Dominik Nerz: The Next Level
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cunego59 |
Posted on 22-05-2012 10:58
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Thanks once again for all the nice feedback!
I know that I have assembled an enormously strong team. To be honest, I didn't mean to, I just didn't really think about it. But towards the end of last season, it became obvious to me as well that it might be a bit too good. I agree with you on this point.
But I think the season should be interesting nevertheless. I took the strength of the team into account while planning the season and I tried to get as many challenges as possible. That's why Nibali, for example, won't do the Giro-Vuelta-Double again but instead try to win the Tour. It's rather likely that this will be our first year without a GT win.
Also, the races where Dominik participates (which are the most important ones after all) will have enough concurrence, I guess And after all, I play on extreme level and I'm not a Pellizotti2
Long story short, I agree with you that the team got a bit too strong, but I'm sure I can provide you with an interesting season nevertheless and I'm glad to hear you'll be follwing
You can expect the next update soon.
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Neillster |
Posted on 22-05-2012 11:05
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Domestique
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I don't think that the team is too strong. I think that the team has strong riders in each department, but that when it comes to a race you won't be using all your extremely strong riders at once. And besides, as you said, it's extreme!
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Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 22-05-2012 11:09
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You are right completly, the story will be still very interesting surely, as you pointed it is about Dominik and he will have tough competition. Also in GTs you are not the biggest favourite, only Sagan and Cunego should be unbeatable and sprint teams is excellent, but sprinting is very hard in extreme and there are some faster guys.So good luck and sorry for criticism
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cunego59 |
Posted on 22-05-2012 11:15
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@ Neillster: Yeah, you're kinda right. We won't have any race where we won't have any real opposition at all (at least in World Tour).
@ Avin: Sorry for criticism? Please! I'm glad about such comments, criticism is what furthers this story! And yes, the Sagan-Cunego duo will be lethal. The big problem with my sprinters is that they mostly have a very low flat squad which prevents them from being competitive on a higher level...
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Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 22-05-2012 11:18
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cunego59 wrote:
@ Neillster: Yeah, you're kinda right. We won't have any race where we won't have any real opposition at all (at least in World Tour).
@ Avin: Sorry for criticism? Please! I'm glad about such comments, criticism is what furthers this story! And yes, the Sagan-Cunego duo will be lethal. The big problem with my sprinters is that they mostly have a very low flat squad which prevents them from being competitive on a higher level...
Just joking
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cunego59 |
Posted on 22-05-2012 11:29
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January 5th, 2013
Hello folks and welcome back to my blog, now in the year 2013!
I'm writing to you from Rome, where our new main sponsor UniCredit has one of their two head quarters. In a team meeting and several individual talks, we were getting prepared for hopefully another successful season. Just like last year, I will present you my racing and training schedule, once again I'm very happy about it.
And since my three-years-contract is running out after this season, I will also give you a brief overview about my thinking for the next year.
Like I said above, I'm very glad about the schedule our management has planned for me. It's a nice mixture of the obligatory helping services and a couple of chances to ride on my own. But have a look yourselves:
Part One:
23.01. - 01.02. | Tour de Langkawi | 10 Stages |
I start my season early, because I shall try to defend my title in Malaysia! I will return to the Tour of Langkawi with great memories, since it's the place of my first professional victory ever. And having developed over the last year, I'm confident that I can once again battle for the win or at least the podium here.
Part Two:
19.04. - 22.04. | Giro del Trentino | 4 Stages | 24.04. - 01.05. | Tour de Romandie | 6 Stages | 07.05. - 29.05. | Giro d'Italia | 21 Stages |
After a two and a half months without racing, I'll start to prepare for my season highlight in later April. During the Giro del Trention and the Tour de Romandie, I will accompany Janez Brajkovic as we both prepare for the Giro d'Italia. That's right: In my third year in this team, I will ride the third Grand Tour. Just like at the Vuelta last year, I will be both co-leader aiming for the white jersey and Janez's main helper in the mountain. Since Eros Capecchi is also there, I hope to get quite a bit of freedom. We'll see how it goes, but I'm looking forward to this a lot anyway.
