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GP Wallonie - Discussion
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| seancoll |
Posted on 30-12-2025 01:57
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GP Wallonie
HC
196.6km
The GP Wallonie is here to transition racing back into full swing after the conclusion of the Giro. And remember that Lincoln GP “earlier this month”? Well don’t forget that Wallonie takes place on the same day and that we won’t see any of those cobble stars fighting up the climbs here in Belgium. GP Wallonie does take the step back up to the HC ranks after just 1 year at the C1 level – either way, should not be too much of a difference in startlist quality.
as C1
2024: Andrea Bagioli (Indosat Ooredoo)
as HC
2023: Pascal Ackermann (Zwift Pro Cycling)
2022: Tejay Van Garderen (Sauber Petronas Racing)
as PTHC
2021: Alexey Lutsenko (Isostar - Specialized)
2020: Michal Kwiatkowski (Aker - MOT)
2019: Dimitri Claeys (Minions)
2013: Pavel Potocki (HTC Nieuwsblad)
2011: Hassen Ben Nasser (Cillit Bang - IT-Factory powered by The Moon X)
Looking at the past winners, we do have a returning champion on the starting line in Alexey Lutsenko, now starring for our friends at DK Zalgiris. However, that is the only past winner to find a space here as Bagioli must now fight at the higher ranks. 2024 3rd placer Joshua Edmondson leads the crowd of returning athletes, as Marc Hirschi will also want to improve on last year’s 4th.
| Name | FL | MM | HI | ST | RS | SP | AC | FG | DH |  Alexey Lutsenko | 68 | 77 | 82 | 75 | 72 | 71 | 80 | 68 | 69 |  Sean De Bie | 71 | 76 | 82 | 74 | 73 | 70 | 72 | 72 | 63 |  Robert Stannard | 73 | 77 | 81 | 75 | 76 | 69 | 78 | 77 | 69 |  Odd Christian Eiking | 71 | 75 | 81 | 78 | 74 | 68 | 76 | 75 | 69 |  Marc Hirschi | 71 | 79 | 81 | 78 | 78 | 66 | 75 | 82 | 77 |  Elie Gesbert | 71 | 77 | 80 | 80 | 78 | 68 | 73 | 76 | 66 | | Petr Vakoc | 70 | 75 | 80 | 74 | 70 | 70 | 73 | 60 | 65 |  Aidan Van Niekerk | 69 | 78 | 80 | 72 | 75 | 64 | 74 | 82 | 71 |  Andres Camilo Ardila | 67 | 81 | 80 | 69 | 70 | 62 | 75 | 76 | 66 |  Wilco Kelderman | 68 | 75 | 80 | 77 | 72 | 65 | 69 | 75 | 69 |  Michael Storer | 70 | 77 | 79 | 72 | 73 | 64 | 74 | 75 | 66 | | Ian Boswell | 68 | 74 | 78 | 74 | 70 | 63 | 73 | 70 | 66 | | Emmanuel Morin | 70 | 72 | 78 | 75 | 73 | 69 | 76 | 67 | 67 |  Xuban Errazkin | 71 | 77 | 78 | 76 | 75 | 63 | 73 | 69 | 67 |  Natnael Tesfatsion | 68 | 77 | 78 | 68 | 72 | 69 | 78 | 73 | 63 | | Sven Erik Bystrom | 71 | 73 | 78 | 74 | 71 | 67 | 75 | 77 | 72 | | Joshua Edmondson | 69 | 73 | 78 | 73 | 70 | 69 | 74 | 67 | 71 |  Matevz Govekar | 72 | 75 | 78 | 73 | 75 | 70 | 78 | 74 | 71 |
As a previous winner, we really have to look at Lutsenko here as the top favorite, especially as the best rider on the hills. Lutsenko also has the explosiveness and sprint to make the difference in a final group although I think there’s a world where he gets away and takes a 2nd title solo.
Assa Abloy are a crucial team to analyze here with 3 potential leaders. Elie Gesbert should be their main focus, but I imagine they’ll also look to watch things on the road. Boswell and Mori could be utilized to stretch out the peloton, make sure there are constant attacks and similarly bring back any unwanted moves.
Ardilla is a fascinating man to see on the startlist, with a focus on MO instead of ST. The predominant stage racer looks to give MOL Cycling a shot at the victory by absolutely crushing the climbs. Only Hirschi can really claim to measure up if this becomes a MM battle instead of pure hill. Those back-to-back-to-back finishing climbs could certainly make the difference to treat more like a longer effort.
Wilco Kelderman appears at the startline with 2024 3rd placer Edmondson as his top domestique. While Wilco might be on the decline, he’s been given a final shot here to contest for the podium. Edmondson will also be hoping for a resurgence even though his top level in 2025 doesn’t quite reach last year’s standards.
