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Int. Österreich Rundfahrt - Discussion
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-05-2025 22:41
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 28-01-2025 01:57
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Directeur Sportif
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 Int. Österreich Rundfahrt
Int. Österreich Rundfahrt celebrates its 17th edition this year. Last year it dropped down to C2 and it again at that level. The parcours for the 7-stage race is also unchanged. The race starts with two massive mountain climb finishes to Kühtai on S1 and up the famous Kitzbüheler Horn on S2.
After that the GC should be set until stage 7, as things calm down with two flat stages (3 and 6), one hillly stage (5), that will likely only cause small gaps, and one more mountain stage (4) where all the climbing comes mid-stage. Then on stage 7 the riders face a decisive 24k flat time trial.
Obviously, the race favors the GC riders and was won by 2023’s uber-GC rider at the continental level – William Chiarello. Chiarello isn’t back nor is 2022 winner Sam Oomen. From 2018 to 2021 this race was dominated by Aleksandr Pluchkin but he didn’t get a ride this year so he won’t be back for one last heroic attempt, which means we will have a first-time winner this year.
And the favorite to be that first time winner is 2024’s CT uber-GC rider  Jorgenson. On paper  Carapaz,  Bennett, and  Seboka are stronger climbers than Jorgenson but Seboka is Seboka, Bennett will lose massive time in the TT and Carapaz hasn’t come close to challenging Jorgeson so far this season.
 Arensman and Lunke are other favorites with good all-round skills but neither of them are a match for Jorgenson in any one skill, they could both could be a threat for the podium though depending on how Gjensidige handles the joint leadership.
 Penasa,  Munoz, and  Smith are all good climbers but will lose varying amounts of time in the TT to those mentioned above. Penasa finished 4th in this race back in 2021.
Berhane finished 3rd last year but his skills have slipped and a top-10 seems like a more realistic goal than the podium this year.
 Iturria, Kozhatayev,  Vanhoucke and  Munoz should all be solid in the TT but lack the climbing skills of Jorgenson, Carapaz, Lunke and Arensman. Although Iturria finished just 1 second behind Lunke last year, in 7th place.
| Rider | MT | HI | TT | RS | RC | | Carapaz | 80 | 71 | 72 | 76 | 77 | | Bennett | 80 | 75 | 64 | 73 | 77 | | Seboka | 80 | 62 | 53 | 70 | 73 | | Jorgenson | 79 | 75 | 76 | 78 | 72 | | Penasa | 79 | 73 | 69 | 70 | 75 | | Munoz | 79 | 73 | 66 | 72 | 74 | | Arensman | 78 | 73 | 74 | 77 | 74 | | Lunke | 78 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 78 | | Madrazo | 78 | 69 | 70 | 70 | 71 | | Smith | 78 | 75 | 68 | 74 | 75 |  Garby | 78 | 69 | 67 | 74 | 73 | | Manfredi | 78 | 65 | 65 | 73 | 72 | | Berhane | 78 | 72 | 63 | 69 | 68 |  Petelin | 78 | 74 | 62 | 71 | 71 | | Iturria | 77 | 73 | 72 | 74 | 76 | | Kozhatayev | 77 | 74 | 72 | 75 | 71 | | Vanhoucke | 77 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 76 | | Munoz | 77 | 73 | 72 | 69 | 71 |
While the GC is likely to be settled by the TT the GC guys won’t be competing for the stage win. The pure TTers here include:
| Rider | FL | TT | RS | RC | | Knotten | 72 | 79 | 71 | 71 | | Van Moer | 76 | 79 | 78 | 69 | | Viennet | 71 | 79 | 74 | 70 | | Politt | 73 | 78 | 73 | 72 | | Sterbini | 68 | 78 | 73 | 67 | | Akhmaevi | 68 | 77 | 69 | 71 | | Marryatt | 71 | 77 | 74 | 67 |  Postlberger | 73 | 77 | 72 | 69 | | Verona | 71 | 77 | 75 | 67 | | Predatsch | 69 | 77 | 77 | 69 |
We would expect the Gjensidige duo of Knotten and Van Moer to battle it out with Viennet for the stage win. Knotten might be the favorite as he would hope to have a little more left after 6 days and all that climbing. If the prior stages really take a toll Jorgenson might become a threat as he is the next best rider in TT skills after those listed above.
