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Balkans International - Discussion
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 08-05-2024 06:53
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 12680
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1961.50
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Still waiting for last season's Benoot to show up in at least one hilly race...
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 05-12-2025 15:09
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
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| knockout |
Posted on 08-05-2024 07:00
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8235
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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Woah, what a terrible stage for us.
Congrats ember!
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 08-05-2024 07:03
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World Champion
Posts: 11621
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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Would have liked to see Pidcock go for the stage as he was surely a favourite if he did, but looks like he's doing valuable work for Areruya so that's ok. Don't love the 20 seconds for Amezawa though, as much as I like him!
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
1x  x1
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 08-05-2024 07:25
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7770
Joined: 04-07-2012
PCM$: 20845.00
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Good to see Kalaba survived this stage and got close to the win. Another opportunity tomorrow.
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| tastasol |
Posted on 08-05-2024 08:20
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3030
Joined: 11-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Congrats ember! Big win in the title fight, it continues to be a thriller.
Good to see us back in the break after a little breather on the third stage. More of that, please.
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| ember |
Posted on 08-05-2024 08:33
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Team Leader
Posts: 7057
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 900.00
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Oh, wow! What an unexpected win that was 
And as others have written, directly or indirectly, how important that was in the title fight. I'm thrilled with the result, and it makes the final stage all the more important, as Amezawa now surely must have extra AI motivation to stay attentive and challenge on the final stage. Up to 4th in the GC is brilliant, but still very close, but a very nice position to have. The same goes for our current GC depth with Preidler, Van Poucke, Romand and Johannessen all inside the top 50. We've got a lot to race for on that final day... |
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 08-05-2024 08:59
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Team Manager
Posts: 6546
Joined: 14-09-2008
PCM$: 1290.00
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We're 4/4 for breakaway participation, but we forfeit any chance at the KoM classification by sending a different rider every time, which isn't super smart. I hope that either Mugisha or Tesfatsion join the break on the final stage to take one more stab at getting up to 2nd place at least. Menten feels out of reach.
Ndayisenga is in the Top 40 of the GC, which isn't terrible. Maybe he can climb a bit on the final stage, too.
Thanks for the terrific reports Ulrich!
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| Bikex |
Posted on 08-05-2024 15:35
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Team Leader
Posts: 7385
Joined: 25-08-2012
PCM$: 600.00
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With Gidich's inexplicable big time loss in stage 1 the race is already a bust from the get go. The stages after looked a bit better at least with Menten going for the KoM. |
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 08-05-2024 23:30
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5234
Joined: 29-09-2018
PCM$: 185.00
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Well, I definitely dislike our completely passive racing here (especially looking at Mr. Schmid), but if Masnada can bring home that Top 15, it's all fine points-wise.
Congrats to Aker, unexpected to see Amezawa get that one, but definitely a fantastic result in the title fight!
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 09-05-2024 12:37
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2773
Joined: 31-12-2007
PCM$: 450.00
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Up until now Skujins is trying every day, but it hasn't really resulted in anything good. Maybe Banaszek can change that tomorrow.
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| tastasol |
Posted on 10-05-2024 04:24
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3030
Joined: 11-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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We brought Trondsen here for this stage, so disappointing to see him well outside the top 10. Had certainly hoped for better.
Good sprint by Banaszek. Congrats, Oleg!
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 10-05-2024 06:44
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World Champion
Posts: 11621
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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Shame Pidcock didn't hunt stages here (successfully at least, he made half a go of it today), hopefully he can help Areruya pull off a huge upset tomorrow to make up for using his RDs here!
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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| ember |
Posted on 10-05-2024 07:21
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Team Leader
Posts: 7057
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 900.00
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Thought we were having another sensational stage win on the cards there for about 8 seconds, when Zhao found room on the left, as he looked super fast in that one picture 
We brought him for that positioning and one opportunity, and in the end, it wasn’t meant to be the greatest outcome. Though, he contested the sprint, which was nice to see.
Now, then. Super excited for that final stage, and a mix of excitement and nerves approaching it. Amezawa has been sensational so far this race, timing his efforts great. On that final day he needs both timing and legs to defend a top 7 or so GC, which pre race felt like a possible, but optimistic target. Now it looks much more realistic given the first five stages, but the strike with good race day forms and good enough positioning needs to continue.
I would also love to see us defend our current GC depth. No matter Amezawa’s final result here, as it stands now will give us significant depth points to help us not loose too many points to Evonik and potentially EA Vesuvio as well, all depending on this final day.
Thank you for the report, UU, looking even more forward to the final stage! |
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 10-05-2024 07:24
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7770
Joined: 04-07-2012
PCM$: 20845.00
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Two second places. Just unlucky
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| knockout |
Posted on 10-05-2024 08:34
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8235
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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Uneventful stage, now it counts on the final day.
Also i'd like to point out this nice situation in GC:
| 16 | Martins Blums | Evonik - ELKO | + 2'13 | | 17 | Toms Skujins | Tinkoff - La Datcha Team | + 2'14 |
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| TinxiaS |
Posted on 10-05-2024 08:44
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Domestique
Posts: 548
Joined: 17-08-2020
PCM$: 400.00
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I think my team forgot that they are on the race. I think they are with their minds on vacation or on the sea in Balkan region.  
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 10-05-2024 23:05
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3914
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Clearly my team was intent on relieving me any pressure of having to report on them by doing absolutely nothing. We made two half-hearted attempts to get in a break, with our worst rider, and that was it.
Frustrating when we had some solid breakaway type riders and other teams without a GC rider like Grieg, Bralirwa and Glanbia were in multiple breaks. But points were never that likely so guess we didn't lose much.
Congrats to Jandal on a great win and and Ember on what I am guessing is Amezawa's finest moment.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| tastasol |
Posted on 10-05-2024 23:20
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3030
Joined: 11-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice attempt by Hvideberg to try and score some more points. In the end an exciting battle between the top guys, and a well deserved top three. Lopez perhaps a bit unhappy that he couldn't get the win, but a very solid race by Areruya, so big congrats, Jandal!
Thanks for the reports, UU. Sorry that your team didn't try more  We were certainly amongst the "lucky" teams in terms of going after the breaks, so we just have to be happy for that.
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 10-05-2024 23:22
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3219
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Thanks for the reports Ulrich, congrats to Jandal on another win for Arerurya, idk what the fuck we were doing here tbh, really just puts the nail in the coffin on our season, we might even miss top 10 now and go 0/5 for goals even though they were really conservative goals that should achievable. No clue how I am going to pull this team together next season.
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| knockout |
Posted on 10-05-2024 23:53
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8235
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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I never thought i would ever be so annoyed by Areruya winning a stage race 
Congrats jandal! If Lopez gets beaten here, I'm glad it's by him - especially as this should put you in a good position for promotion!
This wasn't the dominant stage race for us that many expected and that we frankly probably needed to put pressure on the other teams. We didnt get a single stage win and instead I'm not even sure if we outscored Aker who had a phenomenal race once again and EA also finishes inside the top 5 GC with Valter. I think Polar just dropped from 1st to 4th just due to a September PTHC stage race - pretty insane that it is so close up top.
A 2nd place rarely felt like a loss but after this race, it feels like Aker has the key to the title in their own hand and Wisniowski can make giant steps towards it in ToNE and Rheden.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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