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Tour of the Middle East Discussion
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| redordead |
Posted on 23-03-2022 06:45
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Welcome to the 8th edition of the Tour of the Middle East. It used to be a long 12 day race in the past, but in the last few years it has rebranded itself as a shorter race with 4 stages. It starts off with two sprint stages which tends to attract a few of the division's top sprinters as winning the points competition is a realistic goal. Stage 3 starts the GC battle with a short punchy course and uphill finish, before another short stage with plenty of climbing and the finish on Jebel Shams. Mountain goats could do well on Jebel Shams, but having a good punch should be beneficial across both stages.
With that said let's look at some of the favourites:
| FL | MO | HI | RS | SP | AC |  Mas | 69 | 78 | 77 | 74 | 60 | 77 |  Roson | 67 | 78 | 76 | 70 | 54 | 74 |  Jaramillo | 66 | 77 | 75 | 69 | 67 | 76 |  Martin | 66 | 78 | 73 | 72 | 61 | 70 |  Amador | 66 | 80 | 71 | 68 | 63 | 66 |  Kuss | 68 | 78 | 71 | 76 | 55 | 69 |  Elissonde | 66 | 78 | 73 | 77 | 55 | 66 | | Diaz | 68 | 78 | 70 | 73 | 61 | 68 |  Iino | 68 | 77 | 73 | 72 | 59 | 67 |  Schleck | 64 | 78 | 68 | 72 | 55 | 69 |  Ratiy | 65 | 79 | 69 | 72 | 52 | 57 |
Mas combines both of those qualities as he leads home team Aramco DP. Roson is a similar type of rider with a bit smaller kick. Jaramillo is a bit of a wildcard as his sprint can be a real advantage if it comes down to that, but he is less resistant. Martin has been a punchy climber throughout his career, how much does he have left now? Amador is the best mountain goat, but is Jebel Shams hard enough for him to shine?
Kuss is a rider similar to Amador. HelloFresh always bring a wealth of options, Elissonde and Diaz their top two picks we assume. Iino is solid allround and has shown he can compete on a good day. Schleck and Ratiy are both on their last legs probably and will need to limit the damage on stage 3.
| FL | MO | HI | RS | SP | AC | | Mas | 69 | 78 | 77 | 74 | 60 | 77 | | Calmejane | 74 | 71 | 77 | 76 | 72 | 76 | | Roson | 67 | 78 | 76 | 70 | 54 | 74 | | Jaramillo | 66 | 77 | 75 | 69 | 67 | 76 | | Henao | 65 | 76 | 76 | 73 | 63 | 70 | | Gogl | 69 | 69 | 76 | 72 | 67 | 75 |  Lilovski | 68 | 67 | 77 | 70 | 65 | 73 |  Tsatevich | 74 | 62 | 77 | 73 | 75 | 75 | | Le Roux | 71 | 66 | 77 | 71 | 65 | 72 |
Apart from some of the punchy GC riders we do have some puncheurs, but a big question is will they get to ride for themselves or help their team leaders. Calmejane, Henao and Gogl all fall into that bracket. Lilovski and Tsatevich though will surely be hoping for free reign on stage 3.
| Sprinter | FL | RS | SP | AC | Leadout | FL | RS | SP | AC | | Wippert | 70 | 70 | 78 | 82 | Scott | 68 | 69 | 73 | 74 | | Boivin | 74 | 70 | 79 | 80 | Barbero | 74 | 72 | 70 | 74 | | Prasad | 74 | 74 | 77 | 79 | Johansen | 69 | 69 | 65 | 69 | | Ranneries | 69 | 63 | 77 | 80 | Gogl | 69 | 72 | 67 | 75 | | Avelino | 69 | 63 | 81 | 75 | Ziesler | 69 | 70 | 69 | 65 | | Vanderbiest | 73 | 67 | 81 | 75 | Tsatevich | 74 | 73 | 75 | 75 | | Abdul Halil | 68 | 66 | 79 | 77 | Thijssen | 71 | 68 | 74 | 77 | | Keough | 73 | 73 | 79 | 79 | Walscheid | 71 | 72 | 77 | 77 |  Bouhanni | 74 | 69 | 80 | 77 | Colbrelli | 74 | 72 | 79 | 75 | | Bennett | 71 | 68 | 79 | 79 | Meyer | 71 | 63 | 79 | 74 | | Vingerling | 71 | 66 | 79 | 79 | Thwaites | 73 | 70 | 78 | 76 |  Bogdanovics | 73 | 69 | 78 | 77 | Ciolek | 71 | 63 | 79 | 73 | | Keukeleire | 71 | 66 | 79 | 77 | McEvoy | 70 | 70 | 75 | 79 |
We can probably split the sprinters here into 3 groups. Wippert has the best ACC and has a good lead out rider in Scott. Boivin is another fast rider, Barbero could potentially do a good job for him. Then we have Prasad, Ranneries and Avelino. Their teams have gone with the approach, no lead out is better than a bad lead out. Which is a better logic than the remaining. All of them have on paper unsuitable lead outs that could lead to a frustrating result.
