@Caspi - Farantakis is usually all over the place in GC races, so wouldn't consider him the main rival
@redordead - Yeah it seems to be going OK, despite us still looking for our first individual win. We won the Isle of Man TTT, but none of our riders have managed to win a race or stage so far - Farantakis did live up to the expectations in Lisbon fortunately, but other than that it has been somewhat dissapointing from him.
Much like the first quarter, we have seen a decent second quarter slightly above expectations. Prior to the season we expected to score aproximately 3000 points, while we are now looking to settle in at around 3400-3600 points, which is pretty similar to the expectations after Q1, where we expected 3500 points at the end of the season.
We have reduced our PpRD drastically from upwards 4800 projected scoring from Q1 to 4100 projected scoring after Q2. Still significantly above our own estimated value though. In the future Tour of America will further force those numbers down quite a lot.
Something quite precurous however. Q1 and Q2 both had expected exactly the same figure (780pts), and the difference in scoring between the month is as low as 13 points (978-965pts)
Q2 status:
Roma Maxima
EXP: 50pts
ACT: 116pts
Lincoln GP
EXP: 10pts
ACT: 14pts
Veenendaal - Veenendaal
EXP: 70pts
ACT: 42pts
Lisbon Classic
EXP: 50pts
ACT: 103pts
Dwars door Vlaanderen
EXP: 10pts
ACT: 1pts
Tour de Romandie
EXP: 120pts
ACT: 194pts
Baltic Chain Tour
EXP: 110pts
ACT: 138pts
Hanko Classic
EXP: 40pts
ACT: 26pts
Tour de Suisse
EXP: 90pts
ACT: 41pts
Criterium du Dauphine Libere
EXP: 130pts
ACT: 121pts
Tour of California
EXP: 100pts
ACT: 169pts
STATUS
EXP: 780pts
ACT: 965pts
Let's zoom in on the Q3 races now, where we cheat at bit and only include July and August. Q4 will then be September and October.
July Racing
The month of April mainly offers sprints and cobbles. Something that - on paper atleast - should suit our team pretty well. The issue, however is the racing divisions, which isn't ideal. We have two PTHC races and two C2 races. Both of which are not where we expect to excel!
Start
End
Race
Category
01-Jul
Torshavn GP
C1
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Michail Kortsidakis
77
63
69
54
75
75
73
77
68
72
76
70
73
Georgios Boutopoulos
78
68
72
66
73
75
69
74
73
78
80
74
68
Anastasios Koumpetsos
74
67
73
56
76
73
82
58
76
76
74
71
56
Zisis Soulious
69
74
75
66
76
75
69
51
71
78
63
76
66
Ioannis Varotsos
73
62
66
70
69
69
64
63
67
68
72
68
70
Danny Summerhill
74
62
69
55
70
66
60
79
66
67
77
69
55
Yikui Niu
72
74
72
67
76
69
75
56
74
74
73
70
67
Mats Wenzel
67
68
69
69
70
69
67
60
58
70
65
68
70
Expectations: 50 pts | We have decided that the best option for us here is to go against our team sprinter, Farantakis, and instead hope to see either Kortsidakis or Boutopoulos give it a shot from the distance. The race is - on paper - well suited for attacks.
Start
End
Race
Category
03-Jul
06-Jul
Arab Tour
HC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Stylianos Farantakis
74
59
66
72
75
72
79
66
81
80
61
63
79
Anastasios Koumpetsos
74
67
73
56
76
73
82
58
76
76
74
71
56
Nikolaos Ioannidis
67
75
73
78
76
74
73
57
58
70
72
67
76
Ioannidis Kiriakidis
68
74
73
78
72
73
74
62
63
71
70
73
76
Georgios Stavrakakis
76
61
68
75
74
70
66
77
64
68
70
62
77
Georgios Boutopoulos
78
68
72
66
73
75
69
74
73
78
80
74
68
Pangiotis Christapopoulos
73
62
73
78
72
72
66
62
62
69
75
66
77
Edoardo Affini
73
66
67
77
76
79
72
64
64
70
73
68
78
Expectations: 100 pts | A flat race with a long ITT is somewhat ideal for our team with riders like Kiriakidis, Ioannidis, Christapopoulos and Affini. We also bring Farantakis with the hope that he can finally find his momentum.
Start
End
Race
Category
18-Jul
23-Jul
Benelux Challenge
HC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Michail Kortsidakis
77
63
69
54
75
75
73
77
68
72
76
70
73
Georgios Stavrakakis
76
61
68
75
74
70
66
77
64
68
70
62
77
Georgios Boutopoulos
78
68
72
66
73
75
69
74
73
78
80
74
68
Ioannis Varotsos
73
62
66
70
69
69
64
63
67
68
72
68
70
Andreas Miltiadis
68
75
75
67
70
71
66
68
61
75
67
68
67
Alexander Edmondson
73
58
64
64
72
71
77
74
77
75
67
64
74
Danny Summerhill
74
62
69
55
70
66
60
79
66
67
77
69
55
Mats Wenzel
67
68
69
69
70
69
67
60
58
70
65
68
70
Expectations: 50 pts | A cobbled race with a hilly stage in the middle of it all isn't normally our best case scenario. We do bring quite a versatile setup however, and have had quite some succes in the cobbles, so we hope to achieve something.
