Talossan Cycling Association Tour Season 3 Leg 1: Venaria Reale -> Roma

[Sir Lüc]

Right, we're one third of the way through already! Let's see how teams stack up. The current podium:

1. BANQEU DA CÉZEMBRE TAVULAIRS - @Glüc da Dhi S.H. - 3830pts
POGAČAR | ARENSMAN | MARTINEZ | RUBIO | MILAN | CARR | A. PARET-PEINTRE | V. PARET-PEINTRE | ANDRESEN

Holding four riders in the current top 10 of the general classification (GC) plus the leader of the points classification, BdC is once again the almost inevitable favourite for the final win. No big luck with the other four picks so far, but no disaster pick among the ones that actually matter either, with Thymen Arensman's false start in the first two stages amply compensated with his performance on Friday's TT and Saturday's summit finish.
Dani Martinez is for sure the rider making the difference at the moment, vastly overperforming the expectations for now. Jonathan Milan has also always featured at the top when it mattered as well, with much more consistent placements in sprint stages than Olav Kooij and Tim Merlier.
Again, no particular luck with any of the three unclasseds or second sprinter Tobias Lund Andresen (only team to choose a wildcard sprinter though there are sprinting unclasseds elsewhere), but this is unlikely to make the difference and there's still plenty of chances for the Paret-Peintre brothers to get a stage win.

2. PORT MAXHESTIC AC - @Ian Plätschisch - 3071pts
THOMAS | CARUSO | MARTINEZ | UIJTDEBROEKS | MERLIER | GANNA | BARTA | BJERG | BARRÉ

Perhaps the surprise of this leg of TCAT given the absence of Tadej Pogačar, Port Maxhestic is nevertheless flying high thanks to a selection of so far well-scoring picks: Thomas, Martinez and Uijtdebroeks are all in the current GC top 5, and Tim Merlier got off to a strong start by winning the first sprint stage. Filippo Ganna, ever the risky expensive unclassed pick, predictably placed on the podium in Friday's time trial and should be the favourite in the second, flatter time trial.
Where Port Maxhestic might struggle is by picking four expensive unclassed riders, who might not bring home many points compared to picking cheaper riders and a non-unclassed wildcard; and Damiano Caruso also dealt the team a blow by floundering in stage 6, bringing himself out of contention for a high GC finish. He might be free to chase a stage win now, but he may very well be busy helping teammate Antonio Tiberi's GC chances instead.

3. GORDON HIATUS SUPPORT TEAM - @Sir Lüc - 2903pts
POGAČAR | ARENSMAN | O'CONNOR | LOPEZ | KOOIJ | A. PARET-PEINTRE | FRIGO | NOVAK | PELLIZZARI

The second of the Pogačar-holding teams, GHST also holds resurgent duo Thymen Arensman and Ben O'Connor - we've already spoken of the former, and the latter's overreaction against Pogačar himself in stage 1 made him tire out and lose time very early on in the competition. Also on the up, sprinter Olav Kooij, who started relatively slow but got a maiden grand tour stage win in Naples yesterday.
Unfortunately, just as Arensman bounced back, Juanpe Lopez floundered both in the time trial and in Prati di Tivo, which probably sank any hopes of GHST ever making back the deficit to the top. None of the other four riders is coming to the rescue either, with young gun Giulio Pellizzari yet to make his mark, and Marco Frigo so far never featuring and unable to replicating his Giro 2023 exploits. Unless either of the two gets a big prize, lots of things will have to go wrong to other teams in order for GHST to aim for higher than best of the rest.

