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GP Herning Discussion
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| DarkWolf |
Posted on 23-11-2021 07:41
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“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” is the opinion of a certain bloke, named Marcellus. I don’t have all the information to share his point of view, but what I am certain of is there are cobbles in Denmark and we are here to race over them, at GP Herning. Herning is the home turf of Bjarne Riis, the Danish cyclist not only is born in Herning, but also won this race 3 consecutive times (1996, 1997 and 1998).
GP Herning is a constant feature of the Continental MG calendar since 2008, although the 2011, 2013 and 2014 editions were not raced and in 2018 it was run under the HC category. Geraint Thomas dominated the race throughout its MG history, winning it 4 times, 3 of those in consecutive years (2008, 2016, 2017 and 2018). The last winner was the Dutch rider Bert-Jan Lindeman, representing the Minions team, and he is here this year to defend his title. There are 17 teams present at the start line, 7 PCT squads and 10 CT. Which name will be next inscribed in the winners’ record?
PAST WINNERS
| 2008 | Geraint Thomas | British Airways - Cyclingnews | | 2009 | Marcel Sieberg | Jack Wolfskin | | 2010 | Niels Albert | Team IKEA - Bianchi | | 2012 | Jérome Giaux | Jayco - Red Bull | | 2015 | Fabien Taillefour | Generali - Kronenbourg 1664 | | 2016 | Geraint Thomas | Podium Ambition | | 2017 | Geraint Thomas | Podium Ambition | | 2018 | Geraint Thomas | Podium Ambition | | 2019 | Niki Ostergaard | Carlsberg - Danske Bank | | 2020 | Bert-Jan Lindeman | Minions |
This year, the list of favorites suggests a close fight for the win, with quite a few riders thriving on this type of terrain.  Pieter Vanspeybrouck,  Sep Vanmarcke, Christoph Taubel,  Guillaume Van Keirsbulck and Salvatore Puccio are well prepared for cobbles and welcome them with delight. Not far behind this group of 5 we find  Tim Declerq and Iliyan Kolev, 2 riders who are not to be neglected and left aside. From a physical point of view though, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, Salvator Puccio and Sep Vanmarcke look well prepared, but let’s not forget  Patrick Gamper, who comes after a solo victory at Viana do Castelo, a race riddled with cobbles too.
It is said that strength lies in numbers and with such a packed field it is possible this to be an important key to victory. Crabbe-CC Chevigny has no less than 6 riders on the long list of favorites and if the strategy is right and there’s no friction between them they may rip great rewards from the race. HelloFresh has 4 cyclists on that long list, while  Minions (with the last year’s winner, Bert-Jan Lindeman, on the line-up), Pas Normal Studios – Mikkeller and Trans Looney Tunes feature 3. Although, on paper, everything looks set in stone a cycling race is anything but. Cold weather, rain, wind or all three together, a bad day on the bike, failing communication or an unwillingness to collaborate may provide an opportunity for riders who are not similarly supported.  Armund Grondhal Jansen and Yuan Tan Peng of Aker - MOT,  Tesfom Okbamariam of Bralirwa - Stevens (team that already won a cobble race this season, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad), Patrick Gamper of Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo (as already mentioned, winner of the recent Viana do Castelo),  Tomas Paprstka of Philips – Force India,  Darren Matthews of Podium Ambition (for which Gerraint Thomas brought so much glory) and  Martin Schäppi of Team UBS are ready to seize every opportunity to put up a fight for the highest step of the podium.
The past 5 editions of GP Herning ended with a reduced bunch sprint, with as few as 8 riders (2019) or as many as 15 (2017) being together at the finishing line. Tired legs will definitely play their part if the scenario repeats this year and there are some cyclists ready to challenge for the win if push comes to shove and a strong sprint is needed for the win. From our list of favorites Alexander Kristoff, Scott Thwaites or Oliver Naesen might profit in this situation, but there are some other cyclists to do the same if they find themselves in the front group with the checkered flag in sight, Jens Keukeleire of Trans Looney Tunes,  Thanawut Sanikwathi and Kristian Sbaragli of Strava or  Alexandr Ovsyannikov of Aramco DP. They’re in with a slim, outside chance, but until the race is run and the outcome known one cannot tell what may happen.
On the other side of the spectrum we have several riders at the starting line who are here for the experience, the anonymous hard work done in the peloton throughout every single race, the unofficial title of The Wheelie King of GP Herning or the undesired “black jersey”.
All the continents are represented in the race, the bulk being made by European cyclists while Oceania has a sole representative, the Australian  Damion Drapac of Eddie Stobart. 1 team and 7 riders are hailing from the race’s home country, while the dominating nation is Belgium, with 17 cyclists at the start. The oldest rider is Roger Kluge of Strava and the youngest is Kemp Orosco of Podium Ambition. And if we come to age range, there are 2 35 years old, 4 34 years old and 9 33 years old cyclists on the start list countered by 29 22 years old, 13 23 years old and 6 24 years old riders.
Ready… Set… |
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 23-11-2021 08:13
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...Go!
Great preview! Last year´s winner Lindeman won´t be happy receiving bib 73!
Very nice of you to share the ´table of glory´ as well. I guess Moreno Hernandez´ cobble skill is the thing most rotten in Denmark 
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 23-11-2021 08:28
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Again worse than the control team.
