La prima stagione senza un vero riferimento nelle corse a tappe si è chiusa per la Trek-Segafredo con un bottino moderatamente soddisfacente. La formazione statunitense ha ottenuto 21 successi, uno in più del 2017, spartendo democraticamente la posta tra corse a tappe (9) e di un giorno (9), con tre affermazioni nei campionati nazionali a completare lo score. Nove sono stati anche i corridori diversi ad aver contribuito alla compilazione del pallottoliere annuale, in cui il dato che balza all’occhio è l’esiguo numero di vittorie (appena tre) in corse World Tour. L’uscita di scena di Alberto Contador non è stata tamponata in maniera adeguata e l’allestimento di un roster eterogeneo, ma poco votato alle corse di tre settimane, ha comportato l’assenza dalle top ten finali nei tre Grandi Giri.
Cosa ha funzionato
Ad emergere in un quadro generale tendenzialmente livellato è stato il talento di Mads Pedersen. Al quarto anno nella categoria il 22enne danese si è affermato tra le grandi sorprese portandosi a casa una tappa dell’Herald Sun Tour, il Tour of Fyen, la cronometro del Giro di Danimarca e un Tour de l’Eurométropole nel quale ha regolato in scioltezza avversari blasonati. La data che lo ha consacrato ad alti livelli è però quella del 1° aprile, giorno in cui facendo corsa d’assalto si è guadagnato la piazza d’onore del Giro delle Fiandre prenotando un futuro da protagonista, già suggerito dal quinto posto nella Dwars door Vlaanderen, nelle classiche del Nord. I leader per la campagna sulle pietre sarebbero dovuti essere Jasper Stuyven e John Degenkolb, ma per ragioni diverse nessuno dei due è riuscito a lasciare un segno indelebile. Il possente belga ha comunque evidenziato una notevole regolarità terminando consecutivamente nelle top ten di Het Nieuwsblad, Milano-Sanremo, E3 Harelbeke, Gand-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Giro delle Fiandre e Parigi-Roubaix e conquistando in estate tre vittorie (tappa del BinckBank Tour, GP di Vallonia e GP Jef Scherens) dopo aver ben impressionato anche al Tour de France. La Grande Boucle è stato invece il terreno della rinascita del tedesco, che nella suggestiva tappa di Roubaix è tornato ad assaporare il gusto di una vittoria prestigiosa dopo aver rotto il ghiaccio in Spagna nel Trofeo Campos. Stagione decisamente positiva anche per il lettone Toms Skujiņš, regolare per l’intera durata del calendario e capace di indossare per alcuni giorni la Maglia a Pois al Tour oltre a vincere il Trofeo Lloseta, una tappa del Giro di California, il titolo nazionale a cronometro (al pari dei compagni di squadra Ryan Mullen e Tsgabu Grmay in Irlanda ed Etiopia) e la Tre Valli Varesine infilando in uno sprint ristretto avversari più quotati. Gli altri acuti sono invece giunti ad opera di Ryan Mullen, che ha aperto il conto prendendosi la crono di una Vuelta a San Juan che ha registrato anche l’unico guizzo di Giacomo Nizzolo, e Jarlinson Pantano, vittorioso sulle strade della Vuelta a Catalunya.
Cosa non ha funzionato
Troppi singoli hanno reso meno rispetto agli standard cui avevano abituato nelle annate precedenti e non hanno contribuito ad alimentare lo score. È il caso ad esempio di Fabio Felline, cui non possono bastare appena tre piazzamenti nei 10 in 79 giorni di gara per considerarsi soddisfatto, e di Bauke Mollema, il cui feeling con l’Italia rimarcato per effetto dei successi in una tappa della Settimana Coppi&Bartali e nel GP Beghelli con una stoccata da finisseur, non basta per riscattare le parentesi opache di Tour e Vuelta, in cui è uscito immediatamente di classifica fallendo poi la caccia alle singole tappe, sovente per errori tattici o disattenzioni nelle fasi topiche. L’alternativa per i GT, Gianluca Brambilla, ha dovuto fare i conti con l’ennesima dose di sfortuna e si è sempre fermato a un passo dal risultato pieno, mentre nella pattuglia degli sprinter Giacomo Nizzolo ha ritrovato una discreta continuità ma, al pari di John Degenkolb, non garantisce più una dote cospicua al bottino collettivo. Leggermente inferiore alle attese anche il rendimento di Jarlinson Pantano.
Top/Flop
+++ Mads Pedersen
++ Jasper Stuyven
+ Toms Skujiņš
– Giacomo Nizzolo
— Bauke Mollema
— Fabio Felline
Miglior Momento
L’azione promossa da Mads Pedersen all’uscita dal Grammont al Giro delle Fiandre non ha portato in dote alla squadra un risultato pieno, ma la consapevolezza di avere un’arma in più per le classiche del futuro. Ad appena 21 anni il danese si è imposto all’attenzione in una delle Monumento più dure, correndo con sfrontatezza gli ultimi 100 chilometri e resistendo nel finale per andare a cogliere un secondo posto impronosticabile e notevole.
