Oops I didn't realize when I just posted my update that the Cadel race is in this week's CQ catchment and so will be included on the next update, so it's not just Gabon.
Anyway, here's what I have to look forward to:
Cadel Race
Kristoffer Halvorsen
Pavel Sivakov
Benoit Cosnefroy
Alberto Bettiol
Dan McLay
Ben O'Connor
This is exactly the kind of race I am hoping Cosnefroy will be a factor in. He got banged up in TdU and still went on the attack a couple of days later, so I expect he could be fine. Other than that, I guess Bettiol should be a one-day guy but his results in TdU weren't exactly convincing of good form. Halvorsen is likely not getting to the end in the leading group and I'd say McLay's chances are only slightly better. It's Sivakov's first race of the season and I didn't pick him or O'Connor for their one-day potential, so I'll be pleasantly surprised with anything more than finishing points from them.
San Juan
Remco Evenepoel
Petr Vakoc
Rudy Barbier
Mark Cavendish
Fernando Gaviria
A lot of interesting possibilities here, in terms of our first glimpses at riders that I'm not entirely sure how they'll do this year. Our first look at young Merckx or whatever in the pros, which I'm excited to see just because of all the times I looked at his results last year and was tempted to imagine how that might possibly translate to the highest level. I think it's most likely that he'll over-eagerly pull uphill for Alaphilippe, blow away most of the riders, and enthusiastically push it until he blows up and soft pedals to the end. So it's not that I expect points, just the first step of a career that I'm curious how much it can live up to the hype. Vakoc - well, it's kind of amazing he's pushed ahead his debut time, but again, don't expect much results wise from this race, more that I wanna get assurance he's not going to DNF stage 2 and show he'll never be back to the pro level. Cavendish is a less dire case, but he has had a goddamn rough couple of years, and he could be washed or he could be 'back' (meaning he'll be good but obviously not where he was in 2016 because aging, but could show the last couple of years were below his level). Barbier is in a new season with new responsibilities and a new team. Gaviria similarly, although I have more certainty he'll do well.
Love the start of the season!
Anyway, here's what I have to look forward to:
Cadel Race
Kristoffer Halvorsen
Pavel Sivakov
Benoit Cosnefroy
Alberto Bettiol
Dan McLay
Ben O'Connor
This is exactly the kind of race I am hoping Cosnefroy will be a factor in. He got banged up in TdU and still went on the attack a couple of days later, so I expect he could be fine. Other than that, I guess Bettiol should be a one-day guy but his results in TdU weren't exactly convincing of good form. Halvorsen is likely not getting to the end in the leading group and I'd say McLay's chances are only slightly better. It's Sivakov's first race of the season and I didn't pick him or O'Connor for their one-day potential, so I'll be pleasantly surprised with anything more than finishing points from them.
San Juan
Remco Evenepoel
Petr Vakoc
Rudy Barbier
Mark Cavendish
Fernando Gaviria
A lot of interesting possibilities here, in terms of our first glimpses at riders that I'm not entirely sure how they'll do this year. Our first look at young Merckx or whatever in the pros, which I'm excited to see just because of all the times I looked at his results last year and was tempted to imagine how that might possibly translate to the highest level. I think it's most likely that he'll over-eagerly pull uphill for Alaphilippe, blow away most of the riders, and enthusiastically push it until he blows up and soft pedals to the end. So it's not that I expect points, just the first step of a career that I'm curious how much it can live up to the hype. Vakoc - well, it's kind of amazing he's pushed ahead his debut time, but again, don't expect much results wise from this race, more that I wanna get assurance he's not going to DNF stage 2 and show he'll never be back to the pro level. Cavendish is a less dire case, but he has had a goddamn rough couple of years, and he could be washed or he could be 'back' (meaning he'll be good but obviously not where he was in 2016 because aging, but could show the last couple of years were below his level). Barbier is in a new season with new responsibilities and a new team. Gaviria similarly, although I have more certainty he'll do well.
Love the start of the season!
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