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American Express [AMEX]
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 10-05-2012 22:55
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At a team meeting a couple of days after arriving home from Africa, team manager Martyn Haley shows the team some statistics from the 1st 18 D2 races.
M. Crane 134 pts in 8 races for 16.75 pts per race
A. Colby 135 pts in 5 races for 27.00 pts per race
B. Veyt 131 pts in 10 races for 13.10 pts per race
C. Ospina 113 pts in 9 races for 12.55 pts per race
A. Cardoso Espanola 96 points in 5 races for 19.2 pts per race
T. Esmaeli 83 pts in 6 races for 13.83 pts per race
M. Hasnaoui 54 pts in 14 races for 3.85 pts per race
L. Euser 24 pts in 5 races for 4.80 pts per race
R. Selig 22 points in 6 races for 3.66 points per race
B. Huff 12 points in 7 races for 1.71 points per race
S. Zwisanski 11 points in 8 races for 1.37 points per race.
P. Zajicek 4 points in 5 races for 0.80 points per race
J. McCarty 3 points in 2 races for 1.50 pts per race
D. Talbot has not raced
AMEX has 822 points in 18 races for 45.66 points per race.
In the team standings we have dropped back to 5th from 4th. We are 28 points behind Samsung-Mol for 4th place, 84 points behind Astom-Bic for 3rd place and 120 points behind Cativen for 2nd place. Going the other way we hold a 96 point lead over Pivovarna-Lasko and UPC who are tied for 6th pplace. If we want to reach 3rd place in the team standings we are going to need to boost our production by about 20% over these last 8 races. Now we know South China Sea and Gattineau will not be good for us so that means we need an average of 70 points per the other 6 races.
Not only do we want to be a top 3 team, but all three of our sponsor goals are still on the table. You all know what they are. For the classics we need 4 more top 5 finishes and there are only 4 more 1 day races, but one of those is the pan flat South China Sea. We need to double up - so even if we have a man out front we still need to push for a 2nd rider in the top 5. Two of our next 3 races will be key to this goal. We have strong climbers for Montagne and Carlos is in Pendle. We need at least 2 top 5 in those 2 races. Three would be better.
Next up is our top 10 goal at Clover Lowveld. A good course for us and we have a top squad. Finally we have our win goal at the Tour of Utah. Tony is our man there. We will be making our second training trip there during the Worlds.
The season has gone very well and you should be pleased, but we still have a lot of racing left and these days will be critical.
Edited by Mhaley45 on 12-05-2012 11:51 |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 12-05-2012 19:33
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PRESS RELEASE
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA -- Headquarters of American Express Cycling
[At the podium are Lyle Goodman VP of Marketing for American Express and the Cycling Project Director and Martyn Haley Director and Team Manager of the American Express Cycling Team.]
[Goodman] Good Afternoon and welcome. Over the last few weeks there have several major changes to Continental Tour Division Two teams. Six teams have disbanded or had thier certifications revoked. A couple of the remaining teams have already announced new primary sponsors for the 2013 season. Other teams are reported to be in negociations with existing sponsors and new sponsors to leverage the best financial deal they can get.
Before we talk about the future, and we will, our agreement with Martyn Haley's cycling team was only for the 2012 season. This was not done because we are not committed to pro cycling or becasue we lacked confidence in Martyn's or the team's abilities. It was solely due to the fact that the CT D2 teams are only certified for 1 year and because the team, with good results and fan support, could be invited to join the Continential Tour [CT] in 2013.
Should the team be invited into the CT next season, the financial requirements would expand in every area of administering the team, rider salaries, travel, staffing, equipment, R & D and yes even administrative. To be successful you need financial resources. You also need a long term plan.
American Express has made a multi-year commitment to continue to sponsor a professional cycling team. In order to provide the needed financial support and leadership we have entered into partnerships with two additional well known international companies. Both of these companies are not new to cycling. They both bring excellent products to the pro cycling arena and we are very happy to join together with them to build a future championship team.
Our first partner is an American based company whose products are already well known by cyclists. They are very excited to expand thier name and products to a much larger world wide market. We welcome
Our second partner is the European subsidary of another American company. Already a household name in markets all over the world and I venture to say with products already in every cyclying trailer no matter if they race PT, CT or D2. Welcome as our second partner
Yes OAKLEY Sunglasses. Thier Eurpoean subsidary is looking for professional cycling to increase sales in emerging markets like South and Central American, Asia and Africa.