24.06. | German Championships ITT | 1 Stage | 26.06. | German Championships | 1 Stage |
Between the second and the third part of my season, there are the German Championships. I will be completely out of shape so my management has set it at liberty whether I want to compete or not. It will be a spontaneous decision, depending on my well-being at that time.
Part Three
03.08. - 07.08. | Vuelta a Burgos | 5 Stages | 09.08 - 13.08. | Tour de l'Ain | 4 Stages | 16.08. - 19.08. | Tour du Limousin | 4 Stages |
I will return to racing in early August. I will lead a squad at both the Vuelta a Burgos and the Tour de l'Ain - another race I already participated in last year, finishing fifth and best young rider. Afterwards, I will get back to helping Janez Brajkovic as the Tour du Limousin is his last preparation race for the Vuelta a Espana.
21.08. | Vattenfall Cyclassics | 1 Stage | 22.08. - 28.08. | USA Pro Cycling Challenge | 7 Stages |
My only one day classic this year will be on home soil. For the first time, I will be able to compete in the Vattenfall Cyclassics. My good friend Peter Sagan is our leader there, unfortunately it's the only race we do together. After that I will reach my second peak of the year. For the first time, I will ride on the American continent as I lead a team in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Vincenzo Nibali will also be present but he'll fade out his season after a long and hard peak, so he will function as my main helper there - how cool is that?
This is the traning schedule the management composed for me. As you can see, there are two peaks, one for the Giro and one for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. It's more balanced than last year where I had a very long period of racing, so I'm confident to be in shape when I need to be.
As I said, my contract with UniCredit is running out at the end of the season and I'm still uncertain what to do with this situation.
On the one hand, I am extremely grateful for what this team has done for me in the last two years. They have put a lot of confidence in me without applying any pressure and they offered me enough possibilities to prove myself.
Also, I have grown really fond of my team mates. Friendships have developed, not to mention the huge quality that our riders have, and from whom I can still learn a lot.
But on the other hand, this enormous quality prevents me of taking the leading role in the bigger races. It will surely take at least two or three years until I could actually count myself an absolute leader here. And I am really not sure if I want to wait that long.
Any opinions from your side on this topic are of course highly appreciated.
Looking forward to a great season,
truly yours,
(yeah, I worked a bit on my handwriting, I hope you like it)
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johannes-w |
Posted on 22-05-2012 11:59
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great plan for the new season! i hope the results will also be like that
you will probably have quite a few chances for some nice results - i especially hope you can get the white jersey in the giro
as for your future i can imagine it would be a hard decision to leave your team but maybe something new could bring you some great opportunities (like a move to a certain bigger team from your country, where the captain for stage races is not getting any younger... )
about the team strength: i dont think it is that big of a problem because after all the story is about dom the results of the other riders are interesting too but at least for me not that important as long as YOU dont get bored and keep up your motivation i think it doesnt matter
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sutty68 |
Posted on 22-05-2012 12:13
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Some really great races for Dominik to get his teeth into, really hope he has a great season, Good Luck
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Neillster |
Posted on 22-05-2012 12:22
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Domestique
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Great preview, looking forward to seeing Dom dominate at Langkawi
As for the future, My suggestions would be that:
1. Stay with current team. If you still feel that you have the motivation to carry on as Liquigas, I can't see why not. But if you're after a better position for Dominic then you could either...
2. Join T-Mobile. Indeed as Johannes-w said, Kloeden isn't getting any younger, and there is certainly a good structure there for you to join in.
3. Join Netapp. That said, T-Mobile do already have a strong team and it wouldn't take more than a season or 2 for you to be in the same situation again. Meanwhile, if you are after a challenge, the I'd advise Netapp. Seeing the there is only Zaugg as a mountain leader, Dom can jump straight in. As from a gaming point of view, then you have plenty of room to develop the team and bring them up into the Pro-Tour.
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Mresuperstar |
Posted on 22-05-2012 12:36
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For me I just take joy in seeing the development of Dom. It bring backs memories of when he couldn't even get up most of the climbs in his first season. I really just want to see if you can take Dom all the way through his career, that would be an amazing feat. I could really care less on what team he is on as long as it is realistic and makes sense.
