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Fabio Melani | Road to Le Tour | End of Season
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 24-11-2013 02:10
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Sutty: Thanks  , I think I'm doing alright too 
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 24-11-2013 02:26
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 USA Pro Cycling Challenge 
The last stage to possibly win yellow. We can do it! 
Suarez was the first rider to attack.
The other 4 attackers couldn't bothered to chase him, so he waited.
Our boy won the Cat. 2, over which the breakaway had an 8 minute advantage.
Duarte was tired and badly placed, so I made a move myself. Being who he is though, (not due to recent speculation) he caught up to me.
With 15.2km left, 4 of the initial breakaway were still ahead, with Suarez leading solo.
Unfortunately Rolland was able to make his way up again. With 8km left, he was wheelsucking me AGAIN.
So, Duarte blocked him as the peloton made the catch. Allowing me to ride away.
With 2.6km to go, Suarez was finally caught, with the French leader already sprinting. With 2km left the sprinters came up front and I made my move.
With 1km left the others were all dead, but I still had a tiny bit of energy? Could I take the win? In a spirnting stage!?
No! Thomas Voeckler won the stage, followed by Pellizottiand Pantano. I faded badly to 7th.
Spoiler Tomorrow
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 24-11-2013 04:01
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USA Pro Cycling Challenge 
The final stage. We'll try to get a Top 5 for Jarlinson. 
6 men decided to try their luck, betting on a tired peloton.
With 2.7km to go, the break was finally caught. Pantano was well positioned on Goddaert's wheel.
The IAM sprinter lead with 500m to go...
And took a convincing win. Enger was 2nd, while Pantano lead home the stragglers - finishing 3rd again.
I finished quite far back, but didn't lose any time.
Thanks everyone for sticking with me throughout this year's USAPCC. It was a good race for the team, with high GC placings, and the Blue youth jersey for me. Next I have the Tour of Britain, but until then...
ADIOS 
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 24-11-2013 08:07
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Nicely done. You should've waited till I made my variant  actually it's probably a good thing you didn't, my work isn't normally top quality...
Back on track...
Strong performance in the GC for the team and for yourself, and well done for the sprints too.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 24-11-2013 23:08
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Tour de France Champion
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2nd and 4th on the Final GC is a great result for the team
But Fabio being the best young rider is even better
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 28-11-2013 06:29
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Hobbit: It was a strong performance from everyone which we're very happy with.
Sutty: The GC is great, and the young rider is even better .
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 28-11-2013 07:00
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Duarte to Give Up the Dope? After our article about Fabio Duarte and Darwin Atapuma's possible doping habits, Colombia have publically announced Duarte's move to Crelan-Euphony for next season. Apparently this deal has been in place for a long time, but it is possible that it was struck after our first article. Why? Duarte could potentially get into the Top 5 at a Grand Tour, so why not renew his contract with Colombia - who are all but assured a spot in the World Tour next season, but instead sign with Crelan. It is very possible that he has only given people the impression of his WT-worthy skill due to doping, and that he has now decided to stop, and stay in Continental cycling. Duarte is yet to speak, but fellow accused John Darwin Atapuma spoke the day before the Tour of Utah, which he will hope to win.
These allegations are all stupid. If you really want to know the reason why Fabio went to Crelan, I'll tell you. The team, as you know, is in financial difficulty, and Fabio thought that it would be best to leave, in order to keep the team going. Surprisingly no WorldTour teams offered, so he went to Crelan. I don't doubt that he may come back to us one day. Maybe as soon as when his contract as Crelan expires. But I'll tell you this - Duarte is not going to stop doping, because you can't stop what you didn't start.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 23:36
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 28-11-2013 13:07
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Tour de France Champion
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So Duarte leaves for the good of the team
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 29-11-2013 23:19
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Sutty: That's what they say
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 29-11-2013 23:28
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The World Ports Classic went badly for us, with Arango was our best rider, 114th in the GC.
Duarte lead into the final day of the Settimana Lombarda, after being the best of the peloton (after a breakaway win) on Stage 1 and winning Stage 2. However, he lost it all on the last stage.
Chris Froome picked up the Tour-Vuelta double.
Il Padania was an amazing race, so I'll go through a stage-by-stage review.
Stage 1: Atapuma wins by 46"
Stage 2: Breakaway wins by 4'06"
Stage 3: Coquard wins the sprint finish
Stage 4: On the queen stage, Rolland, Van Garderen and Duarte beat the rest of the Top 10 (Atapuma 10th) by 24", and the peloton by 1'
Stage 5: Atapuma 7th by 20". After winning stage 2 in the break, Van Hecke finally loses yellow to Darwin.
