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Gent - Wevelgem Discussion
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 18-10-2023 13:45
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 Gent - Wevelgem
One of the truly classic classics of cycling, Gent - Wevelgem may not have its spot among the top-level cobbled classics anymore and has moved to the Belgian opening weekend with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but make no mistake: this is still one of cycling's most prestigious victories to have on your palmares, and one of the only chances these riders will have this season, perhaps in their careers, to bag such a title (though one legend of the pavé is here to add a C2 GW victory to his PT one). This will be a fierce one.
| CB | SP | AC | FL | ST | RS |  Gaday | 78 | 71 | 73 | 71 | 75 | 72 |  Trentin | 78 | 72 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 66 | | Owen | 78 | 64 | 71 | 73 | 73 | 71 |  Lampaert | 78 | 60 | 61 | 75 | 74 | 73 |  Havik | 76 | 79 | 76 | 73 | 74 | 68 |  Bewley | 76 | 76 | 73 | 71 | 68 | 66 |  Breen | 77 | 72 | 70 | 76 | 70 | 70 | | Merlier | 75 | 78 | 74 | 73 | 72 | 72 |  Matthews | 75 | 76 | 76 | 72 | 70 | 67 |  Taubel | 78 | 61 | 64 | 73 | 69 | 73 | | Richardson | 78 | 60 | 61 | 71 | 68 | 68 |  Insausti | 77 | 57 | 66 | 70 | 76 | 73 |  Chatarunga | 77 | 70 | 68 | 72 | 79 | 72 | | Kulppi | 77 | 65 | 70 | 73 | 73 | 69 |  Paprstka | 75 | 70 | 72 | 75 | 74 | 70 | | Sarreau | 72 | 76 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 76 | | McLay | 72 | 77 | 76 | 73 | 74 | 72 | | Major | 70 | 77 | 78 | 74 | 74 | 70 | | Degenkolb | 69 | 81 | 76 | 73 | 68 | 66 | | Kamberaj | 68 | 79 | 78 | 75 | 73 | 73 |  Riabushenko | 66 | 79 | 77 | 76 | 71 | 74 |  Willwohl | 66 | 79 | 78 | 73 | 71 | 67 |
A very open-looking race (as Gent - Wevelgem often is, but this startlist looks to be particularly so). Gaday and the veteran Trentin (who actually even in his heyday never managed better than 9th here) are probably the best riders for the northern classics, but this route always has something for the classics riders who can sprint (both of them can a bit) and the sprinters who can cobble. When you think of combining those two skills you probably think of two riders - Tom Boonen (who last won here in 2012), and the rider who won this race the next year - Sam Bewley. He's not a top favourite here by any means - but how many seasons will we say he looks like he's not at the level to win anymore and be proven wrong? He's not even the favourite in his niche, though - look to Havik (a lite version of last year's victor Lahcen Saber), Merlier or Matthews (who better not be stuck helping out his inferior "leader" Richardson) to try and add "I once beat Sam Bewley at Gent - Wevelgem" to the list of stories to tell the grandchildren one day.
Owen (who will be looking to prove he should be Strava's #1 option over Gaday, the two forming a fearsome tandem) and Breen headline the names who would be annoyed to not be put in the classics rider section of the above paragraph, while McLay, Sarreau and Major will be threatening the above sprinters in an easier race. In a much easier race, John Degenkolb may no longer be a part of the "best sprinter in the world" conversation but is definitely the best sprinter here and no slouch on the cobbles, while serial overperformer Kamberaj and serial non-performer Riabushenko also harbour ambitions of making it to Wevelgem with a chance to sprint for the win.
As always, I am but the Silver Surfer to Abhishek's Galactus, in that I am far more popular and cool but he is much more serious and important. And that I am just heralding his imminent (and no doubt fantastic) report.
