Rund um Koln Discussion
|
redordead |
Posted on 11-02-2021 17:12
|
Sprinter

Posts: 1806
Joined: 18-10-2017
PCM$: 400.00
|
Welcome to the 9th edition of the Rund um Koln. The race is back for the 3rd year running now after a 4 year hiatus. It's a flat classic and while it has plenty of hills and bumpy terrain, the last portion of the race is pretty much pan flat, so you would expect to see the sprinters duke it out. At almost 205 km in length the sprinters will have to be vary to stay out of the wind and conserve their energies for the final, relying on their domestiques to do the dirty work. We have two former race winners on the startlist, from the last two editions. Last year's winner Alexander Kristoff is here with team Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling as a wildcard team. Meanwhile we also have the 2018 race winner and home favourite John Degenkolb, who is riding in the PT division this season.
With that said let's look at some of the other favourites:
| FLA | STA | RES | SPR | ACC | Coquard | 73 | 71 | 74 | 84 | 83 | Ahlstrand | 74 | 74 | 73 | 83 | 82 | Degenkolb | 76 | 73 | 71 | 84 | 81 | Kennaugh | 77 | 74 | 71 | 82 | 81 | Holloway | 77 | 76 | 76 | 79 | 81 |
Bryan Coquard is the fastest and most explosive sprinter that the Pro Tour has on offer. His flat and stamina stats aren't great, but by no means bad and his resistance is better than you'd give him credit for. Ahlstrand is only one that comes close to Coquard's explosive acceleration and has the top speed to go with it. His other stats show no weaknesses so he should be well poised for a good result. Degenkolb has the top speed to rival Coquard, but doesn't have the same explosiveness. His flat stat though is very good and he'll try to use that to his advantage. Kennaugh is a very similar rider who will look to do the same. Holloway lacks some top speed, but has unmatched ability in terms of flat riding, stamina and resistance. He should have the optimal legs to give it his all in the finish and has enough acceleration to fly by the others.
| FLA | STA | RES | SPR | ACC | Demare | 73 | 75 | 72 | 82 | 81 | Van Stayen | 76 | 76 | 71 | 84 | 78 | Groenewegen | 73 | 74 | 71 | 82 | 81 | Kump | 74 | 76 | 73 | 81 | 80 | Grosu | 73 | 74 | 70 | 83 | 80 | Howard | 76 | 75 | 70 | 82 | 79 |
We start of tier II with a Frenchman as well. Arnaud Demare is known more as a hilly sprinter, but is no slouch as a pure sprinter. He should have no problems tackling this course. His rival Van Stayen is also here. His top speed rivals the best there is, but his lack of great acceleration means he will need do be positioned well to make full use of it. Groenewegen is a well balanced sprinter, if he can save his legs for the finish, he has the speed to pull off a great result. Kump is here on a wildcard for Nordstrom. He doesn't have quite the speed of the pure sprinters, but like his hilly colleagues, he shouldn't have an issues throughout the stage. Grosu is the typical pure sprinter in this tier. His top speed is top notch, but he'll need good positioning and legs in the final. Howard lacks some acceleration, but will hope to use his flat stat to make up for that.