Two stages are for the sprinters. With so much climbing the field is pretty shallow. Minali looks the clear favorite which probably isn’t a good thing for him.
| Rider | FL | SP | AC | RS | RC | | Minali | 73 | 79 | 79 | 74 | 79 | | Gibbons | 75 | 78 | 78 | 72 | 73 | | Barbier | 75 | 77 | 79 | 71 | 76 | | Hofstetter | 74 | 77 | 78 | 71 | 75 |  Scully | 72 | 77 | 77 | 67 | 73 | | Barbari | 71 | 76 | 79 | 69 | 78 | | Reinhardt | 68 | 76 | 79 | 61 | 71 | | Mudgway | 70 | 76 | 78 | 66 | 76 | | Habtom | 74 | 76 | 76 | 73 | 78 | | Welsford | 73 | 75 | 75 | 69 | 72 |
Finally Stage 5 has punchy finish. Typically, it is played out by the GC riders but a handful of hill specialists have shown up to take a shot.  Boswell and Beltran are both big names, although a little beyond their best now. Perhaps Bennett is a more likely big name to take Stage 5, he is the first name not to make the cut for this list.
| Rider | MT | HI | AC | RS | RC | | Boswell | 70 | 79 | 75 | 72 | 69 | | Beltran | 76 | 78 | 71 | 67 | 67 | | Yates | 65 | 78 | 69 | 74 | 71 | | Raileanu | 77 | 77 | 70 | 73 | 76 | | Lafay | 75 | 77 | 74 | 72 | 72 |  Carr | 70 | 77 | 72 | 71 | 71 | | Carpenter | 76 | 76 | 72 | 71 | 73 | | Svab | 71 | 76 | 78 | 72 | 69 | | Duchesne | 66 | 76 | 77 | 70 | 65 | | Ludvigsson | 63 | 76 | 76 | 70 | 69 |
17 teams on the startlist with just one PCT representative – Tafjord.
Startlist
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 28-01-2025 05:26
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Team Leader
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Bennett should do fairly well here. Hopefully he can gain enough time to get a high GC place after the time trial.
We also have some good backup riders for the TT, sprints and hills. Excited for this one!
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| Aycon97 |
Posted on 28-01-2025 08:05
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Under 23
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This is one of the races we are supposed to score bigger. With carapaz and also Minali we should have goo chances to score. I hope both finally show their true potential. The support should be also there i believe. So I am looking forward to this race.
Thank you for the preview! |
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| Caspi |
Posted on 28-01-2025 10:07
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Domestique
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Kozhatayev should be able to top 10 in the GC, maybe even top 5 with a little luck.
Add some minor scoring by Carpenter, Smit or Barbari in S3-S6, and this could be a decent race for us, even though we most likely won't complete our Win Goal.
My only fear is that Seboka is starting as our #121
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| Dippofix |
Posted on 28-01-2025 10:14
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Classics Specialist
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Bringing our strongest possible team here, with Penasa having Berhane as a superdomestique and Gibbons having probably the best sprint train going. I'm a bit worried about potential AI fuckery, but this is definitely a race we've been targeting. Should be another slam dunk for Jorgensen, but the first two stages should suit Penasa very well, and then it's about limiting losses on the hills and TT.
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 28-01-2025 20:45
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Breakaway Specialist
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A top 10 should be the goal, a top 5 might be possible and would be ideal. I think Mikkel has the support for that.
Also Lafay for S4 and 5 and Hofstetter for the sprints.
Good luck everybody!
