Teams & Riders EF Pro Cycling

[Samu Cuenca]

So, their special edition Giro jersey is not quite at the level of Ducks:

Wow, I didn't know they had attracted a new Danish sponsor, too.

 

[Potomac]

I know it is only May in the first season of a three year cycle. But EF needs to pay attention to the UCI points table.
They have had some ups a downs, but too many downs of late.
As I write they are officially in 19th place.

With Carapaz out of the Giro, I don't see them scoring a lot of points

 

[Potomac]

EF Giro line up per PCS.
It speaks for itself.

• 41CEPEDA Jefferson Alexander
• 42BATTISTELLA Samuele
• 43BELOKI Markel*
• 44MIHKELS Madis*
• 45RAFFERTY Darren*
• 46SHAW James
• 47VALGREN Michael
• 48VAN DER LEE Jardi Christiaan*

 

[Potomac]

What are they going to do with that lineup in the Giro?
Stage hunt?
There's no GC podium candidate in that bunch. Cepeda was in the top 10 in Romandie but fell to 16th on the final day.
Beloki finished 13 in GC for Basque country.
They need UCI points or they will fall further down the rankings.

 

[Coop]

It's going to have to be nothing but breakaways. Mihkels maybe wins a sprint from a small group, but certainly not in a large one. Valgren is a decent bet to snag a breakaway win. Maybe somebody will sniff the top 20 in GC, but no real threats at all

 

[Potomac]

It's going to have to be nothing but breakaways. Mihkels maybe wins a sprint from a small group, but certainly not in a large one. Valgren is a decent bet to snag a breakaway win. Maybe somebody will sniff the top 20 in GC, but no real threats at all

Well he took 5th, which is pretty good.

 

[Coop]

Well he took 5th, which is pretty good.

That was all him too. He didn't have a teammate near him in the last 3+ KM. He did well to position himself before the crash!

 

[Potomac]

One week later and EF still in the relagation zone per the official UCI ranking.
Note: the UCI updates their rankings on Tuesdays, and for stage races they don't include points the race until it is complete.

 

[Coop]

Could there be a sleeper top 10 for GC? I do feel that Mihkels sprint chances improved after today, and he looks to be on good form. Valgren was in the final bunch today, but I still think he needs a true breakaway for a win.

 

[dampframme]

Could there be a sleeper top 10 for GC?

For Cepeda I think that's too much, but he'll be in the top 20 I guess. Maybe Beloki surprises us?

 

[Potomac]

For Cepeda I think that's too much, but he'll be in the top 20 I guess. Maybe Beloki surprises us?

I like the Beloki idea. But with so many other GC guys not participating from the start and the loss some others...maybe he can get decent result.

 

[Coop]

Beloki sitting at 11 now. Let's see how the kid does over 3 weeks!

 

[Coop]

Not bad on the TT, sitting in 10th now.

 

[Potomac]

Not bad on the TT, sitting in 10th now.

17th for Beloki in long flat WT level time trial. I did not see that coming and thought he would lose GC position, not gain a spot.
This is only his 2nd GT, he finished 50th in last years Vuelta. It looks like he can improve on that quite a bit for the Giro if he avoids disaster.

 

[Netserk]

hard to see him allowed to gain time in a break again , at least this week

 

[Potomac]

hard to see him allowed to gain time in a break again , at least this week

dammit...I forgot about that.

 

[Coop]

I may have my hopes set a little too high for Beloki. EF have no excuse but to be animating every breakaway now!

 

[Sciatic]

What a desultory performance by EF this Giro.

 

[Coop]

What a desultory performance by EF this Giro.

Is the worst GT performance they've ever had to this point?

 

[Sciatic]

Is the worst GT performance they've ever had to this point?

I don’t know for sure, but worst I can remember, and essentially no shot to win any type of stage.

 

[Potomac]

That looked really bad for Beloki.

 

[Potomac]

Still no official UCI points during the Giro, but they are among the worst performing teams there.
With Beloki dropping so far down on GC that a fair amount of points went with him.

 

[Potomac]

Yikes. With Valgren's win today maybe not so bad a Giro.

 

[Coop]

It's going to have to be nothing but breakaways. Mihkels maybe wins a sprint from a small group, but certainly not in a large one. Valgren is a decent bet to snag a breakaway win. Maybe somebody will sniff the top 20 in GC, but no real threats at all

Lucky guess I suppose!

 

[Peter von]

Lucky guess I suppose!

Coop the Prophet!