The last wannabe major country to win - 2016

[quiqui]

Since there were so many calls for Portugal to be included in the "last major country to win" poll, here is a poll with some realistic competition for the Portuguese.

Countries included are based on 1) having not won yet this year, and 2) number of wins and top tens last year. Only individual wins in .1 races or above and continental championships count. National championships don't count.

Now I'll probably have to brace myself for offended Canadians who didn't even make it into this poll...

 

[staubsauger]

Luxembourg, CSSR and perhaps even Persia are all rich of a more or less historical cycling culture.

Don't like the wannabe term. Especially regarding Czechoslovakia & Luxembourg.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

well, it won't be Iran.
Going with Slovakia,

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Slovakia lol

 

[TMP402]

Damn. Thought Ukraine were out, but they're not even on the list!

 

[Jancouver]

Re:

Slovakia lol

My estimation for Slovakia at the Tour of California ... thats the only place where Sagan does not face elite sprinters and some of the stages are perhaps even designed for him.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

Slovakia lol

My estimation for Slovakia at the Tour of California ... thats the only place where Sagan does not face elite sprinters and some of the stages are perhaps even designed for him.

In his 6 years as a pro, the latest Sagan has won his first victory of the season is in March.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I think I'm going with Kazakhstan here. I could see them going the whole season without winning. Estonia would be my second choice and then probably Luxembourg.

 

[May0maniac]

I voted for New Zealand.

 

[Jancouver]

Re: Re:

Slovakia lol

My estimation for Slovakia at the Tour of California ... thats the only place where Sagan does not face elite sprinters and some of the stages are perhaps even designed for him.

In his 6 years as a pro, the latest Sagan has won his first victory of the season is in March.

I hope so, but this year he is wearing the rainbow jersey!

 

[quiqui]

Here is the current country ranking, with countries in the poll bolded. New Zealand has most top tens so far and has a good chance at a win in the Oceania Championships in early March. South Africa likewise will have a good chance in the African championships in late February.

10 - France (115), Australia (63)
6 - Italy (103), Great Britain (32)
5 - Netherlands (22), Germany (11)
4 - Belgium (52), Norway (12)
3 - Colombia (27)
2 - Spain (46), Argentina (14), Hong Kong (2), Ukraine (2)
1 - Switzerland (12), Belarus (9), Morocco (9), Ireland (7), Slovenia (6), USA (5)
0 - Eritrea (16), Russia (14), New Zealand (11), Poland (9), Denmark (6), Slovakia (6), Canada (5), Czech Republic (5), Lithuania (5), Japan (4), Rwanda (4), South Korea (4), Costa Rica (3), Iran (3), Algeria (2), Brazil (2), Kazakhstan (2), Mongolia (2), Portugal (2), Romania (2), Taiwan (2), Uruguay (2), Austria (1), Estonia (1), Ethiopia (1), India (1), Kyrgyzstan (1), Latvia (1), Luxembourg (1), South Africa (1), Uzbekistan (1), Vietnam (1)

 

[quiqui]

Luxembourg is the first one out.

 

[Catwhoorg]

Voted Austria.

 

[TMP402]

Czech Rep out - Vakoc wins Classic Sud Ardeche.

 

[quiqui]

South Africa now also out.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Kazachstan out?

 

[TMP402]

Re:

Kazachstan out?

Yes!

 

[del1962]

Iran will probably be out by this time tomorrow

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Czech out with Stybi right?
So Slovakia is still in it!

 

[carolina]

portugal will take this!

 

[TMP402]

Re:

Czech out with Stybi right?
So Slovakia is still in it!

Well, they were out with Vakoc some time ago.

 

[RedheadDane]

Looks like Slovakia is out.
Though not with the guy I guess most people had suspected.

 

[quiqui]

Estonia beat Austria in Trentino. Four countries remain: Austria, Iran, New Zealand and Portugal.

 

[TMP402]

And the following day Austria exit the competition with Zoidl in Croatia!

 

[quiqui]

Portugal have now saved themselves from the potential embarrassment of winning this. It'll now probably go to New Zealand, because it's very unlikely that Iran won't win within the next two weeks.