Full startlist:
Spoiler | Mas | Enric | Aramco DP | | Borisavljevic | Milos | Aramco DP | | Abdul Halil | Mohamad Izzat Hilmi | Aramco DP | | Fernandez | Ruben | Aramco DP | | Hasnaoui | Maher | Aramco DP | | Thijssen | Gerben | Aramco DP | | Noia | Carlo | Aramco DP | | Cardona | Julian | Aramco DP | | Wippert | Wouter | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Schleck | Andy | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Le Roux | Romain | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Bevin | Patrick | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Orue | German Anibal | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Vuillermoz | Alexis | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Scott | Cameron | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Marryatt | Jake | BNZ-Superhero Racing | | Robov | Momchil | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Lilovski | Dobrin | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Ludvigsson | Fredrik | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Richardson | Chequan | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Philipsen | Jasper | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Vink | Michael | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Stokbro | Andreas | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Szarka | Gergely | BWT Hyundai N Cycling | | Tsatevich | Alexey | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Vanderbiest | Romain | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Ariesen | Tim | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Lietaer | Eliot | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Kulikovskiy | Alexandr | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Van Tricht | Stan | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Drizners | Jarrad | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Blouwe | Louis | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Cimolai | Davide | Eddie Stobart | | Bogdanovics | Maris | Eddie Stobart | | Berger | Hakon Frengstad | Eddie Stobart | | Lovik | asmund Romstad | Eddie Stobart | | Ciolek | Gerald | Eddie Stobart | | Andersson | Emil | Eddie Stobart | | Taillefour | Fabien | Eddie Stobart | | Medvedev | Dmitri | Eddie Stobart | | Roson | Jaime | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Salinas | Jonathan | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Avelino | Oscar | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Ziesler | Johan Fredrik | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Aasvold | Lorents Ola | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Skjerping | Kristoffer | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Arensman | Thymen | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Finkler | Leonardo Henrique | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Bennett | Sam | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Martin | Daniel | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | King | Ben | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Meyer | Cameron | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Brandt | Tyler | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | McCarthy | Eoin | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Cote | Pier-Andre | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Murphy | Jack Bernard | Glanbia Foods Cycling Project | | Elissonde | Kenny | HelloFresh | | Vingerling | Michael | HelloFresh | | Diaz | Daniel Ricardo | HelloFresh | | Potocki | Pavel | HelloFresh | | Thwaites | Scott | HelloFresh | | Riesebeek | Oscar | HelloFresh | | Battaglin | Enrico | HelloFresh | | Novikov | Savva | HelloFresh | | Keough | Luke | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Kuss | Sepp | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Walscheid | Maximilian | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Seigle | Roman | McCormick Pro Cycling | | McNulty | Brandon | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Rathe | Jakob | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Revard | Thomas | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Granigan | Noah | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Prasad | Darshana | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Ratiy | Vadim | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Christapopoulos | Pangiotis | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Hellemose | Asbjorn | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Shevchenko | Oleksandr | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Johansen | Julius | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Charmig | Anthon | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Price-Pejtersen | Johan | Pas Normal Studios - Mikkeller | | Bouhanni | Nacer | Strava | | Sbaragli | Kristian | Strava | | Colbrelli | Sonny | Strava | | Nielsen | Joanis Albert | Strava | | Kuznetsov | Vyacheslav | Strava | | Oelerich | Jan | Strava | | Kluge | Roger | Strava | | Oss | Daniel | Strava | | Henao | Sebastian | Tafjord Kraft | | Jaramillo | Daniel Alexander | Tafjord Kraft | | Gogl | Michael | Tafjord Kraft | | Ranneries | Christian | Tafjord Kraft | | Johannessen | Anders Halland | Tafjord Kraft | | Hvideberg | Jonas Iversby | Tafjord Kraft | | Andersen | Idar | Tafjord Kraft | | Lunder | Eirik | Tafjord Kraft | | Calmejane | Lilian | Trans Looney Tunes | | McEvoy | Jonathan | Trans Looney Tunes | | Keukeleire | Jens | Trans Looney Tunes | | Iino | Tomoyuki | Trans Looney Tunes | | Kolev | Iliyan | Trans Looney Tunes | | Krasnoperov | Mikayil | Trans Looney Tunes | | Geniez | Alexandre | Trans Looney Tunes | | Mottin | Hugues | Trans Looney Tunes | | Knox | James | Trans Looney Tunes | | Boivin | Guillaume | Volcanica - Fox | | Amador | Andrei | Volcanica - Fox | | Brenes | Gregory | Volcanica - Fox | | Barbero | Carlos | Volcanica - Fox | | Mudarra | Pablo | Volcanica - Fox | | Villalobos | Roman | Volcanica - Fox | | Herrera | Erick | Volcanica - Fox | | Jimenez Retana | John | Volcanica - Fox |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 23-03-2022 07:15
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Team Leader
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Thank you for the preview, and good luck everybody 
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 23-03-2022 07:39
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Team Leader
Posts: 5533
Joined: 12-06-2013
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Thank you for a nice comprehensive preview and very much looking forward to this one!