Start
End
Race
Category
19-Jul
Philadelphia International Championship
PTHC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Stylianos Farantakis
74
59
66
72
75
72
79
66
81
80
61
63
79
Anastasios Koumpetsos
74
67
73
56
76
73
82
58
76
76
74
71
56
Zisis Soulious
69
74
75
66
76
75
69
51
71
78
63
76
66
Aimiliano Vila
70
71
77
64
70
73
74
54
67
74
76
69
64
Alexandros Agrotis
72
75
71
74
76
72
75
63
65
68
71
70
75
Yikui Niu
72
74
72
67
76
69
75
56
74
74
73
70
67
Edoardo Affini
73
66
67
77
76
79
72
64
64
70
73
68
78
Samuel Mugisha
76
64
70
74
70
74
71
63
62
68
74
64
68
Expectations: 75 pts | Not much to say. A flat race with one of the better sprinters, should always give a somewhat solid result.
Start
End
Race
Category
25-Jul
29-Jul
Tour of Slovenia
PTHC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Ioannis Spanopoulos
69
77
75
72
73
72
70
54
60
64
66
62
73
Nikolaos Ioannidis
67
75
73
78
76
74
73
57
58
70
72
67
76
Ioannidis Kiriakidis
68
74
73
78
72
73
74
62
63
71
70
73
76
Pangiotis Christapopoulos
73
62
73
78
72
72
66
62
62
69
75
66
77
Georgios Stavrakakis
76
61
68
75
74
70
66
77
64
68
70
62
77
Alexandros Agrotis
72
75
71
74
76
72
75
63
65
68
71
70
75
Edoardo Affini
73
66
67
77
76
79
72
64
64
70
73
68
78
Samuel Mugisha
76
64
70
74
70
74
71
63
62
68
74
64
68
Expectations: 75 pts | We have a pretty good feeling about this race normally. At PTHC level it is always difficult though with strong riders everywhere. We have some solid depth to hopefully get something. The TTT is good for us at PCT level, but here we could end up being cannonfodder.
August Racing
Only two races in the month of May, but two of the races we are looking forward to the most. Combining our depth with timetrials, team timetrials, sprints and climbing could be a make-or-break month for us.
Start
End
Race
Category
01-Aug
05-Aug
Tour de Vineyards
C1
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Miltiadis Giannoutsos
68
80
72
72
76
78
75
57
64
68
75
67
77
Michail Mavrikakis
70
79
72
71
74
73
69
54
61
67
63
64
71
Ioannis Spanopoulos
69
77
75
72
73
72
70
54
60
64
66
62
73
Nikolaos Ioannidis
67
75
73
78
76
74
73
57
58
70
72
67
76
Ioannidis Kiriakidis
68
74
73
78
72
73
74
62
63
71
70
73
76
Pangiotis Christapopoulos
73
62
73
78
72
72
66
62
62
69
75
66
77
Alexandros Agrotis
72
75
71
74
76
72
75
63
65
68
71
70
75
Edoardo Affini
73
66
67
77
76
79
72
64
64
70
73
68
78
Expectations: 150 pts | We might have a bit too high expectations here, but we come with everything that we have - and hope to have Giannoutsos in the top 3 aswell as solid depth. The mountain stage can end up spoiling it all though.
Start
End
Race
Category
01-Aug
05-Aug
Deutschland Tour
PTHC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Stylianos Farantakis
74
59
66
72
75
72
79
66
81
80
61
63
79
Anastasios Koumpetsos
74
67
73
56
76
73
82
58
76
76
74
71
56
Georgios Stavrakakis
76
61
68
75
74
70
66
77
64
68
70
62
77
Michail Kortsidakis
77
63
69
54
75
75
73
77
68
72
76
70
73
Georgios Boutopoulos
78
68
72
66
73
75
69
74
73
78
80
74
68
Alexander Edmondson
73
58
64
64
72
71
77
74
77
75
67
64
74
Danny Summerhill
74
62
69
55
70
66
60
79
66
67
77
69
55
Yikui Niu
72
74
72
67
76
69
75
56
74
74
73
70
67
Expectations: 100 pts | Another one of those races with plenty of chances for Farantakis, and a big fight in the ITT. We don't bring anyone for the GC as they are all in the Vineyards.
Start
End
Race
Category
07-Aug
11-Aug
Post Danmark Rundt
HC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Ioannis Spanopoulos
69
77
75
72
73
72
70
54
60
64
66
62
73
Nikolaos Ioannidis
67
75
73
78
76
74
73
57
58
70
72
67
76
Ioannidis Kiriakidis
68
74
73
78
72
73
74
62
63
71
70
73
76
Pangiotis Christapopoulos
73
62
73
78
72
72
66
62
62
69
75
66
77
Anastasios Koumpetsos
74
67
73
56
76
73
82
58
76
76
74
71
56
Alexandros Agrotis
72
75
71
74
76
72
75
63
65
68
71
70
75
Edoardo Affini
73
66
67
77
76
79
72
64
64
70
73
68
78
Yikui Niu
72
74
72
67
76
69
75
56
74
74
73
70
67
Expectations: 75 pts | A little bit of everything here, and with us having some decent riders that can do a bit of climbing, puncheuring and timetrialling. Could go either way.
Start
End
Race
Category
11-Aug
GP Kigali
C1
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Georgios Stavrakakis
76
61
68
75
74
70
66
77
64
68
70
62
77
Michail Kortsidakis
77
63
69
54
75
75
73
77
68
72
76
70
73
Georgios Boutopoulos
78
68
72
66
73
75
69
74
73
78
80
74
68
Alexander Edmondson
73
58
64
64
72
71
77
74
77
75
67
64
74
Danny Summerhill
74
62
69
55
70
66
60
79
66
67
77
69
55
Mats Wenzel
67
68
69
69
70
69
67
60
58
70
65
68
70
Edgar Andres Pinzon
65
68
67
55
69
72
67
59
64
67
66
64
55
Simon Dehairs
69
62
64
64
73
69
66
60
68
67
74
68
65
Expectations: 50 pts | A cobbled race. We are looking forward to that!