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valverde321 |
Posted on 22-05-2012 14:12
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For team choices I say stay with Unicredit! You have built a team that you really like and I think Dom will get his chances.
If he wants to go, a move to NetApp would be alright. They usually get a really strong team after a few seasons for me, so being leader there would be possible, and they could even get to the PT!
But I have to agree with Mresuperstar. What he says, is the most important
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Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 22-05-2012 14:19
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World Champion
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I also think you should stay with UniCredit. At least for another year.
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fcancellara |
Posted on 22-05-2012 14:24
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I think UniCredit suits Dominik well for at least 2 more seasons (including this season). After that, if he is strong enough, he could lead T-Mobile or NetApp.
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cunego59 |
Posted on 23-05-2012 16:33
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January 11, 2013 - Australian Championships
Road Race
1 | Allan Davis | GreenEdge Cycling | 4h27'59 | 2 | Michael Rogers | Sky ProCycling | s.t. | 3 | Heinrich Haussler | Sky ProCycling | s.t. | 4 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | 5 | Matthew Lloyd | GreenEdge Cycling | s.t. |
Time Trial
1 | Richie Porte | GreenEdge Cycling | 54'24 | 2 | Michael Rogers | Sky ProCycling | + 26 | 3 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | + 31 | 4 | Cameron Meyer | Team Garmin - Cervélo | s.t. | 5 | Rory Sutherland | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 49 |
GreenEdge had a perfect start to their debut season winning both titles on home soil. Cameron Wurf as our team's only starter didn't do anything special.
Road Race
Complete Startlist:
Spoiler GreenEdge
1. C.Evans
2. J.Bobridge
3. A.Davis
4. Z.Dempster
5. R.McEwen
6. C.Meyer
7. R.Porte
8. A.Semple
9. C.Sutton
UniCredit
11. H.Haussler
T-Mobile
21. S.Gerrans
22. S.O'Grady
23. M.Renshaw
Garmin
31. M.Lloyd
32. G.Brown
33. B.Lancaster
34. T.Meyer
35. M.Wilson
Sky
41. M.Rogers
42. G.M.Bates
43. M.Goss
44. M.Hayman
UnitedHealthcare
51. S.Clarke
52. J.Clarke
53. B.Cooke
54. M.Docker
55. A.Kemps
56. T.Lowe
57. T.Nankervis
58. R.Sutherland
59. D.Tanner
Rabobank
61. M.Matthews
62. N.Walker
FDJ
71. W.Sulzberger
Lotto - Belisol
81. A.Hansen
Type 1
91. Benj.King
Endura
101. J.Anderson
Dirk Grepdon Wanzele
111. D.Kemp
GreenEdge comes with the strongest team which gives Allan Davis and Cadel Evans an advance. Haussler is the favorite when it comes down to a sprint but he's completely alone. Also, a win from a breakaway is always a possibility.
Time Trial
Complete Startlist:
Spoiler GreenEdge
1. R.Porte
2. J.Bobridge
3. Z.Dempster
4. R.Dennis
5. C.Evans
6. C.Meyer
7. T.Roe
8. A.Semple
9. C.Sutton
Sky
11. M.Rogers
12. G.M.Bates
13. M.Goss
14. M.Hayman
UnitedHealthcare
21. R.Sutherland
22. S.Clarke
23. B.Cooke
24. J.Cooper
25. M.Docker
26. A.Kemps
27. T.Lowe
28. T.Nankervis
29. D.Tanner
UniCredit
31. H.Haussler
Lotto - Belisol
41. A.Hansen
Garmin
51. B.Lancaster
52. G.Brown
53. M.Lloyd
54. T.Meyer
55. M.Wilson
Type 1
61. Benj.King
Rabobank
71. M.Matthews
72. N.Walker
Endura
81. J.Anderson
Dirk Grepdon Wanzele
91. D.Kemp
T-Mobile
101. S.O'Grady
102. S.Gerrans
103. M.Renshaw
FDJ
111. W.Sulzberger
Porte, Rogers and Evans are the clear favorites. They are relatively close regarding their skills but their shape can vary a lot at this early point of a year. The rider with the best shape will probably win.
