Joao Almeida vs Ineos Grenadiers sums up what we can expect from the general classifications. Sprinters will also have their chances to shine as a relatively high profile field is at the start.
The 7 profiles can be resumed as followed: ( 3 flat sprints, 3 mountains, 1 TT)
- Stage 1: Everything points towards a fat big old bunch sprints.
- Stage 2: The finish is at the end of an 11 km climb called ‘the wailing wall’ which has some disturbing gradient of over 10%.
- Stage 3: Typical mountain stage with early breakaways and GC teams playing catch up. An impressive uphill 1 km drag reaching up to 18% awaits the riders.
- Stage 4: A good day out for the sprinters.
- Stage 5: A long hard day which finishes with the loops uphill terrain ( 3 km max 5 %)n and downhill)
- Stage 6: 16.6 km solo effort.
- Stage 7: The final days could reward the sprinters, although some strong foxes could find a way to trick the peloton.
Velogames Fantasy Tour de Pologne 2023
- João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) 24: He is now part of the Grand Tour Podium finishes. He will enjoy this parcours and is on of the best when its comes to uphill drags finishes. One of the best final km punch and his returned confidence in TT make him a worthy 24 credits choice.
- Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) 20: No idea about his form and he aims for the Vuelta. The climbs are not that demanding and he should excel in the time-trial Leadership? Ineos Grenadiers will aim for the trendy 1-2-3 in compensation of not having won a Grand Tour for more than 2 years.
- Sergio Higuita (BORA – hansgrohe) 18: The short punches suits him really but we really have not seen any good form from him this season.
- Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers) 18: He finished second to Ethan Hayter last year and another podium is likely as his time-trial seems not to have really been affected by his move to Ineos Grenadiers.
- Pavel Sivakov (INEOS Grenadiers) 16: marked his return after his Giro crash with a 5th place at the Tour of Austria. Should be up and around and provide another option to Ineos Grenadiers.
- Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) 16:Will have 2-3 sprints to snatch a win. His main opponents will be in Merlier and Sam Bennett.
- Damiano Caruso (Bahrain – Victorious) 14: His time-trial has improved a lot in the last year. He will definitely be challenging for the general classification. The cheapest of the serious overall contenders.
- Michał Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers) 14: The former world champion will bring his super form form the Tour De France to his home tour. He won the race in 2018, finished third in 2021. A repeat of such performances is not certainly not impossible given from his current shape.
- Fernando Gaviria (Movistar Team) 14: He has 3 sprints chances against the like of Kooij and Merlier. But the Tour de Pologne has had some questionable tracing down the years and this could play into his favour.
- Tim Merlier (Soudal – Quick Step) 14: He might not have won for 2 months but his ability to win sprints in undeniable.
- Matej Mohorič (Bahrain – Victorious) 12: will be aiming for stage win on Stage 3 or 7
- Sam Bennett (BORA – hansgrohe) 12: While the whole world eyes were on the Tour de France and Jordi Meeus won the Champs- Elysees sprint, the Irishman won 2 sprint in the Sibiu cycling Tour.
- Lennard Kämna (BORA – hansgrohe) 12: Punchy finish. Reduced sprint. Time-trial. Gc Contender. We have got our man.
- Lenny Martinez (Groupama – FDJ) 12: The new French hope is an impressive climber though there is still work for him on terms of time-trial.
- Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) 12: I really like this sprinter and he can beat Kooij or Merlier.
- Tobias Foss (Jumbo-Visma) 12: THe climb are not hard enough for it to be a problem for the World TT champion. He should ends in a decent top 10 position.
- Max Poole (Team DSM) 12: The British sycling sensation enjoys longer climbs and might not to the same level as others in TT
- Eddie Dunbar(Team Jayco AlUla) 12: Proved all his GC credential with a 7th final place at the Giro while he built for the Vuelta.
- Matteo Sobrero (Team Jayco AlUla) 12: He has been climbing really well this season had had some final top 10 finish on uphill drag. He seems to have been disinterested in the climbs in Tour de Suisse though. Still a good option for the time trial.
- Rafał Majka (UAE Team Emirates) 12: Will he go for his own glory? most likely not as he will help Almeida and McNulty.
- Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) 12: Still good at time-trial although his climbing has not been the best yet this year.
- Max Walscheid (Cofidis) 10: Brave is one who will spend 10 credits on the German Sprinter
- Jan Hirt (Soudal – Quick Step) 10: is making his come after going totally of the grid following his DNS at the giro. Is only here to win a place for the Vuelta.
- Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal – Quick Step) 10: He seized his chance at the Giro after Remco abandoned by securing himself a final 12th. His good time trial ability will give the deserved leadership for the GC of his team.
- Kévin Vauquelin (Team Arkéa Samsic) 10: He propelled himself to the bigger scene and had a very credible performance in all French races earlier this season. His current is a bit unknown following his DNS at the Tour de Suisse.
- Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates) 10: The one certainty is that the German will be the last sprinter to be dropped on climbs. At 10, he is a good safety net and has definitely found the way to victory again.
- Tim Wellens ( UAE Team Emirates) 10: A bit too late in the season, aren’t we?
- Nicola Conci and Stefano Oldani (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 8: Both are very good options if you need a puncheur.
- Jakub Mareczko (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 8: Looks like the sprinter Alpecin-Deceuninck will depending on.