Guess we need to bring in some cobblers for next season 
Thank you for the preview! |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 23-11-2021 08:35
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Gamper was made for these C2 races, but it's going to hard to beat the Crabpack (copyrighted by me 2021)
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 23-11-2021 08:37
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Great preview, I love this style!
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 23-11-2021 08:44
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Really unsure given the long list of riders how Ovsya hasn't made the favourites list given he's one of the top sprinters who can ride over the cobbles and he's got strong back-up stats. Hopefully he can continue his strong form from Gent-Wevelgem here!
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 23-11-2021 10:03
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Ollfardh wrote:
Gamper was made for these C2 races, but it's going to hard to beat the Crabpack (copyrighted by me 2021)
Good one!
I predict the same scenario as in Viana do Castelo. Good depth from my team, but individually there are riders that are better (like Gamper, Vanspeybrouck, Vanmarcke etc.)
MG - Lotto - Caloi
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 23-11-2021 10:49
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First of the C2 cobbles visits for us this year. It leaves Matthews quite isolate as really we're just raking in the extra Lvl1 XP & racing our Stagieres for the first time!
That said Darren has the skillset to do well here, not far off Thwaites/Naesen in ability. Hoping he'll stay quiet, ride in the wheels, and only appear with 50m to go 
And as said yes it's the first pro-races of our stagieres! Unfortunately they are not really cobbles men. Jacob Kelly is the best here and we'll be watching all 4 closely in the battle for contracts next season.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 23-11-2021 10:53
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The C2 cobbles strategy worked out well last year, so obviously have to do it again this year, even a bit of strategic signings with domestiques which are C2 eligible.
As Lindeman is the defending champion I expect nothing less but the win.
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 23-11-2021 11:03
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Very nice preview, thank you! Kinda excited for Schoonbroodt and Okbamariam to get to lead a race. They've been stellar as domestiques all of last and so far this season, so it's cool to see them get their chance. Having one of them sneak into the Top 10 would be ideal, either that or both in the Top 20-25 would be what I'd expect, but the field is so close that a lot will depend on form and how the AI treats them and others. Either way, looking forward to the report a lot!
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 23-11-2021 13:43
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We've come to GP Herning every time I remember. It's our home race on our home terrain. Pretty sure MG admins brough it back specifically for my team in the beginning.
Once Ostergaard won it for us, there was pretty much no way to top that. And with none of my cobblers being C2 eligible this year, it just didn't make sense to mix and match in order to fit this in when Tachira was so much easier. Still disappointing though as its always been a favorite.
Vanspeybrouck is the Carlsberg connection, so he's my top guy. Then Vanmarcke as it would be nice for a Danish team to win.
Amazing preview Darkwolf!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 16:37
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| ember |
Posted on 23-11-2021 14:55
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Thank you for a great preview!
Great to race here, as we have not visited before. Hopefully we can do our Danish fans justice and do a good race. Must say I like our chances, as all riders should be generally strong in this field (thinking of early breakaways), and then Jansen can do his best versus the big riders. Result wise, we are hoping for a top 10, and it looks doable. |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 23-11-2021 18:26
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Fingers crossed for some more cobbles scoring after the Gent-Wevelgem upset by Sanikwathi (copy+paste) and Sbaragli
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 23-11-2021 19:25
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Good to see we have 3 riders on the important favorites list. Although I think we will need a wolfpack strategy there as none of them are the absolute worst.
Too hard for Rathe I think. Really this is about reuniting for drinks after the race with McCormick favorite Mateo Frankovic.
Thanks for the preview.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 24-11-2021 05:49
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Hoping for some more Paprstka magic with Bovenhuis in support. Not very sure after Omloop and Viana and the CT cobbles competition is stronger this season too. Hope we get something from this race.
Thanks for the preview
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 24-11-2021 12:25
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Kelly making a good case for a long-term contract in his first race. Dekker doing what he can to boost his market value, knowing he'll most likely be out-of-contract. And Matthews was visible, rode decently but missed the key moment. But as a first race with a Caribbean leader it wasn't awful, and our jersey still looks so pretty.
I think it's fair to say the PCT has found the soft spot in the C2 regulations, riding very strongly on the cobbles so far!
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 24-11-2021 12:43
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GVK clearly lacking the level needed this year, depending on what happens with Kump once he starts his program, there's a chance we could end up with a very disapointing season. Overall liked the AI from our team tho, active in the break and active in trying to utilize as many cards as possible, maybe if GVK had a better day we'd have a better result. 3 riders in top 3 isn't a disaster obviously and top 5 for Puccio is still very good.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 24-11-2021 12:49
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Four in the top twenty including two in the top ten, perfecto! The fellow PCT teams also performing quite well here. Congratulations Aker, thanks Nemo!
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 24-11-2021 12:52
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As expected, we had nothing to do in this race. Now we need to get back to training and make the team proud in the upcoming races. |
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 24-11-2021 13:30
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There's the Top 10 I was hoping for, good stuff from Schoonbroodt. Got my hopes up a bit when he was in the group of 6 that got away 12km from the finish, but that didn't last very long. Okbamariam outside of the points is a bit of a shame, looks like that long range attack wasn't the right approach, but why not give it a go.
Solid AI and good results imo, with Jansen making the most of his sprinting and then the two top favorites on the podium as well. Another disappointing performance by Bralirwa veteran Naesen, and the first slightly disappointing race for Crabbe I guess, although with a man in 4th and another three late in the Top 25, that's saying something about their previous races
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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)
