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GP Moscow - Discussion
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| seancoll |
Posted on 29-01-2026 20:12
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 810
Joined: 20-12-2022
PCM$: 500.00
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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.
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
| 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.
| 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.
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
Startlist:
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| SotD |
Posted on 29-01-2026 20:36
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World Champion
Posts: 12715
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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Interesting initiative with the livestream. Probably not available to be there, but kudos for the initiative!
We start the part of the season where not very many races really suit us that Well. This is among the last chances to win a race/stage in the season.
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| ember |
Posted on 29-01-2026 21:12
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Team Leader
Posts: 7114
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 900.00
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Super cool with the livestream! Won't be able to follow when it all unfolds, but will be great to have the possibility to see through it at a later stage 
Thank you for the preview! Must admit this might be our most questionable choice this off-season, going without Groenewegen here and instead going all in on our rouleurs. Hoping we get to see some action from them, so that it doesn't look like a bad decision  |
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 29-01-2026 21:20
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7828
Joined: 04-07-2012
PCM$: 21745.00
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A wildcard race so I won't be mad if Kamberaj has no chance in the sprint and we have no one in the late attacks
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 29-01-2026 21:44
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World Champion
Posts: 13623
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 400.00
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Interesting idea with the livestream. Curious how it will turn out. I'll try to join.
Haven't seen Aniolkowski in action in quite a while. Hopefully he's legs are just as good as they were at the start of the season.
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| knockout |
Posted on 29-01-2026 22:44
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8293
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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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
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 30-01-2026 23:04
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 30-01-2026 07:17
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Team Leader
Posts: 5957
Joined: 30-11-2006
PCM$: 2300.00
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Awesome initiative to stream it! Will try to drop in and watch tonight.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 30-01-2026 07:49
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 12761
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1961.50
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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 
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 30-01-2026 13:21
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16639
Joined: 27-07-2011
PCM$: 14238.70
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I'll unfortunately still be at work and won't be able join the stream,. but cool initiative! Thanks for the preview.
We've gone with the Rodenberg/Per duo again here. Stacked field obviously. I think a solid result for us would be Rodeneberg actually sprinting so he can get a top 15, and then Per also hanging around for something like a top 25 or 30. Ideally Per would make a successful attack, but I don't think his fighter really lends itself to that unfortunately.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 30-01-2026 14:00
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3880
Joined: 20-04-2020
PCM$: 425.00
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Thanks for the great preview, sean. Top-5 for Halvorsen would be amazing, hopefully it comes to that Some great roulers here, so they'll need to be kept at bay, which hasn't always proven to be very easy this season.
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 30-01-2026 21:02
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World Champion
Posts: 13623
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 400.00
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Definitely fun to watch the race unfold live. I was almost screaming at the TV watching a certain someone getting boxed behind a train that launched it late
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| SotD |
Posted on 30-01-2026 21:07
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World Champion
Posts: 12715
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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Indeed it was really cool, and gave a lot of tention. Also cool to actually see which riders do what, so you can get an idea of whether your ideas work or not. Whether or not it amounts to a result or not is always up to multiple factors, but it atleast gives you the feeling that you Can actually change things a bit in the planning.
F.e. it must be awful to see how Kemboi is doing all sort of wasted stuff when you Obviously want him as a super leadout. But that is valuable knowledge for next season.
Thanks for the effort!
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| SotD |
Posted on 30-01-2026 22:05
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World Champion
Posts: 12715
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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Massive massive result for us, for numerous reasons. Obviously this is Another important step against the relegation risk, it is also among very few real win chances all season, and the first overall win since Farantakis won in Qatar.
To get a win from a greek rider in a classic is also very important, and Farantakis is slowly moving closer to having the best season Ever from a greek rider. Giannoutsos scored above 700 point in 2023 when he landed 5th in the Giro. I suspect this result gives Farantakis the edge. I have been holding back on training him that final sprint to 82 for quite some time. Really happy that it worked out!
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