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Tour du Faso Discussion
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 26-12-2025 21:03
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The reports will be brought to you by AbhishekLFC!
Legend has it there are three homelands of cobbled cycling: the steep hills of Flanders, the winding trenches of northern France, and of course, the timeless, flat pathways of Burkina Faso. It is the last which will be our setting for the next three days.
The race takes on the same characteristic pattern it's had since its was shortened to three stages a decade ago. The first stage starts out as a normal flat day before greeting the peloton with a 20 km cobbles sector of moderate difficulty, ending just before the the finish. The second stage is for the sprinters. Then stage 3 is pure cobbles hell from start to finish. No short sectors like you see in Europe. Cobbles are your new normal, so get used to it.
Traditionally, that means true cobbled classics riders are the favorites here. Climbing ability is irrelevant, and traditionally, higher endurance has not been necessary, though that could obviously change given this year's meta. The field is wide open, as it has been for all the CT cobbled races this year, though we've seen some trends emerge for sure.
Favorites
| Flat | Sta | Res | Rec | Cob | Spr | Acc |  Richardson | 71 | 68 | 68 | 64 | 78 | 60 | 61 |  Chatarunga | 71 | 77 | 70 | 66 | 76 | 69 | 66 |  Monk | 74 | 76 | 70 | 70 | 76 | 61 | 70 |  Teggart | 73 | 76 | 73 | 71 | 76 | 72 | 70 |  Van Lerberghe | 73 | 73 | 72 | 72 | 76 | 74 | 71 |  Van Keirsbulck | 70 | 72 | 70 | 58 | 76 | 68 | 65 |  Sanogo | 73 | 71 | 72 | 64 | 76 | 69 | 70 |  Boros | 72 | 71 | 67 | 66 | 76 | 63 | 64 |  Mestric | 73 | 69 | 70 | 68 | 76 | 55 | 65 | | De Witte | 74 | 75 | 72 | 67 | 75 | 71 | 69 | | Ariesen | 75 | 74 | 73 | 71 | 75 | 70 | 71 |  Kuroeda | 71 | 74 | 75 | 80 | 75 | 75 | 71 |  Scotson | 72 | 73 | 70 | 70 | 75 | 66 | 75 |  Nielsen | 75 | 71 | 75 | 72 | 74 | 73 | 71 |  Basso | 73 | 78 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 71 | 69 |  Evangelos | 73 | 75 | 70 | 67 | 72 | 73 | 73 |
As is the case with all C2 cobbled races this year, the field is wide open, and the favorites are not as clear as they appear. Richardson is the best rider over the cobbles by a good amount, but his results this year have been middling at best. Maybe the Faso route's cobbles focus is more attuned to his one-dimensional style, but the evidence hasn't been good so far.
Rather, the most successful rider in this category has been Boros, who, like many of the contenders here, is ironically a PCT rider LARPing as a leader in the lower divisions, where he feasts on weak competition. While that sounds a bit negative, he's earned a mention, having already won Geraardsbergen-Bosberg and Lincoln GP this season. Why not grab a third? That said, just looking at stats, it's not clear why he should be a favorite here compared to the many similar riders, some of whom can sprint and have better energy stats.
Speaking of riders who can sprint, Teggart, Van Lerberghe, Kuroeda, and Nielsen have top speeds that should help them stand out on stage 1, which is much more likely to end up in a reduced bunch sprint than stage 3. If one of them takes the jersey there, Teggart and Van Lerberghe in particular are also top favorites to survive stage 3. Kuroeda is also an interesting proposition here. While he's a smidge (just a smidge) weaker on the cobbles, he has phenomenal day-to-day recovery, which could be on showcase for the decisive stage 3 here, more so than it is for a usual one-day classic.
We have to imagine that the race will be decided on the brutal stage 3 though, where almost the entire race is cobbled, including the finishing stretch. Chatarunga, Monk, and De Witte are guys who love grueling races and tend to outlast their competition in wars of attrition. However, this is a war unlike most, given the focus on cobbles and relatively short stage length.
Along those lines, the most interesting rider to watch will be Leonardo Basso. The Italian has been a revelation this year, winning Gent-Wevelgem and placing near the top in almost every C2 and even C1 cobbled raced race so far. He's looked like a top 5 CT rider on a near minimum wage salary, mostly due to his incredible stamina. But will that hold in the Tour du Faso, where pure cobblestone ability is at the forefront, and the decisive stage is only 127 km?