Startlist:
Spoiler | Bewley | Sam | Adidas - Eurocash | | Gradek | Kamil | Adidas - Eurocash | | Ballerstedt | Maurice | Adidas - Eurocash | | Lo Cicero | Ivano | Adidas - Eurocash | | Osborne | Jason | Adidas - Eurocash | | Stepniak | Grzegorz | Adidas - Eurocash | | Laton | Eryk | Adidas - Eurocash | | Braun | Julian | Adidas - Eurocash | | Insausti | Jon Ander | Air New Zealand-Alfa Romeo | | Skala | Jakub | Air New Zealand-Alfa Romeo | | Shalunov | Evgeny | Air New Zealand-Alfa Romeo | | Brown | Connor | Air New Zealand-Alfa Romeo | | Burnett | Josh | Air New Zealand-Alfa Romeo | | Phelan | Adam | Air New Zealand-Alfa Romeo | | Diaz | Daniel Ricardo | Air New Zealand-Alfa Romeo | | Costagli | Teodoro | Air New Zealand-Alfa Romeo | | Askey | Lewis | Babymetal Cycling | | Arashiro | Yudai | Babymetal Cycling | | Drouin | David | Babymetal Cycling | | Fretin | Milan | Babymetal Cycling | | Jans | Roy | Babymetal Cycling | | Riabushenko | Aliaksandr | Babymetal Cycling | | Yamada | Takumi | Babymetal Cycling | | Muhammad | Yuda | Babymetal Cycling | | Chatarunga | Sameera | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Rathe | Jakob | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Van Den Bossche | Fabio | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Kireva | Albert | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Berckmoes | Jenno | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Smirnovs | Andris | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Rubenis | Pauls | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Fagundez | Eric Antonio | Crabbe-CC Chevigny | | Van der Hoorn | Taco | Fastned | | Robeet | Ludovic | Fastned | | Bovenhuis | Jasper | Fastned | | Duric | Dorde | Fastned | | Renard | Alexis | Fastned | | Pluimers | Rick | Fastned | | van Sintmaartensdijk | Roel | Fastned | | Yechezkel | Aviv | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Paprstka | Tomas | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Sillankorva | Jaakko | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Wallinder | Willhelm | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Berger | Hakon Frengstad | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Selimovic | Husein | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Malmberg | Matias | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Bechkov | Aleks | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | | Havik | Yoeri | Hilcona Racing Team | | Kuypers | Gerben | Hilcona Racing Team | | Huppertz | Joshua | Hilcona Racing Team | | Bablidze | Irakli | Hilcona Racing Team | | Richardson | Alexander | Hilcona Racing Team | | Johanson | Kristjan | Hilcona Racing Team | | Banzer | Gordian | Hilcona Racing Team | | Van Uden | Casper | Hilcona Racing Team | | Taubel | Christoph | JEWA TIROL | | Schlechter | Pit | JEWA TIROL | | Livyns | Arjen | JEWA TIROL | | Degenkolb | John | JEWA TIROL | | Laurance | Axel | JEWA TIROL | | Selig | Rüdiger | JEWA TIROL | | Malori | Adrian | JEWA TIROL | | Muhlberger | Gregor | JEWA TIROL | | Kosic | Nejc | Jura GIANTS | | Tediashvili | Giorgi | Jura GIANTS | | Bakke Christophersen | Cedric | Jura GIANTS | | Stehli | Felix | Jura GIANTS | | Page | Hugo | Jura GIANTS | | Janssen | Christoph | Jura GIANTS | | Davies | Scott | Jura GIANTS | | Raugala | Gustas | Jura GIANTS | | Murillo | Luis Esteban | Manada Coyote | | Ruiz | Bredio | Manada Coyote | | Samudio | Joseph Ivan | Manada Coyote | | Cadena | Edgar | Manada Coyote | | Mendoza | Bryan Fernando | Manada Coyote | | Granados | Kevin | Manada Coyote | | Bulux | Fredy Domingo | Manada Coyote | | Rojas | Gabriel Francisco | Manada Coyote | | Richardson | Chequan | Podium Ambition | | Matthews | Darren | Podium Ambition | | Campbell | Akil | Podium Ambition | | Gayral | Joshua | Podium Ambition | | Major | Jay | Podium Ambition | | Hennis | Hasani | Podium Ambition | | Pons | Gaetan | Podium Ambition | | Kelly | Jacob | Podium Ambition | | Trentin | Matteo | Saeco | | McLay | Dan | Saeco | | Franco | Alejandro | Saeco | | Petrucci | Mattia | Saeco | | Skivild | Robin Juel | Saeco | | Zambanini | Edoardo | Saeco | | Verre | Alessandro | Saeco | | Blanca Pareja | Nichol | Saeco | | Lampaert | Yves | Stela-Vita | | Merlier | Tim | Stela-Vita | | Batmunkh | Maral-Erdene | Stela-Vita | | Sarreau | Marc | Stela-Vita | | Allegaert | Piet | Stela-Vita | | Touze | Damien | Stela-Vita | | Kamberaj | Xhuliano | Stela-Vita | | John | Naveen | Stela-Vita | | Gaday | Lucas Manuel | Strava | | Owen | Logan | Strava | | Nielsen | Joanis Albert | Strava | | Sbaragli | Kristian | Strava | | Tarvis | Peeter | Strava | | Maesen | William | Strava | | Breen | Vegard | Tafjord Kraft | | Kulppi | Olli | Tafjord Kraft | | Kaislavuo | Jesse | Tafjord Kraft | | Eriksson | Lucas | Tafjord Kraft | | Belevics | Arturs | Tafjord Kraft | | Bertilsson | Christian | Tafjord Kraft | | Waersted | Syver | Tafjord Kraft | | Eislers | Ingus | Tafjord Kraft | | Finkst | Tilen | Team Würth MODYF | | Koch | Jonas | Team Würth MODYF | | Heinrich | Nicolas | Team Würth MODYF | | Goossens | Kobe | Team Würth MODYF | | Willwohl | Willi | Team Würth MODYF | | Vangheluwe | Warre | Team Würth MODYF | | Lehtinen | Sakari | Team Würth MODYF | | Stalberg | Albin | Team Würth MODYF |
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| roturn |
Posted on 18-10-2023 13:51
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Let`s see what my support trio can do on their own in the C2 division.
