Written by Willunga Hill at 05:36 19/10-2016
A preview of sorts... Willunga Hill's management again gazes into the looking glass to assess the competition in a tour.
This year's ROTM looks likely to be won by someone without top form -- none of the 1st and 2nd tier favourites look like being on the starting line on Day 49 in top form.
There is a clear overall favourite this year, with maybe 6 other top tier contenders.
The overall favourite is the 23 year old Sylvan Berton. Not only is he the strongest looking rider on paper, his team, Gruppo Apparte, are clearly the strongest team entering the race. Chasing two jerseys, if Berton doesn't deliver, they have multiple choices for a backup leader.
Another very strong team is Treaty City CC. They come to the ROTM with Leo Drinkwater as their overall leader. Drinkwater took 6th overall in this season's Monte Rosa Tour, and will be looking to record another strong tour outing in his palmares.
One final top tier contender comes with a standout team -- mutants madrid's Faustino Amaral. A true allrounder, Amaral will almost certainly look to make gains on the opening two days and then use is team to hold onto the true climbers as long as possible.
Another young rider looking to make an impact this year is Raúl Navaez of blast. Also 23, and with a reasonable lineup behind him, he too will be looking to put Berton in his place on the opening stage and then holding him off. At the same time, his teammate Knut Boye has to be thinking about the overall too. Fourth at just 26 seconds back in this season's Monte Rosa Tour, and 5th just two seasons ago in this very race, another strong ride this season would add another chapter to his significant career (39 results and counting!).
The final two top tier favourites are two 56 average riders: Shane Austin of Willunga Hill, and Jude Potter of Dodge. Austin comes to the race on the back of an ugly performance in the Monte Rosa Tour, and while one of the very strongest climbers in the field, his penchant for off days and a lack of a decent support crew might prove his undoing. Potter comes into the tour already having recorded back-to-back wins earlier this season. Another allrounder, his team, while strong, might not be quite strong enough to keep him in it at the pointy end of the big hill days.
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Comments
Well, we got 8th and 9th that time around, so I guess we got what we deserved. :-) This season I'm hoping for slightly better...
Just came across this. My team sucks, there's no dodging that fact :')
Off days on Stage 1 and 3. Am sure I need a stronger team, but he gets too many off days for my liking.
Very accurate preview. What happened to Austin?
Well, I missed one. Raul Navaez has triggered top form, so he might have to be viewed as an equal favourite with Berton.
Nice to read, good luck!
Thanks. I'm hoping Austin finally decides that off days are for losers. He just had his 1st good legs day in nearly 2 full seasons, so maybe the tide is about to turn. :-)
Nice Preview! Good Luck
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