Sprinters
| Flat | Sta | Res | Cob | Spr | Acc |  Walscheid | 73 | 71 | 74 | 61 | 79 | 79 |  Silva | 75 | 69 | 70 | 72 | 77 | 78 | | Harrison | 71 | 72 | 69 | 72 | 77 | 80 | | Major | 74 | 74 | 70 | 70 | 77 | 78 |  Jimenez Retana | 71 | 69 | 68 | 70 | 77 | 79 | | Russo | 73 | 73 | 73 | 68 | 76 | 78 | | Baterdene | 74 | 72 | 70 | 67 | 76 | 77 | | Page | 71 | 73 | 70 | 65 | 76 | 78 | | Andersson | 71 | 74 | 73 | 63 | 76 | 76 |
The sprinters will have their opportunity on day 2, and Max Walscheid is the best among them on paper. His top speed is at least two ticks above anyone else here, and he doesn't have to worry about any hills getting in the way here. The problem is he doesn't have a single ounce of support behind him, either for a leadout, protection, or controlling the race. Not a single teammate of his has a flat stat at or above 70, let alone a sprint stat worth mentioning. His collection of youngsters will surely be enthusiastic to help, but it's unclear they'll have the ability to do so.
The second tier of sprinters— Silva, Harrison, Major, and Jimenez Retana—may hope for a very unselective first stage, as that might allow them to have a chance at two stage wins here. Each is similar, with some ability to survive cobbles paired with an acceleration that is more impressive than their pure speed. Silva brings a very capable leadout man in Andersson, and Hennis will be a an asset to Major. We'll see if that will be to their advantage compared to the other two, who will need to surf wheels for slipstream.
There are of course plenty of outsiders who can make an impact in a relatively weak sprint field here. Page, Baterdene, and Russo come to front of mind. The latter has a collection of similar leadout men at his disposal, so we'll see if that lends itself to strength or confusion.
Startlist
Spoiler | Basso | Leonardo | Bianchi Enel | | Sangulin | Robert | Bianchi Enel | | Livyns | Arjen | Bianchi Enel | | Miltiadis | Andreas | Bianchi Enel | | Sandri | Edoardo | Bianchi Enel | | Maccagli | Andrea Enrico | Bianchi Enel | | Nerurkar | Lukas | Bianchi Enel | | Yarrell | Guy | Bianchi Enel | | Evangelos | Sarris | Bolt - Eesti | | Theorpanous | Stavros | Bolt - Eesti | | Mihkels | Madis | Bolt - Eesti | | Svrcek | Martin | Bolt - Eesti | | Page | Hugo | Bolt - Eesti | | Kunkumpai | Kantaphon | Bolt - Eesti | | Hamilton | Chris | Bolt - Eesti | | Romeo | Ivan | Bolt - Eesti | | Teggart | Matthew | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Mugisha | Samuel | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Hadi | Janvier | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Arvanitou | Nikiforos | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Mugisha | Moise | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Niyonkuru | Samuel | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Pellizzari | Giulio | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Arenas Rodriguez | Jeremias | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Mestric | Matija | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Roosen | Timo | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Kramer | Jesse | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Costiou | Ewen | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Pringle | Nate | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Grozev | Gabriel | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Kess | Alexandre | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Martinez | Lenny | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Silva | Nihal | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Buttigieg | Aidan | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Rojas | Henry Antonio | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Andersson | Emil | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | De Paula | Victor Cesar | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Woronieski | Brian Jesus | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | De Comarmond | Aurelien | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Gonzales | Charles | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Vainionpää | Oskari | Kone-Nordea | | Vainio | Veeti | Kone-Nordea | | Kallberg | Axel | Kone-Nordea | | Pagtalunan | John Patrick | Kone-Nordea | | Juntunen | Antti-Jussi | Kone-Nordea | | Traeen | Torstein | Kone-Nordea | | Lock | Dennis | Kone-Nordea | | Johanson | Kristjan | Kone-Nordea | | Sanogo | Abou | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Harrison | Sam | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Koch | Jonas | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Teutenberg | Tim Torn | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Aebersold | Nils | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Luehrs | Luis-Joe | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Donze | Robin | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Chatarunga | Sameera | Lotto-Caloi | | Ariesen | Tim | Lotto-Caloi | | Berckmoes | Jenno | Lotto-Caloi | | Verstrynge | Emiel | Lotto-Caloi | | El Alouani | Driss | Lotto-Caloi | | Van Aert | Wout | Lotto-Caloi | | Rangel | Vinicius | Lotto-Caloi | | Veyhe | Torkil | Lotto-Caloi | | Boros | Michael | Minions | | De Witte | Mathias | Minions | | Ndungu | Bernard | Minions | | Dressler | Luca | Minions | | Guavita | Cesar David | Minions | | Predatsch | Kevin | Minions | | Paleni | Enzo | Minions | | Gomez | Fausto Agustin | Minions | | Scotson | Callum | MOL Cycling Team | | Singh | Yanglem Rojit | MOL Cycling Team | | Domgjoni | Ivo | MOL Cycling Team | | Baterdene | Narankhuu | MOL Cycling Team | | Stewart | Campbell | MOL Cycling Team | | Huera | Richard | MOL Cycling Team | | Pinzon | Edgar Andres | MOL Cycling Team | | Pavlides | Konstantinos | MOL Cycling