[Sir Lüc]

The middle of the pack:

4. CYCLOHEXANE - @Erschéveþ da Schir - 2769pts
POGAČAR | TIBERI | MAJKA | ZANA | MILAN | A. PARET-PEINTRE | CARR | FRIGO | DUNBAR

If we've already seen teams with a poorly performing latter four riders, defending TCAT Italy champions Cyclohexane have certainly had their share of rotten luck there as well, with Carr and Dunbar dropping out - a possible stage winner and a GC top 10 candidate respectively - and Aurélien Paret-Peintre and Marco Frigo still rather muted compared to their 2023 point haul.
On the other hand, Antonio Tiberi is another rider on the rise after a terrible start to his maiden Giro as a team leader, and we've already mentioned Pogi and Milan as essentially the best picks in their respective positions. Where Cyclohexane might wish their points haul was higher is in climbing duo Rafał Majka and Filippo Zana: Majka - Tadej Pogačar's key lieutenant - only makes sense if he sticks around to the end after helping his team leader, which he only did on one of two summit finishes (otherwise he'll lose GC time and not get any stage points); and Zana so far hasn't really kept pace in GC with higher placed equally priced climbers such as Einer Rubio - but he may of course fare better as the Alps get closer.

5. CÉZEMBRE FIESCHĂ - @þerxh Sant-Enogat - 2324pts
POGAČAR | BARDET | ALAPHILIPPE | RUBIO | BAUHAUS | VAN SINTMAARTENSDIJK | VAN DEN BERG | VAN DEN BOSSCHE | CARUSO

Dead in the middle of the table, Fieschă has certainly suffered from Romain Bardet underdelivering, as the Frenchman was supposed to be in good shape but immediately showed weak points and doesn't seem like he's managing to recover either. A positive note is certainly coming from the climbers: Julian Alaphilippe - the former world champion showing he's in good spirits and hungry for a stage win - and Einer Rubio, ever dangerous in summit finish stages and clinging on to the GC top 10. Fieschă is also the only team with Phil Bauhaus as sprinter - decent choice so far with a podium finish but, much like Merlier, being dropped on Sunday hinting at some difficulties contesting for the win when the stage profile gets too steep too close to the line.

6. MARICOPA CABANA BOYS - @Carlüs Éovart Vilaçafat - 2115pts
CARUSO | BARDET | O'CONNOR | MARTINEZ | MERLIER | VAN DEN BOSSCHE | WOOD | ANIOŁKOWSKI | QUINTANA

The second of the Pogi-less teams, the Cabana Boys are arguably the other two-sprinter team, with unclassed pick Stanisław Aniołkowski bringing much welcome stage points thrice already - only Bjerg and Ganna brought home more points among TCAT unclassed picks. Caruso and Bardet are somewhat unfortunate picks given what transpired in the first week, but climbing picks O'Connor and Martinez could prove decisive in keeping MCB away from the bottom of the table. Wildcard climbing pick Nairo Quintana might also show he's still capable of a stage win later in the competition. A quick shoutout to Harrison Wood; the Briton might not have scored many Velogames points, but he's been pretty active and he's bound to be in a breakaway sooner or later.

[Sir Lüc]

Last but not least:

7. DEAD LAST - @Tric'hard Lenxheir - 1635pts
BARDET | CARUSO | UIJTDEBROEKS | WOODS | GAVIRIA | ALEOTTI | AFFINI | BAGIOLI | THOMAS

Dead Last is not dead last, which I'm still not sure to be glad or unhappy for Tric'hard about. We've already spoken about Bardet and Caruso, but Cian Uijtdebroeks is certainly holding his own in his first grand tour as a team leader, mostly sticking with the other GC podium contenders so far including in Friday's time trial, where he was widely expected to struggle. Dead Last was unlucky to lose Michael Woods basically from the get go as the Canadian is an usual suspect when it comes to medium mountain stages.
Giovanni Aleotti is an interesting pick, as Florian Lipowitz's retirement means he's now the main lieutenant of Dani Martinez and similar considerations as those we made for Majka should apply (indeed he arrived together with Majka on Saturday and was among those who stuck with the favourites until the end). As for the other two unclasseds, Edoardo Affini may still rack up assist points from Kooij and Uijtdebroeks and should hopefully be aiming relatively high in the other time trial; and sadly Andrea Bagioli is an excellent classics rider but he may struggle to find space to do anything but help teammates Lopez and Milan.

