Talossan Cycling Association Tour: Utrecht -> Madrid 2022

[Glüc]

Welcome to the Third
Second Leg of the Talossan Cycling Association Tour 2022!
Utrecht -> Madrid

After a succesful first edition, which was won by Naziun Cjovani, the Talossan Cycling Association teams are gearing up for another challenging three weeks. Starting in Utrecht (the city where in 1579 several Dutch regions signed the Union of Utrecht, committing themselves to sending the Spaniards back to Madrid), the riders will have to cover 3280 kilometers, including several steep mountain climbs, to finish at the Paisaje de la Luz in Madrid.

On the way they will try to win stages and to score points for the points classification (green jersey) and king of the mountains classification (blue polkadot jersey), but the most important battle is the one for the winner of general classification, who gets to wear the famous Maillot Rojo. As they do so they will also score points for their teams, which will determine which team wins the second leg of the Talossan Cycling Association Tour 2022.

Registered Teams (So Far):
- Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero (Cézembre)
- Els Gagnheirs (Maritiimi-Maxhestic)
- Gordon Hiatus Support Team (Benito)
- Kinetic Racing (Fiôvâ)
- Naziun Cjovani (Benito)
- Valcürïăs (Benito)
- Velociposse Florencia (Florencia)

Team registration instructions
can be found here
Deadline: August 19th 11:15 TST, 18:15 CEST

[Iason Taiwos]

Three teams representing Benito...good thing this isn't a province versus province thing!

[Glüc]

Tomorrow the teams will finally be revealed, as we get to the first stage, which also happens to be the least representative one, the team time trial. (Basically, all the riders of a team start at the same time and the whole team gets the time of the fifth rider across the finish line). 23.3 km around the city of Utrecht. The points probably here wont tell us too much about the final standings yet, although for the gc riders its the first opportunity to gain some time over the competition.

Sadly I won't be able to follow much of the stage (despite currently being only a couple of kilometers away from Utrecht), but of course I will post the results and the full team roster here later in the evening or saturday.

[Glüc]

And the first teams are off for the first stage!

Tonight a first update on the teams and a first standing.

Let's go!

[Glüc]

So we're off. I like that we have very different teams, with very different strategies. Should be interesting.

First across the line today:

Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS, Benito)
1. Carapaz
2. Evenepoel
3. Yates
4. Meintjes
5. Pedersen
6. Dennis
7. Van Baarle
8. Norsgaard
10. Geoghen Hart

It seems Roglic has left the team after a disappointing result first leg and immediately things are looking up for GHST with a win in the first stage.

Naziun Cjovani (CJO, Benito)
1. Roglic
2. Evenepoel
3. Kuss
4. O'Connor
5. Cimolai
6. Adria
7. Affini
8. Bol
9. Groves

Going for strategy that is similar to their (winning) strategy last time by having a team with both the favourite and the main challenger.

Els Gagnheirs (GNH, Maritiimi-Maxhestic)
1. E. Mas
2. Almeida
3. Alaphilippe
4. Higuita
5. Pedersen
6. Dennis
7. Masnada
8. Plapp
9. Ackermann

A strong debut for the team from M-M. This seems to be the opposite strategy as Naziun Cjovani with a very balanced team that is strong as a whole rather than depending two or three individuals. Also two sprinters, so the flat could be good for this team.

Kinetic Racing (KIN, Fiôvâ)
1. Evenepoel
2. Carapaz
3. Alaphilippe
4. O'Connor
5. Pedersen
6. Cavagna
7. De Gendt
8. Devenyns
9 McNulty

Kinetic Racing had maybe expected a bit more today, but of course we barely even started. The combination of Evenepoel and Alaphilippe should be interesting to watch.

Velociposse Florencia (VFL, Florencia)
1. Roglic
2. E. Mas
3. Yates
4. Hindley
5. Ackermann
6. Carretero
7. Affini
8. Parra
10. Owsian

Not the debut they hoped for maybe, but with four potential Maillot Rojo contenders this team should not be underestimated.

Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero (BDC, Cézembre)
1. Kelderman
2. Almeida
3. Yates
4. Hindley
5. Pedersen
6. Hayter
7. J. Lopez
8. Van Gils
9. Arensman

Not a great start for BdC after having changed their second sponsor. Also went for a more balanced strategy rather than going for the main favourites, also with maybe less focus on the sprint than last time.

Valcürïăs (VAL, Benito)
1. Roglic
2. Almeida
3. M. Lopez
4. Mäder
5. Cimolai
6. Adria
7. Calbedo
8. Cavagna
9. Diaz

The third new team feels a bit more like an outsider, with a number of surprising picks. Then again, as we saw last time, there is plenty of room for suprises. The Valkyries could still turn out to be the revelation of this edition.

[Glüc]

Standings after stage 1:

1. Gordon Hiatus Support Team - 230
2. Els Gagnheirs - 205
2. Naziun Cjovani - 205
4. Kinetic Racing - 185
5. Velociposse Florencia - 155
6. Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero - 115
7. Valcürïăs - 100

Tomorrow ('s Hertogenbosch -> Utrecht) we will likely see the first mass sprint after a stage that is almost entirely flat, except for the dizzying 70 meter height of the "Alto de Amerongse Berg", where I will be doing some live reporting, as promised.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

I know nothing at all about racing, but that does not remotely affect my supreme confidence that the Maritiimi-Maxhestian team will crush all who dare to ride the same route.

[Iason Taiwos]

I know nothing at all about racing, but that does not remotely affect my supreme confidence that the Maritiimi-Maxhestian team will crush all who dare to ride the same route.

The Taiwosian Benito/Cjovani team, fresh off a Tour de France victory and a Talossan Football Finals loss (but, we made it to the finals!) are currently deflating your tires...with three teams representing Benito, you Martini-Pathetic schmucks won't crush, but will be flushed! (Let's get some good trash talk going on here!)

[Iason Taiwos]

AD, your reply disappeared. (It's all in good natured fun. I was going to say, "Sometimes you gotta go fash to take out the trash.")

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

AD, your reply disappeared. (It's all in good natured fun. I was going to say, "Sometimes you gotta go fash to take out the trash.")

No, I felt bad... I'm not good at trash talk. I was like, "Well wait, what if he feels sad?"

[Glüc]

Trash each other as much as you want. Just know that the first stage means nothing. This ain't over til we get to Madrid. The BdC team will be waiting for you all there, drinking cava and celebrating our well deserved victory.

[Glüc]

Your commentator has arrived at the amerongse berg. Sadly internet is quite bad here so might not immediately provide an update

[Glüc]

Bol (CJO) was the first TCAT rider at the Amerongse Berg. However he didnt manage to get any kom points

[Glüc]

Els Gagnheirs take the lead!

Including two sprinters is serving Els Gagnheirs well in the flat terrain of The Netherlands. As expected the stage ended in a mass sprint with Pedersen (GNH, GHS, KIN, BDC) being the first TCAT rider across the finishline, and Ackermann (GNH, VFL) also doing well.

Standing after stage 2:
1. Els Gagnheirs - 592 (+387)
2. Gordon Hiatus Support Team - (+318)
3. Kinetic Racing - 465 (+280)
4. Naziun Cjovani - 449 (+244)
5. Velociposse Florencia - 371 (+216)
6. Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero - 370 (+255)
7. Valcürïăs - 142 (+42)

Els Gagnheirs seems to be taking over the role of BdC from last edition as the strongest sprint team, resulting in an early lead. Tomorrow may be no different as we stay in the Netherlands (Breda -> Breda) for a stage even flatter than today, likely resulting in another mass sprint.

Some bad pictures I took at the Amerongse Berg:

Jetse Bol (CJO)


Some other riders and one of my fingers.