Start
End
Race
Category
13-Aug
Chrono d'Arenberg
PTHC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Georgios Stavrakakis
76
61
68
75
74
70
66
77
64
68
70
62
77
Danny Summerhill
74
62
69
55
70
66
60
79
66
67
77
69
55
Edoardo Affini
73
66
67
77
76
79
72
64
64
70
73
68
78
Expectations: 100 pts | Withouth Vlatos our chances of a victory have gotten quite a lot smaller, but Stavrakakis showed earlier that in a short cobbled TT he can win. Maybe he can get a top 5 here.
Start
End
Race
Category
18-Aug
20-Aug
Ras Tailteann
PTHC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Stylianos Farantakis
74
59
66
72
75
72
79
66
81
80
61
63
79
Anastasios Koumpetsos
74
67
73
56
76
73
82
58
76
76
74
71
56
Georgios Stavrakakis
76
61
68
75
74
70
66
77
64
68
70
62
77
Michail Kortsidakis
77
63
69
54
75
75
73
77
68
72
76
70
73
Georgios Boutopoulos
78
68
72
66
73
75
69
74
73
78
80
74
68
Alexander Edmondson
73
58
64
64
72
71
77
74
77
75
67
64
74
Danny Summerhill
74
62
69
55
70
66
60
79
66
67
77
69
55
Samuel Mugisha
76
64
70
74
70
74
71
63
62
68
74
64
68
Expectations: 100 pts | Flat, flat, flat. Let's hope for Farantakis to show his quality.
Start
End
Race
Category
22-Aug
Milano - Torino
HC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Michail Mavrikakis
70
79
72
71
74
73
69
54
61
67
63
64
71
Nikolaos Ioannidis
67
75
73
78
76
74
73
57
58
70
72
67
76
Zisis Soulious
69
74
75
66
76
75
69
51
71
78
63
76
66
Aimiliano Vila
70
71
77
64
70
73
74
54
67
74
76
69
64
Ioannis Varotsos
73
62
66
70
69
69
64
63
67
68
72
68
70
Andreas Miltiadis
68
75
75
67
70
71
66
68
61
75
67
68
67
Yikui Niu
72
74
72
67
76
69
75
56
74
74
73
70
67
Mats Wenzel
67
68
69
69
70
69
67
60
58
70
65
68
70
Expectations: 25 pts | We basically just need this race to be over with. We can maybe get lucky with Mavrikakis if the race is far more mountainous than hilly, but still a top 10 would be a huge surprise.
It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life...
Okay okay, that might be an over exageration, but it's new for us for sure - And we can't wait to get started.
We have a very strong experience with Grand Tours, having actually won them all, podiumed them all and done numerous top 10's in all of them, including a good handful of stagewins in all. But the Tour of America is something new entirely for us. We know that, despite getting HC points, this isn't a good decision PpRD wise, but we couldn't ignore the chance (hopefully once in a lifetime) to ride the 4th "Grand Tour". And by doing so we also have to dedicate into proving ourselves worthy of riding it.
We don't "come with all we have", but we do come with quite a lot! We present to you, our lineup for the race:
Start
End
Race
Category
02-Sep
22-Sep
Tour of America
C1
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Miltiadis Giannoutsos
68
80
72
72
76
78
75
57
64
68
75
67
77
Michail Mavrikakis
70
79
72
71
74
73
69
54
61
67
63
64
71
Dimitrios Christakos
69
77
72
70
69
74
72
58
61
70
74
70
73
Zisis Soulious
69
74
75
66
76
75
69
51
71
78
63
76
66
Aimiliano Vila
70
71
77
64
70
73
74
54
67
74
76
69
64
Ioannis Varotsos
73
62
66
70
69
69
64
63
67
68
72
68
70
Alexander Edmondson
73
58
64
64
72
71
77
74
77
75
67
64
74
Mats Wenzel
67
68
69
69
70
69
67
60
58
70
65
68
70
We considered bringing an all-greek lineup to the race, but we ended up deciding against it in the end to bring the best possible setup for the race. With Giannoutsos we have a top 5 candidate for the race, and with Mavrikakis, Christakos and Soulious he should have the sufficient backup to get a good result, hopefully Mavrikakis can join in and fight for a top 10-15 himself.
Edmondson is here to attempt to participate in the sprints, and while he probably isn't strong enough to win any stages, we do hope he is strong enough to get regular top 10 results in the flatter stages.
With Vila and Soulious we should have solid backup in the hills for Giannoutsos, and maybe one of them can go on the breakaway and claim a solid result in a stage or two.
Despite us normally having a very competitive TTT setup at this level, we have decided against going for the win on the relatively short TTT. Hopefully we will get by even if 1-2 minutes is lost there. In case it should ruin the GC for us we would be very unhappy with our decision, but we don't see that being the case prior to the race.
Let's take a look at the race from a week-to-week perspective given our lineup:
The race starts out with a flat run in, where we hope to see a strong result from Edmondson. The same can be said about stage 3. Stage 2 and 4 should - on paper - be suited well for the likes of Soulious and Vila, but we expect them to fight mainly for Giannoutsos and Mavrikakis to avoid any stupid gaps.
On stage 5 and 7 we need our GC riders to stay alert and make sure the race is not lost, while the 6th stage TTT could see us drop quite low in the GC, which is something we hope to take exploit from on stage 7 and further on in the race - should we be given the lee-way!