8. VELOCIPOSSE FLORENCIA - @Breneir Tzaracomprada - 1369pts
BARDET | CARUSO | QUINTANA | MAJKA | KOOIJ | CLARKE | LAPORTE | BAGIOLI | O'CONNOR
and
9. ELS CANTZELERÏĂ AÞLETICI - @Sir Txec dal Nordselvă, UrB - 1361pts
THOMAS | CARUSO | ALAPHILIPPE | QUINTANA | LAMPERTI | AFFINI | LAPORTE | BAGIOLI | BARDET

Lumping these two together as they are just eight points apart and share a quintet of so far disappointing riders - Bardet, Caruso, Quintana, Bagioli and Christophe Laporte, the European champion bringing some oomph to Olav Kooij's leadout train, but forced to abandon Giro due to the aftermath of a crash in stage 5.
All is not lost for the rapid bunch from the nacho-shaped province, though - Kooij can keep placing high in sprint stages, and O'Connor has bounced back and has a team in good form to support his GC ambitions. Of the as yet unmentioned riders, Simon Clarke is a breakaway threat and has been fairly active so far, so it could be a matter of time before he brings home the goods.
Cantzelerïă definitely could have used Laporte as a potential second sprinter as Luke Lamperti's sprints have mostly been in service of team leader Tim Merlier, leading to lean point intakes in sprint stages; nevertheless, despite currently being bottom of the table they already led the day once, in Thursday's Strade Bianche lookalike. No reason to assume this won't happen again!

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

So very close. I am determined to finish dead last to spite Dead Last. And I will change our team's name to Dead²Last.

[Carlüs Éovart Vilaçafat]

More Deader Last

[Glüc]

Stage 10 Pompei -> Bocca della Selva



Today we started in Pompei for an explosive stage of only 142 km with an uphill finish. A good day for a breakaway. Clarke (VFL) and some others tried on the flat part but never quite succeeded in getting away. It was only when the first hills started that a group managed to get away including a lot of climbers with a shot of staying ahead of the gc favourites. This included Romain Bardet (MCB/DED/SOS/VFL/CFA), the brothers Aurelien (CHX/GHS/BDC) and Valentin (BDC) Paret-Peintre, Andrea Bagioli (DED/SOS/VFL), Filippo Zana (CHX), Juan Pedro Lopez (GHS), Damiano Caruso (MCB/PTM/DED/SOS/VFL/CFA), Marco Frigo (CHX/GHS), Will Barta (PTM), and Julian Alaphilippe (SOS/CFA)

Of course not all of them managed to stay ahead of the peloton on the final climb. In the end there were five riders including V. Paret-Peintre, Bardet, Bagioli and Frigo contesting the stage win. Paret-Peintre turned out to be the strongest, catching up to and then overtaking the rider in front in the final 3 kilometers to take the stagewin, followed by Bardet and Bagioli.

His brother Aurélien won the sprint in the chasing group that remained of the main breakaway, which also included Zana, who as a result enters the GC top 10. Bardet also did very well GC wise, jumping to 7th place in the standings. In the group of GC favourites it only Arensman (GHS/BDC) and Uijtdebroeks (PTM/DED) could not keep up with the others and lost a small amount of time.

In the TCAT standings this mostly meant another good day for BDC, who further expand their lead, while Port Maxhestic did not have anyone in front at the end which causes them to lose second place to GHST.

Standings after stage 10:

Pos	±	Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)	Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs (BDC)	4388	+558
2nd	(+1)	Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	3248	+345
3rd	(-1)	Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	3212	+141
4th	(=)	Cyclohexane (CHX)	3121	+352
5th	(=)	Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	2630	+306
6th	(=)	Maricopa Cabana Boys (MCB)	2462	+347
7th	(=)	Dead Last (DED)	2072	+437
8th	(=)	Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	1835	+466
9th	(=)	Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici (SOS)	1773	+412

The final half of tomorrow's stage is mostly flat, so expect another day for the sprinters.