In order to bring all of these wonderful resources together we decided to change the team's branding. Here is the our logo for the new AMEX PRO CYCLING.
[Martyn Haley steps up to the microphone]
[Haley]
AMEX Pro Cycling is ready to build a future powerhouse that we expect to compete no matter what division we race in. Since the current season is still on-going, it is not the appopriate time to discuss, in detail, our future plans but I can give you an overview of the directions we plan to take.
First AMEX is and will continue to be an American based cycling team. We will always seek to sign American riders. Should we move up to the CT, competition for American riders will be much more difficult so we will also be expanding our scouting and recruiting efforts into areas outside the United States.
Building a strong core of riders will be our first priority and that is only done by locating and signing young prospects and then giving them the training, develpment and expereince needed to become stars.
We plan to keep our headquarters here in Salt Lake City and to have our primary training and development facalities in North Eastern Spain. We will talk more about trainers, riders, and equipment sponsors after we learn what division we will be racing in next season.
Until this season is over our total focus will be on racing in Division Two. We have eight races remaining and we still want to improve above our 5th place in the team standings. We also will be evaluating not only our riders but any known or potential Free Agents.
Here are a couple more things you can chew on until more information is available to release. AMEX Pro Cycling will improve in sprinting and riding on the cobblestones. You can expect at least one more trainer to be hired and you can look for us to attempt to sign at least one Marque American Rider.
Thank you for attending and as more details about the future of AMEX Pro Cycling are available for release we will talk with you again.
Edited by Mhaley45 on 12-05-2012 19:42 |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 13-06-2012 19:39
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The best news of the day was Phil Zajicek got up from the pile up and finished the stage. We are very concerned that if he is injured all of our team's hope will be dashed because all five riders in the TTT have to finish and the last riders time is the team time.
We are still hoping that he is ready to ride the TTT. AMEX will not be a threat to win the TTT stage but we should not loose too much ground. It will be stages 3, 4 and 5 where we will have to shine and with Zajicek out of the GC it will be up to Tony Colby to be the leader. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 17-06-2012 21:38
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AMEX came to Italy with low expectations, choosing to save the better climbers for the Montange Reunion where they need to secure a top 5 finish. This race is not ideally suited for Colby but he does recover well, so having 2 tough climbing stages and then a hilly finally should allow him to be near the top.
Phil Zajicek is the squads 2nd best climber, but he went down in the stage #1 crash. While the 5+ minute time loss dropped him out of any GC hopes. Phil rode well in the TTT, helping AMEX drop just 7 seconds and he was one of three AMEX riders to finish in the same time as the leader on stage #3.
AMEX's strength will be in having three riders who can compete on stages 4 and 5. Colby, Zajicek and Zwizanski who just might be the best rider on stage #5.
On Stage #4 AMEX would be smart to once again try to get a rider in the break to allow them to not have to set the chase pace. Euser has the freshest legs and hopefully he can be in position to get away. Our climbing trio will not try to ride away for the win, but they will work together to keep Colby in contention. Stage #4 would be a success of Colby can move up to 5th place and the Z boys can both finish in the top 20. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 19-06-2012 16:54
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Colby moves into 2nd place in Italy
Stage 4 was a tough stage. Kingspan was defending the Yellow Jersey and took the responsibility very seriously. They drove the peleton at such a hard pace all but a select few remained as the last climb was started. Tony Colby having the protection of teammates saved his energy for one well timed attack about mid-way on the final climb and it worked very well.
Unfortunately the race leader was not ready to surrender his Yellow jersey and he counter-attacked to join Colby. The two stay away the rest of the stage and Mancebo had better legs in the last kilometer to win the stage, retain his Yellow jersey and put an additional 10 seconds into his lead over Colby. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 22-06-2012 19:18
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Stage #5 was a flat stage with win out of the breakaway. We had 2 or 3 crashes in the rain, but none of AMEX's riders were injured. Scott Zwizanski was held up by the first and largest crash, but Scott is fie and will be fully ready to support our team leader Tony Colby.
