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Sochi Cup Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 15-11-2018 16:40
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Directeur Sportif
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 Sochi Cup
The Sochi Cup (formerly known as the Tour of Sochi) is back on the schedule, but with a totally different approach this time. Back in 2013, the Tour of Sochi held it's first and final edition, as a stage race though - with five days and the overall winner coming from Russia: Timofey Kritskiy (Tinkoff) with a big win on home soil, beating Thomas Dekker and Ian Bibby.
This year, the race will be called Sochi Cup and is held as a one-day-classic for puncheurs: the profile kinda looks similar to the GP Yekaterinburg. The short uphill finish should be interesting and if the race won't be too selective until this point, a good position and of course a nice kick will be needed to go for a notable result.
The Startlist
The Favorites | Favorites | HI | AC | | | Outsiders | HI | AC |  Di Maggio | 82 | 75 | | |  Ben Nasser | 79 | 77 |  Kinoshita | 81 | 77 | | |  Pichon | 79 | 76 |  McCarthy | 81 | 74 | | |  Bystrom | 79 | 76 |  Schreurs | 81 | 74 | | |  Prevar | 79 | 73 |  Flügel | 81 | 74 | | | Barrio | 79 | 67 |  Froome | 81 | 73 | | |  Juul-Jensen | 78 | 79 |  Anuar Aziz | 81 | 71 | | |  Dyrnes | 78 | 77 |  Gautier | 80 | 77 | | |  Caruso | 78 | 77 |  Betancourt | 80 | 74 | | |  Barbin | 78 | 76 |  Waeytens | 80 | 73 | | |  Siskevicius | 78 | 75 | | Dowsett | 80 | 71 | | |  Bellis | 78 | 75 | | Klemme | 80 | 66 | | | Boily | 78 | 74 |  Izagirre | 80 | 64 | | | Serry | 78 | 69 |
Tour of Ukraine winner Izagirre featured on the startlist and while the Spaniard certainly lacks the acceleration to be considered a top favorite for a profile like this, he arrives with a great victory in his bag and actually a history from the one and only Tour of Sochi edition: finishing 9th in the GC and taking the U25 classification back in 2013, Izagirre obviously has some good memories for this place here in Russia.
Top favorites should be others though: CT-rider Di Maggio as the strongest (though one dimensional) puncheur on paper. The length of the race may become an issue however. Not for other top contenders like Kinoshita or McCarthy though: Kinoshita will definitely aim for the victory, just like McCarthy, who proved to be in shape when taking the hilly stage of the Tour of Ukraine earlier this month (which he did in style).
Schreurs, Flügel, Fromme, Anuar Aziz and Gautier as other threats for the victory. The startlist promises a narrow fight for the Top-5/10 and all of those already mentioned riders should be capable to even fight for the win here. Betancourt, Waeytens (yap, they always deserve to be mentioned), Dowsett and Klemme as less promising contenders, but not too far off the very best (if they are on a good day, of course).
The list continues with some interesting names such as Ben Nasser, Pichon, Bystrom, Prevar and Juul-Jensen or Dyrnes, Caruso, Barbin and Siskevicius. Several different teams with possible options for a decent result, as also Bellis may hope for his strong kick to be a factor eventually.
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 15-11-2018 17:00
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4190
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Fighting for a Top10 should be a realistic outcome of this race. Hopefully Bystrom overperforms a bit and ends up fighting for the Top5 instead. Maybe Barrio and Duchesne will depth points?
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 15-11-2018 17:43
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15027
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The good news: we're racing again. The bad news: Waeytens is the team leader.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 15-11-2018 17:55
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2544
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Flugel has some decent support so looking for a top 5 here.
Thanks for the preview tsmoha.
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 15-11-2018 18:57
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Team Leader
Posts: 7422
Joined: 14-07-2015
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Come come Benny, make us proud.
Thanks for the preview
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 15-11-2018 21:16
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3226
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Brought out the A-Team, hoping for a good result. Thanks for the preview as well 
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| beagle |
Posted on 15-11-2018 21:17
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4235
Joined: 06-10-2007
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Tour of Ukraine winner Izagirre featured on the startlist and while the Spaniard certainly lacks the acceleration to be considered a top favorite for a profile like this, he arrives with a great victory in his bag and actually a history from the one and only Tour of Sochi edition: finishing 9th in the GC and taking the U25 classification back in 2013, Izagirre obviously has some good memories for this place here in Russia.
That´s interesting, haven´t noticed before. Honestly, I´d be happy if he will repeat 9th place this year, but expecting "classical performance" with 20th+ place on the finish line.
I don´t know why, but think McCarthy will take this one.
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 15-11-2018 22:30
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16557
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I would like it if Juul-Jensen kept up his good form and kept up the aggressive riding. Both would be fun to see. A result would be very nice as well.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 16-11-2018 01:23
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World Champion
Posts: 12429
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Would love a win here. Kinoshita hasn't been amazing so far this year, but he's still only had a few race days, and is only now starting to race more frequently so hopefully we can move up the rankings a bit.
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 16-11-2018 14:03
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Team Leader
Posts: 6753
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Gautier up against the big boys again. He have overperformed a bit so far this season and he's welcome to continue doing that 
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| sgdanny |
Posted on 16-11-2018 16:32
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Classics Specialist
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Damn so close.. Hello old friend
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 08-12-2025 19:22
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| Vien |
Posted on 16-11-2018 16:35
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Small Tour Specialist
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AA is shockingly good this season.. Grats to Indosat! |
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 16-11-2018 19:15
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Team Leader
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Gautier awake with the moves and ultimately takes a good result home against the big boys.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 16-11-2018 19:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16557
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Ultimately a satisfactory performance by Juul-Jensen here. Would have liked some more aggression, and he might have had top 5 legs, but 7th is very solid in this field. Thanks for the great report!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 16-11-2018 20:30
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World Champion
Posts: 12429
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3rd is about the minimum result I would accept and still be happy about. Kinoshita I think shouldn't have been part of the first attack. Overall a good race tho with Hatsuyama getting some points in 20th as well.
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 16-11-2018 22:07
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4190
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A 10th place is decent enough for Bystrom to be worth the trip to Sochi. Nothing spectacular, but that's what we signed for with our squad this year.
Indosat is having a massive season, and they are building a really big gap to the rest of the PCT division in the rankings
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 16-11-2018 23:09
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15027
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Well, at least we're racing again 
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 17-11-2018 07:01
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4616
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Anuar Aziz has really found some incredible form this season, benefiting from the lack of EBH for sure. What a wonderful ride though, terrific job.
Thanks for the report too
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| jaxika |
Posted on 17-11-2018 08:21
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Classics Specialist
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I hoped for a top10result, but in a C1 race this result its good too.
Thanks for the report and congrats for the winner. |
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 17-11-2018 10:14
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2544
Joined: 07-07-2013
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Congrats to Eden and thanks for another great report tsmoha
Great to see new recruit Shushemoin supporting Flügel, was hoping for a bit better than 9th after a good team performance but not a disaster.
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