4th edition, but first as a stage race for Czechia’s very own ProTour challenge: Praha – Karlovy Vary – Praha, raced all throughout the country over the span of 4 stages for a change. Originally intended for classics kind of sprinters with its 270, hilly-ish kilometers, it has been decided to switch its focus to time trialists, whilst retaining some of the original characteristics of the classic, in especially in stage 4.
With two totally opposite time trials length wise – the opening prologue stopping at the 5 kms mark and the deciding TT going on until the 60th, there’s no one else but the top time trialists that will want to contend the general classification for this. And in fact, name a top rider of the speciality and chances are that he’s there, Coppel, Phinney, Fiedler and Zmorka being the obvious stand outs.
Although last year’s dominator Sam Bewley will not take part, surprisingly, the field of sprinters is just as good, featuring both the 2 top pure sprinters in Swift and Degenkolb as well as several others incredible fast men. Therefore, I’d say it’s time to take a really close look at our startlist and find out who we should look out for, in every moment of the race!
Zmorka has collected several podiums and stage victories this year, the last coming in Tour de Suisse’s ITT. He has a record of having beaten all the 3, both in different occasions in different routes, or at the same time like in last year’s Chrono des Herbiers. His consistency makes him a top threat as well.
Other top threats include Vlatos, winner of a TT in a pretty stacked field earlier in the season, Kittel, who should never be counted out of the favourites, Ignatiev, who looks like a great outside bet especially for the prologue, where he showed he often excels, Sütterlin, Viennet, and 2 riders that are often close to each other such as Howson and Sergent.
Sprinter
SPR
ACC
RES
HIL
Sprinter
SPR
ACC
RES
HIL
Swift
84
82
70
68
Grosu
81
80
70
73
Degenkolb
84
81
71
69
Enger
81
78
73
69
Cavendish
83
81
71
65
Guardini
80
82
69
64
Ciolek
83
79
69
66
Vesely
80
80
68
68
Guarnieri
82
81
76
66
Kupfernagel
80
80
66
64
Howard
82
79
70
68
Van Poppel
80
78
71
64
Goss
82
78
71
67
Meyer
80
76
65
61
Maksimov
81
84
69
57
Lay
79
81
66
60
Coquard
81
83
74
64
Boivin
79
80
70
70
Boeckmans
81
83
71
68
Rowe
79
80
70
65
Roelandts
81
80
74
71
Porsev
79
80
66
66
Talking about sprinters, we can find an equally crowded field. Swift and Degenkolb once again stumble upon each other for what looks like one of the most exciting battles of the season, in this case for deciding who’s the best sprinter in the world. This time around, however, the German won’t be able to count on his best train, which has often been the factor that made him come up in front of the Brit.
Obviously, they are not the only top names at all! Cavendish is there, as are a Guarnieri that I’m sure is not totally satisfied about his season yet and that has won this race 2 years ago, Ciolek who has already won something this season so might not be that hungry anymore.
Besides these, we can find Howard who is always around there but never at the very top, Maksimov the slopes despiser himself, Boeckmans who has had a pretty pleasing season so far, Goss who has once won a World Championship and then proceeded to do fuck all, Roelandts and Enger who have been great at Vuelta, and both Grosu and Guardini to add in to Metinvest’s really good team here.
Day 2 Leader
PRL
SPR
ACC
RES
Day 2 Leader
PRL
SPR
ACC
RES
Chavanne
80
74
74
74
Kupfernagel
74
80
80
66
Coquard
79
81
83
74
Rowe
74
79
80
70
Hansen
79
73
80
73
Kluge
74
77
75
75
Meyer
78
80
76
65
Gough
74
76
76
71
Aregger
78
78
77
71
Stepniak
73
77
77
69
Li
78
75
75
68
Van Poppel
72
80
78
71
Enger
77
81
78
73
Van Avermaet
72
78
78
75
Barth
77
72
77
66
Swift
70
84
82
70
Cavendish
76
83
81
71
Grosu
70
81
80
70
Guarnieri
75
82
81
76
Lay
70
79
81
66
Silvestre
75
78
79
70
Farrar
70
79
77
68
Last but not least, a quick look at some of the riders that could surprise in the prologue, and thanks to some very good sprint skills, even try and take on the leader’s jersey or at least some of the top positions after the second stage. We’ve looked at both time trialists and sprinters earlier on, but what about those that still pair a good top speed and great skills in shorter courses against the clock?
Chavanne, Hansen, Li and Barth are great examples, all having the skills required to surprise.
Besides these however, it should be noted how some pure sprinters have been showing how good they are in short time trials, Coquard especially is likely one of the best in the world at this, and on a lower note so are many others, I’m aiming for instance at Meyer, Aregger or Enger, but the same could be said for even more dangerous sprinters such as Cavendish and Guarnieri.
In the end, it’s hard to predict what will happen after the prologue, and a lot will depend on the time bonuses!
