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Post by phootyx on Jul 29, 2019 14:00:23 GMT 1
they come where there is some life
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Post by naspa on Jul 29, 2019 16:43:45 GMT 1
So, tomorrow the last race of the Tour of Oman. 75km of hills and a steep mountain finish! Who are the specialists?
My favorite is Rizas (LEV) for the day victory. But Brantenaar (CAR) and Engel Beenen (DUS) have to be watched as well. Cwynar (TCC) is a dark horse here, I really think he can do well. As I hope that 28 year old Ximenes (TGV) can knock on the door of 30+ riders in this race.
For GC? Tavares and Tuai are on 84-80% and are for as far as I know not the best hill riders. If Rizas, Beenen and Brantenaar go all in, I think the podium is for them.
So can Rizas (LEV) win all 3 jerseys? It seems the policy of Levi to hold his horses in the first races and let us eat dust in the last stage of small tours - we seen Petry (LEV) do this. And with climber Ivaldi (POL) out injured, with only 15 seconds behind on Tavares and having already 7 sprint points in the pockets, chances are high.
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Post by dustin on Jul 29, 2019 19:32:48 GMT 1
Engel go attack
Jonard go attack at full speed
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Post by naspa on Jul 29, 2019 19:36:38 GMT 1
Well, If i would have said Engel, you would have played Beenen, is it not? Still, it does not matter so much. Engel has better mountain, sprint and TT and could win if can keep up with the hill-guys untill the last mountain part. But I guess he will not. Beenen is better in the hill part, but for sure will not win the intermediate nor the final sprints. So at the end of the race, they are about same strong for this stage, or am I mistaken?
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Post by dustin on Jul 29, 2019 22:01:06 GMT 1
We shall see
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Post by dustin on Jul 30, 2019 7:59:36 GMT 1
Tomorrow it is time for 'Peter' Cagan only goal: win team mates: not known yet (only problem: he start not at 100% )
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Post by naspa on Jul 30, 2019 14:32:48 GMT 1
Soria (MOT), Brantenaar (CAR) and after that only Rizas (LEV) it was. What a mistake I made not to see the hill skills of Soria!
But still yellow for Rizas. Brantenaar second overall, takes the green. Tuai (POL) takes the Polka Dot. Guidulli (NAS) brings home the white. And Engel (DUS)? Still good for 3d place GC!
Congratz to Mothers, Carapaz and Levi. It's nice to have the wins and jerseys divided in between all of us ;-)
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Post by naspa on Jul 30, 2019 16:00:20 GMT 1
So, that's it for the short tours for now. Over to 4 different one-day races and a u21 to finish this week. Good chances to give all the riders some experience.
Tomorrow we go to Italy for the TROFEO LAIGUEGLIA. No mountains. Again a lot of hill. So now a serious battle to be the king of the hill for the one-day-race-hill-specialists. While the starting lists are not complete yet, we do a preliminary preview:
Mothers: taking it easy this race. Troisfontaines for top 10. New riders formerly of Team ByTheWay, Hollinga (21) and De Paepe (22) get a chance to get acquainted to the team.
Carapaz: rolls out some guns. Will she play Vandenbussche (35) or VanBesien (29) maybe for top 5? Or both?
Levi: got his points for this week and let his younger riders have some fun.
Dustin: Cagan it will be. Even only on 99% fitness, one of the big favorites for this race.
Pollyjean: but can Cagan beat Matejek? His mood is delighted! Who will be the top hill rider in our division?
TCC: Brichau could do well here. Maybe even top 5?
Panteras: Batata and Dumeez are starting. But they are low on fitness, so probably they will not go for the prices.
Naspa: trainer would be delighted if Montauti would manage to get a top 5 place.
TGV: no line-up yet. Baekelkandt was sold? He could have done well here.
VdGG: waiting to see who the hill-specialists are.
Devils: will he bring us a surprise?
Podium for now: Vandebussche (CAR) 3d place. Cagan (DS) comes 1% fitness short: second. Matejek (POL) the absolute king of the hills!