Colby, currently 2nd in the GC and 30 seconds behind race leaders Mancebo, will have a difficult time getting seperated from the Kingspan protectors. Mancebo will be extremely hard to overtake. Colby lacks the explosive attacking ability to distance himself from Mancebo, so if Colby and AMEX truely want the win they will have to put Euser, Zwizanski and Zajicek on the front. Not only will they need to set the pace and control any breaks but they will need to set a hot pace to push Mancebo into duress. Only then could a late Colby attack make up the 30 second deficiet.
More likely Kingspan will drive the pace and keep Mancebo safely protected and in contention allowing him to conserve energy to fight off any late challenges.
AMEX should be very happy to defend Colby's 2nd place in the GC. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 22-06-2012 19:41
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Team manage Matrin Haley sirs in the sir conditioned team bus with his 2 assistants Davis Phinney and Ron Kiefel. Consultant Jim Ochowiczas is on the phone as they four discuss the D2's remaining 5 classics.
Haley: Well we have 5 classics left and so far we have just 1 top 5 finish. Is there anyway we are going to pull a rabbit out of the hat to reach our goal of 6 top 5 finishes in the classics?
Phinney: Well we know that we have no chance at Gattineau. Our TT guys are not going to top 5 - no way.
Kiefel: I like our chances in the Montagne Reunion and Industria GP. We have the climbers to get top 5's in both of those.
Phinney: I think we can manage it at Montagne, but that last race will be very iffy. Those short steep climbing routes have not be Ospina's best efforts. Zwizanski maybe but that's asking a lot.
Haley: What about Pendle?
Kiefer: Again it will have to Ospina. If it was top 10 I would be confident but top 5, I don't know.
Phinney: The kid might be ready for a big race. His confidence is growing and he rolls those hills pretty well. He would need to get in a breakaway to make it stick, but if he got time he might be hard to run down.
Ochowicz: If he can great, but do not put that kind of pressure on him in his rookie season. Ospina was signed to produce so he has to step up and get these top 5's for us.
Haley: What about the South China race?
Phinney: I like Veyt's chances for another breakaway gallop. It will be very hard to make up time if he can get in a winning break. Yes I lke his chances.
Haley: so that sounds like we have a shot to pick up 4 but not 5.
Ochowicz: Don't forget in the Montagne Reunion you could on the right day slip both Esmaeli and Cardoso Espanola into the top 5.
Haley: Well we can keep working but the likelyhood we can pull of 5 top fives in just 4 races not counting Gattineau are slim and none. Hmmmmm....
If we can get 3 or 4 in the last 4 real races, I think we can show AMEX we are still in track.
Alright thanks -- I will be in chase 1 with Colby tomorrow, Davis you are in chase 2 with Ron and Jim you will be with me. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 23-06-2012 18:43
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The Coppe Bartali finished with Kingspan controlling the day and keeping Mancebo safe and on the top of the podium . AMEX's Tony Colby lost a dozen seconds to Mancebo but held on to 2nd place in the GC.
In the overall GC standings, Tony Colby has moved into 2nd place behind Fancisco Mancebo. Colby has two more D2 tours and he should place solidly in both. There is a very good chance he can finish the season with a top 5 GC finish. Tony's next race is a Wild Card invitation to race on the D2 team in the Tour of Colorado. Colby is not ready to contend in a CT tour event, but Colorado is his home and he will family and friends to cheer him on.
AMEX has 2 more riders in the top 30. Matthew Crane (27th/134pts) and Bart Veyt (28th/131pts) both have had multiple high finishes out of breakaways.
Following those top 3 we have
Carlos Ospina (36th/113pts)
Adonis Cardoso Espanola (53rd/96pts)
Tareq Esmaeli (74th/83pts)
Maher Hasnaoui (107th/54pts)
Lucas Euser (161st/24pts)
Rudiger Selig (171st/22pts)
Brad Huff (194th/12pts)
Scott Zwizanski (205th/11pts)
Phil Zajicek (240th/4pts)
J.P. McCarty (244th/3pts)
David Talbot has not raced yet
In the Team standings AMEX [923 Points] held thier 4th place behind
Het Nieuwsblad (1361)
Alstom-Bic (989)
Team Cativen (958)
and ahead of
Samsung-Mol (897)
The core of the AMEX schedule is now upon us. The one day Montagne Reunion is a very big race where we need to get two riders into the top 5. Success on that scale is very unlikely but we must push for those results. Adonis Cardoso Espanola has shown that on any given mountain he can climb with the best of the D2. Single day formats seem to suit him better than the multi-stage tours. It is unlikely he can win but with some solid support and good positioning he can challenge for a podium spot.