Migliori Risultati
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9/10/2018 |
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SKUJINS Toms |
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1.HC |
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Tre Valli Varesine |
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7/10/2018 |
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MOLLEMA Bauke |
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1.HC |
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GP Bruno Beghelli |
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22/09/2018 |
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PEDERSEN Mads |
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1.HC |
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Tour de l’Eurométropole |
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16/09/2018 |
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STUYVEN Jasper |
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1.1 |
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GP Jef Scherens – Rondom Leuven |
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12/09/2018 |
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STUYVEN Jasper |
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1.1 |
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GP de Wallonie |
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16/08/2018 |
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STUYVEN Jasper |
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2.WT2s |
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BinckBank Tour, Stage 4 : Blankenberge – Ardooie |
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4/08/2018 |
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 |
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PEDERSEN Mads |
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2.HCs |
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Danmark Rundt – Tour of Denmark, Stage 4 : Nykøbing Falster I.T.T. |
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15/07/2018 |
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DEGENKOLB John |
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GT1s |
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Tour de France, Stage 9 : Arras – Roubaix |
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28/06/2018 |
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SKUJINS Toms |
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NCT4 |
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National Championships Latvia (Riga) I.T.T. |
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28/06/2018 |
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MULLEN Ryan |
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NCT3 |
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National Championships Ireland (Collooney) I.T.T. |
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25/06/2018 |
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GRMAY Tsgabu Gebremaryam |
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NCT4 |
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National Championships Ethiopia (Mekele) I.T.T. |
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16/06/2018 |
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 |
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PEDERSEN Mads |
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1.1 |
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Fyen Rundt |
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15/05/2018 |
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 |
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SKUJINS Toms |
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2.WT3s |
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Tour of California, Stage 3 : King City – Laguna Seca |
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23/03/2018 |
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MOLLEMA Bauke |
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2.1s |
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Settimana Coppi e Bartali, Stage 2 : Riccione – Sogliano al Rubicone |
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23/03/2018 |
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PANTANO GOMEZ Jarlinson |
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2.WT2s |
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Volta a Catalunya, Stage 5 : Llivia – Vielha |
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2/02/2018 |
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PEDERSEN Mads |
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2.1s |
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Herald Sun Tour, Stage 2 : Warrnambool – Ballarat |
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28/01/2018 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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2.1s |
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Vuelta a San Juan, Stage 7 : San Juan – San Juan |
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28/01/2018 |
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DEGENKOLB John |
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1.1 |
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Trofeo Palma |
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27/01/2018 |
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 |
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SKUJINS Toms |
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1.1 |
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Trofeo Lloseta – Andratx |
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25/01/2018 |
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DEGENKOLB John |
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1.1 |
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Trofeo Campos – Ses Salines |
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23/01/2018 |
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MULLEN Ryan |
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2.1s |
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Vuelta a San Juan, Stage 3 : San Juan I.T.T. |
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13/10/2018 |
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DEGENKOLB John |
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2.WT3s |
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Presidential Tour of Turkey, Stage 5 : Selçuk – Manisa |
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3/10/2018 |
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DEGENKOLB John |
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1.HC |
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Münsterland Giro |
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14/09/2018 |
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DEGENKOLB John |
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1.1 |
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Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen |
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2/09/2018 |
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MOLLEMA Bauke |
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GT2s |
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Vuelta a España, Stage 9 : Talavera de la Reina – La Covatilla |
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1/09/2018 |
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STUYVEN Jasper |
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1.HC |
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Brussels Cycling Classic |
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29/08/2018 |
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MOLLEMA Bauke |
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GT2s |
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Vuelta a España, Stage 5 : Granada – Roquetas de Mar |
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27/08/2018 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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GT2s |
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Vuelta a España, Stage 3 : Mijas – Alhaurin de la Torre |
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21/08/2018 |
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MOSCHETTI Matteo |
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2.1s |
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Tour du Poitou Charentes, Stage 1 : Jonzac – Cognac |
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4/08/2018 |
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MOLLEMA Bauke |
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1.WT2 |
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Clasica San Sebastian |
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29/07/2018 |
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DEGENKOLB John |
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GT1s |
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Tour de France, Stage 21 : Houilles – Paris/Champs-Élysées |
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1/07/2018 |
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DEGENKOLB John |
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NC2 |
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National Championships Germany (Einhausen) R.R. |
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29/06/2018 |
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BRÄNDLE Matthias |
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NCT3 |
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National Championships Austria (Stephanshart) I.T.T. |
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23/06/2018 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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2.1s |
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Adriatica Ionica Race, Stage 4 : San Vito di Cadore – Grado |
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18/04/2018 |
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 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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2.HCs |
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 |
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Tour of Croatia, Stage 2 : Karlovac – Zadar |
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4/04/2018 |
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 |
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FRAME Alex |
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2.1s |
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 |
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Circuit de la Sarthe – Pays de la Loire, Stage 2 : Riaillé – Ancenis |
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1/04/2018 |
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 |
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PEDERSEN Mads |
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1.WT1 |
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 |
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Ronde van Vlaanderen |
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25/03/2018 |
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 |
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MOLLEMA Bauke |
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2.1 |
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 |