Week 2 is where the race could settle in, as we have hard mountains on stage 8 and 11. Stage 9, 12 and 13 are yet again with Edmondson in focus, while we could see stage 10 going to a breakaway specialist. This is where we hope to see the likes of Vila and Soulious trying. Stage 14 is an easy stage ending in a hard ramp. On paper it is one for the puncheurs, but I suspect it will be more for the GC riders with a good final kick.
The final week start out quite similar, but could go to a breakaway given the bumps on the way, before another flat stage on stage 16. Stage 17 and 18 could make for huge time differences as we have a mountainnous TT aswell as a monster climbing day with almost 245km in the saddle. Solid recovery is needed here.
Stage 19 is the last chance for Edmondson, before the final two days of madness. First a relatively long ITT, that require full focus from the GC riders, before ending in a 200km mountainstage on the very last day. What a drama we are looking at.
The route isn't perfect for us by any means, but we can see enough chaos lurking for us to be intruiged. We don't expect a great race with a huge points haul, but we a really looking forward to the race nontheless, and hope we can play an instrumental part in the outcome one way or another.
Appreciate the race analysis and you taking it on to complete your set. Hopefully you can break the trend of ToA and promotion.
Your team is similar to mine, but I focus on the TTT more and hill support less. Agree the Fuji stage will be important. Slopes aren't that steep on stage 21 so maybe not big gaps. Just wonder about breakaway craziness.
Appreciate the race analysis and you taking it on to complete your set. Hopefully you can break the trend of ToA and promotion.
Your team is similar to mine, but I focus on the TTT more and hill support less. Agree the Fuji stage will be important. Slopes aren't that steep on stage 21 so maybe not big gaps. Just wonder about breakaway craziness.
Thanks a lot mate
I suspect you will be there for Yates this time around? And obviously Haller and Narvaez would have been easy picks for me if I had those, given how the route is.
The Greek culture revolves around Gods, Heroes and Titans - but only a few rare archetypes get's to be one. And we have a new one ready!
On the top of the hiearchy - the one and only ever Titan - Panagiotis Vlatos. He is still active, riding at the Pro Tour - likely for the last season. Behind him we find the now pensioned top riders Georgos Tzortzakis and Charalampas Kastrantas. For quite some time they have been the only Gods. But behold...
Miltiadis Giannoutsos!
After winning the Tour de Vineyards, Giannoutsos smashed in the wall to become the only 4th ever rider to beat the Hero Rankings. With 1591 points he is now actively chasing Kastrantas with 1674 points. And having two key races left, that seems like a realistic target. Catching Tzortzakis with his 1947 points seems like a future goal however.
We welcome you, the God: Giannoutsos!
Stylianos Farantakis is the sole rider actively chasing a spot among the Gods as he trails the rank by 236 points. It will be difficult for him to reach that this season, but he could come close enough to target it in the Q1 of the upcoming season.
In the lower ranks we can also welcome Georgios Stavrakakis as the newest member of the Greek Heroes, where he joins the likes of:
- Stylianos Farantakis
- Nikolaos Ioannidis
- Michail Mavrikakis
- Michail Kortsidakis
- Georgios Karatzios
- Ioannis Spanopoulos
- Ioannidis Kiriakidis
Other riders with an honorable mention in that regard is Andreas Miltiadis and Georgios Boutopoulos who have both broken the 400 points barrier and could, in theory, make it into the above mentioned category if they get a top result somewhere. More realistic is a welcome in the upcoming season.
Both 1st and 2nd quarter were above expectation, accumulating to 383 points above our pre-season expectation of 3000 points. If the same difference were to continue we would end in roughly 3750 points at the end of the season. We did however reason down towards 3400-3600 points due to the relative high performance scoring from numerous one-day races, whereas the final half of the season would see a heavy GC aspect, also including the RD heavy Tour of America.
It haven't stopped us from yet again delivering a month above expectations though, much to our own surprise. We came into our Q4 expecting to score 950 points, but ended up delivering an impressive 1165 points. The difference in relation to the expected points continue to be very very consistent! Between a factor of 21,5 and 23,5% overperforming each quarter, throughout the entire season.
Something could indicate that we have gotten our projections right, but underestimating the points potential at the lower level. If we continue to score aproximately 22% more, than we anticipated we are going to end up with 3.660 points at the end. Not far off our adjusted target of 3400-3600. Fortunately for us, that is in the upper spectrum of the expected, which should be enough for promotion.
Q3 status:
Thorshavn GP
EXP: 50pts
ACT: 20pts
Arab Tour
EXP: 100pts
ACT: 157pts
Benelux Challenge
EXP: 50pts
ACT: 43pts
Philadelphia Int. Champ.
EXP: 75pts
ACT: 44pts
Tour of Slovenie
EXP: 75pts
ACT: 101pts
Tour de Vineyards
EXP: 150pts
ACT: 310pts
Deutschland Tour
EXP: 100pts
ACT: 52pts
Post Danmark Rundt
EXP: 75pts
ACT: 171pts
GP Kigali
EXP: 50pts
ACT: 55pts
Chrono d'Arenberg
EXP: 100pts
ACT: 46pts
Ras Tailteann
EXP: 100pts
ACT: 160pts
Milano - Torino
EXP: 25pts
ACT: 6pts
STATUS
EXP: 950pts
ACT: 1165pts
The season is coming to an end sooner rather than later at this point, with only September and October left in the Pro Continental Tour Calender. We have 8 races left to ride, with a couple of interesting races, and - unfortunately - a bunch of not too great fits for us. But let's see what we can make from it! Or atleast, where our expectations are.
September Racing
September could be a huge month for us - atleast this is where we look at the highest scoring potential. We have 5 of our 8 races here, with the already started Tour of America as our best option to claw us into the expected ~3600 points area!