Team | | Van Lerberghe | Bert | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Russo | Clement | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Bevort | Carl-Frederik | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Elkatohchoongo | David Beckham | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Keough | Luke | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Wallenborn | Arno | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Tabarez | Maicol Adrian | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Kopfauf | Markus | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Richardson | Chequan | Podium Ambition | | Campbell | Akil | Podium Ambition | | Forbes | Nathaniel | Podium Ambition | | Gayral | Joshua | Podium Ambition | | Major | Jay | Podium Ambition | | Hennis | Hasani | Podium Ambition | | Cole | Tyler | Podium Ambition | | Vera Hernandez | Hidalgo | Podium Ambition | | Van Keirsbulck | Guillaume | Specialized | | Kumara | Amith Udaya | Specialized | | Medvedev | Sergey | Specialized | | Kloppenborg | Lukas Sulaj | Specialized | | Soderqvist | Jakob | Specialized | | Julien | Matisse | Specialized | | Marsman | Tim | Specialized | | Brenner | Marco | Specialized | | Nielsen | Joanis Albert | Tafjord Kraft | | Kaislavuo | Jesse | Tafjord Kraft | | Hansen | Alexander Arnt | Tafjord Kraft | | Gudmestad | Tord | Tafjord Kraft | | Gautherat | Pierre | Tafjord Kraft | | Fredheim | Stian | Tafjord Kraft | | Feldmann | Karsten | Tafjord Kraft | | Garby | Marc Christian | Tafjord Kraft | | Behrens | Niklas | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Buck-Gramcko | Tobias | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Steinhauser | Georg | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Johnson | Cooper | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Walscheid | Maximilian | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Wilksch | Hannes | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Engelhardt | Felix | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Carr | Simon | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Kuroeda | Shiki | THE ONE - Fox God | | Arashiro | Yudai | THE ONE - Fox God | | Wai Chu | Tsun | THE ONE - Fox God | | Paulus | Milan | THE ONE - Fox God | | Kawasaki | Miori | THE ONE - Fox God | | Koide | Itsuki | THE ONE - Fox God | | McGill | Scott | THE ONE - Fox God | | Verre | Alessandro | THE ONE - Fox God | | Monk | Cyrus | ZARA - Irizar | | Crause | Pedri | ZARA - Irizar | | Trezise | Declan | ZARA - Irizar | | Browning | Fergus | ZARA - Irizar | | Gilmore | Brady | ZARA - Irizar | | Blanca Pareja | Nichol | ZARA - Irizar | | Marriage | Zac | ZARA - Irizar | | Sheffield | Magnus | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Jimenez Retana | John | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Simmons | Colby | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Fretin | Milan | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Kozhatayev | Bakhtiyar | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | White | Connor | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Blackmore | Joseph | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Menshov | Ivan | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Azman | Muhamad Zawawi | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Vandenabeele | Henri | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Kulindwa | Lameck Marco | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Holzer | Roman | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Moiruri | Moses | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Bittner | Pavel | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Demiri | Mikel | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Leemreize | Gijs | Sony - Force India | | Broxham | Ricardo | Sony - Force India | | Hofstede | Lennard | Sony - Force India | | McCormick | Hayden | Sony - Force India | | Rossi | Diego | Sony - Force India | | Arias Villanueva | Sergio | Sony - Force India | | Allegaert | Piet | Sony - Force India | | Alben | Esow | Sony - Force India | | Herklotz | Silvio | Team Puma - SAP | | Kämna | Lennard | Team Puma - SAP | | Schiffer | Anton | Team Puma - SAP | | Stork | Florian | Team Puma - SAP | | Van Wilder | Ilan | Team Puma - SAP | | Cemazar | Nik | Team Puma - SAP | | Zahiri | Abderrahim | Team Puma - SAP | | Van Vliet | Indy | Team Puma - SAP | | Buchmann | Emanuel | Team UBS | | Barbio | Antonio | Team UBS | | Ryan | Archie | Team UBS | | Jenni | Luca | Team UBS | | Weiss | Fabian | Team UBS | | Schäppi | Martin | Team UBS | | Maciejuk | Filip | Team UBS | | Dillier | Silvan | Team UBS | | Sivakov | Pavel | Tinkoff Team - La Datcha | | Vlasov | Alexander | Tinkoff Team - La Datcha | | Bereznyak | Aleksandr | Tinkoff Team - La Datcha | | Strakhov | Dmitry | Tinkoff Team - La Datcha | | Skujins | Toms | Tinkoff Team - La Datcha | | Tikhonin | Evgenii | Tinkoff Team - La Datcha | | Zakarin | Aydar | Tinkoff Team - La Datcha | | Razumov | Nikita | Tinkoff Team - La Datcha | | Blums | Martins | Xero Racing | | Martinez | Daniel Felipe | Xero Racing | | Martin | Guillaume | Xero Racing | | Redy | Dylan | Xero Racing | | Bazhkou | Stanislau | Xero Racing | | Van Niekerk | Morne | Xero Racing | | Novardianto | Jamalidin | Xero Racing | | Andersen | Michael Valgren | Xero Racing |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 28-01-2026 18:07
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 26-12-2025 23:40
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Boros has been superior in C2 races containing cobbles and hills. This is as flat as can be so we'll have to see whether he or De Witte is our best option and how high they will finish. My apologies to the other six riders for bringing them here.
