Tour de l'Avenir (2.NCup) 23.08 - 30.08

[DNP-Old]

FYI, the Colombian team is starting in the GP Capodarco on Saturday, I believe. So hopefully, we'll be able to catch an early glimpse of their dominance. Things could get very interesting:

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

To have four MTFs in a row but no real ITT is absolutely ridicilous.

Vervaeke is a pro with Lotto Belisol since July 6th.

He can participate nevertheless at the Avenir as long as he's in the U23 category.

 

[Ruudz0r]

No mater the hype about Colombians, Konrad and Verveake will still the big favoruites.

Konrad the most experienced, and with results in pro races already. Verveake domnating the U23 French stage races, he'll be ready for this.

Konrad is to old and he will ride the USA Pro Challenge (as a trainee for NetApp). I believe Muhlberger will also do the USA Pro Challenge so not ride Avenir which is a shame as he is a talented rider would have loved to see him in Avenir, I think he is much more talented then Konrad.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Then it's even a really good result to finish second in Juventud. In Europe perhaps you can be a good till decent climber.

I'm meaning more that Gaviria is fast (due to his track history also), but can go over a climb relatively well.

gaviria is good in shorter climbs. he is also build heavily. his real strenght is his roulering skill. he is the best rouleur in colombia domestically alreayd and just 19

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

First time to race in Europe, I suppose? It is always difficult. Not only in roads and racing style, but also food and bacterias etcetera.

yes this will be interesting. no experience at all in europe and same for most of the colombian team. so maybe they will all crash and fail as well.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I thought Contreras was more of a tt'er and roleur and not a climber? Really strong squad though. Hope they are on form.

conteras is very tall. bit like soler but more muscle. he is a climber in essence but also good itt for colombia and rouleuring. the thing is he's tall and heavy relativlely so he should be good in flat. same with soler. the colombian squad this year in general is very tall for colombian proportions all are betwene 181 and 188 except lopez who is very small around 170

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

No mater the hype about Colombians, Konrad and Verveake will still the big favoruites.

Konrad the most experienced, and with results in pro races already. Verveake domnating the U23 French stage races, he'll be ready for this.

konrad is too old and seriously vervaeke?

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

German team totally focuses on Herklotz:

Maximilian Schachmann
Emanuel Buchmann
Silvio Herklotz
Matthias Plarre
Jonas Koch
Mario Vogt

So no Bauhaus, which is a shame.

 

[VO2 Max]

Zappi's Pro Cycling announced Dan Pearson will ride in the GB team. He's a little climber from Wales and rode competently for top-10 in Aosta although still quite a way behind the top guys in the age group like Eiking.

 

[Arredondo]

Zappi's Pro Cycling announced Dan Pearson will ride in the GB team. He's a little climber from Wales and rode competently for top-10 in Aosta although still quite a way behind the top guys in the age group like Eiking.

Already counted on him. Too bad Hugh Carthy isn't going to start. Would love to see how good he is comparing all the other U23-guys.

But on the other hand, USA Procycling Challenge is also a good test.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Too bad Kudus will be riding the Vuelta, otherwise he would humiliate everybody here, including the Colombians.

They should start sending Eritrean teams here. But maybe there will be some Eritreans in the mixed team? Actually, what exactly is the mixed team?

 

[Bushman]

German team totally focuses on Herklotz:

Maximilian Schachmann
Emanuel Buchmann
Silvio Herklotz
Matthias Plarre
Jonas Koch
Mario Vogt

So no Bauhaus, which is a shame.

How is Herklotz looking? Wasn't very good in Alsace but he was probably building his shape for this race.

 

[Arredondo]

How is Herklotz looking? Wasn't very good in Alsace but he was probably building his shape for this race.

He became sick for Aosta, so he got a setback. In Alsace he was building further to his best form, so it should be fine for L'Avenir.

 

[kanari]

These are the riders selected for Norway:

Oskar Svendsen, Team Joker-Giant
Sven Erik Bystrøm, Team Katusha
Fridtjof Røinås, Sparebanken Sør
Odd Christian Eiking, Team Joker Giant
Sindre Lunke, Sparebanken Sør
Kristoffer Skjerping, Team Joker-Giant

Source: http://www.sykling.no/nyheter/arkiv...r/Landslag til ungdommens Tour de France.aspx

 

[Ruudz0r]

Too bad Kudus will be riding the Vuelta, otherwise he would humiliate everybody here, including the Colombians.