Start
End
Race
Category
02-Sep
22-Sep
Tour of America
C1
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Miltiadis Giannoutsos
68
80
72
72
76
78
75
57
64
68
75
67
77
Michail Mavrikakis
70
79
72
71
74
73
69
54
61
67
63
64
71
Dimitrios Christakos
69
77
72
70
69
74
72
58
61
70
74
70
73
Zisis Soulious
69
74
75
66
76
75
69
51
71
78
63
76
66
Aimiliano Vila
70
71
77
64
70
73
74
54
67
74
76
69
64
Ioannis Varotsos
73
62
66
70
69
69
64
63
67
68
72
68
70
Alexander Edmondson
73
58
64
64
72
71
77
74
77
75
67
64
74
Mats Wenzel
67
68
69
69
70
69
67
60
58
70
65
68
70
Expectations: 160 pts | Due to having already have the racing announced and started we believe it is more likely that we will end up scoring between 250-350 points from this race, rather than 160 points. But this was our initial estimate, so we will keep that for transparency. We expect a solid race from a lot of our riders, and with limited teams participating we have a good shot at succeeding, despite of a rather uninteresting pointsharvest from the first week.
Start
End
Race
Category
13-Sep
GP Plouay
C2
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Pangiotis Christapopoulos
73
62
73
78
72
72
66
62
62
69
75
66
77
Ioannis Varotsos
73
62
66
70
69
69
64
63
67
68
72
68
70
Andreas Miltiadis
68
75
75
67
70
71
66
68
61
75
67
68
67
Edoardo Affini
73
66
67
77
76
79
72
64
64
70
73
68
78
Samuel Mugisha
76
64
70
74
70
74
71
63
62
68
74
64
68
Yikui Niu
72
74
72
67
76
69
75
56
74
74
73
70
67
Edgar Andres Pinzon
65
68
67
55
69
72
67
59
64
67
66
64
55
Simon Dehairs
69
62
64
64
73
69
66
60
68
67
74
68
65
Expectations: 10 pts | A C2 race ridden simultanously with the Tour of America, can't possibly give us a great chance. It's a long, flat but bumpy race. We are basically hoping that Niu can survive a hard race or maybe Mugisha, Affini, Christapopoulos or Miltiadis can somehow find themselves in a winning break to score a bit of points. Expectations are low, reality likely even worse.
Start
End
Race
Category
22-Sep
26-Sep
La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
C1
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Stylianos Farantakis
74
59
66
72
75
72
79
66
81
80
61
63
79
Anastasios Koumpetsos
74
67
73
56
76
73
82
58
76
76
74
71
56
Ioannidis Kiriakidis
68
74
73
78
72
73
74
62
63
71
70
73
76
Pangiotis Christapopoulos
73
62
73
78
72
72
66
62
62
69
75
66
77
Georgios Stavrakakis
76
61
68
75
74
70
66
77
64
68
70
62
77
Edoardo Affini
73
66
67
77
76
79
72
64
64
70
73
68
78
Edgar Andres Pinzon
65
68
67
55
69
72
67
59
64
67
66
64
55
Simon Dehairs
69
62
64
64
73
69
66
60
68
67
74
68
65
Expectations: 75 pts | Two short timetrials and 3 flat stages. On paper a perfect race for Farantakis, and some depth points from our timetriallists - but we have seen way too many times how Farantakis avoids scoring bonus seconds, and thus eliminates himself from contention. And depth points are difficult to come by at C1 level, hence the expected score. Still 75 points does count for somewhere between 2nd and 3rd in the GC - which we won't get so stage results are needed.
Start
End
Race
Category
28-Sep
Tour of the Battenkill
PTHC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Georgios Stavrakakis
76
61
68
75
74
70
66
77
64
68
70
62
77
Michail Kortsidakis
77
63
69
54
75
75
73
77
68
72
76
70
73
Georgios Boutopoulos
78
68
72
66
73
75
69
74
73
78
80
74
68
Dimitrios Christakos
69
77
72
70
69
74
72
58
61
70
74
70
73
Ioannis Varotsos
73
62
66
70
69
69
64
63
67
68
72
68
70
Andreas Miltiadis
68
75
75
67
70
71
66
68
61
75
67
68
67
Samuel Mugisha
76
64
70
74
70
74
71
63
62
68
74
64
68
Yikui Niu
72
74
72
67
76
69
75
56
74
74
73
70
67
Expectations: 70 pts | A very tough cobbled race, ridden at the same time as Rheden GP. We hope for a reasonably low amount of competition due to the difficult character of the race, and to hopefully benefit from having a strong depth in Kortsidakis and Boutopoulos in particular.
Start
End
Race
Category
28-Sep
Rheden GP
PTHC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Pangiotis Christapopoulos
73
62
73
78
72
72
66
62
62
69
75
66
77
Zisis Soulious
69
74
75
66
76
75
69
51
71
78
63
76
66
Aimiliano Vila
70
71
77
64
70
73
74
54
67
74
76
69
64
Alexander Edmondson
73
58
64
64
72
71
77
74
77
75
67
64
74
Danny Summerhill
74
62
69
55
70
66
60
79
66
67
77
69
55
Edoardo Affini
73
66
67
77
76
79
72
64
64
70
73
68
78
Mats Wenzel
67
68
69
69
70
69
67
60
58
70
65
68
70
Luke Lamperti
69
64
69
57
68
69
68
60
67
67
63
65
58
Expectations: 50 pts | The other end of the double-header cobbled races is the more traditional - and less endurant - Rheden. Summerhill and Edmondson come here in the attempt to sneak away a solid result. We don't really have any ambition in where to perform the best, but we hope to score around 100-150 points from the two races combined, which might be difficult. We did score 116 in Roma Maxima though.