Haussler has a chance in the road race but he has no support whatsoever so he'll need some luck to actually succeed here. For the time trial, we don't expect any big things. A Top 10 should be realistic.
Road Race
The usual early morning breakaway consisted of five riders including Michael Matthews (Rabobank) and Robbie McEwen (GreenEdge). They started to get a really nice advance and no team seemed to be interested in bringing them back so Heinrich Haussler himself started to work.
Without too much trouble, he brought them back after about two thirds of the race. Then, a dangerous duo consisting of Richie Porte and Simon Gerrans got away. Again, no one saw any reason to chase. It was up to Heinrich Haussler. The escapees stood no chance.
Despite huge efforts, he managed to get into the decisive group on the final ascent. Only five men got away from the pack, including the Sky duo Matthew Goss and Michael Rogers. In the sprint, Haussler didn't have the power anymore and only finished fourth. Matthew Goss easily took the win and is the new Australian Champion.
Matthew Goss had no opposition in the final sprint.
1 | Matthew Goss | Sky ProCycling | 4h24'42 | 2 | Matthew Lloyd | Team Garmin - Barracuda | s.t. | 3 | Michael Rogers | Sky ProCycling | s.t. | 4 | Heinrich Haussler | UniCredit | s.t. | 5 | Simon Clarke | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | s.t. | 6 | Baden Cooke | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 43 | 7 | Gene Michael Bates | Sky ProCycling | s.t. | 8 | Michael Matthews | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | 9 | Trent Lowe | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | s.t. | 10 | Adam Hansen | Lotto - Belisol | s.t. |
Spoiler 11 | Christopher Sutton | Orica - GreenEdge | s.t. | 12 | Cadel Evans | Orica - GreenEdge | s.t. | 13 | Simon Gerrans | Team T-Mobile | s.t. | 14 | Richie Porte | Orica - GreenEdge | s.t. | 15 | Stuart O'Grady | Team T-Mobile | s.t. | 16 | Robbie McEwen | Orica - GreenEdge | s.t. | 17 | Matthew Hayman | Sky ProCycling | s.t. | 18 | Adam Semple | Orica - GreenEdge | s.t. | 19 | Mark Renshaw | Team T-Mobile | s.t. | 20 | David Tanner | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | s.t. | 21 | Allan Davis | Orica - GreenEdge | s.t. | 22 | Brett Lancaster | Team Garmin - Barracuda | s.t. | 23 | Nicholas Walker | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | 24 | Zakkari Dempster | Orica - GreenEdge | s.t. | 25 | Wesley Sulzberger | FDJ | s.t. | 26 | Benjamin King | Team Type 1 | + 1'09 | 27 | Aaron Kemps | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 2'00 | 28 | Jack Bobridge | Orica - GreenEdge | s.t. | 29 | Tommy Nankervis | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | s.t. | 30 | Rory Sutherland | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | s.t. | 31 | Jonathan Clarke | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | s.t. | 32 | Graeme Brown | Team Garmin - Barracuda | + 3'09 | 33 | Mitchell Docker | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | s.t. | 34 | Cameron Meyer | Orica - GreenEdge | + 3'43 | 35 | David Kemp | Dirk Grepdon Wanzele - Accent | s.t. | 36 | Matthew Wilson | Team Garmin - Barracuda | s.t. | 37 | Jack Anderson | Endura Racing | + 4'47 | 38 | Travis Meyer | Team Garmin - Barracuda | + 36'25 |
Time Trial
Not much to say here. Cameron Meyer started early and did a good time. Even Cadel Evans couldn't beat it. Heinrich Haussler did reasonably good and would eventually end up 6th.
Meyer's time was good but it didn't last until the end. The fight for the win was a duel between Michael Rogers and Richie Porte. Rogers led at the checkpoint but Porte rode a strong second half, beat the Sky rider by five seconds and defends his title.
Once again, Richie Porte proves to be the best Australian time trialist.