| FLA | STA | RES | SPR | ACC | Samolenkov | 74 | 75 | 71 | 81 | 79 | Hsu | 75 | 75 | 70 | 79 | 79 | Enger | 73 | 71 | 73 | 81 | 78 | Vanderbiest | 74 | 74 | 69 | 82 | 77 | Kristoff | 74 | 73 | 69 | 82 | 77 |
Samolenkov kicks of tier III. He's very solid allround, but lacks a bit of explosiveness to make him a top rider. The same can be said for all the riders in this tier. Hsu has a nice flat stat, but suffers a bit in the speed department. Enger, Vanderbiest and Kristoff are all quite similar in the fact that they will be relying on their top end speed. The latter two need to be especially careful as they also come out a bit worse with their resistance.
| FLA | MON | HIL | STA | RES | SPR | ACC | Andersen | 81 | 62 | 65 | 77 | 78 | 76 | 74 | Pedersen | 77 | 63 | 69 | 78 | 80 | 78 | 77 | Stoltz | 80 | 62 | 68 | 76 | 79 | 62 | 74 | Hagen | 76 | 69 | 84 | 80 | 73 | 72 | 78 | Bellis | 75 | 68 | 78 | 80 | 71 | 74 | 75 | Viviani | 78 | 60 | 66 | 71 | 77 | 71 | 70 | Kolesnikov | 76 | 75 | 70 | 73 | 71 | 68 | 74 | Bar | 77 | 55 | 70 | 75 | 72 | 77 | 76 | Arashiro | 81 | 60 | 64 | 71 | 67 | 70 | 75 | Culey | 77 | 61 | 64 | 76 | 75 | 65 | 68 | Yzeiraj | 77 | 62 | 66 | 74 | 74 | 62 | 71 |
Finally we have the rouleurs who might try to make some sort of attack to surprise the sprint favourites. First we have the duo of Andersen and Pedersen. Grieg don't have a sprinter so these two should have free reign to attack. Both are very strong and can also sprint very well if needed. If Stoltz is not working for Van Stayen then he has the flat stat and resistance to hold off the sprinters. Hagen is a premium puncheur so he might look to go long and use one of the hills as his springboard. Bellis might have a similar idea like Hagen and also has a handy sprint on him.
Viviani's main strength is riding against the clock, can he make it a TT against the peloton? Kolesnikov is a well known baroudeur with a good allround skillset. Don't be surprised if you see him in the early break. Bar could be suited to a late attack, if he isn't tasked with looking after Enger. Arashiro doesn't have great resistance or stamina, but his ability on the flat is well known and he has the acceleration to get away from the pack. Culey could be working for Howard, but if not he's capable himsef. Yzeiraj is another strong rouleur without a sprinter to look after, making him a prime attack candidate.
Full startlist:
Spoiler Kristoff | Alexander | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | Lander | Sebastian | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | Drapac | Damion | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | Canelon | Hersony | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | Stauff | Andreas | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | Aasvold | Lorents Ola | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | Higuita | Sergio | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | Grashev | Martin | Adastra N Hell Energy Cycling | Groenewegen | Dylan | Aegon - Peroni | Van Hooydonck | Nathan | Aegon - Peroni | Bauhaus | Phil | Aegon - Peroni | van der Hoorn | Taco | Aegon - Peroni | Stuyven | Jasper | Aegon - Peroni | de Kleijn | Arvid | Aegon - Peroni | Ballerini | Davide | Aegon - Peroni | Toupalik | Adam | Aegon - Peroni | Hagen | Edvald Boasson | Air France - KLM | Kennaugh | Peter | Air France - KLM | Major | Jay | Air France - KLM | Bernaudeau | Mathieu | Air France - KLM | Andersen | Michael Valgren | Air France - KLM | Clarke | Simon | Air France - KLM | Seigle | Roman | Air France - KLM | Bouet | Maxime | Air France - KLM | Aranburu | Alex | Aker - MOT | Silva | Nihal | Aker - MOT | Trondsen | Trond Hakon | Aker - MOT | Losch | Max | Aker - MOT | Pruus | Peter | Aker - MOT | Larsen | Niklas | Aker - MOT | Yzeiraj | Marildo | Aker - MOT | Pedersen | Casper | Aker - MOT | Howard | Leigh | Bennelong - Mitchelton | David | Tom | Bennelong - Mitchelton | Kennett | Dylan | Bennelong - Mitchelton | Gunman | Taylor | Bennelong - Mitchelton | Wohler | Alex | Bennelong - Mitchelton | Scotson | Callum | Bennelong - Mitchelton | Christensen | Ryan | Bennelong - Mitchelton | Culey | Marcus | Bennelong - Mitchelton | Enger | Sondre Holst | cycleYorkshire | Bellis | Jonathan | cycleYorkshire | Bar | Jocelyn | cycleYorkshire | Rowe | Matt | cycleYorkshire | Boudat | Thomas | cycleYorkshire | Ford | William | cycleYorkshire | Munoz | Daniel | cycleYorkshire | Hennessy | Jacob | cycleYorkshire | Van der Lijke | Nick | EA Vesuvio | Gastauer | Ben | EA Vesuvio | Holloway | Dan | EA Vesuvio | Afewerki | Elias | EA Vesuvio | Reimer | Martin | EA Vesuvio | Smit | Willie | EA Vesuvio | Fritsch | Sven | EA Vesuvio | Pelikan | Janos | EA Vesuvio | Grosu | Eduard | eBuddy | Lampaert | Yves | eBuddy | Ariesen | Tim | eBuddy | Van der Kooij | Bas | eBuddy | Roosen | Timo | eBuddy | Tolhoek | Antwan | eBuddy | Vermeltfoort | Coen | eBuddy | Goldstein | Omer | eBuddy | Van Stayen | Michael | Evonik - ELKO | Blythe | Adam | Evonik - ELKO | Eislers | Ingus | Evonik - ELKO | Neilands | Krists | Evonik - ELKO | Naud | Patrick | Evonik - ELKO | Becis | Armands | Evonik - ELKO | Chavanne | Gabriel | Evonik - ELKO | Stoltz | Yannick | Evonik - ELKO | Coquard | Bryan | Festina - OAKA | Koretzky | Clement | Festina - OAKA | Karatzios | Georgios | Festina - OAKA | Bouglas | Georgios | Festina - OAKA | Kastrantas | Charalampas | Festina - OAKA | Farantakis | Stylianos | Festina - OAKA | Morin | Emmanuel | Festina - OAKA | Osorio | Juan | Festina - OAKA | Teunissen | Mike | Gazelle | Potts | Marc | Gazelle | Hofland | Moreno | Gazelle | Senyenov | Roman | Gazelle | Boaro | Manuele | Gazelle | Fejes | Gabor | Gazelle | Carcueva | Jonel | Gazelle | Arslanov | Ildar | Gazelle | Theuns | Edward | Generali | Gaday | Lucas Manuel | Generali | De Buyst | Jasper | Generali | Masnada | Fausto | Generali | Laporte | Christophe | Generali | De Gendt | Aime | Generali | Bouchard | Geoffrey | Generali | Lecourt De Billot | Olivier | Generali | Pedersen | Mads | Grieg-Maersk | Ringheim | Jo Kogstad | Grieg-Maersk | Andersen | Soren Kragh | Grieg-Maersk | Jansen | Amund Grondahl | Grieg-Maersk | Hofstetter | Hugo | Grieg-Maersk | Peng | Yuan Tan | Grieg-Maersk | Vermote | Julien | Grieg-Maersk | Stokbro | Andreas | Grieg-Maersk | Vanderbiest | Romain | Indosat Ooredoo | Goss | Matthew | Indosat Ooredoo | Suryadi | Bambang | Indosat Ooredoo | Speirs | Isaac | Indosat Ooredoo | Luchshenko | Sergey | Indosat Ooredoo | Gani | Abdul | Indosat Ooredoo | Ji | Cheng | Indosat Ooredoo | Bolor-Erdene | Enkhtaivan | Indosat Ooredoo | Degenkolb | John | ISA - Hexacta | Petit | Adrien | ISA - Hexacta | Santos | Emerson | ISA - Hexacta | Kreder | Raymond | ISA - Hexacta | Restrepo | Jhonatan | ISA - Hexacta | Dlamini | Nicholas | ISA - Hexacta | Mraouni | Salah Eddine | ISA - Hexacta | Martinez | Daniel Felipe | ISA - Hexacta | Mohoric | Matej | Isostar - Specialized | Peters | Nans | Isostar - Specialized | Gabburo | Davide | Isostar - Specialized | Tarvis | Peeter | Isostar - Specialized | Jans | Roy | Isostar - Specialized | Kolev | Iliyan | Isostar - Specialized | Daniel | Gregory | Isostar - Specialized | Rickaert | Jonas | Isostar - Specialized | Brändle | Matthias | King Power | Kasperkiewicz | Przemyslaw | King Power | Hsu | Hsuan Ping | King Power | Viviani | Elia | King Power | Darbinyan | Varsham | King Power | Stash | Mamyr | King Power | Vanthourenhout | Michael | King Power | Nielsen | Joanis Albert | King Power | Granjel Cabrera | Raul | Moser - Sygic | Soupe | Geoffrey | Moser - Sygic | Cerny | Josef | Moser - Sygic | Baska | Erik | Moser - Sygic | Kukrle | Michal | Moser - Sygic | Hnik | Karel | Moser - Sygic | Polnicky | Jiri | Moser - Sygic | Krul | Stef | Moser - Sygic | Kump | Marko | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | Boivin | Guillaume | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | Van Poppel | Boy | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | Eenkhoorn | Pascal | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | Philipsen | Jasper | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | Peak | Barnabas | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | Phodingam | Sakchai | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | Carretero Millan | Hector | Nordstrom - CA Technologies | Sibilla | Michel | Rakuten Pro Cycling | Hayakawa | Tomohiro | Rakuten Pro Cycling | Kuboki | Kazushige | Rakuten Pro Cycling | Kuroeda | Shiki | Rakuten Pro Cycling | Liu | Jiankun | Rakuten Pro Cycling | Arashiro | Yudai | Rakuten Pro Cycling | Silva | Rafael | Rakuten Pro Cycling | Cheung | King Lok | Rakuten Pro Cycling | Demare | Arnaud | Team Puma - SAP | Aregger | Marcel | Team Puma - SAP | Egger | Mike Aaron | Team Puma - SAP | Helme | Sasu | Team Puma - SAP | Niu | Yikui | Team Puma - SAP | Weinstein | Domenic | Team Puma - SAP | Sagiv | Guy | Team Puma - SAP | Madouas | Valentin | Team Puma - SAP | Samolenkov | Artem | Team Tinkoff - La Datcha | Moser | Moreno | Team Tinkoff - La Datcha | Malori | Adrian | Team Tinkoff - La Datcha | Vorobev | Anton | Team Tinkoff - La Datcha | Trakhov | Dmitry | Team Tinkoff - La Datcha | Manakov | Viktor | Team Tinkoff - La Datcha | Zakarin | Aydar | Team Tinkoff - La Datcha | Kolesnikov | Sergei | Team Tinkoff - La Datcha | Spengler | Lukas | Team UBS | Reichenbach | Sebastien | Team UBS | Vincent | Leo | Team UBS | Fouquet | Kevin | Team UBS | Grand | Arnaud | Team UBS | Thomas | Benjamin | Team UBS | Ramos Ticona | Basilio | Team UBS | Fominykh | Daniil | Team UBS | Ahlstrand | Jonas | Volvo acc. by Spotify | Appollonio | Davide | Volvo acc. by Spotify | Sweeck | Laurens | Volvo acc. by Spotify | Vendrame | Andrea | Volvo acc. by Spotify | Van Zandbeek | Ronan | Volvo acc. by Spotify | Asgreen | Kasper | Volvo acc. by Spotify | Beukeboom | Dion | Volvo acc. by Spotify |
|
|
|
|
viking90 |
Posted on 11-02-2021 17:15
|