[Glüc]

Sprint team Els Gagnheirs continued to do well in the Netherlands and expanded their lead with Pedersen and Ackermann getting good results in Breda.

Standing after stage 3:
1. Els Gagnheirs - 916 (+324)
2. Gordon Hiatus Support Team 813 (+265)
3. Kinetic Racing - 742 (+277)
4. Naziun Cjovani - 685 (+236)
5. Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero - 635 (+265)
6. Velociposse Florencia - 548 (+177)
7. Valcürïăs - 186 (+44)

Things may start to change tomorrow however. Today the TCAT travelled to Basque Country, where tuesday's and wednesday's stage will take place.

Tomorrow (Vitoria-Gasteiz -> Laguardia) could have been a good day for a breakaway, but I doubt the peloton will let anyone get too far now that so many riders could still be potential gc contenders. An uphill finish will make a true mass sprint unlikely, so instead this may be one for a last minute attack, either from a sprinter with all round capabilities or maybe we'll see the first warning shot from one of the gc favourites.

Wednesday (Irun -> Bilbao) is another hilly stage with loads of up and downs and no less than five opportunities for early KOM points. This time I do see an early breakaway make it to the finishline, so plenty of opportunities for surprises.

Next update from me will probably be wednesday (or maybe thursday).

[Glüc]

5th place in the Dutch section... I miss having Van Aert in my team :(

[Glüc]

Naziun Cjovani the strongest team in Basque country, but Els Gagnheirs hang on to the lead.

Tuesday's stage ended up being a high scoring affair. As expected the early breakaway didn't make it, so it came down to the final kilometers for the favourites to try and make a difference. Roglic (CJO, VAR, VFL) showed why he is the favourite, winning the stage, but not yet gaining much time on his challengers. Naziun Cjovani scored the most points. Good results for O'Connor, Evenepoel and Kuss resulted in a win for Naziun Cjovani, although the Velociposse got very close due to Mas, Hindley and Yates.

Today Naziun Cjovani again got a win, although the stage was a much lower scoring affair, with a breakaway including Adria (CJO, VAL) and Masnada (GNH) making it to the finishline. This puts Naziun Cjovani in second place, but Gagnheirs manage to hold on to the lead (for now).

Standing after stage 5:
1. Els Gagnheirs - 1474 (+430) (+128)
2. Naziun Cjovani - 1394 (+576) (+133)
3. Gordon Hiatus Support Team 1359 (+483) (+63)
4. Kinetic Racing - 1237 (+449) (+46)
5. Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero - 1214 (+533) (+46)
6. Velociposse Florencia - 1180 (+574) (+58)
7. Valcürïăs - 600 (+288) (+126)

Tomorrow the TCAT moves west, away from Basque Country into Cantabria for the first proper mountain stage (Bilbao -> Pico Jano / San Miguel de Aguayo) with a long uphill finish that will tell us a lot about which riders are still in the race for the Maillot Rojo. This could well turn out to be the most revealing stage so far.

Friday we move further west through the Cantabrian mountains, but we only get one major climb which is about halfway through the stage, so this feels like a bit less of a stage for the GC contenders and could instead be another chance for an early breakaway.

[Glüc]

Naziun Cjovani edges ahead in Cantabria!

Thursday was the first proper mountain stage and as predicted the action happened in the final kilometers. Biggest winners of the day were Evenepoel (CJO, GHS, KIN), who won the Maillot Rojo and E. Mas (GNH, VFL), whereas Carapaz (GHS, KIN) lost time on the competition. The Velociposse score the most points, due to Yates, Roglic and Hindley as well as Mas. Naziun Cjovani again gained on Els Gagnheirs but remained four points behind.

Yesterday it was looking as if we were going to a sprint, but in the end the breakaway barely managed to hold on. First TCAT rider across the line was Groves (CJO). It was a very low scoring day in which BdC finally got the most points for a change, due to Pedersen and Hayter. The placement of Groves means we have a new leader however, as Naziun Cjovani barely edged ahead of Els Gagnheirs. Its very close at the top, with three teams within 100 points and six teams within 300.