[Sir Lüc]

And of course Olav Kooij contracted a case of rest day fever and pulled out of Giro before today's stage, which is a huge blow to Gordon Hiatus Support Team and Velociposse. Breneir's wish may have become true sooner than he expected :/

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

And of course Olav Kooij contracted a case of rest day fever and pulled out of Giro before today's stage, which is a huge blow to Gordon Hiatus Support Team and Velociposse. Breneir's wish may have become true sooner than he expected :/

Yessss!

[Sir Lüc]

Stage 11 Foiano di Val Fortore -> Francavilla al Mare

Not much to say, a second Jonathan Milan (BDC/CHX) sprint victory, and accordingly Banqeu da Cézembre and Cyclohexane are a close first and second. Tim Merlier (MCB/PTM) initially took second, but was relegated for deviating during the final sprint. Dead Last is third today thanks to Fernando Gaviria (7th) and to Edoardo Affini's solid breakaway effort; fourth and fifth just one point apart, Fieschă (Phil Bauhaus, 8th) and the Cabana Boys (Stanisław Aniołkowski, 9th).

Overall, Kooij's retirement for GHST and Merlier's relegation for PTM mean Cyclohexane moves up to second. Sadly for Port Maxhestic, the bad news don't stop there -- there's also a double retirement for Louis Barré and, much more importantly, for until-then best young rider Cian Uijtdebroeks (also of DED).

Standings after stage 11:                      

Pos	±	Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)	Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs (BDC)	4747	+359
2nd	(+2)	Cyclohexane (CHX)	3442	+321
3rd	(-1)	Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	3364	+116
4th	(-1)	Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	3305	+93
5th	(=)	Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	2785	+155
6th	(=)	Maricopa Cabana Boys (MCB)	2616	+154
7th	(=)	Dead Last (DED)	2275	+203
8th	(=)	Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	1893	+58
9th	(=)	Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici (SOS)	1873	+100

Very interesting stage to come today as it *looks* reasonably flat, but it actually includes multiple gradients of upwards of 10%, including a max 20% gradient just 10km from the finish. Hopefully a good day for an exciting breakaway!

[Glüc]

Stage 12 Martinsicuro -> Fano



Yesterday's terrain was very promising for a succesful break. As a result many riders were on the attack with various groups being formed in front of the peloton involving several TCAT riders including Simon Clarke (VFL), Nairo Quintana (MCB/SOS/VFL), Aurélien Paret-Peintre (CHX/GHS/BDC), Filippo Ganna (PTM), and Juan Pedro López (GHS). However, man of the day was Julian Alaphilippe (SOS/CFA), who spend most of the day attacking, eventually winning the stage after an 11 km solo.

A good result for Cézembre Fieschā, who scored the most points due to Alaphilippe's win and Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici who are no longer in last place.

Standings after stage 12:

Pos	±	Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)	Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs (BDC)	4966	+219
2nd	(=)	Cyclohexane (CHX)	3621	+179
3rd	(=)	Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	3519	+155
4th	(=)	Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	3453	+148
5th	(=)	Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	3177	+392
6th	(=)	Maricopa Cabana Boys (MCB)	2749	+133
7th	(=)	Dead Last (DED)	2379	+104
8th	(+1)	Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici (SOS)	2233	+360
9th	(-1)	Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	2091	+198

Today's stage is very flat. It would be a surprise if we don't see a bunch sprint

[Glüc]

Stage 13 Riccione -> Cento

There was indeed a sprint. Milan (CHX/BDC) won. Aniołkowski (MCB) and Bauhaus (CFA) completed the podium, with Gaviria (DED) also doing well and Lund Andresen (BDC) and Merlier (MCB/PTM) further behind. BdC further extend their lead.