I overlooked the line-up of Joachim. Sorry for that. Looking forward to see what 31yr old Seeger will do.
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Post by dustin on Jul 31, 2019 8:03:20 GMT 1
Team completed
Bocken is the second attacker, for a top 11-20 place hiller Desio get a free role
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Post by naspa on Jul 31, 2019 15:40:06 GMT 1
VanBesien (CAR). He took an early lead and did not gave it away. 29 years only! WOW. Well of course I knew already he was good - but in Slayers time his delighted mood was a big influence. But now beating on raw skill the great Cagan (DUS) Just wow! However, I think it is too early to call him King of The Hills. I think Dustin made some tactical mistake! Must be, is it not? Maybe the dual attack mode slowed him down? Put too litlle or too late the attack points? In the last parts Cagan came very close and we saw his class... But still beaten in the sprint! That 1%? Sgarzi (POL) was the best on the flat parts and almost made the final sprint. And where was my favorite? Matejek (POL)? He did not feel this one was for him. He will be back next week for a sure win.
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Post by naspa on Jul 31, 2019 16:54:34 GMT 1
Tomorrow "Omloop het Nieuw", which actually could be the belgian course of "het Nieuwsblad" formerly known as "Omloop het Volk". (irl in 2019 won by Stybar). In our game a very mixed race with a fair share of mountain and a 23km long downhill finish!
So who dare to attack on the cobblestones and the Kapelmuur and the Bosberg? And which of those has the best downhill sprint?
Mothers: Taking it easy again? Maybe Payan can do something? Carapaz: I would say Vinchent or Mechitbaya could do well here! Levi: Wwe need to keep an eye on 31 year old Flinois. Favorite with the Belgiums! TGV: If he starts, I think 29 year old Regueira might surprise us. Dustin: I say Eymael is one of the favorites. So probably Knopek will be played for the win :-) PollyJ: strong line up. Dell'Angolo could maybe win this. However 31 year olds Pizzichemi or Ruicu are riders who could take a solid top 10 place as well. Or do they just have this race as a practice round for the classics coming up. I bet on the last theorem. Joachim: Stonier! No doubt about it. Absolute favorite. ToursCC: Bellen, Senechal? Are they trained enough for this tough semi-classic? Devils: new leader Alleman wil give his orders to Schweitzer. Top 5? PanterasN: still holding back. VdGG: If they would start Baivier or Ciumak could very well compete for place 2 or 3. Naspa: it is not really his terrain, but if he has a good day Döring might get 4th place. Bad day? 5-6?
An early prediction: 1. Stonier (JOA) 2. Ciumak (VdGG) 3. Flinois (LEV) 4. Eymael (DUS) 5. Döring (NAS)
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Post by dustin on Aug 1, 2019 9:17:43 GMT 1
VanBesien (CAR). He took an early lead and did not gave it away. 29 years only! WOW. Well of course I knew already he was good - but in Slayers time his delighted mood was a big influence. But now beating on raw skill the great Cagan (DUS) Just wow! However, I think it is too early to call him King of The Hills. I think Dustin made some tactical mistake! Must be, is it not? Maybe the dual attack mode slowed him down? Put too litlle or too late the attack points? In the last parts Cagan came very close and we saw his class... But still beaten in the sprint! That 1%? Sgarzi (POL) was the best on the flat parts and almost made the final sprint. And where was my favorite? Matejek (POL)? He did not feel this one was for him. He will be back next week for a sure win. I do not know ... only 1 attacker at point 1, Cagan, but not in the first group after that he lost not much, may be attack from the back of the peloton or to less flat ...
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Post by dustin on Aug 1, 2019 9:20:20 GMT 1
today: Knopek at 70% Eymael is the only attacker, i hope/expect place 6/10
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Post by evild on Aug 1, 2019 9:24:47 GMT 1
I agree, not enough flat I guess. You are already 43sec behind van Besien after part 1 His sprint skill I well developed I assume?
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Post by rarau on Aug 1, 2019 12:16:24 GMT 1
Dell' Agnolo place 2 , nice i hope next season will be in division 1 nice place for Jonard too
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