“...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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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 29-01-2025 06:53
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Team Leader
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Good from Bennett. He’s looking strong. Jorgensen managed to get Bennett this time. Tomorrow might be different. I think Bennett spent himself a bit too much with that attack but it’s good to see him moving. Only 21 seconds behind although we need a strong gap for the TT if we want to have a chance of a high GC finish.
Congrats MRE 
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| Caspi |
Posted on 29-01-2025 07:08
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Domestique
Posts: 536
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Just what we wanted from S1. Smit in the break, Seboka loosing time, and Manfredi supporting Kozhatayev far into the final.
If anything, it would have been nice to lose slightly less time to Benett and Carapaz. Let's see what the next stages bring
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 29-01-2025 08:17
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Classics Specialist
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Good to see Garby hanging on, not loosing too much time.
Congrats MME and thank you so much for the entertaining reprt UU! |
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| MacC |
Posted on 29-01-2025 12:49
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Sprinter
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Any other year this would be a big goal for Glanbia but this year we are resigned to stage hunting. Kinda relieved Stage 1 frees us up to do that
I would , ideally, love to see the AI protect Main so that he can be in a competitive place before the GC but the AI values Mannion and Matte too much I guess.
We should go for stages and KOM hopefully!
Good luck all
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| Dippofix |
Posted on 29-01-2025 13:49
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Classics Specialist
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A shame Penasa couldn't make the good work count to distance those behind him timewise, but a strong start nonetheless. Hopefully he can back it up on stage two and get some separation in the GC.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 29-01-2025 18:38
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Grand Tour Champion
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Jorgenson delivers after the team gives him everything they had. Can't ask for any more. Well done lads. Great start in trying to secure our first team goal in four years...
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| redordead |
Posted on 30-01-2025 06:53
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Beltran!! 
"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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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 30-01-2025 06:55
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Team Leader
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Fantastic ride from Beltran!! When he got the puncture I was very stressed but he was just in form today!
Bennett losing a bit of time but still 3rd GC and looking strong. Great day for the team and so happy to see Beltran get a win for us! The 3rd leader is beginning to step up a bit and he’s moved up on GC quite a bit too!
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| Caspi |
Posted on 30-01-2025 07:49
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Domestique
Posts: 536
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Jakstar22 wrote:
Fantastic ride from Beltran!! When he got the puncture I was very stressed but he was just in form today!
How was he even allowed in the break? Congrats 
Kozhatayev still doing as expected, and happy to see Smit riding aggresive - hope he keeps attacking. Let's see how the next couple of stages will unfold.
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| Booker |
Posted on 30-01-2025 16:59
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Breakaway Specialist
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Not too bad at all with Egger picking up some cheeky points, being active, and Smith sticking around with the main GC guys. I like his approach in the second stage of not attacking too much, giving himself a chance for the latter half of the race.
Thanks for the reports and the excellent preview UU!
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 30-01-2025 21:23
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2999
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Amazing ride by Beltran. Garby too weak on this level unfortunately.
We need some cleaning up in our climbing squad, cause this is simply not good enough.
However, the reporting was phenomenal, I really liked how you gave a report of everyone within 35 seconds in GC, although that was bad news for us 
Congrats Jakstar and thanks alot Ulrich! |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 31-01-2025 01:15
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Team Leader
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Another good stage for us. Mudgway 2nd is excellent! Hes having a great year in the sprints! Bennett comfortable in the pack as well.
Congrats to our fellow kiwis and Scully on the win and another amazing report!
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| Dippofix |
Posted on 31-01-2025 16:23
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Classics Specialist
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Decent performance from Gibbons, could probably be doing better in this field but I won't complain too much about a top 5. Gutsy ride from Penasa the day before, shame it didn't work out, but he's doing alright all things considered.
It was revealed to me in a dream that we will get our first ever win during this race, so I am awaiting the next stages with excitement...
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 31-01-2025 22:18
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Classics Specialist
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Congrats to the Kiwi's, with 1st - 2nd.
Ludvigsson with a surprise 6th for us. We'll take it. |
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