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Post by Ab Normaal on Jan 17, 2018 19:44:21 GMT 1
Glad that I don’t have to break my brain over tactics I’ll just go for the stage win tomorrow and I guess it would be suicide for the gc guys to go in full. So I think it will be between the stage hunters.
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Post by quiller on Jan 17, 2018 21:00:10 GMT 1
Naz lost the giro in the first flat part of last race... He couldnt follow my team AND buitenhuis and lost 2 minutes in that part... If he was in that group i do not believe buitenhuis would have taken any advantage on him... And by the way : am i really with 3 riders in top 5?
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Post by naspa on Jan 17, 2018 21:05:38 GMT 1
To my opinion Belluzzo will not have any serious competition tomorrow. quiller . If they keep healthy, I do not see any other rider stealing the 3-5 place from you. The only things to decide are place 1-2 and the mountain jersey and the point jersey. and if Naz would have been starting today with 5% more fitness, I think we would not discuss half of the options.
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[19] 3:2
Jan 17, 2018 22:18:42 GMT 1
via mobile
Post by pollyjean on Jan 17, 2018 22:18:42 GMT 1
Nice that there is still some talk about GC. But there was a little similar situation in a certain tour last year where i didn't work out for buitenhuis against naz so i'm still very carefull.
Made my strategy up front and just following it. No hard choices left here.
Today's win was very lucky too with ngogo's fall in the end. I like this division a lot this year. Good competition and an active forum.
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Post by naspa on Jan 18, 2018 13:41:28 GMT 1
Exciting stuff today. Not so much for Beluzzo who had no trouble whatsoever to shake off Van Velsen - congrats Ab! Impressive win, it is!
The amazing thing happened right behind the two stage-hunters. Buitenhuis took again 22 seconds on Naz - who is now third in GC and might even start to look at Banciu as a competitor for place 2. Banciu consolidated his first place in the Point Rankings. Only Naz, Buitenhuis and teammate Welsschen seem to be able to cause him any troubles. Will the fact that the intermediate sprints tomorrow are downhill give Banciu an little bit of extra advantage on his competitors?
Naz did manage to take some valuable mountain points today. The polka dot jersey seems well within in reach tomorrow.
The youth rankings? The poor Brassard was not having the best of days. A flat tire made him lose some extra time on Kvoesschen - who digested the hills today better than his competitors. Tomorrow will be the opposite way around - but with a margin of 5:32, teamleader Naspa starts to cherish a bit of hope for a small miracle to happen.
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Post by carapaz on Jan 19, 2018 10:13:05 GMT 1
I like this division, different to early, I must get used to.
I start in division 5 around vuelta with 2 other players with start team and buy lot old cyclist. Then I go to division 4, only begin 2 other players. I alone, I sold most old and buy young with some skill. Now in division 3, no targets, only learn and get better team, train and scout.
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Post by Ab Normaal on Jan 19, 2018 11:28:38 GMT 1
And you are doing quite well Carapaz!
I doubted even if I had to go full in with Belluzo, but since I don't need him for the tour, there was room to go all the way. An expected victory. For me now the giro is over. Going to lay back and see how the fight for the jerseys will explode today. In the final TT, Tirlea will crush everybody. I expect him not giving it all so he will be ready for the tour.
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Post by naspa on Jan 19, 2018 11:45:21 GMT 1
Nice to have you on board, carapaz . And compliments for the GC-cycling of Bedos. I think place 7 is for sure and place 6 can be achieved. Buitenhuis and Naz are of course world-class. And the Quiller-boys are pretty good as well, but have the advantage of a fitness trainer. Bedos at the age of 29 is the best of the rest! That's promising - he might just win the Giro in a couple of years (edit: seasons!). Today is Naz-time. While other GC-riders will try to not lose too much time. Are there other climbers that can interfere in the battle? I did not notice them. Maybe Leloup, I've mentioned before. Kanaana is quite high on fitness as well, but probably not yet trained enough.