Aidan Van Niekerk and Robert Stannard are two personal favorites (as some of the non-Europeans). Both have had mixed success throughout and look to use Wallonie as the start of a strong mid-year campaign. Odds probably have to go slightly to Van Niekerk over Stannard if the climbs make the biggest difference. Put them together at the end though and the switch goes toward Stannard.
De Bie is the final major favorite to discuss, as someone who tends to face more disappointment than success. He’s on a lower salary because of it and really should be able to give JEWA TIROL some bang for their buck. A top placing may be a challenge, but if he’s around the front in the final 2-3km, I wouldn’t count him out.
Some other favorites, Eiking, Vakoc, and Storer will certainly be ready to make the race their own. Even those not making the top list like Narvaez, Paret-Peintre, Quita, and Govekar to name a few may be finding themselves near the top at race end.
Startlist:
Spoiler | Gesbert | Elie | Assa Abloy | | Boswell | Ian | Assa Abloy | | Kvist | Linus | Assa Abloy | | Morris Berroa | James | Assa Abloy | | Morin | Emmanuel | Assa Abloy | | Zegklis | Nikolaos | Assa Abloy | | Matsumoto | Yosukue | Assa Abloy | | Murillo | Luis Esteban | Assa Abloy | | Theorpanous | Stavros | Bolt - Eesti | | Kunkumpai | Kantaphon | Bolt - Eesti | | Hamilton | Chris | Bolt - Eesti | | Mansouri | Hamza | Bolt - Eesti | | Pithie | Laurence | Bolt - Eesti | | Mulubrhan | Henok | Bolt - Eesti | | Errazkin | Xuban | Bolt - Eesti | | Parashchak | Yaroslav | Bolt - Eesti | | Hadi | Janvier | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Mugisha | Samuel | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Mugisha | Moise | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Tesfatsion | Natnael | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Habimana | Jean Eric | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Uhiriwe | Renus | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Munyaneza | Didier | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Masengesho | Vainqueur | Bralirwa - Cegeka | | Milan | Matteo | Colombini Kometa | | Xandri | Jan | Colombini Kometa | | Olei | Federico | Colombini Kometa | | Sprenger | Felix | Colombini Kometa | | Jele | Kwanele | Colombini Kometa | | Aquilani | Andrea | Colombini Kometa | | Aman | Awet | Colombini Kometa | | Pickering | Finlay | Colombini Kometa | | Glivar | Gal | DeNA RoadStars | | Mayrhofer | Marius | DeNA Roadstars | | Vangheluwe | Warre | DeNA Roadstars | | Batmunkh | Maral-Erdene | DeNA Roadstars | | Ma | Guangtong | DeNA Roadstars | | Fratczak | Radoslaw | DeNA Roadstars | | Van Bekkum | Darren | DeNA Roadstars | | Van Sintmaartensdijk | Roel | DeNA Roadstars | | Lutsenko | Alexey | DK Zalgiris | | Januskevicius | Mantas | DK Zalgiris | | Robov | Momchil | DK Zalgiris | | Raugala | Gustas | DK Zalgiris | | Roman | Aleksandar | DK Zalgiris | | Ivanovas | Olegas | DK Zalgiris | | Sitchinava | Nika | DK Zalgiris | | Belohvosciks | Kristians | DK Zalgiris | | Bettiol | Alberto | Duvel-Tsingtao | | Blouwe | Louis | Duvel-Tsingtao | | Hermans | Quinten | Duvel-Tsingtao | | Niu | Yikui | Duvel-Tsingtao | | Lyu | Xianjing | Duvel-Tsingtao | | Van Tricht | Stan | Duvel-Tsingtao | | Dlamini | Nicholas | Duvel-Tsingtao | | Pollefliet | Gianluca | Duvel-Tsingtao | | Paret-Peintre | Aurelien | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Akhmaevi | Sulkhan | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Garibian | Arman | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Katrasnik | Gasper | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Quispe | Alain | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Pinot | Thibaut | Ekoi - Le Creuset | | Stannard | Robert | Everesting | | Henao | Sebastian | Everesting | | Sunderland | Dylan | Everesting | | Grosser | Aaron | Everesting | | Riccitello | Matthew | Everesting | | Gelders | Gil | Everesting | | Mwiguru | Malaika | Everesting | | Oshri | Itai | Everesting | | Doubey | Fabien | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Eiking | Odd Christian | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Andersen | Idar | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Seigle | Roman | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Hagenes | Per Strand | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Bystrom | Sven Erik | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Skjerping | Kristoffer | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | Fjellheim | Henrik Teslo | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | | McLay | Dan | IESE ProCycling Team | | Ahlstrand | Jonas | IESE ProCycling Team | | Summerhill | Danny | IESE ProCycling Team | | Sillankorva | Jaakko | IESE ProCycling Team | | Malmberg | Matias | IESE ProCycling Team | | Wallinder | Willhelm | IESE ProCycling Team | | Segaert | Alec | IESE ProCycling Team | | Hajek | Alexander | IESE ProCycling Team | | De Bie | Sean | JEWA TIROL | | Nys | Thibau | JEWA TIROL | | Iturria | Mikel | JEWA TIROL | | Laurance | Axel | JEWA TIROL | | Hofer | Andreas | JEWA TIROL | | Orue | German Anibal | JEWA TIROL | | Yzeiraj | Marildo | JEWA TIROL | | Terada | Yoshiki | JEWA TIROL | | Berckmoes | Jenno | Lotto-Caloi | | Verstrynge | Emiel | Lotto-Caloi | | Vakoc | Petr | Lotto-Caloi | | Min | Kyeng Ho | Lotto-Caloi | | Oliveira | Rui | Lotto-Caloi | | Finkler | Leonardo Henrique | Lotto-Caloi | | Berhe | Welay Hagos | Lotto-Caloi | | Changsheng | Sun | Lotto-Caloi | | Godon | Dorian | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Narvaez | Jhonatan | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Daniel | Gregory | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Revard | Thomas | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Hoehn | Alex | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Mostov | Zeke | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Rodriguez | Brandon | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Julajuj | Alex | McCormick Pro Cycling | | Jiang | Zhihui | Minions | | Cepeda Hernandez | Jefferson | Minions | | Van Niekerk | Aidan | Minions | | Vosekalns | Andris | Minions | | Kipkemboi | Salim | Minions | | Quintana | Dayer | Minions | | Casillas | Jhonatan | Minions | | Hamza | Faycal | Minions | | Huera | Richard | MOL Cycling Team | | Le Gac | Olivier | MOL Cycling Team | | Ardila | Andres Camilo | MOL Cycling Team | | Moricz | Daniel | MOL Cycling Team | | Jarc | Aljaz | MOL Cycling Team | | Bechkov | Aleks | MOL Cycling Team | | Rhim | Brendan | MOL Cycling Team | | Wenzel | Mats | MOL Cycling Team | | Hirschi | Marc | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Scaroni | Cristian | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Lazkano | Oier | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Putti | Riccardo | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Badilatti | Matteo | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Drakos | Nikolaos Michail | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Bagnara | Luca | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Quadrelli | Rino | Sauber Petronas Racing | | Sureda | Jaume | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Azman | Muhamad Zawawi | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Meurisse | Xandro | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | McKenna | Sean | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Debesay | Mekseb | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Carpenter | Robin | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Turek | Daniel | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Smit | Willie | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | | Kelderman | Wilco | Spark Team NZ | | Bennett | George | Spark Team NZ | | Edmondson | Joshua | Spark Team NZ | | Duyvesteyn | Kees | Spark Team NZ | | Thompson | Reuben | Spark Team NZ | | Thornley | Callum | Spark Team NZ | | Schrettl | Marco | Spark Team NZ | | Arrieta | Igor | Spark Team NZ | | Potocki | Pavel | Specialized | | Quita | Ronnilan | Specialized | | Soderqvist | Jakob | Specialized | | Brenner | Marco | Specialized | | De Vos | Adam | Specialized | | Battistella | Samuele | Specialized | | Baroncini | Filippo | Specialized | | La Grenade | Jeremie | Specialized | | De Laat | Jasper | THE ONE - Fox God | | Gaspar | Joao | THE ONE - Fox God | | Todome | Yuhi | THE ONE - Fox God | | Petelin | Jan Drago | THE ONE - Fox God | | Shirota | Yamato | THE ONE - Fox God | | Ryuki | Uga | THE ONE - Fox God | | Sanchez | Pelayo | THE ONE - Fox God | | Yamaguchi | Eiji | THE ONE - Fox God | | Castro | Emanuel | Trans Looney Tunes | | Govekar | Matevz | Trans Looney Tunes | | Pibernik | Luka | Trans Looney Tunes | | Debesay | Yacob | Trans Looney Tunes | | Rucigaj | Ziga | Trans Looney Tunes | | Tulett | Ben | Trans Looney Tunes | | Murn | Bostjan | Trans Looney Tunes | | Munoz | Cristian | Trans Looney Tunes | | Storer | Michael | ZARA - Irizar | | Miquel | Pau | ZARA - Irizar | | Shikai | Chen | ZARA - Irizar | | Gaday | Lucas Manuel | ZARA - Irizar | | Hamilton | Lucas | ZARA - Irizar | | Soler | Marc | ZARA - Irizar | | Blanca Pareja | Nichol | ZARA - Irizar | | Quinn | Sean | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Ludvigsson | Fredrik | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | White | Connor | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Ivanov | Viacheslav | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Simmons | Colby | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Fretin | Milan | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Blackmore | Joseph | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Menshov | Ivan | Zwift - Newton Foundation |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 30-12-2025 02:12
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7580
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Wilco seems on good form at the moment so hoping for a strong result here. Edmondson and Duyvesteyn strong support as well so should be interesting for us! Really need some strong points here!
