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Tour Down Under Discussion
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 02-10-2023 10:59
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7541
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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6th place for Howard is a good start! Bobridge up there as well. Good start to the Tour Down Under!
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 02-10-2023 18:18
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2543
Joined: 07-07-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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After the flop at DUC I read "first significant lead-out train has formed 8km from the line with Kraftwerk Man Machine" and my heart sank.
Read through seancoll's great report expecting Haller to launch early, kept reading no sprint, read some more still no sprint, Haller in the lead but no way can he hold on.
Haller won! Fell off my chair. Leadouts can work after all!
Thanks for the congrats.
Looking forward to another season of spiriting randomness 
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| TinxiaS |
Posted on 02-10-2023 18:49
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Domestique
Posts: 548
Joined: 17-08-2020
PCM$: 400.00
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I reall y hope my duo will do something tomorrow and in next few days that we can finally stat to collecting points compare to flat races.
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 02-10-2023 21:08
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5234
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
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Hum... Hard to judge Bol's performance, as he was unfortunately boxed in and there wasn't enough room for everyone - all I can say is the positioning was bad.
However, what I don't like so far with the two PCT sprints I've seen is that the new energy system seems to have absolutely zero impact on the sprints. Looks like going for discount sprinters with no backups (Howard, Matthews, Degenkolb, ...) is still at least as efficient as having a well-rounded sprinter, which I'm obviously not happy about...
Now it's time to see what Schmid can do - the whole team bar Bol being nowhere to be seen doesn't bode well I guess, but you can always hope for the better ^^
Congrats to Kraftwerk, looks like Haller is on fire early on
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 02-10-2023 21:45
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 9137
Joined: 13-03-2013
PCM$: 2100.00
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Hugo  Where is Pidcock when you need him!?
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| roturn |
Posted on 02-10-2023 21:49
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Team Manager
Posts: 22043
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
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Nice to see Fisher-Black again active despite struggling clearly.
Also good stage for Vansevenant. Was hoping he could get some bonus seconds in the sprint as this can change a lot GC wise in the end, but with the time gaps, the top30 is realistic already.
Big one for Varga, surprised about the 2-3 attackers there and the passive riding of most puncheurs, who clearly should have been able to follow on the uphill or even gap the roleurs.
Some sprinters in the mix still not ideal as they are likely to collect some bonus seconds. But in the end Vansevenant was not expected to get a top10 here anyway, so those sprinters won`t really change it for him.
Thanks for the report. |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-10-2023 21:52
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 17833
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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Had four (!) riders in that front group, which feels so alien! Guys, we might be kinda ok on the hills! Lovely shoutouts to Pons working away. Jersey is looking stunning in these early days. Not many points but quietly keeping in the mix ready to stun everyone later in the race of course.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 02-10-2023 22:05
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11786
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Fisher-Black prominently in breaks is nice to see! Of course also rooting for Bobridge here. Too bad it was not for line honours today, but he seems to be "up there" so far.
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 02-10-2023 23:05
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5234
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
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This clearly is the kind of stage I had in mind for Bol, and it's great to see him deliver There obviously was no beating Démare on this finish, but 2nd from the pack - and his first podium spot - is great!
I definitely didn't see that breakaway win coming here, but I guess P4E deserves some luck after some of last year's rubbish results, congrats!
Also happy to see Schmid in the front group; will be interesting to see whether he'll "just" protect Bol now, or whether he'll be our GC guy. So far, lots of sprinters still are in the mix, so trying to create some gaps wouldn't be a bad idea
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 06-12-2025 23:22
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 02-10-2023 23:10
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Sprinter
Posts: 1982
Joined: 07-02-2009
PCM$: 300.00
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Exciting race so far! I'm thrilled to see Van Asbroeck contesting sprints (and doing quite well at that). Hopefully a sign that he will perform this season. Will need more separation in the hilly stages for Muller to crack the top 10 though.
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 02-10-2023 23:33
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3918
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Decent first stage with Walscheid at least in the mix. Second stage obviously bad with no one in the front group, while multiple similar puncheurs were there, Wonder if we were trying to protect Walscheid. Perhaps shouldn't have tried to play both cards. Or perhaps confirms my fear that the puncheurs aren't quite good enough to be given any positioning.
Well with the time gap hopefully we will try and get in the breaks.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 02-10-2023 23:36
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3221
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Varga continues his beastiness. Great to see Turgis in the mix after Dzama failed to make an impact on the first stage. Really dissapointed that we missed the cut with every other rider however, that will really impact our depth scoring for this event, but very happy with Turgis looking good. Thanks for the reports!
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 03-10-2023 00:57
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World Champion
Posts: 11621
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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Should have sold Houle, got another leader and let Pidcock do these races clearly. Had feared this could happen but told myself a simple -1 to everything shouldn't have had that effect. PCM is so stupid
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
1x  x1
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| fjhoekie |
Posted on 03-10-2023 04:39
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4368
Joined: 25-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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At this rate Varga will become one of the most expensive low OVL riders 
Great effort though! Should perhaps set him up for a very decent GC at the end, and Beltran is also in the mix for a top 10 now!
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 03-10-2023 07:04
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 12681
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1961.50
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Stage 1 was quite similar to DUC, lots of work for almost nothing. Not a good sign for the season.
Stage 2 was much tougher than I expected, so Vesely staying in the leaders' group and still in the GC Top 10 is nice.
Congrats to the winners and thanks for the reports so far
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| redordead |
Posted on 03-10-2023 07:41
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Team Leader
Posts: 5511
Joined: 18-10-2017
PCM$: 200.00
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Great day for Popo with Varga winning and Beltran making the top 10. Also fun to see loanee Selimovic with a very nice ride in the breakaway.
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| MacC |
Posted on 03-10-2023 14:53
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Sprinter
Posts: 1712
Joined: 15-07-2008
PCM$: 1000.00
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Thanks for the great reports Seancoll.
Kennett putting in a good performance today and Juneau getting in the BOTD.
Will be hoping for luck the next couple of days
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 03-10-2023 15:15
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 17833
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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TheManxMissile wrote:
Had four (!) riders in that front group, which feels so alien! Guys, we might be kinda ok on the hills! Lovely shoutouts to Pons working away. Jersey is looking stunning in these early days. Not many points but quietly keeping in the mix ready to stun everyone later in the race of course.
Well of course I f*cking jinxed myself... we got the breakaway but everyone lost time... Ah, it's good to be back to being dissapointed 
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| fjhoekie |
Posted on 03-10-2023 16:04
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4368
Joined: 25-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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That's very much mixed feelings... But hey, we're leading the wins count! 
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 03-10-2023 18:36
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5234
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
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Definitely not happy with this outcome, the first pretty bad stage of the year for us. Schmid missing out on the first group is a bummer, but I guess that always was a risk in this race. Theuns and Schmid now both outside the Top 30, fingers crossed they can use the remaining hilly stages to climb a bit.
On the other hand, Bol again with very bad positioning. I was actually surprised that pretty much all sprinters made the front group on a pretty hilly course (although flat rated), and it's disappointing to miss out on the Top 10 again. Well, three chances left to do something useful. At least he wasn't the only sprinter not doing well - which unfortunately confirms that sprints are still very random overall.
Congrats to P4E again, looks like all the missing luck from last year now pops up
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