The PTHC calendar can now be revealed. 4 bands that are upped to 20rd each.
It`s those kind of races where the 22 PT and 26 PTHC challenge each others without any kind of stat limitation.
As each team in those two divisions is racing 2 bands, all PTHC races are guaranteed to be raced with 24 teams.
Exact explanations of how to pick is coming later in a seperate thread.
Band 1
Volta a Portugal
Portugal
11
Scandinavia Open
Sweden
3
Rheden GP
Netherlands
2
Lisbon Classic
Portugal
2
Strade Bianche
Italy
2
This band is visiting Portugal twice and includes the longest PTHC stage race alongside 3 classics and a short 3 day trip to Sweden.
This band is a nice mix for stage racers that like the Mini GT in Portugal, for puncheurs that must love the new looks of the Scandinavia Open or the gravel roads of Strade Bianche, while also cobblers get their even with Rheden GP and sprinters with the Lisbon Classic.
Band 2
Tour du Maroc
Morocco
9
Tour of Norway
Norway
5
Apex Mountain Classic
Canada
2
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Belgium
2
Wyscig Krakow
Poland
2
The new Tour du Maroc leads this band. Lots of climbs on the profiles, both for climbers and puncheurs. Norway then remains a race for good time trialists that aren`t too afraid of hills neither, while the new APEX Mountain classic in Canada is a new race for climbers, descenders and likely fast finishers.
The band 2 finishes with a cobbled classic duo. The famous Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the new Wyscig Krakow event in Poland.
Band 3
Tour of California
USA
7
Deutschland Tour
Germany
5
SAA Tour d'Afrique
South Africa
4
Colombo Classic
Sri Lanka
2
Rund um Koln
Germany
2
The German band with both Deutschland Tour and Rund um Köln.
Longest event though is California with a new design. Still a great allrounder race with a long climb, puncheurs stages and 30km of timetrialing.
Deutschland sees chances for the sprinters. Both races are mainly flat, thoufh while Köln has some hills over the stage, Deutschland also adds a 26,5km time trial and hence the GC might be decided here.
The SAA Afrique as 3rd stage race and hence the most of all 4 bands. Twice being raced and twice the same winner. Surely a sprinter race with 4 flat stages.
Last event is the Colombo Classic, a puncheur race with a tough hill coming late before the post-descent finish.
Nothing for cobblers in this band.
Band 4
Balkans International
Ukraine
8
Vuelta al Pais Vasco
Spain
6
E3 Prijs
Belgium
2
Riga - Jurmala GP
Latvia
2
Pro Halstatt Classic
Austria
2
3 new events in this band. First the 8-day stage race Balkans International, which is a good race for all that love shorter climbs seeing 6/8 stages are hill rated and not time trial at all!
With Pais Vasco (4 hill stages, ITT, TTT) and the new Pro Halstatt Classic in Austria it`s a very hill prone band here.
The E3 Prijs adds another opportunity for the cobblers while the new Riga - Jurmala GP is for the sprinters and flat specialists.
Like the bans for this year PTHC unlike last years, I am only sure about 1 band though, so will be hard to pick the final one, cause I have no idea what kinda of leaders I'll have for them
Probably PTHC will be the hardest to decide for me, because when i see a band i think it would suit my potential leaders perfectly, i think also that PT teams are going to send their top riders there
Volta a Portugal
Scandinavia Open
Rheden GP
Strade Bianche
Tour du Maroc
Tour of Norway
Apex Mountain Classic
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Wyscig Krakow
Tour of California
Deutschland Tour
SAA Tour d'Afrique
Colombo Classic
Balkans International
Vuelta al Pais Vasco
Riga - Jurmala GP
Pro Halstatt Classic
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