Thanks a lot, guys. There's a lot of things I kind of lost interest in lately, but this is one thing that I still enjoy doing, very much. So as life goes on, I'm picking up where I left off with this

Also I can't wait to read some of the reactions. Always nice to read up on those.

Maybe I'll even do the next preview later tonight. Another classic, it's been a long time since we've had one. Lots of UCI points to be earned! Start place is based on UCI Ranking, too. Places 1 - 10 on front row, 11 - 20 on second row and so on. (except on courses with a narrow start point)

Great Race! Just I didn't really like the result. Will do a report from Sven van Vliet later.

Preview for Christmas Classic probably tomorrow!

Also, cheers Shonak, for that flag-bit before the interview

Time for the Christmas Classic! Read the preview here!

Enjoy the Christmas Classic! It was a nice race to report on.

Hope you all agree


Interesting development with Michael Bollinger, too. First race without any team mate and look how he does. Maybe a better role for him in the future would do him good.

fantastic - hoped for a top 5 there, didn't realise that is was going to be one of those days that opened up perfectly for Cookie.

Hope the guys watching from the sidelines enjoyed the win

Nice one for Cook, really dominat performance in the last few laps. Fuji Cross will be a goodie!

Matt out of the Top 10, hard times for him, let's see if he can get the winter past with at least achieving a top 5

Interesting race to watch as an (almost, still rooting for Michael) neutral. Great to see Michael doing well, definitely what we wanted.

No!

I kind of knew you wouldn't let him win, but you could have at least let him sprint for it. I think Sylvain still remembers Blaarmeesen.

Despite that, it was probably the most exciting and best report I've ever read. Although Sylvain needs to win the next 8 races/the World and Continental championships to make up for it.

Cheers guys, glad you appreciate the reports. Especially since they take quite a time to write

@Smowz: Well, with the ice smelting and the big amount of sand, combined with many hills, made it a perfect profile for a Cook in shape

@trekbmc: Well, the game doesn't work like that the profile was just not perfectly suited to Sylvain. He's not a sand nor an ice specialist, so it would've been hard for him to win even with a super day. So it's up to the race organisers to change the route for next year so their local star can win What do you mean with that he remembers Blaarmeersen?

He fell on the Blaarmeersen hill.

It's also pretty helpful that I'm the race maker.

Don't worry, I probably won't change it.

The riders are getting ready for the FujiCross, an exciting Coca-Cola event inside (and outside) the walls of the FujiQ Theme Park!

Read the preview here!

Originally I planned on doing the race today. But I forgot it was my birthday today so I won't have any time tonight. Maybe just enough to determine the race outline and result, so send in tactics as soon as you can

And either way, I think I'll wait on some more reaction in the Game Thread. Otherwise it's just me posting stuff, you can't play the game alone, so I should wait to give people time to catch up

How do you forget your own birthday

Will see whether I can catch up on Tuesday. Have some writing to do now for this story.

I'm planning to do a big catchup some point over the next two weeks, don't hold your breath.
EDIT: Happy birthday, have a beautiful Kiwi banana, you can have some more if you have a birthday brainwave and let us win something for once

Well, happy birthday Ian! Also, a blog post will come once Matt gets a decent result

Happy Birthday Ian from me too!

Happy Birthday Ian!