Oktober Racing
The final 3 races of the season, and there is a little bit of everything here except for the cobbles which we recently finished in September. GC in Japan, Flat in Paris and our least favorite discipline in the hilly Italy.
Start
End
Race
Category
01-Oct
06-Oct
Tour of Japan
HC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Miltiadis Giannoutsos
68
80
72
72
76
78
75
57
64
68
75
67
77
Ioannis Spanopoulos
69
77
75
72
73
72
70
54
60
64
66
62
73
Nikolaos Ioannidis
67
75
73
78
76
74
73
57
58
70
72
67
76
Dimitrios Christakos
69
77
72
70
69
74
72
58
61
70
74
70
73
Aimiliano Vila
70
71
77
64
70
73
74
54
67
74
76
69
64
Alexandros Agrotis
72
75
71
74
76
72
75
63
65
68
71
70
75
Yikui Niu
72
74
72
67
76
69
75
56
74
74
73
70
67
Mats Wenzel
67
68
69
69
70
69
67
60
58
70
65
68
70
Expectations: 50 pts | A lot depends on the competition here. And it feels difficult to grasp just how those hills are going to be ridden. We have allround GC riders like Giannoutsos, Ioannidis and Agrotis here, we also have pure climber Christakos aswell as pure puncheur Vila here aswell as a well rounded GC rider in Spanopoulos, who might lose a bit too much in the TT's. Overall we think 50 points is a reasonable estimate, but we could come away with 0 or 150 points also.
Start
End
Race
Category
04-Oct
Paris Tours
C1
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Stylianos Farantakis
74
59
66
72
75
72
79
66
81
80
61
63
79
Anastasios Koumpetsos
74
67
73
56
76
73
82
58
76
76
74
71
56
Michail Kortsidakis
77
63
69
54
75
75
73
77
68
72
76
70
73
Georgios Boutopoulos
78
68
72
66
73
75
69
74
73
78
80
74
68
Zisis Soulious
69
74
75
66
76
75
69
51
71
78
63
76
66
Aimiliano Vila
70
71
77
64
70
73
74
54
67
74
76
69
64
Ioannis Varotsos
73
62
66
70
69
69
64
63
67
68
72
68
70
Samuel Mugisha
76
64
70
74
70
74
71
63
62
68
74
64
68
Edgar Andres Pinzon
65
68
67
55
69
72
67
59
64
67
66
64
55
Expectations: 50 pts | A flat one day race to end the season for Farantakis here, could go either way. If everything is perfect, he could win - more likely is somewhere around 5-10th, which would then give a worse result than the expected level. We need to end on a high - right Farantakis?
Start
End
Race
Category
18-Oct
Giro dell'Emilia
HC
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Michail Mavrikakis
70
79
72
71
74
73
69
54
61
67
63
64
71
Ioannis Spanopoulos
69
77
75
72
73
72
70
54
60
64
66
62
73
Zisis Soulious
69
74
75
66
76
75
69
51
71
78
63
76
66
Aimiliano Vila
70
71
77
64
70
73
74
54
67
74
76
69
64
Ioannis Varotsos
73
62
66
70
69
69
64
63
67
68
72
68
70
Andreas Miltiadis
68
75
75
67
70
71
66
68
61
75
67
68
67
Yikui Niu
72
74
72
67
76
69
75
56
74
74
73
70
67
Mats Wenzel
67
68
69
69
70
69
67
60
58
70
65
68
70
Expectations: 25 pts | And here we are. Ending the season in a low. There is nothing in the history of this race that should indicate that we will get away with our expected pointscore here which would require a 10th place. But it would be boring to finish out with expecting 5 points...
Edited by SotD on 16-05-2025 18:57
Appreciate the race analysis and you taking it on to complete your set. Hopefully you can break the trend of ToA and promotion.
Your team is similar to mine, but I focus on the TTT more and hill support less. Agree the Fuji stage will be important. Slopes aren't that steep on stage 21 so maybe not big gaps. Just wonder about breakaway craziness.
Thanks a lot mate
I suspect you will be there for Yates this time around? And obviously Haller and Narvaez would have been easy picks for me if I had those, given how the route is.
Nope Sosa. I think Yates would have been odds on favorite to win in this field but I couldn't know that and felt I couldn't risk 21 days. Plus this is the best opportunity to leverage Sosa's strong recovery. Yates will go to the Tour of Japan so we will be battling in Japan a lot these two months
Your call on the TTT being insignificant was right. Maybe Daniel was wasted in my team and I should have brough Warbasse. Need Narvaez to lead us in the hills so couldn't justify him here and didn't want to risk confusing the AI on the punchy stages.
Not a great first week for you but not a bad one. I think you go well above 350 points. All the stages so far have been more Sosa friendly, the Giannoutsos friendly stages are still to come and your GC depth is pretty good right now since we are doing all the chasing.
Sosa seems like the perfect fit for this race - atleast with that starting lineup
If Daniel didn't have super strong races I don't see it as a waste tbh. Had I known the race was this low on profiles I would have definately prioritized to bring riders like Affini, Mugisha and probably Agrotis too.
The first 9 stages have landed me 74 points. Before the season I would have said that was fine, but to have Giannoutsos in 4th still, missing our on a lot of GC points each day is a bit of a bummer. I really need him to claw into 2nd atleast in stage 11 to make him racing here worthwhile.
I think I will end up at aproximately 300 points looking at how things are going so far - which is OK. But the potential for scoring was so much higher
Well, not exactly, as October is still raging for us with three races: Tour of Japan Paris Tours Giro dell'Emilia
But some riders have now made it to the end of the road this season, and it is time to evaluate their efforts.