- Samuele Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan Team) 8: Short punchy climbs and break away are his things rather than long climbs
- Gleb Syritsa (Astana Qazaqstan Team) 8: He will have 2 or 3 sprinting chances
- Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan Team) 8: He looked quite in shape towards the end of the Tour. It would not be a surprise to see hanging on with the very best on stage 3 or even win it from a breakaway
- Andrea Pasqualon (Bahrain – Victorious) 8: will be working for Milan
- Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost) 8: Top 5 finisher in the TT
- Paul Penhoët (Groupama – FDJ) 8: A young sprinter who can gets over slight inclination.
- Stanisław Aniołkowski (Human Powered Health) 8: Yet another sprinter at 8 points
- Rune Herregodts (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) 8: Nearly pulled off something spectacular on the opening day of Dauphiné. He later confirmed his ability by finishing third of the TT.
- Hugo Page (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) 8: Not sure if he will have his own chances with Thijssen
- Koen Bouwman (Jumbo-Visma) 8: After showing his abilities as a puncheur last year, he faded into a luxury team-mate for Roglic at the Vuelta. With no real big name to protect, we may see more of him at the Tour de Pologne
- Jon Aberasturi and Edward Theuns (Lidl – Trek) 8: The fight for lead sprinter is on between the two but it should most likely be Eddie.
- Andreas Kron (Lotto Dstny) 8: Quite a decent climber and a great puncheur he will be worth all his 8 credits.
- Iván García Cortina (Movistar Team) 8: He will leading out Gaviria on the flat sprints while hoping he would resist the harder terrain to have a go.
- Matteo Moschetti (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) 8: a good sprinting option
- Daniel McLay (Team Arkéa Samsic) 8: another main sprinter
- Patrick Bevin (Team DSM) 8: A fair sprinter and a decent time trial, his season has not really gone his way since his crash in the Tour Down Under
- Oscar Onley (Team DSM) 8: A fan favourite, he will sharing the head light with Poole and has a good chance of stage victory with his punch
- Arvid De Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) 8: After surprising the big name at Milan-Torino, he has kept his shape and could rub his shoulder for a proper sprint stage win
- Joel Suter (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) 8: Break-away guy and decent time trialist
- Dorian Godon (AG2R Citroën Team) 6: Not sure of what to make of the Frenchman. He has a good speed but not good enough for sprints as he prefer reduced sprint while he is often the first name in breakaways.
- Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan Team) 6: Astana has another really good chance of victory from breakaway from this guy. But he could also keep up on the climbs with the best
- Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain – Victorious) 6: After a very turbulent season, a lot of questions will be answered with respect to his form
- Ryan Mullen (BORA – hansgrohe) 6: Good time-trialist who will lead out Bennett.
- Lewis Askey, Samuel Watson and Bram Welten (Groupama – FDJ) 6: From Marc Madiot words, the younger FDJ are building a collective rather than individial performances
- Paul Double (Human Powered Health) 6: Have you met Paul Double? A solid climber who finished twice in the top 10 of the Tour of Slovenia, This is his first race at this level but a top 25 is not out of question.
- Laurens De Plus (INEOS Grenadiers) 6: Recent 10th of the Giro, Ineos are really going with numbers here with G.Thomas, Sivakov, Arensman and even Kwiatowski. He is not bad at TT and is a safe 6 credits spent.
- Madis Mihkels (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) 6 : Back up for Thijssen
- Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Dstny) 6: We are all waiting for a good old break away day from him but he has a horde of serious stage contenders to protect with in his own team. Together with Andread Kron, there are:
- Milan Menten (Lotto Dstny) 6 : The main sprinter
- Sylvain Moniquet (Lotto Dstny) 6: The main puncheur
- Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny) 6: The climber
- David Dekker (Team Arkéa Samsic) 6: A real high caliber sprinter who once finds his mark at Team Arkea Samsic will be worth it. Can be relied upon to finish the top 10 for the sprint finish.
- Casper Van Uden (Team DSM) 6: Main sprinter for Team DSM. He may also be alternating with Sean Flynn and Tobias Lund Andresen.
- Matevz Govekaar (Bahrain-Victorious) 6: Last minute addition to the team in the place of Jonathan Milan. The young Slovenian looks set to be given a good go at sprints unless Pasqualon still wants to show that he has some kick left in him
- Finn Fisher-Black (UAE Team Emirates) 6: After a good run as a 4 credit rider, his price has gone up as he will also be working for Ackermann in sprint instead of having a go on his own
- Mikaël Cherel (AG2R Citroën Team) 4: Has had some very brave ride at Tour De Suisse.
- Will Barta (Movistar Team) 4: always one of the best 4 credits due to his TT abilities.
- Mark Donovan (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) 4: He caught the eye at the Tour Des Alps. He did falter with the higher tier at the Tour de Suisse but his recent win at the Sibiu Cycling Tour makes his a good 4 credits risk to take.
- Sean Flynn and Tobias Lund Andresen (Team DSM) 4: May find their chance with DSM having the habit of alternating sprinters but still too big a risk
- Tsgabu Grmay (Team Jayco AlUla) 4: Break away certainty
- Blake Quick (Team Jayco AlUla) 4: Seems the fastest man in the team. But will he sprint ?
- Callum Scotson (Team Jayco AlUla) 4: Unlike Sobrero, he prefers longer climbs. But he has been more consistent through out the season in the mountains. Yet, both are good time-trialist and should both be working for Dunbar.
- Yannis Voisard (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) 4: One of the most picked riders of the Tour De Suisse. He was 26th in the general before he left the race.
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