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Monterrey TTT - Discussion
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 06-03-2024 19:21
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Classics Specialist
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Welcome to Mexico! It’s time for one of the races that are worshipped by specialists all over the world, a TTT. Some managers build their entire team around this discipline while most just throw in their best TTers. Let’s take a look at the teams and their TTT options!
Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren
First name on the team list come in with a team with 6 riders. Across those 6 riders we do see a solid amount of quality.  Weinstein leads the line with 75tt and every other rider on the team besides youngster Agirrebeitia are able to hold their own.
The PCT outfit is primarily for the exp with a whopping 4 lvl 1 riders here to gain exp. Rumour has it that  Izagirre is annoyed but at least the 3 other maxed riders will be able to match his pace on the course.
It is very clear that Caja Rural is not a team that is built around racing against the clock with  Balloni putting in overtime. At least they’re able to speak the language to know where to find the best food….
The Crabpack has had some strong showings this year after relegation but even after relegation their TTT setup looks like it belongs in a lower division. A lot of young riders get their shot at some much-needed experience here.
As much as I would like to say something about this team the only thing I can think of is that knockout would be proud that a team managed to put together an entire team without a rider with more than 70 TT.
The back-to-back defending champions have put together a solid roster to go for the defense. However, only  Stoenchev returns from the previous lineups will be interesting to see where the PCT outfit land now.
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
Gjensidige has always been synonymous with races against the clock. However, their lineup for the race is incredible topheavy as Lunke is left at home due to needing those race days elsewhere.  Van Moer and Knotten will have their work cutout for them if the Norwegian outfit has any hope of winning the race.
The Irish team was 4th here last year but is also a team that has been synonymous with the discipline in the past. They bring a roster that has some good top end with  Downey and Cheyne. But also with a bit more bulk to hopefully for them get some good points here.
Knockout’s favourite TTT team of all time not a single rider over 65 TT is amazing and should be celebrated by the masses.
The chicken men has to show up to their howntown race but cannot bring their biggest TT profile. Instead the Mexicans get to see the future of their cycling team prosper.
Another manager that didn’t have a great time building a TT roster and just seem to be here to get some xp on their young riders since it’s the perfect throwaway race.
Probably the favourite here. Incredible depth with everyone that had the ability to ride a TT bike well being brought here. Manager TAA has built one of the most scary TTT teams in the division and also a team that would put up a fight against much stronger opposition.
6 riders here with less than 60 TT incredible dedication to the knockout way of life. The crowd at the presentation were said to have sung “Give us your bikes, Give us your bikes, we TT better than you, give us your bikeeeeeees”
While you could call Saeco turtles the actual Turtles have a very deep TTT team here as well led by  Hamza. And while he doesn’t have the top end of some of the other signature Tters for other teams the Turtles should be in the fight for a podium spot.
Last name on the team list is Würth. The German outfit has an impressive topend with  Dumoulin and Predatsch but also has some riders at the other end that will slow down their race. They will either sink or swim but could be a podium contender.
Edited by whitejersey on 06-03-2024 21:02
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 06-03-2024 19:51
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Aiming to go three for three on Goal races here, a feat we've never really come close to before. Defeating the Turtles or Gjensidige has eluded us thus far, and i sense it'' get away from us again here. But we only need a Top5. The podium would be nice though
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 06-03-2024 19:58
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4674
Joined: 29-09-2018
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Startlist doesn't seem to be complete, but from what I see the Turtles seem to have the best balance and probably are the favourites to take that one, slightly ahead of Podium Ambition.
Gjensidige have the best TTer of the division, but the races so far have shown that unbalanced teams mostly struggle to get decent results, Which could also be Würth's issue, although the range from 77 to 66 isn't that bad. Los Pollos actually could be in for a strong result at home; no big TTers of course, but also no-one but Beltran who could really slow them down. Get rid of him early, and they might be fine. Should be fun anyway!
Good luck to all participants, and thanks for the preview 
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 06-03-2024 20:00
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 821
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Top 5 should be possible, a podium would be nice, but we'll need good legs.
Thanks for the preview, good luck everyone.
“...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."
A. Roy
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 06-03-2024 20:10
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Team Manager
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Fabianski wrote:
... but the races so far have shown that unbalanced teams mostly struggle to get decent results, ...