Grand Tour Specialist

Posts: 4023
Joined: 24-01-2009
PCM$: 300.00
|
Come on Ahlstrand! Appo lead-out!
|
|
|
|
SotD |
Posted on 11-02-2021 17:19
|

World Champion

Posts: 10474
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 300.00
|
I guess it was a mistanke sending Koretzky here, but maybe he Can help form a proper train for Coquard should he survive. These races are the “make or break†races for Coquard that will decide if he have a good, mediocre or bad season. He has some catching up to do after a below-par start to the season.
|
|
|
|
tastasol |
Posted on 11-02-2021 17:27
|

Small Tour Specialist

Posts: 2266
Joined: 11-09-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
Hoping our Danes can work something out towards the end here. Would have been better with a few little hills in the end, but hope we can see Kragh on the attack like in MSR and hopefully a strong finish from Pedersen.
|
|
|
|
whitejersey |
Posted on 11-02-2021 17:30
|

Sprinter

Posts: 1511
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
|
Ready for Kumpi to mess up someone's day here even if it doesn't get us any points
|
|
|
|
baseballlover312 |
Posted on 11-02-2021 17:35
|

World Champion

Posts: 13898
Joined: 27-07-2011
PCM$: 1288.00
|
Holloway wins by 20 seconds over the pack.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
|
|
|
|
tsmoha |
Posted on 11-02-2021 18:09
|

Directeur Sportif

Posts: 11319
Joined: 19-07-2010
PCM$: 500.00
|
Definitely need a solid Top-10 result here. Howard's most recent performances were terrible and we can't afford to lack scoring with his race days used for nothing lately.
|
|
|
|
Ad Bot |
Posted on 11-04-2021 13:00
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
IP: None |
|
|
roturn |
Posted on 11-02-2021 18:33
|

Team Manager

Posts: 20817
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 1700.50
|
Iirc Groenewegen was 2nd here last year, so here to repeat this.
Was a bit of a race break for him but now he needs to pull of a result again. |
|
|
|
valverde321 |
Posted on 11-02-2021 18:37
|

World Champion

Posts: 12644
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 1080.00
|
Hoping Arashiro can win. Realistically a Top 20 would be a good result.
|
|
|
|
DubbelDekker |
Posted on 11-02-2021 19:04
|

Small Tour Specialist

Posts: 2138
Joined: 20-04-2008
PCM$: 300.00
|
Maybe Teunissen can try something, but we're mostly a second control team here.
|
|
|
|
ivaneurope |
Posted on 11-02-2021 20:05
|

Small Tour Specialist

Posts: 2061
Joined: 09-05-2011
PCM$: 300.00
|
I just want to have a good time in this race
|
|
|
|
cio93 |
Posted on 11-02-2021 22:44
|

World Champion

Posts: 10092
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 575.00
|
Home race.
I'm expecting some splits over the undulating terrain, Demare has no excuses to not be in the first group at all times, regardless of whether we return to gruppo compatto later on or the splits are decisive.
Then, with superior energy management to the pure sprinters, I hope he can pounce from the slipstream in the finale.
With PCM18 AI, the circumstances don't get any more ideal for us than this.
|
|
|
|
Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 11-02-2021 23:29
|
Protected Rider

Posts: 1166
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
Would very much enjoy that Amused a guy who rode CT last year is now in Tier 1 in a PT Race.
These one day sprint classics go to the attackers at least half the time - maybe Pedersen's chance to show himself.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling
|
|
|
|
SotD |
Posted on 12-02-2021 07:25
|

World Champion

Posts: 10474
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 300.00
|
cio93 wrote:
With PCM18 AI, the circumstances don't get any more ideal for us than this.
And that is probably where PCM never stops to surprise you 
I certainly doesn't expect anything from Coquard seeing how he has performed so far in this season against strong competition.
I'm putting my money on Degenkolb, as he seems to be the only sprinter performing to level.
|
|
|
|
Bikex |
Posted on 12-02-2021 09:02
|

Team Leader

Posts: 6516
Joined: 25-08-2012
PCM$: 500.00
|
Great to be featured with two riders in the preview that's two more than I expected 
Don't really think Hsu will be towards the front in this strong sprinter field. I'll be happy when seeing my riders a little bit active throughout the race. I agree with SotD, Degenkolb is probably the top favorite given how well he did so far and this being his home race. |
|
|
|
knockout |
Posted on 12-02-2021 09:30
|