Standings after stage 13:

Pos	±	Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)	Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs (BDC)	5378	+412
2nd	(=)	Cyclohexane (CHX)	3947	+326
3rd	(=)	Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	3635	+116
4th	(=)	Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	3558	+105
5th	(=)	Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	3414	+237
6th	(=)	Maricopa Cabana Boys (MCB)	3040	+291
7th	(=)	Dead Last (DED)	2550	+171
8th	(=)	Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici (SOS)	2286	+53
9th	(=)	Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	2151	+60

Tomorrow another time trial, but shorter and flatter than the previous one. Will PTM's Filippo Ganna win the stage this time or will Pogacar (CHX/GHS/CFA/BDC) add another one to his list? Based on the previous ITT we should also consider Arensman (GHS/BDC) as a contender.

[Sir Lüc]

Stage 14 Castiglione delle Stiviere -> Desenzano del Garda (ITT)

Quick update on yesterday's time trial: home favourite Filippo Ganna (PTM) easily took the win by 30" ahead of Tadej Pogacar (CHX/GHS/CFA/BDC), with the rest of the non aliens a further 30" back, Arensman and Thomas headlining. Both are the actual winners of today GC wise, clawing back time and positions. Good ITT for Tiberi and O'Connor as well. Biggest losers among the front GC folks, Rubio and Martinez.

Port Maxhestic gets a second daily win after Stage 1 thanks to Ganna, Thomas and Bjerg (9th), by just four points over GHST. No position changes in the TCAT standings.

Standings after stage 14:

Pos	±	Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)	Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs (BDC)	5862	+484
2nd	(=)	Cyclohexane (CHX)	4324	+377
3rd	(=)	Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	4149	+514
4th	(=)	Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	4076	+518
5th	(=)	Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	3661	+247
6th	(=)	Maricopa Cabana Boys (MCB)	3229	+189
7th	(=)	Dead Last (DED)	2792	+242
8th	(=)	Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici (SOS)	2527	+241
9th	(=)	Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	2278	+127

Report on today's "queen stage" coming later.

[Glüc]

Sorry for no updates past couple of days. Weve both been busy.

However, it is worth noting Lüc is actually present at the finish of todays stage, so I'm expecting some pictures maybe.

[Sir Lüc]

Again many apologies for no updates. Quick one liners for the stages we missed, then standings update for Stage 18 (yesterday).

Stage 15 Manerba del Garda -> Livigno (Mottolino): The queen stage. Another Pogacar win, regathering a breakaway headed by Nairo Quintana.

Stage 16 Laas -> Santa Cristina Valgardena (Monte Pana): The mighty Stelvio Pass was initially swapped out for Umbrail due to snow, but freezing temperatures forced an outright shortening of the stage, with the start moved to Laas at the end of the descent. Another breakaway foiled by Pogacar, who won ahead of Giro's youngest rider Giulio Pellizzari.

Stage 17 Selva di Val Gardena -> Passo Brocon: Finally an early breakaway win, but it's non-TCAT Georg Steinhauser. Pogacar, 2nd, easily dropped all GC contenders as usual, whose sprint was won by Tiberi.

[Sir Lüc]

Stage 18 Fiera di Primiero -> Padova

The only stage for sprinters in week 3 except for the Rome finale ended at GHST HQ. Not much to say except that I was at the finish and Tim Merlier (MCB/PTM) won ahead of Jonathan Milan (CHX/BDC). The Cabana Boys also placed Stanislaw Aniolkowski in fifth place and thus take the daily win. The only other TCAT riders with stage points are Dead Last's Fernando Gaviria, sixth, and BDC's Tobias Lund Andresen, 16th.

Standings after stage 18:

Pos	±	Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)	Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs (BDC)	8346	+337
2nd	(+1)	Cyclohexane (CHX)	6187	+288
3rd	(-1)	Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	6071	+122
4th	(+1)	Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	5448	+296
5th	(-1)	Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	5418	+87
6th	(=)	Maricopa Cabana Boys (MCB)	5122	+423
7th	(=)	Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici (SOS)	3838	+72
8th	(=)	Dead Last (DED)	3769	+160
9th	(=)	Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	3458	+68

Coming up, the final two stages: two mountain stages and the sprint finale in Rome.