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Post by quiller on Jan 19, 2018 13:08:09 GMT 1
Great performance of Banciu (as not great mountaineer)... Yes Naz passed him in GC but still very close... Only problem : Banciu is my leader and his fitness is too low now for the tour
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Post by Ab Normaal on Jan 19, 2018 13:33:37 GMT 1
quillerHe is 36 so you should invest in another leader anyway. Don't you have somebody else you can use? Interesting race today. Congratulations to Ngogo, who won the stage and the MJ. Quite a surprise for me. Alo all other jerseys are decided I think. Tomorrow the dessert for Melres and then of to the Dauphine and the tour. Naspa, may I have your predictions for the Dauphine please?
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Post by ElGringo on Jan 19, 2018 13:41:47 GMT 1
1st congratz for yesterday win for Belluzzo, an easy win and with only 31y he will get many more.
Broers a nice surprise today. I saw Naz alone in the last segment and I thought that he won the stage but when I saw the last hill segment that he lost time I coudn´t believe.
About GC I used some extra effort today trying to close the gap but Buitenhuis is very strong and also Banciu is in the fight.
Buitenhuis is almoust near to with the Giro and is going to be difficult to Naz to recover the time, so he will fight with Banciu for 2nd spot and for green jersey but normally Tirlea will take the 10 poinst so Banciu already take the green I think.
About youth is going to be a good fight tomorrow agains the time between Brassard and Kvoeschen. Good luck
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Post by naspa on Jan 19, 2018 13:42:01 GMT 1
Team Ngogo was bringing the fireworks today. I have totally overlooked his riders in my predictions, my sincere apologies! Broers was the climber still having the fitness to beat Naz. And even though being tired, Agnelli amazed even his most loyal supporters by stealing the mountain jersey from Banciu before the nose of Naz. Naz did not come close as Broers was collecting the maximum amount of points at all the sprints and climbs today. Was this the plan Ngogo's team leader set up? Very smart riding! Congratz! Second places are not won, first places are being lost. I guess such is the feeling at team Melres. Buitenhuis finished 3d today on 1:42 wile spending less fitness than Naz. A very comfortable lead in the GC, with 6 minutes 28. Teamleader Pollyjean might even be tempted to take it easy tomorrow. Does he have this luxury? Naz doesn't anyway. He has to be careful tomorrow in the ITT to defend 18 seconds on Banciu - maybe slightly less skilled in TT, but also left with a bit more of fitness.
Even another set-back at team Melres. Although Brassard was far better in climbing today than Kvoesschen, the gap is still 2 min 50seconds. I have never seen flat tires and falls in an ITT. I think Kvoesschen has a good chance by now.
Favorite for tomorrow is by far Tirlea. All GC men will most likely finish top 10. Welsschen maybe second- by finishing before Naz and after Tirlea the Green Jersey is almost for sure for Banciu. Maybe totally sure if Paaskilo managed to finish top 3. He seems to saved some energy the last days for the final flat kilometers of this giro.
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Post by ElGringo on Jan 19, 2018 13:47:08 GMT 1
Interesting race today. Congratulations to Ngogo, who won the stage and the MJ. Quite a surprise for me. Broers took time on Naz in the mountain section and also in the hill, so he is a rider with great skills on mountain/hill and sprint at least. A big surprise.
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Post by naspa on Jan 19, 2018 14:31:46 GMT 1
Update for tomorrow - not to overlook any riders again, I analysed the left over fitness.
1 and 2: Tirlea and Sauersteig - order depending on effort. Place 3 might even be for Vanderkeckhove if he is played at full fitness. Other contenders for top 5: Feerick (unlikely), Venturato and Welschen.
For the other top 10 spots: Buitenhuis, Naz, Broers, Banciu and Paaskilo (Caires, Bredael and Belluzo can perform as well - but most likely will save fitness.)
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Post by Ab Normaal on Jan 19, 2018 14:32:52 GMT 1
No, definitely not Feerick. He will save fitness tomorrow.
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