Team Leader

Posts: 6017
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
cio93 wrote:
Home race.
I'm expecting some splits over the undulating terrain, Demare has no excuses to not be in the first group at all times, regardless of whether we return to gruppo compatto later on or the splits are decisive.
Then, with superior energy management to the pure sprinters, I hope he can pounce from the slipstream in the finale.
With PCM18 AI, the circumstances don't get any more ideal for us than this.
Same basically goes for Van Stayen.
Van Stayen has been the most disappointing of our leaders so far so i hope he can start to deliver. After last season didnt work too well, i decided to throw a couple of different leadout formations at the planning board so this one is quite unusual for myself with Eislers replacing Dzamastagic who i left out of this despite easily having the race days. But i was too worried that Dzamastagic having a higher acceleration than Eislers would mess with my chances so i only tried sending both of them as support for a single other classic.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters!
And To All Who Organize Something On Daily As Well!
|
|
|
|
SotD |
Posted on 12-02-2021 09:42
|

World Champion

Posts: 10474
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 300.00
|
knockout wrote:
cio93 wrote:
Home race.
I'm expecting some splits over the undulating terrain, Demare has no excuses to not be in the first group at all times, regardless of whether we return to gruppo compatto later on or the splits are decisive.
Then, with superior energy management to the pure sprinters, I hope he can pounce from the slipstream in the finale.
With PCM18 AI, the circumstances don't get any more ideal for us than this.
Same basically goes for Van Stayen.
Van Stayen has been the most disappointing of our leaders so far so i hope he can start to deliver. After last season didnt work too well, i decided to throw a couple of different leadout formations at the planning board so this one is quite unusual for myself with Eislers replacing Dzamastagic who i left out of this despite easily having the race days. But i was too worried that Dzamastagic having a higher acceleration than Eislers would mess with my chances so i only tried sending both of them as support for a single other classic.
Interesting tactics really. I'll be watching you 
I basically towed out our strong FL leadout riders and strong SPR riders because it didn't work last season with Coquard, but lower FL leadouts with less SPR doesn't seem to work too well either. Bouglas have done a proper leadout a couple of times, but more often than not it is every bit as malfunctioning as last season.
|
|
|
|
knockout |
Posted on 12-02-2021 10:07
|

Team Leader

Posts: 6017
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 300.00
|
SotD wrote:
knockout wrote:
Spoiler cio93 wrote:
Home race.
I'm expecting some splits over the undulating terrain, Demare has no excuses to not be in the first group at all times, regardless of whether we return to gruppo compatto later on or the splits are decisive.
Then, with superior energy management to the pure sprinters, I hope he can pounce from the slipstream in the finale.
With PCM18 AI, the circumstances don't get any more ideal for us than this.
Same basically goes for Van Stayen.
Van Stayen has been the most disappointing of our leaders so far so i hope he can start to deliver. After last season didnt work too well, i decided to throw a couple of different leadout formations at the planning board so this one is quite unusual for myself with Eislers replacing Dzamastagic who i left out of this despite easily having the race days. But i was too worried that Dzamastagic having a higher acceleration than Eislers would mess with my chances so i only tried sending both of them as support for a single other classic.
Interesting tactics really. I'll be watching you
I basically towed out our strong FL leadout riders and strong SPR riders because it didn't work last season with Coquard, but lower FL leadouts with less SPR doesn't seem to work too well either. Bouglas have done a proper leadout a couple of times, but more often than not it is every bit as malfunctioning as last season.
Like for many other managers in pcm18, sprinting is an unresolved riddle for me that i dont understand at all. I have/had no idea what the sprinters who performed better last year (e.g. Groenewegen) seperated from those that didnt. I wanted to avoid the risk that i only use one sprint setup for all flat classics which might end up badly suited to what pcm likes. By sending a couple of different combinations of my (leadout) sprinters, i like to believe that i minimize the risk of being wrong about it all the time but probably am (better) suited at least a couple of times. Though this idea suggest that i will get to form a leadout train in the first place which obviously is not a given either.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters!
And To All Who Organize Something On Daily As Well!
|
|
|
|
Croatia14 |
Posted on 12-02-2021 11:36
|

Directeur Sportif

Posts: 7525
Joined: 13-03-2013
PCM$: 600.00
|
Wait this is not a hilly classic?
|
|
|
|
matt17br |
Posted on 12-02-2021 15:26
|

Directeur Sportif

Posts: 10447
Joined: 28-09-2013
PCM$: 400.00
|
Just want everyone to finish here, anything more is a bonus
|
|
|