A bigger question and also a bigger need is for multi-purpose climber Tareq Esmaeli to finally unleash his talent in the D2. He has already had two very strong races in CT Wild Card outings where he finished just outside the top ten in one and top 20 in a second against some the best CT climbers. Tareq does not have an attacking style, but he is like a bulldog. He will latch on to the top group and just not let them shake him off.
The goal here is asking a lot, but if AMEX wants to be know as a climbing team this is where they need to make thier mark. |
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Posted on 21-05-2013 20:42
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| jph27 |
Posted on 23-06-2012 19:51
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Classics Specialist
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Whenever I think I'm writing a lot in my media reports, I look at yours to keep me grounded. Great work as always. 
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 24-06-2012 16:03
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ACE WINS MONTAGNE
An excellent team effort. U23 David Talbot joined the break in the 2nd or 3rd wave and rode well until the steep climbs and the better climbers seperated him from the lead group.
In the peleton, with two good climbers in the breakaway, there was a very big need to pick up the pace. Kingspan jumped to the front first but they did not stay too long, leaving the chase up to AMEX and Cativen. AMEX's Z-boys Scott Zwizanski and Phil Zajicek drove the peleton hard and the gap started to come down. Cativen then took control and closed down some more. Without the hard work of AMEX and Cativen's domestiques another D2 breakaway would have succeeded.
On the last climb Tareq Esmaeli, AMEX's 2nd best climber in the race was dropped after a long hard ride. This left ACE on his own and he attacked, getting a 30 second gap and then holding on for the win.
We did not get two riders in the top 5 so our chances of reaching our general goal to six top5 finishes in the classics will more than likely not be reached.
Still this was a good dy for AMEX. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 24-06-2012 17:03
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Unofficial Team Totals after Montagne Reunion and six (6) D2 races remaining.
No. Prv Team (Pts)
1 1 Het-Nieuwsblad (1398)
2 4 American Express (1015)
3 3 Team Cativen (1012)
4 2 Alstom-Bic (991)
5 5 Samsung-Mol (945)
6 6 Team UPC (817)
7 7 Pivovarna-Lasko (756)
8 10 Kingspan (753)
9 8 Metinvest-Slovnaft (719)
10 11 Gazprom-Rosbank (693)
11 9 Team Adecco (675)
12 12 Serbian Telecom (632)
13 13 Ekspla-Maxima (586)
14 14 Team Dyson (538)
15 15 Petrobras-Banco Brasil (511)
16 16 Finnair-Nordea (449)
17 17 Eurovision (435)
18 18 Team Armavia (339)
The remaining D2 Races:
Tour of Pendle - 1 day hilly clasic
Clover Lowveld - 6 Stages
South Chia Sea - 1 day flat classic
Tour of Utah - 6 stages (2tt's)
Chrono Gatineau - Time Trials 2 riders per
GP Industria - 1 day hilly classic
While Het-Nieuwsblad cannot (yet) claim the D2 title, they are printing shirts, hats and they have ordered 50 cases of Champagne. (unofficially of course - Great Job and you earned it. Congrats)
The battle for 2nd thru 5th tightened up even more with the spread from AMEX's 1015 points to Samsung-Mol's 945 is only 70 points. With 2 tours, 2 hilly classics, 1 flat classic and one Chrono there is time left for every team to have a big day.
It's going to be a very exciting finish in the D2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 25-06-2012 17:34
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AMEX's Tony Colby rides with the breakaway group all day. Showing he solid riding ability and good stamina Tony Colby rode all day with the lead group. He was passed by several riders in the final kilometer when his weakness as a sprinter were exposed. At the end of stage #1 Colby is 30th in the GC at +0'20.