Ioannidis Kiriakidis
Expected season points: 200 pts
Actual season points: 209 pts
Key Moments:
#1 Isle of Man TTT
#6 Post Danmark Rundt
#13 Arab Tour
#14 Tour of Norway
We had reasonably high expectations towards our talented GC timetriallist, Ioannidis Kiriakidis, and he did not fail to deliver, although it was a long wait to get him there. Almost half his points was scored in Denmark, but also crowning a good race for him.
Panagiotis Christapopoulos
Expected season points: 75 pts
Actual season points: 184 pts
Key Moments:
#1 Isle of Man TTT
#7 Post Danmark Rundt
#11 Arab Tour
The expectations towards Christapopoulos was significantly lower than for teammated Kiriakidis, as they are similar in timetrials, but Kiriakidis is a much better climber. In the overall points haul, however this was difficult to see, as they delivered in the same races. Especially 7th in Post Danmark Rundt is a career defining moment for the newly maxed timetriallist. Expectations might have been too low, but he outperformed even our enhanced expectations.
Edoardo Affini
Expected season points: 75 pts
Actual season points: 70 pts
Key Moments:
#1 Isle of Man TTT
#15 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
#20 Arab Tour
The last loan in stint, saw Edoardo Affini join us in the attempt to try and succeed in the Team Time Trials. And he didn't dissapoint as he was part of the Isle of Man TTT win in the early season, but also a catalysator in the TTT win in Tour de Romandie which set the trail for a good team effort. He also played and instrumental part of taking 2nd in the Tour de Vineyards TTT which sealed Giannoutsos' first ever GC win. On the individual level it was so-and-so with the succes, but scoring almost exactly on par with the expected level we think it has been a very strong season, and a well timed loan-in to aid the team score a significant amount of points. We wish Affini all the best, when he returns to EA Vesuvio in a few days.
Georgios Stavrakakis
Expected season points: 150 pts
Actual season points: 184 pts
Key Moments:
#1 Isle of Man TTT
Stagewin, Baltic Chain Tour
#8 Le Samyn
#10 Chrono d'Arenberg
#14 Lilleström GP
#16 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
#17 Tour of the Battenkill
It has been a new dawn for Stavrakakis, normally being our lead cobbler, but now having to play 2nd or even 3rd violon over the course of the season. This could be seen in the cobbled result, but he just found a new way to improve, participating in the Isle of Man TTT win, aswell as picking up a prologue win in Baltic Chain Tour. The crown of the season should have been the Chrono d'Arenberg, but he didn't have the best of day, and only picked up 10th. Still he ended up beating our pre-season expectations, actually in a cobbled setup that had a signifciant boost in expectations towards them.
Danny Summerhill
Expected season points: 100 pts
Actual season points: 244 pts
Key Moments:
#2 Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne
#5 Roma Maxima
#9 Rheden GP
#10 Le Samyn
#12 Lilleström GP
#14 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
#16 GP Kigali
What a remarkable season from Danny Summerhill! He was picked up from the FA pool relatively late, where no one else seemed to wanting to target him due to old age. We spotted a weakness in the division, and decided to jump at him investing a heavy risk of him removing greater odds for more well rounded and younger cobblers like Stavrakakis, Kortsidakis and Boutopoulos, but we have absolutely no regrets, as he is easily our key pick up this season! Unlike the aforementioned riders, he didn't have a lot of team effort needed, we just had to see what a free role could achieve. And take a look at that list of key moments now! Danny has announced his retirement from the team at the end of the season.
Alexander Edmondson
Expected season points: 75 pts
Actual season points: 75 pts
Key Moments:
Stagewin, Tour of America
#20 Rheden GP
Similarly to Summerhill, no one seemed all that interested in cobbled sprinter, Alexander Edmondson, which was a great treat for us, as we needed depth in the cobbles aswell as a leadout for Farantakis. The expectations were not particularly high as Edmondson would rarely get his own chances, but he did play a vital role in our teams succes throughout the season. It was towards the very end of the season, however, he showed that when given a chance he delivers. He played it perfectly and took the teams only stagewin in Tour of America, and just when he needed 12 points to cover his expectations he landed exactly that in Rheden GP - The last race of his season. Alexander is still on the team at the end of the season, but has expressed interest in joining a team where his role is a little more significant.
As always the team bring a lot of talents to the table, and try to promote their chances to showcase themselves within the team. This season is no different. We have two greek/cypriot riders - cobblers - who are taking their final steps into the first team this season and we are very happy for that. The initial plan is to have them replace Danny Summerhill and Alexander Edmondson whom are both looking elsewhere for their future.
Alex Mengoulas
4.100
28yo
Cobbler
€50.000
Fl
Mo
Hi
TT
St
Rs
Rc
Co
Sp
Ac
Fi
Dh
Pr
74
65
69
73
74
71
67
73
65
74
73
68
73
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
76
65
69
75
76
72
68
75
65
74
73
68
75
INFO: Mengoulas is a well rounded cobbler, who is also a strong roulleur aswell as timetriallist. In many ways he resembles Georgios Stavrakakis, and the duo will help eachother during the upcoming season.
Alexandros Matsangos
4.100
26yo
Cobbler
€55.000
Fl
Mo
Hi
TT
St
Rs
Rc
Co
Sp
Ac
Fi
Dh
Pr
71
68
69
70
73
70
62
74
61
68
66
67
70
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
73
68
70
71
74
71
63
75
62
69
67
67
71
INFO: On a slightly lower scale, but with similar strengths we find Matsangos, who is even more versatile, but lacks the engine of Mengoulas. Matsangos too will likely ride the same races as Stavrakakis and Mengoulas for support.
