A pure sprinter’s classic if there ever was one, the PT peloton will ride around the streets of Moscow for the next bunch of important ranking points. Without much of a bump even along the way, it’s tough to imagine any sorts of splits messing with the field. Equally interesting though is that GP Moscow allows cycling to continue in Russia, where not too many events have been contested in the last few years.
History
2024: Gabriel Cullaigh
2023: Max Kanter
2022: Caleb Ewan
2021: Edward Grosu
2020: Ho-Ting Kwok
2019: Bryan Coquard
2018: Michael Van Stayen
2017: Mark Dzamastagic
2016: Greg Van Avermaet
2015: Sam Bewley
2014: Luke Rowe
2013: Danilo Napolitano
2012: Daniele Bennati
Obviously, many of the previous winners here are the best in the world. Cullaigh does return to defend his title for cycleYorkshire, while Kanter is also looking to find his way back to the top step of the podium
Favorites
Name
FL
ST
RS
SP
AC
FG
Fernando Gaviria
76
74
76
83
84
68
Gabriel Cullaigh
74
73
70
82
81
66
Stylianos Farantakis
74
75
72
82
80
61
Kristoffer Halvorsen
76
74
71
81
80
70
Max Kanter
75
75
73
81
80
65
Jasper Philipsen
74
74
70
81
80
63
Artem Samolenkov
74
75
71
81
79
60
Sondre Holst Enger
73
71
73
81
78
62
Niccolo Bonifazio
79
68
75
80
80
58
Salem Kemboi
78
74
77
80
80
61
Stanislaw Aniolkowski
76
76
74
80
79
57
Kaden Groves
75
75
73
80
79
64
Hsuan Ping Hsu
75
75
70
80
79
67
Daniel Vesely
72
73
67
80
79
60
Xhuliano Kamberaj
75
73
73
79
78
64
Frederik Rodenberg
74
70
77
79
79
63
Alexandr Ovsyannikov
74
75
72
79
78
71
Sandy Nur Hasan
74
74
74
79
78
73
Felix Gross
74
69
75
79
79
60
Riccardo Minali
73
70
74
79
79
62
The top twenty sprinters show us our two previous champions in the top five contenders for this year, with Cullaigh officially the second best of those attending. Cullaigh has one of the best final leadout men in Kemboi to help bring him to the line and Cameron Scott also ready as 3rd man. That should be enough to not drop him off two early.
Kanter will likewise bring a strong leadout man in Felix Gross, although he might not be quite at the same level as Kemboi. Even with his status as a previous champion, Team Puma-SAP shouldn’t be the primary team bringing back a break, but will contribute later on one would guess.
The team left to handle most of the daily pacemaking should be Indosat Ooredoo in support of Fernando Gaviria – the clear favorite should his team not face major difficulties. They probably have the best 4 man train in the field with Gaviria following Nur Hasan (a former lead sprinter), with both using the strength of Erik Baska and Trond Hakan Trondsen (both 76 sprinters themselves). Hopefully they don’t have to do, too much work early in the race to diminish their train, but surely attackers will come through.
The final top 4 sprinter is Farantakis who has found overall success upon his rise into the PT ranks. The ELCO-ABEA star may not have the best leadout overall, but Axel Zingle will be the last man there to help establish the Greek star in the final km.
With sprints (and PT sprints especially), not being this previewer’s forte – it’s a reminder that anyone on the favorite’s list could find major success here. Halvorsen hasn’t lived up to his expectations, while someone like Enger will want to establish another major fin to close his career at the top level. Bonifazio is another man who can be hit or miss, but boy when he hits, he hits strong.
Rouleurs
Name
FL
ST
RS
SP
AC
FG
Alexander Konychev
82
77
78
76
75
76
Soren Kragh Andersen
81
77
78
76
74
72
Nicolay Cherkasov
80
72
74
70
75
65
Niccolo Bonifazio
79
68
75
80
80
58
Stepan Kurianov
79
76
74
75
70
72
David Per
79
74
75
74
74
68
Robinson Steven Ruiz
79
73
71
73
75
67
Joel Suter
79
75
74
68
74
76
Jan Brockhoff
79
74
76
62
73
64
Artem Nych
78
75
72
65
76
84
Aidan Van Niekerk
69
72
75
64
74
82
Georgios Boutopoulos
78
73
75
73
78
80
Goran Antonijevic
78
67
74
71
74
80
Jonas Abrahamsen
77
73
76
72
75
80
Henok Tesfaye Heyi
75
74
76
68
73
78
Dilmurdjon Siddikov
75
76
75
65
66
78
Michael Boros
72
71
67
63
64
78
Cesar David Guavita
65
72
62
50
54
78
Mads Pedersen
77
78
80
78
77
75
Hampus Anderberg
78
77
76
60
73
70
Florian Vermeersch
78
76
77
78
77
68
In our attackers category, there’s a variety of options. While unlikely to win, there’s the cobbling strong men like Pedersen who would hope for a tiny sprint from a reduced group. Vermeersch and Anderberg would also love to see a tiny group work away at the end.
Artem Nych on the other hand will be focusing on getting the attack started, known as probably the most aggressive rider to find their way to Russia. Van Nieker also loves to attack, but he’s going to have to find the tiniest climb on this flat section to try to break away. Tesfaye Heyi is also known for loving a breakaway and will probably find his way into something on the way.
Finally, there’s the flat monsters – headlined by Konychev. The goal for him and Andersen – get away, ride as fast as you can, and hope a peloton isn’t strong enough to bring you back. If the teammates can somehow find their way off the front together – it might be race over for the crowd.
How to Watch
If all goes well, we plan to twitch stream the race live at 8:30PM site time on Friday, Jan 30 – with a video upload link to the site after the race accompanying a written report as well. Follow along here: https://www.twitc...seancoll96
Super cool with the livestream! Won't be able to follow when it all unfolds, but will be great to have the possibility to see through it at a later stage
Thank you for the preview! Must admit this might be our most questionable choice this off-season, going without Groenewegen here and instead going all in on our rouleurs. Hoping we get to see some action from them, so that it doesn't look like a bad decision
Same as always in the sprinter classics: Ovsya for the sprint and the trio of dversnes, kurianov and ansons to hopefully cause some chaos in the final. Fingers crossed we get some nice action.
Not sure if i can make the livestream but will definitely check out the vod at least
We'll need an overperformance here for sure to get a decent result. Kulikovskiy has shown previously that he is capable of that but it is unlikely given the depth of the field. Maybe time for Cherkasov to finally do something? We'll see, and hope!
Thanks for the preview and all the best for the livestream! Won't be awake for it but will check out the video if available later