Not being in the favourite list at all, when it`s a pretty long one, doesn`t really help as the CT cobble department did strengthen a lot it seems. |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 18-10-2023 18:10
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Time to see if it was worth going after Chequan or not. If not, hopefully Wolverine can shine!
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 18-10-2023 21:21
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First out of three cobbled C2 races for us - indeed, we're doing three more of them than during the entire 2022 season, where we just avoided them 
Recent results suggest that cobbles skills of at least 74-75 are needed to be competitive for the higher spots - and given that Tediashvili and Kosic both are in that range, I hope we can get some minor points from here. I sure hope the race will be hard enough to drop the pure sprinters (I think last year Tom Scully was the strongest in 21st place), but we surely won't be competitive at the very top. Havik should have a good chance of becoming Saber's successor - although I wonder why Mercatone chose not to come here.
Thanks for the preview, and good luck everyone!
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 18-10-2023 21:32
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We're not here, obviously, but happy to follow Bordeaux' former riders Insausti and Sarreau.
It should be an interesting race, looking forward to the race!
Thanks for the preview Jandal, surely as cool as the report will be
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
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| redordead |
Posted on 19-10-2023 06:43
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4881
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No Saber? 
"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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| Nemolito |
Posted on 19-10-2023 12:21
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Classics Specialist
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Great preview again jandal, looking forward to this one!
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| Blasing |
Posted on 19-10-2023 12:46
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This has HAVIK written all over it. He has exactly what is needed to win here.
Manager of JEWA TIROL Cycling Team
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 21-11-2024 23:48
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 19-10-2023 19:40
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Classics Specialist
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Best of the PCT - I'll take this as a win even though we've missed out on the podium.
Thanks for the report
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 19-10-2023 19:40
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Whelp...
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 19-10-2023 21:06
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4669
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Top 10 is a great outcome for Tediashvili, this guy looks promising for C2 races in the next couple of years! Also loved to see the team aggressive throughout the race - first Stehli, then Bakke, and finally Tediashvili all trying something, that series of attacks already made it worthwile coming here! It's obviously not big points we scored here, but points are points, and we're happy to even get any at all in a C2 race 
Congrats to Tafjord on an insane race, weird that the others weren't able (or willing?) to react, but it's definitely a huge result for you!
And well done to Genii for taking the best PCT result here, very good race for you!
Last but not least, thanks for the report to Abhi
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| ember |
Posted on 19-10-2023 22:47
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Tafjord means business this year! What a way to make a statement, very cool and fun to see such a double attack work 
Congratulations, Bjartne! |
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 19-10-2023 23:40
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Rathe loves this race, 5th place better than anything he achieved with McCormick, maybe benefitting from Chatarunga taking the pressure. 3rd and 5th is pretty good for Crabbe but certainly overshadowed by the Tafjord 1-2.
And of course if Jakob's book a good ride in Gent Wevelgem should always be followed by a visit to St. Bravo (I guess Crabbe didn't have any spare kit).
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| roturn |
Posted on 20-10-2023 05:54
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Big performance by bjartne. Nice scoring there.
A pity my cobblers all can't sprint, won't help Hooydonck here and there, also showed in this race. 2 in the front group, both struggling to score high by finishing in the back of the group. C2 was bonus anyway, so a top20 will do.
Thanks for the report. Must admit I was not too sure about my teams riders while reading as you mentioned Robeet dropped and I for a moment expected him to be the leader and the others are dropped as well at this point. But it was good to see they were still in. |
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 20-10-2023 07:40
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Wow, you don't often see a 1-2, congrats Bjartne. Living up to preseason hype!
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 20-10-2023 07:54
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Classics Specialist
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Wow, speechless. I was secretely hoping for Breen in the top 10, but Kaislavuo? Would be really happy if he scored points at all. This was a huge surprise for us.
Thanks guys, I'm not sure we've ever done a double before in Tafjord history, so we will definitely keep this as a fond memory
Thank you for reporting this amazing race Abhishkek! |
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 20-10-2023 15:21
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Thanks Abhi for the report!
First of all, congrats Bjartne with the 1-2. Didn't expect that outcome when I read the report. Despite the big group, there wasn't a clear pursuit so well deserved.
When looking at our team, we are thrilled coming back with 3 and 5.
I'm especially impressed by the performance of Rathe
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| TheUlamog |
Posted on 25-10-2023 13:35
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Thank you for reporting the race!
Had expected Riabushenko to hold on for longer, but I guess the support for him was just not enough for this kind of race. Definite room for improvement. |
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| Noutisgoud |
Posted on 25-10-2023 17:48
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6th good one Havik! |
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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)