Coming of his 2nd place finish in the Coppe Bartali (D2) Colby is moving into peak form just as the AMEX team reaches the two biggest races of the season for them Clover Lowveld and the Tour of Utah.
Stage #2 is not as tough a day aas Stage #1 but there is one difficult climb about 1/3 into the race.
The D2 team had all seven riders finish at +0'20 for the stage and all of them are in the top 40 GC. Solid day Team D2. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 26-06-2012 12:35
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Stage #2 Tour of Colorado
Tony Colby knew this was not a stage where he could press any advantage. His goal was to stay out of trouble and with the peleton. At the end of the day he crossed the line in 32nd place but for the 2nd stage in a row he finished in the same time as the stage winner.
After two stages Colby is the highest ranked D2 rider in the GC in 22nd place and +0'32 - all the time in bonuses.
Stage #3 is one long steady climb. Colby is better suited to this stage than stages 1 & 2, but there is no way he can ride this mountain like the CT climbers. Once again Colby will push to stay with the leading group as long as possible. There is no way he cannot lose time today, but his goal is to hold on to his 22nd GC position.
He will be helped along the route by friends and family located at strategic spot on the stage.
This will be a very tough diesel climb and an excellent test of Tony's development. A good ride today will announce to the D2 riders his desire to win the Tour of Utah later in the season. |
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| jaxika |
Posted on 26-06-2012 13:03
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GO go Colby |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 26-06-2012 13:21
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jaxika wrote:
GO go Colby
+1 Save us Colby!
Manager of
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 26-06-2012 21:32
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Word come in from l'Avenir that David Talbot was caught up is a large (24 rider) crash close to the finish but outside of the grace distance. As long as Talbot is not hurt, this will not be much of a setback for Talbot or the Calif Great Berfy Farm team.
Maher Hasnaoui was an also ran but he was not expected to be any facotr in this stage anyway. |
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| jph27 |
Posted on 26-06-2012 21:36
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Mhaley45 wrote:
Word come in from l'Avenir that David Talbot was caught up is a large (24 rider) crash close to the finish but outside of the grace distance. As long as Talbot is not hurt, this will not be much of a setback for Talbot or the Calif Great Berfy Farm team.
Maher Hasnaoui was an also ran but he was not expected to be any facotr in this stage anyway.
Word from Dyson rider Matthew Gee is that Talbot seemed uninjured, but was simply exaggerating for dramatic effect. In Matthew's words "He was rolling around like a five year old who's fallen down a hill."
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 26-06-2012 22:27
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Really!
That is very interesting. Seems Talbot told the team manager Levi that it was a Dyson rider who cause the crash.
I would not worry about anything, the AMEX team is not the kind of team that would remember a thing like that, at least not any longer than through the Tour of Utah. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 28-06-2012 10:55
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Stage #2 of l'Avenir has been reported.
AMEX riders Maher Hasnaoui and David Talbot both rode in the pack as this was a sprinters stage. They stayed out of trouble and finished in the same time as the race leader Luke Rowe after his back to back sprint wins..
Talbot does not appear to be injure from hsi day 1 crash.
Stage #3 is a hilly day and Hasnaoui and Talbot will be called upon to protect team leader and race favorite Ryan Eastman. It might be a good day to throw Hasnaoui in the break to keep Eastman's team from having to chase. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 29-06-2012 23:04
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Stage 6 of the Tour of Colorado was a sprinter's stage and there was no reason to try and expend energy getting into a breakaway today. The sprint teams were bound and determined to keep this race in control.
Tony Colby stayed near the front of the peleton and out of trouble. He finished in the same time as the winner and held on to his 24th position in the GC.
Stage #7 is realistically the last chance to make a move to finish in the top 20. The course is a series 10 short but steep climbs. It is a 170+ km. The sprinter's will be out of the mix and the race leaders will be more concerned about protecting position. This is a good stage for Tony to once again try to join the day's breakaway. If he could help it stick end even get a 2 minute time gain he would have an excellent chance to get into the top 20.
Colby wants to put all of the D2 riders on notice that when the Tour of Utah starts in October, he wants to be the rider all the others are worried about. After finishing 2nd in his last 2 races the Vuelta Austrias and the Coppe Bartoli, Colby is comming into peak form.
A solid race on Stage 7 could give him that spotlight in October. |
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