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Settimana Coppi e Bartali |
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18/02/2018 |
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 |
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GUERREIRO Ruben Antonio Almeida |
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2.HCs |
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 |
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Volta ao Algarve, Stage 5 : Faro – Alto do Malhao |
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15/02/2018 |
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 |
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MOLLEMA Bauke |
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2.HCs |
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 |
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Volta ao Algarve, Stage 2 : Sagres – Alto de Foia |
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12/02/2018 |
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 |
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BEPPU Fumiyuki |
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CC2 |
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 |
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Asian Cycling Championships (Naypyidaw) R.R. |
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31/01/2018 |
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 |
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PEDERSEN Mads |
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2.1s |
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 |
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Herald Sun Tour, Prologue : Melbourne I.T.T. |
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24/01/2018 |
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 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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2.1s |
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 |
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Vuelta a San Juan, Stage 4 : San Jose Jachal – Villa San Agustin |
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20/10/2018 |
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 |
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STUYVEN Jasper |
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2.WT3s |
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 |
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Tour of Guangxi, Stage 5 : Liuzhou – Guilin |
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11/10/2018 |
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 |
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DEGENKOLB John |
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2.WT3s |
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 |
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Presidential Tour of Turkey, Stage 3 : Fethiye – Marmaris |
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4/10/2018 |
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 |
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FELLINE Fabio |
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NCT1 |
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 |
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National Championships Italy (Cavour) I.T.T. |
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16/09/2018 |
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 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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GT2s |
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 |
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Vuelta a España, Stage 21 : Alcoron – Madrid |
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14/09/2018 |
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 |
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STUYVEN Jasper |
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1.1 |
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 |
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Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen |
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7/09/2018 |
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 |
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STUYVEN Jasper |
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1.WT2 |
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 |
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GP de Québec |
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4/09/2018 |
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 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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GT2s |
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 |
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Vuelta a España, Stage 10 : Salamanca – Bermillo de Sayago |
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11/08/2018 |
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 |
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STETINA Peter |
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2.HCs |
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 |
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Tour of Utah, Stage 5 : Canyons Village – Snowbird |
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10/08/2018 |
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 |
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REIJNEN Kiel |
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2.HCs |
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 |
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Tour of Utah, Stage 4 : Salt Lake City – Salt Lake City |
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5/08/2018 |
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 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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2.WT2s |
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 |
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Tour de Pologne, Stage 2 : Tarnowskie Gory – Katowice |
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29/07/2018 |
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 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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1.WT3 |
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 |
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Ride London – Surrey Classic |
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22/07/2018 |
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 |
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MOLLEMA Bauke |
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GT1s |
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 |
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Tour de France, Stage 15 : Millau – Carcassonne |
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21/07/2018 |
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 |
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STUYVEN Jasper |
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GT1s |
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 |
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Tour de France, Stage 14 : Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux – Mende (Croix Neuve) |
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14/07/2018 |
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 |
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DEGENKOLB John |
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GT1s |
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 |
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Tour de France, Stage 8 : Dreux – Amiens |
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24/06/2018 |
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 |
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STUYVEN Jasper |
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NC1 |
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 |
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National Championships Belgium (Binche) R.R. |
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20/06/2018 |
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 |
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Trek – Segafredo |
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2.1s |
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 |
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Adriatica Ionica Race, Stage 1 : Musile di Piave – Lido di Jesolo T.T.T. |
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27/05/2018 |
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 |
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Trek – Segafredo |
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2.1s |
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 |
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Hammer Series Stavanger, Stage 3 : Stavanger, Hammer chase T.T.T. |
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8/03/2018 |
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 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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2.WT1s |
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 |
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Tirreno – Adriatico, Stage 2 : Camaiore – Follonica |
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18/02/2018 |
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 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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2.HCs |
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 |
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Tour of Oman, Stage 6 : Muscat – Muttrah Corniche |
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17/02/2018 |
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 |
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DEGENKOLB John |
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2.HCs |
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 |
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Volta ao Algarve, Stage 4 : Almodovar – Tavira |
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13/02/2018 |
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 |
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NIZZOLO Giacomo |
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2.HCs |
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 |
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Tour of Oman, Stage 1 : Nizwa – Al Seeb |
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4/02/2018 |
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 |
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GUERREIRO Ruben Antonio Almeida |
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2.1s |
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 |
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Herald Sun Tour, Stage 4 : Kinglake – Kinglake |
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3/02/2018 |
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 |
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GUERREIRO Ruben Antonio Almeida |
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2.1s |
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 |
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Herald Sun Tour, Stage 3 : Nagambie – Lake Mountain |
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