They should start sending Eritrean teams here. But maybe there will be some Eritreans in the mixed team? Actually, what exactly is the mixed team?

It is a team that will consist of mixed nationalities, probably some riders of the World Cycle Centre will be in the team ( http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/g...bjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=OTM0Njg&LangId=1 ), I expect at least Godoy and Gaspar from that team to ride.

 

[Ruudz0r]

These are the riders selected for Norway:

Oskar Svendsen, Team Joker-Giant
Sven Erik Bystrøm, Team Katusha
Fridtjof Røinås, Sparebanken Sør
Odd Christian Eiking, Team Joker Giant
Sindre Lunke, Sparebanken Sør
Kristoffer Skjerping, Team Joker-Giant

Source: http://www.sykling.no/nyheter/arkiv...r/Landslag til ungdommens Tour de France.aspx

Very strong team for Norway, they got some big talents comming up, they are also super strong in the junior ranks this year although guys like Blikra and Foss are physically very matured for their age.

 

[Parrulo]

Only thing i know about the portuguese team is that it will be lead by Ruben Guerreiro (20 years old) who won the volta do futuro last month and refused to ride the volta in order to prepare for this. Hopefully he will do well as he seems to be a very talented climber.

 

[Gloin22]

konrad is too old and seriously vervaeke?

What about Verveake ?

Results speak for themselves. He whooped Colombians asses in Isard.

And what other things can you go by with with decinding favs?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

What about Verveake ?

Results speak for themselves. He whooped Colombians asses in Isard.

And what other things can you go by with with decinding favs?

colombian b-talents yeah from 4-72. big deal

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Loïc Chetout (GSC Blagnac Vélo Sport 31), espoirs 4
Pierre Gouault (BigMat-Auber 93), espoir 3
Quentin Jauregui (Roubaix-Lille Métropole), espoir 2
Pierre-Roger Latour (Chambéry CF), espoir 4
Jérémy Maison (VC Toucy), espoir 3
Guillaume Martin (CC Etupes), espoir 3

No Chévrier. Booo.

 

[Bushman]

Danish team:

Magnus Cort (Team Cult)
Mads Pedersen (Team Cult)
Michael Carbel (Team Cult)
Mads Würtz Schmidt (Team Cult)
Asbjørn Kragh Andersen (Christina Watches)
Søren Kragh Andersen (Team Tre-for)

Notice that Mads Pedersen and Michael Carbel are both first year u23. I don't expect a lot from this team, however it will be a disappointment if they don't win a stage. Cort will be captain but I think the team will be very aggressive and hit as many breakaways as possible. Maybe Wurtz Schmidt or Søren Kragh Andersen can do a decent prologue too.

This is also the team for the u23 WC except for Wurtz Schmidt.

 

[maltiv]

I'm also expecting a lot of Eiking, more then Svendsen.

I'm not so sure, Eiking's has seemed a bit tired since his top ride at Aosta and haven't performed at his best lately, whilst Oskar Svendsen is reported to be in top shape (although he showed none of that in Arctic so far).

 

[Ruudz0r]

Robert Power won again today (he won 3 hard Italian races in a row now) he will be in top form for Avenir. He is however a little unproven over the big climbs as most of his races have been in (long) hills. Jack Haig will surely ride as well he is also having great form.
Ewan will ride aswell I assume, he has the abilities to win a stage (or 2, or 3 ).
Dont know who the other support riders will be, probably guys like Spokes, Clements, Flakemore who are riding with Power now. Or maybe Schultz or Ewart (if they want an extra climber) who are both riding in Europe full time.

The Colombians didnt make the top 20 today. It is of course their first race in Europe (except for Brayan Ramirez), but it could have been better (judging from just the result).

Edit: Short video of Power his win (explosive finish) http://www.italiaciclismo.net/gara_...rco_di_fermo__ap_43_gran_premio_capodarco.htm

 

[greenedge]

I'd be very surprised if a Colombian did not win.

Maybe Herklotz can challenge?

 

[DNP-Old]

Complete startlist: http://www.tourdelavenir.com/fr/la-course/les-equipes.html