Edited by Cycleman123 on 30-11-2013 00:39
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 30-11-2013 00:56
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 Tour of Britain 2.1
Country: Great Britain
Leader
John Darwin Atapuma
Sprinter
Leonardo Duque
Main Teammate
Esteban Chaves
Teammate
Fabio Melani
Leadout Man
Jeffry Johan Romero
Domestique
Marco Corti
Domestique
Carlos Quintero
Domestique
Duber Quintero Darwin should be able to get the win here, but there'll be some stiff competition. Maybe a stage win with Duque as well.
My Version: There's a tough competition here, but we have a good team. Hopefully we can do well. I'm not hoping for much in the sprints.
DS: Win GC, 1 Stage Win for Duque
Sponsors: Top 2 GC
Me: Top 3 GC, 2 Stage Wins
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 30-11-2013 01:32
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Tour de France Champion
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Good Luck in Britain
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 30-11-2013 01:38
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Sutty: Thanks
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 30-11-2013 01:43
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Tour of Britain
There might be some gaps here, but Duque might be able to hold on on the hills and bring something home.
Carlos Quintero joined up with the Irishman English (RCS) to form the BoTD.
Our boy came from 200m down to win the first climb.
For some reason, English didn't want to make up the tiny ground to Quintero, so it became a solo break.
He was caught at around 18km, while the first attacker was Wallays (TSV). We had a sprint train, but our climbers were badly positioned for the finish.
The Quintero brothers were really impressing today. Duber lead the train up and caught the solo attacker.
Very surprisingly, Romero delivered a great uphill leadout. Despite a few sprinters being up there, we had a chance.
With 400m to go, Duque lead, but Kocjan was coming at 55km/h.
The Euskaltel man got the win, ahead of in-form Arashiro, Duque, and then another Europcar man - Turgot.
Michael van Stayen somewhat disappointed in the sprint, but still had a very cool looking young jersey. I earned 8th with 25th place on the stage.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 30-11-2013 02:14
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A nice start to the race for Leonardo
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 30-11-2013 02:46
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Definitely
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 30-11-2013 02:59
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Tour of Britain 
I think that we will see time gaps here, but not too big. 
There were 3 escapees.
With 40km to go, there were already attacks from the peloton The riders involved were
Matysiak
Honkisz
Kocjan and Puccio attacked on the 11% Cat. 3 climb.
All the favourites went on the downhill. We formed an attack train. Chaves was struggling but I was able to help Atapuma.
We passed about a dozen riders, but Puccio still lead solo by 2 minutes.
He won, ahead of his 40km friend, Kocjan. Arashiro and Tiernan-Locke followed.
Atapuma was 5th, while I beat Wallays to 6th.
Puccio took the lead in the GC, while I moved up to 2nd in the Young Riders' ranking.
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 30-11-2013 05:01
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Tour of Britain 
Time trial. Nothing too special. 
The Quintero brothers started next to eachother. Duber first.
In more ways than one though, he got the best provisional time at the finish!
I was feeling good. Ready to put in a good time, and get closer to the top of the GC.
Unfortunately my mentality didn't transfer. I was 93rd provisionally at the time check - 25" behind.
I saved some energy for a final dash, and finished 20th, 31" down.
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 30-11-2013 06:13
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Tour of Britain 
Another stage where there's a chance for gaps. 
5 riders escaped, in hopes of a tired peloton.
No curse? Duque crashed alone, but got back to the front of the peloton without help.
The first attacker was Tiernan-Locke. Again it came 40km from the finish line.
A group of 7 got away, including Atapuma and me. Kocjan was further ahead - solo.
Darwin and I were blocked when cathcing the 2 leaders from the break.
But it ended up fine. I tried to make an attack train, but as my leader was blocked, I had to wait.
Heytens of 3M was still ahead in the closing kilometres. Could he get a fairytale win? Probably not.
I started my leadout at 2.8km, but he was still ahead.
He could do it! Wow! Arashiro was 2nd.
We were poor, Atapuma just didn't accelerate, but we'll take this sort of performance.
The yellow seems to be swinging, but Euskaltel have it for now.
Edited by Cycleman123 on 30-11-2013 08:33
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 30-11-2013 08:54
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Hopefully you or Fabian can light up the race in the next hilly stages, you might even climb up GC.
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