That's what I'm worried about. We have 4 guys with 75 or 74 but then there's a dropoff to Berhe with 66, and our bottom three are 62/62/61. If Berhe manages to somewhat keep up, we have a shot at a good result here. Either way, Top 10 should be the minimum, I suspect we'll rank somewhere between 7th and 9th, but TTTs can be tough to estimate.
At the very least, Ion has to be a team player here and not blame any failures on the kids  Thanks for the preview!
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| MacC |
Posted on 06-03-2024 20:35
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Sprinter
Posts: 1594
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Thanks for the preview WJ.
From memory, that hill/ mountain in the middle here has hampered Glanbia in previous years ...
Obviously not exactly full strength possible here but wouldn't miss it for the world !
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 04-12-2024 09:06
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 06-03-2024 20:46
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Classics Specialist
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Thank you for the nice preview, wj! Eight unmaxed riders for us in our home race, hopefully finishing somewhere around the middle of the pack is possible Good luck to all!
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 06-03-2024 21:15
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Classics Specialist
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Fixed the start list, had a minor mishap there, sorry!
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 06-03-2024 21:21
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Thanks!
Looking at the full startlist now, the podium should be Podium Ambition, Turtles and Genii, as all of these really bring a strong 8-rider team. I think depth might actually matter on an almost 50km long course - if it doesn't, Bordeaux should have good chances as well. Or Glanbia, if they get rid of the bad TTers quickly.
On the other hand, I can't see a path to success for Gjensidige - if they have to wait for their 4th and 5th rider, they are unlikely to keep up with the top teams.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 06-03-2024 22:27
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World Champion
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A very enjoyable preview, even if I'm not in this race.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| seancoll |
Posted on 07-03-2024 03:57
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Domestique
Posts: 481
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Gotta hope for some major success! Come on Turtles!
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| MacC |
Posted on 07-03-2024 08:40
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Sprinter
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Yep, now I remember that I had to gut this team at last minute to get my stagiaires over the XP line..
Still, looks like guaranteed points, they all count
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 07-03-2024 12:43
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Thanks WJ for the preview, much appreciated
I'm cheering for the Turtles and PA here! We're just here filling the startlist.
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 07-03-2024 14:31
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Classics Specialist
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3-peat isn't far fetched outcome, but seeing the Podium Ambition and SEE Turtles having a more superior lineups (couldn't use Kittel as he's over the TT threshold for PCT teams) it will be a bit difficult to achieve this.
Thanks for the preview WJ
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 08-03-2024 12:02
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Big congrats to Podium Ambition 
Must have been one of your main targets this year, and your team definitely delivered! Turtles and Genii in 2nd and 3rd isn't a surprise, either - and actually good to see.
Bralirwa and Gjensidige clearly hit by the fact that it now takes at least 5 decent TTers to be successful in TTTs with this version... Something that'd have been good to know before the season, maybe something to test before switching to the next version (not speaking against this version that favours the more balanced teams, but would just have been nice to know ^^). Glanbia somewhat stronger - and LPH clearly showed that a balanced team can be pretty successful even if you don't have a top-notch TTer here!
Thanks for the report, was a nice read from an outside PoV
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 08-03-2024 12:02
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Geez, that was way worse than anticipated. Yes we were disjointed, but even then we shouldn't find ourselves behind some of the teams we were slower than. But I guess balance was the most important. If I'm counting correctly, we're shared 12th/13th with Gjensidige, not sure how that's resolved since 12th is the last scoring position. Would be a shame to leave entirely without points, but as the preview said, much of this race was for EXP anyway.
Congrats TMM, nice and dominant victory there, very impressive! Good stuff by the Turtles, too, which is good to see. Lastly thanks for the nice report WJ!
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 08-03-2024 12:29
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 821
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Congrats Podium Ambition!
5th is fine, I guess. Would have like to beat Würth, as we need some good results lately, but I needed one more guy I supposed.
Thanks for the report!
“...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."
A. Roy
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| MacC |
Posted on 08-03-2024 12:34
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Sprinter
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Congrats PA, well deserved
Actually happy enough with 7th considering. Part of my masterplan was to score big in these races with a load of sub-great but good TTers but yeah the spreadsheet didn't agree
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 08-03-2024 13:42
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Classics Specialist
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Considering that Podium Ambition and SEE Turtles had more top heavy TT'ers, a 3-peat was always going to be a tall order. So I'm satisfied with 3rd. And a well deserved win for Podium Ambition
Thanks for the report
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 08-03-2024 14:02
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Congrats TMM with the convincing win and thanks WJ for the report
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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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)