Standing after stage 7:
1. Naziun Cjovani - 1988 (+441) (+153)
2. Els Gagnheirs - 1979 (+365) (+140)
3. Gordon Hiatus Support Team 1936 (+431) (+146)
4. Velociposse Florencia - 1751 (+503) (+68)
5. Kinetic Racing - 1710 (+325) (+148)
6. Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero - 1709 (+320) (+175)
7. Valcürïăs - 979 (+302) (+77)

Today we move even further west through the Cantabrian mountains, into Asturias, for another mountain stage. But this time the action can't wait until the end as we get no fewer than 6 summits along the way, starting almost immediately as we leave La Pola Llaviana (which should be just about now). We end on the Colláu Fancuaya, which is quite a scary looking climb with bits of 17% and even 19%.


Source: lavuelta.es

Should be quite an exciting stage. Almost certainly some riders will lose their status as GC contenders today, but which riders (and consequently, which teams) will hang on?

(First virtual standings update this evening btw)

[Glüc]

The Velociposse scores the most points on the second mountain stage, but it's GHST that takes the lead!

Pedersen (BDC, GHS, GNH, KIN) managed to score enough points on the intermediate sprint to take over the green jersey today. This was before the final ascent of the day however, and on that particular climb there was no chance for GC contenders to hide. Several fell through the cracks. Kelderman (BDC) and Carapaz (GHS, KIN) fell through the cracks today and lost too much time to be playing a role in the GC from here on. Three riders dominated the group of favourites however; red jersey wearer Evenepoel (CJO, GHS, KIN), defending champion Roglic (CJO, VAL, VFL) and Enric Mas (GNH, VFL). Although some others still may have a chance it seems likely one of these three will win this TCAT edition. As a result, Velociposse scored the most points today, but it is Gordon Hiatus Support Team that replaces Naziun Cjovani as the current leader.

Standing after stage 8:
1. Gordon Hiatus Support Team 2322 (+386)
2. Naziun Cjovani - 2305 (+317)
3. Els Gagnheirs - 2281 (+302)
4. Velociposse Florencia - 2145 (+394)
5. Kinetic Racing - 1997 (+287)
6. Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero - 1983 (+274)
7. Valcürïăs - 1190 (+211)

[Glüc]

As promised we are also getting our first virtual standing update. We are starting to get a good sense of who is competing for the various classifications, which gives us a sense of which teams are likely to get points at the end.

I wanted to warn that it is still early days and a lot can still happen, and obviously that is true, but then again, last edition Naziun Cjovani already led in the virtual standing after 7 days, despite being a distant third in the actual standing, and with both the Alps and the Pyrenees still to come.

Expected Final Classification points after stage 8:
1. VFL - 1430
2. GHS - 1420
3. CJO - 1260
4. GNH - 1070
5. KIN - 1030
6. BDC - 945
7. VAL - 890

Expected Daily Classification points after stage 8:
1. KIN - 1183
2. GHS - 1144
3. GNH - 1144
4. VFL - 1105
5. CJO - 910
6. BDC - 845
7. VAL - 780

Total virtual standing after stage 8:
(Actual + Expected Final + Expected Daily)
1. Gordon Hiatus Support Team - 4886
2. Velociposse Florencia - 4680
3. Els Gagnheirs - 4495
4. Naziun Cjovani - 4475
5. Kinetic Racing - 4210
6. Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero - 3773
7. Valcürïăs - 2860

A third of the way to Madrid GHST is in the best position to win the second leg of the Talossan Cycling Association Tour, due to the strong performances of Evenepoel, Pedersen, Geoghen Hart and Yates. However, the Velociposse is also doing better than can be seen from the standings, due to having two riders (Evenepoel and Roglic) in the current top 3. On the other side of the standings BdC and Valcürias are not looking so good. It seems very unlikely either of these teams will have the most points in Madrid, unless we see a major change in performance.