1 | Richie Porte | Orica - GreenEdge | 54'02 | 2 | Michael Rogers | Sky ProCycling | + 5 | 3 | Cameron Meyer | Orica - GreenEdge | + 59 | 4 | Adam Hansen | Lotto - Belisol | + 1'27 | 5 | Cadel Evans | Orica - GreenEdge | + 1'46 | 6 | Heinrich Haussler | UniCredit | + 1'53 | 7 | Brett Lancaster | Team Garmin - Barracuda | + 1'56 | 8 | Matthew Goss | Sky ProCycling | + 1'57 | 9 | Baden Cooke | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 1'58 | 10 | Travis Meyer | Team Garmin - Barracuda | + 2'02 |
Spoiler 11 | Rohan Dennis | Orica - GreenEdge | + 2'09 | 12 | Jack Anderson | Endura Racing | + 2'13 | 13 | David Kemp | Dirk Grepdon Wanzele - Accent | + 2'14 | 14 | Rory Sutherland | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 2'15 | 15 | Jake Cooper | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 2'16 | 16 | Jack Bobridge | Orica - GreenEdge | + 2'21 | 17 | Zakkari Dempster | Orica - GreenEdge | + 2'23 | 18 | Matthew Hayman | Sky ProCycling | + 2'27 | 19 | Christopher Sutton | Orica - GreenEdge | + 2'29 | 20 | Stuart O'Grady | Team T-Mobile | + 2'32 | 21 | Nicholas Walker | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | 22 | Simon Clarke | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 2'46 | 23 | Matthew Wilson | Team Garmin - Barracuda | + 2'47 | 24 | Matthew Lloyd | Team Garmin - Barracuda | + 2'50 | 25 | Timothy Roe | Orica - GreenEdge | s.t. | 26 | Adam Semple | Orica - GreenEdge | + 2'54 | 27 | Michael Matthews | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 2'55 | 28 | Benjamin King | Team Type 1 | + 2'59 | 29 | Mitchell Docker | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 3'02 | 30 | Gene Michael Bates | Sky ProCycling | + 3'04 | 31 | Trent Lowe | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 3'14 | 32 | Aaron Kemps | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 3'21 | 33 | Simon Gerrans | Team T-Mobile | + 3'38 | 34 | Mark Renshaw | Team T-Mobile | + 3'41 | 35 | David Tanner | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 3'44 | 36 | Wesley Sulzberger | FDJ | + 3'50 | 37 | Tommy Nankervis | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | + 3'56 | 38 | Graeme Brown | Team Garmin - Barracuda | s.t. |
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sutty68 |
Posted on 23-05-2012 16:40
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Tour de France Champion
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So close for Haussler in the road race
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valverde321 |
Posted on 23-05-2012 18:22
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World Champion
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I like the UniCredit graphics you make for all the headings! Looks nice and clean!
No more need for these:
The new border around your screens is nice too! Solid black with a softer grey. Looks nice!
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johannes-w |
Posted on 23-05-2012 18:37
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Breakaway Specialist
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valverde321 wrote:
I like the UniCredit graphics you make for all the headings!
yea i thought the same thing it looks really nice!
well and haussler really couldnt do anything more
Edited by johannes-w on 23-05-2012 18:37
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johannes-w |
Posted on 29-05-2012 21:56
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Breakaway Specialist
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hi how are things going? are you still having problems with the db - i saw the other thread but dont have a clue or suggestion to help out... anyways i hope you can fix it and we hear some positive news soon good luck
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cunego59 |
Posted on 30-05-2012 06:36
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Team Manager
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Yeah, unfortunately I haven't found a solution yet. This is the thread with the problem, btw, so if anyone has an idea, I'd be really grateful.
If no one can help me, I'll probably have to simulate the Tour de Langkawi and hope that it was just a one time thing... In case it happens more often, I'm not sure what to do yet. At the moment, I wouldn't have the motivation to do all the editing another time.
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Teddy The Creator |
Posted on 04-06-2012 23:56
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Small Tour Specialist
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Just noticed that Dominik finished 11th in yesterday's Dauphine stage.
A for real-life Dom!
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