own right. Plus Edmo, Julian, Darren and Jakob (deal with it Cio, his name is Jakob forever now) as a leadout. Maybe a touch short in FL without Goose with us this year we pack enough finishing speed to compensate.
You know it's a focus race when your #4 sprinter is still ranked a good outsider.
Bring on the #pinkpower!
(i definitely looked up "Margot robbie pink gif" for this... it went exactly as well as you think it did)
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 02-11-2020 16:31
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4668
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
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Rather surprised to see Scully instead of Reinhardt in the outsiders list, but given how much flat and resistance seem to be valued this year, it's understandable.
However, after having seen Marco "Mr. Low-Res" Guillén do so well last year, I'm not too afraid; we should still be good for some great results. Not necessarily in a PCT field, though - but we'll take any points we might get 
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 02-11-2020 16:32
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2933
Joined: 09-05-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Well, we didn't come with Kristoff, but we could be a sleeper team with the Lander-Drapac-Stauff trident + throwing some ex-Podium Ambition BG guys for good measure 
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| redordead |
Posted on 02-11-2020 16:44
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4881
Joined: 18-10-2017
PCM$: 200.00
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Excited to see the Lahcen and Kris double act in the season opener 
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| fintas |
Posted on 02-11-2020 16:51
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2602
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
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let's go
First race of the season and first opportunity to see how the possibility of a sprint train with Swift-Silvestre-Kupfernagel runs. With this team less than a top5 will be a bad result
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 21-11-2024 20:49
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 02-11-2020 17:52
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2073
Joined: 11-07-2010
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Can't wait to get started! We actually won twice here last year (due to the re-run), so hoping to make it 3/3 Will be harder now that Guarnieri has lost a bit of speed, though.
Ewan is my favorite I think, and I'm also very interested in seeing how the Swift-Silvestre-Kupfernagel train plays out.
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 02-11-2020 18:16
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World Champion
Posts: 11392
Joined: 17-12-2014
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Debut of three talents as well as maxed Morne and most importantly maxed Jams for us, would love it if Jams had something to say but really just hoping Rowe continues his constant attacking in flat classics from last year and gives it a go from range Thanks for the preview Abhi, can't wait to get going
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
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 02-11-2020 18:18
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2933
Joined: 09-05-2011
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jandal7 wrote:
Debut of three talents as well as maxed Morne and most importantly maxed Jams for us, would love it if Jams had something to say but really just hoping Rowe continues his constant attacking in flat classics from last year and gives it a go from range Thanks for the preview Abhi, can't wait to get going
Higuita will also make an appearance, but for him (as well as few others on the teams) it's more of a filler race ahead of Tour Down Under
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| fjhoekie |
Posted on 02-11-2020 19:15
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4476
Joined: 25-07-2010
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Let's start with Bakari's debut in our team
Perhaps Lutsyshyn can get himself in the mix, but not hopeful really..
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 02-11-2020 19:31
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3999
Joined: 26-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Should have basically my whole team in the breakaway and then hopefully get some bit of surprise showing from Vaquera to actually earn any points in this race.
AZTECA - NBCSN  |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 02-11-2020 19:36
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8056
Joined: 22-06-2009
PCM$: 650.00
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Never a good sign when you bring your top sprinter and he doesn't even make the preview.  Not expecting much from Eric Young but hopefully he at least makes an appearance in the race report. *Fingers crossed*
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 02-11-2020 22:35
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Team Leader
Posts: 6036
Joined: 20-07-2008
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Having a subpar 90k leader makes wonders to the pre-race worrying.
Great to see the season started!
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| knockout |
Posted on 02-11-2020 22:42
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7735
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 400.00
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I've only ever participated once in this race but since Dzamastagic won on that day, I've kept a sweet spot for this race and am cheering for late attackers here.
A few interesting startlist observations:
- No Gaviria. Quite surprising to me since Gaviria would have been a clear top 3 candidate but i guess this tells us a bit about Lierses sprinter planning.
- Berg sends Swift, Silvestre and Kupfernagel. Very curious how the AI handles that.
- Schomber vs Bakari: Seems like Schomber might find another meme rider that he can actually beat.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 03-11-2020 04:43
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11675
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
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Ollfardh wrote:
Nice touch to give him our jersey while talking about his past results!
Accidental win! 
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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)