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 27-12-2025 07:58
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Finally back to racing! 
With Chatarunga and Ariesen two guys who could do well. One top 5 is the minimum goal.
Thanks BBL for the preview!
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 27-12-2025 08:08
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Sprinter
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Thanks for the great preview for a great race, bbl!
It's our usual C2 squad, so our hopes are on Mestric and Roosen as usual. It would be best to avoid those fruitless long-range attack in stage 3, but I doubt they can resist them. Maybe Costiou is also able to show himself in the sprints and snatch a top 10 there.
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 27-12-2025 10:38
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A great opportunity for Monk to show us what he's capable of having had mixed results on the CT classics so far. Expecting a strong showing from him!
Thanks for a great preview, insightful both about the past and this years division. Best of luck all 
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 27-12-2025 13:58
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Tour de France Champion
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Any points are good points, need a few more please.
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 27-12-2025 14:38
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Small Tour Specialist
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Thanks for a great preview BBL.
Looking for a Sanogo top 10 GC and a Harrison top 5 on stage 2.
Hoping Harrison doesn't do so well that we ride for him on stage 3!
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 27-12-2025 20:46
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Classics Specialist
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Close to greatness, time for stage 3 to put us in an ever greater spot! Thanks for the preview and report!
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 27-12-2025 21:28
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Grand Tour Champion
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Minions C2 domination continues, now it's De Witte's turns 
(Boros in the break is a headscratcher of an AI tactic though  )
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 28-12-2025 06:33
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Sprinter
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Well, that was a bummer to start the race with 
Congrats to the C2 dominating Minions nonetheless!
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 28-12-2025 10:40
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Sprinter
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Job done for this stage. No time loss and the lead in teams classification.
Congrats Marco!
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 28-12-2025 11:10
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Small Tour Specialist
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Two in the top 10 is a good start, keep it up chaps.
Congrats to Marco and thanks for the report Abhi.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 28-12-2025 16:58
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Tour de France Champion
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Dominated the second group.... second group... damnit...
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 28-12-2025 20:07
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Grand Tour Champion
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Congrats Radio00! Looking forward to the potentially brutal final stage
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| seancoll |
Posted on 28-12-2025 20:20
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Some very good racing so far and always one of the most interesting stages of the C2 calendar to end the race. Congrats Marco and Radio!
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 28-12-2025 20:26
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Classics Specialist
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Lovely to see Nielsen still being 5th here. We'll enjoy it 
Congrats radio and thanks alot Abhi! |
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 28-12-2025 21:51
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Walscheid loves that stage, won it for us a few years ago. Congrat to Zappes. Bring on the carnage.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 29-12-2025 07:49
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Sprinter
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Congrats Radio on another win! And thanks to Abhi for the reports!
Costiou at least near a top 10 finish in stage 2 and Kramer in the break, although it's one of the least suited races in the calendar for breaks ...
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 29-12-2025 13:53
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Congrats to Radio, a Kraftwerk old boy wins and a Kraftwerk new boy comes 2nd, nice.
Thanks Abhi for the report.
Fingers crossed Sanogo can survive the stage 3 chaos in a good position.
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 29-12-2025 14:29
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Couple decent stages for us so far. Hoping that we can take home a good result after stage 3! Congrats to Marco and Radio on the wins so far and thanks for the reports!
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