Critical, given it is one of our home races, that we are fighting for the GC win here. Mas is certainly the most well-rounded rider of the GC favourites and he’ll need to put that on show. He has plenty of support from Borisavljevic, Fernandez and Hasnaoui.
We also have Abdul Halil to try his luck on the sprint stages. Not expecting anything too special from him but a level of competitiveness would be nice.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 16:09
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 23-03-2022 07:51
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Classics Specialist
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We might actually have a chance for some glory here. Come on guys!
)
Thank you for all the stats redordead, lovely preview! |
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| MacC |
Posted on 23-03-2022 08:50
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Sprinter
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This is straightforward, get Dan Martin up that Mountain as fast as possible and hope Sam Bennett can deliver in the sprints!
Good luck
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 23-03-2022 21:46
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3262
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Second goal race of the season, first one was a disaster so hopefully this goes better. Goal is only a top 10 so will definitely be a disappointing one to fail. Kuss has been pretty reliable, but only 1 mountain stage means no room for a bad day.
Keough also has no excuse for not showing up in the sprints given he is probably the most complete sprinter on the start list. But then again he has always viewed actually sprinting as an optional activity.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 24-03-2022 07:44
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Tour de France Champion
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Solid result coming in 5th and 10th although could have been more upfront, especially given our team strength here in the final kilometers (5 riders within top 25)
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| MacC |
Posted on 24-03-2022 07:49
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Sprinter
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Ha ha, if you look closely you can see Bennett picking his nose 200m from the line having been put in an excellent position with 1km to go!
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 24-03-2022 09:45
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2907
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Wow, Ranneries, you have never been set up in such a good position before. What a total failure. Go back to Carlsberg  |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 24-03-2022 09:51
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Team Leader
Posts: 5897
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Meh, 8th is less then we hoped for, but at least we snuck into the top 10. On to the next!
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 24-03-2022 09:52
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Team Leader
Posts: 5533
Joined: 12-06-2013
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Pretty disappointing result that with 10th and 12th. Would expect much better teamwork for one of them to be higher up. Abdul Halil looked in a half-decent position too.
At least Thijssen in the U25 lead gets a point or 2.
Hopefully a better result for us tomorrow!
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 24-03-2022 21:38
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Directeur Sportif
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Not bad from Keough, was afraid he was going to miss it all together at first, was a little too far back but can't complain too much about 3rd.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| MacC |
Posted on 25-03-2022 07:04
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Sprinter
Posts: 1594
Joined: 15-07-2008
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Cursed by good lead outs here.
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 25-03-2022 07:37
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Team Leader
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2nd, slightly improving. Let's hope we take this momentum to the hillier circuits now.
Congratz DarkWolf
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| Shonak |
Posted on 25-03-2022 08:16
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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Wow we really blew that. Koznetevos in the break must have kept our AI sprint team sleeping (why does he join the BOTD is beyond me..). Bouhanni bad positioned and the Sbaragli and Colbrelli who were upfront with 1.5km completely bottled it under the flamme rouge. Gratz to the winner and thanks for the report!
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| DarkWolf |
Posted on 25-03-2022 09:22
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Thank you!
Wow, our sprint train worked to perfection! When I saw my guys forming a train I already felt defeated. But they did prove me wrong and my heart started beating faster when they started to gain distance. Awesome win for Boivin! Now, let's keep things rolling here.
Thank you very much for the reports!
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 25-03-2022 14:20
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Team Leader
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Two disappointing results from the team so far with Abdul Halil not performing depsite being in good positions on both stages.
Now to Mas and hopefully he can turn our fortunes around!
Thank you for the reports so far and congrats to both stage winners. Nice to see the train working DarkWolf
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 25-03-2022 19:55
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Directeur Sportif
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So 3rd and 5th on the two sprint stages, could have been better, but also could have been a lot worse. Didn't lose to many demonstrably worse sprinters so that is good.
Now to survive the hilly stage and hope Sepp has the goods on the Mt stage.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 26-03-2022 09:29
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Team Leader
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Congrats to Trans Looney.
We just showed how to f**k up a stage race in a single stage. Great job to my DS.
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 26-03-2022 09:33
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Directeur Sportif
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Really happy to see my guy Calmejane winning for TLT, awesome performance for our friends!
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Tour of the Middle East 