Thanks for the preview and good luck everyone
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 30-12-2025 08:41
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Sprinter
Posts: 1565
Joined: 26-04-2020
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Thanks sean for the preview! 
Hopefully Vakoc can do good here. Min is also an option if it's a harder race.
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 30-12-2025 09:34
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Team Leader
Posts: 5591
Joined: 12-06-2013
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Quite a start list but hopefully Storer can do a decent job and fight for a Top 10 here. Thank you for the preview! Looking forward to it.
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 30-12-2025 11:56
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2148
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Hoping for an improved result compared to Badaling for Gesbert. He got a bit heated with early attacks there, so hope he can stay calmer for longer this time. Then he should have a fair chance at a podium!
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 30-12-2025 12:35
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Hoping on Van Niekerk to did what Claeys did back in 2019. Would instantly make him the most successful puncheur we ever had.
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| Caspi |
Posted on 30-12-2025 12:53
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Lutsenko an obvious favorite, but could see Govekar or De Bie making an impact here.
Hope we can snatch a top 10 despite not being mentioned among the favorites. It's certainly a strong startlist for a HC race.
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 30-12-2025 13:34
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Posts: 1921
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Thanks for the preview, sean!
We'd need a top 10 here to make it at least to the three-digits numbers this month. But with another stacked HC startlist even avoiding another bagel like in Badaling could prove a hard task.
I'd put my money on Gesbert here.
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 30-12-2025 14:00
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Directeur Sportif
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Probably too hard a race and too strong a start list for Narvaez but if it is less selective we can hope. Need some overperformances to offset that disaster in Poland.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 30-12-2025 14:16
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3275
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Very tough startlist to compete with but praying that Quita can pull a rabbit out of the hat!
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| quadsas |
Posted on 30-12-2025 15:47
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Classics Specialist
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Lutsenko redemption time
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 28-01-2026 18:06
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 30-12-2025 20:35
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It a sad state of affairs when we'd be happy with a top 10 based on Hirschi's season so far, it really hasn't gone to plan at all despite how much stronger he should be this season.
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 31-12-2025 09:22
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Hyped to get back racing. Not that hyped to see Stannard leading the team unfortunately.
sammyt93 wrote:
It a sad state of affairs when we'd be happy with a top 10 based on Hirschi's season so far, it really hasn't gone to plan at all despite how much stronger he should be this season.
May I interest you in not training Hirschi next season and be just as disapointed. It has been working well for us this year 
Thanks for the preview sean!
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 01-01-2026 01:07
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Worked well for us that it wasn't that selective and a really nice ride by Narvaez, probably too active late in the race given he is a good finisher and could have followed APP's strategy of sitting on. But it kept him well positioned and 8th is better than I was expecting and a little depth with Godon in 15th.
Congrats to KB on a nice ride by APP and thanks Seaan for the report.
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 01-01-2026 04:39
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7580
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Really happy with 6th for Edmondson and 13th for Wilco. Great results and good points which is what we needed! Good to see the hills squad going well!
Congrats to APP on the win and thanks for the report!
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 01-01-2026 07:37
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Sprinter
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Thanks for the nice report, sean, and also for the congratulations!
It's obviously a great way to start the new year for us, especially as we came here with no expectations at all after the Badaling disaster combined with a 6 man squad even missing our only real puncheur domestique Boileau. And what does APP? He sits in good position in the finale and just uses his sprint abilities to get away with the win.
This man astonishes me again and again by overperforming his statline, maybe (but just maybe) he can actually take over Meurisses role in the peloton (who obviously changed his approach after his decline).
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 01-01-2026 10:47
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Aidan had nothing to play for in the end. Another disappointing race after a few highs.
Thanks for the report sean and congrats kb!
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 01-01-2026 11:31
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Classics Specialist
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Great race from Quita in the end, he was trying to the others into the dirt which sadly didn't happen but a top 5 is still absolutely amazing in an HC race for us! Also nice to Batti and De Vos both finish in scoring positions as well as Baroncini and Milan's efforts in the breaks!
Congrats to KB on a great win for APP and thanks for the report! 
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| jaxika |
Posted on 01-01-2026 11:31
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As i see this wasnt for MM skill. I hope there will be more hard races.
Thanks for the report and congrats for the winner! |
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| Booker |
Posted on 01-01-2026 12:19
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Oh that is a fantastic result from Bettiol, well done in our home country! And Lyu with some minor additional points as well, that is a huge result for our survival hopes. Thanks for the report Sean and congrats on the win kb!
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