Panagiotis Karatsivis
4.70
23yo
Stage Racer
€55.000
Fl
Mo
Hi
TT
St
Rs
Rc
Co
Sp
Ac
Fi
Dh
Pr
69
74
70
68
70
72
71
60
64
73
73
67
67
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
70
76
72
70
72
74
73
60
64
74
74
67
69
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
70
78
74
70
72
75
74
60
64
76
76
67
69
INFO: Karatsivis is easily the biggest talents to come through in recent years, and a very young one also. He is taking major steps towards being a useful leader. For the upcoming season he is a luxury domestique, and might be looking to get a decent U25 result here and there.
Martinos Moutsios
4.30
23yo
Time-Triallist
€50.000
Fl
Mo
Hi
TT
St
Rs
Rc
Co
Sp
Ac
Fi
Dh
Pr
71
61
62
73
71
70
65
65
66
72
70
66
73
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
73
61
63
76
73
71
67
65
68
73
70
67
76
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
74
63
64
78
75
72
69
65
68
73
70
67
78
INFO: The timetrial department of the team is very strong, and with Moutsious coming through the ranks it's not looking likely to be changing anytime soon. Just like Karatsivis he lacks one more year of development before he is ready to take lead action, but he too could be a decent U25 fit.
Ioannis Varotsos
3.00
22yo
Roulleur
€100.000
Fl
Mo
Hi
TT
St
Rs
Rc
Co
Sp
Ac
Fi
Dh
Pr
73
62
66
70
69
69
64
63
67
68
72
68
70
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
76
62
66
73
71
71
66
63
69
69
72
68
73
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
80
62
68
77
74
74
69
63
71
70
73
68
77
INFO: The pure engine of Varotsos is impressive, and he will already be a very useful asset in both leadouts and timetrials coming next season, but there is even more waiting. Just like the two aforementioned riders we are yet to see him fully develop.
Kees Duyvesteyn
4.100
26yo
Puncheur
€50.000
Fl
Mo
Hi
TT
St
Rs
Rc
Co
Sp
Ac
Fi
Dh
Pr
68
68
75
65
67
70
67
60
64
74
73
67
65
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
68
70
77
65
67
71
68
60
64
76
75
67
65
INFO: The young puncheur, Duyvesteyn moves directly in as our lead puncheur after this development. He is a very aggressive puncheur who fancies the early break, in shorter stages. He seems to be very well suited for chasing stagewins and KOMs in the early week of a GT or in shorter GC races.
Mats Wenzel
3.00
22yo
Stage Racer
€50.000
Fl
Mo
Hi
TT
St
Rs
Rc
Co
Sp
Ac
Fi
Dh
Pr
67
68
69
69
70
69
67
60
58
70
65
68
70
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
67
71
70
71
72
71
70
60
58
70
65
68
72
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
68
75
72
74
75
74
74
60
58
71
65
68
75
INFO: Wenzel is a ridertype very similar to our own Agrotis, who comes from a very succesful PCT season. He is a perfect fit for any GC aspirating team, and we can't wait to get him developped even further. He is probably a year further away from individual succes compared to the above.
Edgar Andres Pinzon
2.00
23yo
Climber
€10.000
Fl
Mo
Hi
TT
St
Rs
Rc
Co
Sp
Ac
Fi
Dh
Pr
65
68
67
55
69
72
67
59
64
67
66
64
55
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
65
70
67
55
69
73
68
59
64
68
67
65
55
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
66
76
73
57
71
77
72
59
64
73
72
65
57
INFO: Pinzon joined the team on a very late stagiare contract. It was a big surprise for us to sign him uncontested given the amount of interest there normally is around South american riders. He is a very talented climber, who would fit in any team with breakaway ambitions.
Simon Dehairs
2.00
23yo
Roulleur
€10.000
Fl
Mo
Hi
TT
St
Rs
Rc
Co
Sp
Ac
Fi
Dh
Pr
69
62
64
64
73
69
66
60
68
67
74
68
65
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
70
62
64
64
74
69
67
60
69
68
74
68
65
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
76
62
67
66
78
72
71
63
73
72
76
68
67
INFO: The last rider to undergo further development, is the young belgian roulleur, Dehairs who was also signed on a stagiare contract. Dehairs can be a solid leadout rider with a big engine some years out.
Greek development always continues. Karatsivis obviously the standout but also the TTT core is growing even further. Obvioudly Varotsos is also someone i need to highlight as a rider i like a lot
INFO: The young puncheur, Duyvesteyn moves directly in as our lead puncheur after this development. He is a very aggressive puncheur who fancies the early break, in shorter stages. He seems to be very well suited for chasing stagewins and KOMs in the early week of a GT or in shorter GC races.
Well, guess I'm glad my ToA prediction about being important for the title hopes were right after all, although you didn't seem to believe them
Some great talent update as well, which is lovely to notice. Some strong depth and leader material for the Greeks, combined with the training you've been doing it shows how much of a powerhouse the country has become. At the same time you picked up some very useful riders such as Wenzel, to either sell or keep as a valuable asset for later as well. The future of MG thanks you!
Roma Maxima
Lincoln GP
Veenendaal - Veenendaal
Lisbon Classic
Dwars door Vlaanderen
Tour de Romandie
Baltic Chain Tour
Hanko Classic
Criterium du Dauphine Libere
Tour of California
STATUS
Torshavn GP
Arab Tour
Tour of Slovenia
Tour de Vineyards
Deutschland Tour
Post Danmark Rundt
Ras Tailteann
La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
Tour of Japan