It's one hell of a packed field here... even including GC riders like Keizer. Atleast some of the best GC riders aren't here neither.
For the TT we obviously need Coppel to perform on both timetrials to have a shot at the top positions. This is Phinneys to lose, I feel... Fiedler is dangerous, but atleast he is "only" 82 in the prologue.
Besides Coopel I have Vlatos here also, but it's not going to be easy for him to survive stage 4 with the pack. Bernaudeau could also have a decent race, but he is among many many riders fighting from somewhere around 15-50. Also he could struggle to stay with the pack.
Definately didn't expect this crowded a sprinters field. I put Coquard here hopping he could Battle for the leaders jersey on stage 2, but that is definately not going to happen. That is liket between Swift, Degenkolb and Cavendish.
It is going to be a very interesting race, but could have been a dangerous one if not for the sprinters. The chances to break lose seems very limited, so the timetriallists should fight it out.
I suspect a rider like Koren or Boom will surprise to take a top 5.
Great preview! I liked that you included prologue spealists as they often are forgotten
As perhaps the weakest TT team in the division I don't have high hopes for this race. Chavanne is a wildcard with surprise chances and Van Avermaet for the sprints although I'm not sure he even attempts to compete.
So yeah, another of these races without much hope. There's just too many of those coming currently
Having Swift and Keizer here, I obviously expect a top5 on every single stage as also in the GC.
Boom, Frison are other riders with chances for a solid top15-20 GC depending on their form in the long TT.
Van der Sanden and Sbaragli remain as Swift sprint train and it worked well in the Tour. So hopefully he can grab a stage win here against Degenkolb, who I hope to take the other flat stage after a 0 in the TdF.
Most interesting the Becherovka B-Squad only in their home race.
Quite a packed start list here. Would be great to see Guarnieri delivering some good results, and then I'm just crossing fingers that the TT guys will deliver.
Should be a great TT battle between Phinney, Coppel and Fiedler. Really looking forward to that.
Overall we have pretty low expectations. But there are some hills in that long TT, so Kangert and Koren might be able to do surprisingly well. Also getting in a break would be cool.
This just isn't a race we will do well in whatever team I had sent considering the TTs. Fingers crossed for a breakaway, really, as my a couple of my riders should be well suited to that here. But yeah, not much hope at all for this race!
Should be a very interesting battle between the three 83 time trialists, really wide open who of them will win, as daily form on the 60 kilometer long stage 3 should decide matters. Looking forward to follow it
One of the strongest teams all year from Metinvest, full of flat powerhouses. We wont leave happy without several top5 placements and two guys in final GC top10 (Zmorka and Ignatiev). We have great sprint train (Ignatiev-Guardini-Grosu), but not a top sprinter, so i wonder what will happen in flat stuff.
Good luck to all and pray for good daily form, the race decider.
Hopefully Phinney can carry his good form from the two long TT's he has rode this season and take another win and the GC I think Coppel will win the prologue then Phinney the long TT based on the races this season and that should be enough for the GC. Are we on formula 1 bonus seconds in this race btw?
roturn wrote:
Having Swift and Keizer here, I obviously expect a top5 on every single stage as also in the GC.
Guess 25th by Keizer is quite a bit less than expected.
Such an awful bad daily form in the prologue hopefully is now turned around with a good form in the long TT.
Otherwise this race is screwed already GC wise as losing time on that many riders is just bad. Top5 in the long TT almost needed now as gaining time on all the similar strong 80-81 timetrialists is needed for a top10 even...
Woo! big ride by Phinney there should be the jersey for the long tt and with it at least decent daily form so looking pretty certain for a top 3 now and hopefully he has it in him to win it all!
Can't complain about 2nd. Phinney is a better rider than Coppel, hands down. And 2nd gives some points.
But Vlatos is just pityfull by now. It must have been a fluke win in Qatar because since then, he did worse (often much worse) than expected. He should be top 10 material here, but 30th is just pathetic.
Bernaudeau, Coquard and Bouet did well however. Coquard and Enger are the best bets for a rider that could surprise to take the leaders Jersey from Phinney, but to be honest he have it in the bag now. Swift, Cavendish and Degenkolb are all too far back, although Cavendish came very close. If he wins tomorrow it will be sad, but I think it is one for Degenkolb, now that there is no Mohs to fuck him over in the leadout.
Great report btw. It's not common for me to get 4 riders mentioned in a TT Where one of them ends up being 30th.
Surprised to see us mentioned, thank you for a prologue coverage with a lot of pictures, matt17br! Also congratulations to jt1109 on the win, as Phinney continues to claim valuable wins for his team.
And as the report states, a predictable top three, eventhough I always fancy Coppel the most pre-prologues. Will be interesting to see how they do when the distanced is 12 times longer.
Praha - Karlovy Vary - Praha 
