A year ago, I rode my home tour while recovering from a fractured wrist. I somehow finished 20th. After taking the last week and a half pretty easy to get over a cold, I'm feeling great and eager to ride on some familiar streets.
Race Day #30-37 at OVO Energy Tour of Britain
September 2-9, 2019
Homecoming! Let's do this.
Stage 1:
Spoiler
Summary: Massive crash with 4kms to go. Nearly half the field gets wiped. But, there is no time to assess the damage, as the sprinters are getting ready for the final dash. The leader's jersey is on the line.
Three trains at the front, this should be a good one.
Brit Andrew Fenn takes the lead up the middle, but Team Sky has something going up the barrier with Owain Doull leading out Eduard-Michael Grosu... and here comes Marcus Diamond trying to chase them down. 1.4kms to go.
Fenn keeps pushing as the Team Sky lead-out falls apart, and Diamond starts to lose some steam as well. But, the computer is saying this front group of 12 riders has a 20 seconds gap with 600 meters left to the line.
Fenn cracks hard. Wow. Out of nowhere, Italian Luca Pacioni steals the opening stage in Liverpool. Fenn slipped all the way back to 9th in the final meters.
Result: 10th - A lot of good sprinters in the field. I held my own and avoided that nasty crash with 4kms to go. A good start to the tour, but too bad the small gap to the first 12 cyclists didn't stand.
Those that went down in the crash lost at least 1'47" with 67 cyclists making it home in the lead peloton.
1
Luca Pacioni
Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia
2h26'18
2
Ryan Gibbons
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
3
Matteo Malucelli
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
s.t.
4
Eduard-Michael Grosu
Team Sky
s.t.
5
Christopher Latham
ONE Pro Cycling
s.t.
Stage 2:
Spoiler
Summary: A interesting placed climb at the end of the route offers the hope of a late attack succeeding. Marcus Diamond gives it his best shot.
Team Sky's Gorka Izagirre, the new Spanish RR Champion, is having none of that. He quickly puts Diamond in his place and takes up the front to get Grosu Eduard-Michael a shot in a sprint finish.
Molano Juan Sebastian, however, has the most kick left in a rather colorful finish.
Result: 9th - I was feeling really good today. The attack was worth it, I don't have the top end speed to match the sprinters.
1
Juan Sebastian Molano
Manzana Postobon Team
4h52'29
2
Matteo Malucelli
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
s.t.
3
Luca Pacioni
Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia
s.t.
4
Ryan Gibbons
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
5
Liam Bertazzo
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
Stage 3:
Spoiler
Summary: Deja vu, the stage plays out just like it did last year. Breakaway caught and mad sprint up to the line.
Result: 14th - Got boxed in a little bit and ended up finishing in the same spot I did last year on this stage, weird. This time, however, I end up losing 45 seconds to the winning group of eight cyclists instead of 25 seconds. I was hoping for better.
1
Gorka Izagirre
Team Sky
4h38'46
2
Gregor Mühlberger
Holowesko
s.t.
3
Geraint Thomas
Team Sky
s.t.
4
Manuel Senni
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
5
Matej Mohoric
Euskadi Basque Country - Murias
s.t.
Stage 4:
Spoiler
Summary: CRASH! 9kms to go and 14 cyclists have rode away from the field. What had been a boring day turns into a critical one.
The 14 cyclists reach the bend to start the final climb with 2.8kms left. They have a gap of over 44 seconds to the next cyclist. The peloton is over 2 minutes back with the yellow jersey nowhere to be found.
Aqua Blue Sport is leading this front group and has six of their seven cyclists here in support of Adam Blythe. Other big names in this group: Stage 1 winner and green jersey holder Luca Pacioni, Geraint Thomas, Marcus Diamond, Matej Mohoric and Davide Ballerini.
Coming to the submit of the climb, Thomas gets caught napping. The Aqua Blue Sport train of Shane Archbold and Andrew Fenn has pulled Blythe, Pacioni and Diamond a little bit clear with 1.6kms to go. Can the small gap be closed?
Under the banner and Archbold peels off. Thomas has already started sprinting and wasted a lot of energy just to catch up. It looks like this one will be decided between Blythe, Pacioni and Diamond.
The speed and positioning of Blythe can't be matched. Pacioni second and Fenn third.
Result: 4th - Didn't have the kick at the end, but a great day nonetheless. I got on the right side of the crash and moved up to seventh in GC, +49 behind new yellow jersey holder Geraint Thomas.
A very strong showing from the team I'll be riding for next season in Aqua Blue Sport. That's always a good sign. Although, it's unclear if Blythe will be returning to the team next season.
1
Adam Blythe
Aqua Blue Sport
4h38'23
2
Luca Pacioni
Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia
s.t.
3
Andrew Fenn
Aqua Blue Sport
s.t.
4
Marcus Diamond
JLT Condor
s.t.
5
Geraint Thomas
Team Sky
s.t.
Stage 5:
Spoiler
Summary: Group of around 40 cyclists survive the small hill at the end to compete in the downhill finish. Juan Sebastian Molano nets his second win of the tour. No major time gaps given at the end of the day, so no major changes in GC.
Result: 6th - I was in the mix, that's about the best I could ask for.
1
Juan Sebastian Molano
Manzana Postobon Team
4h36'38
2
Ryan Gibbons
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
3
Luca Pacioni
Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia
s.t.
4
Davide Ballerini
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
s.t.
5
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Akros - Renfer SA
s.t.
Stage 6:
Spoiler
Summary: The clouds were dark. The rain was heavy. The hills hurt.
Eduard-Michael Grosu didn't care and beat Vyacheslav Kuznetsov in a photo finish. A tired and battered peloton raced across the line behind them.
Result: 11th - Kept my head down, battled through the thunderstorm and finished in the lead group. A successful day. You can't try to win every stage. Got to save some energy for the Stage 8 ITT.
1
Eduard-Michael Grosu
Team Sky
5h01'58
2
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Akros - Renfer SA
s.t.
3
Juan Sebastian Molano
Manzana Postobon Team
s.t.
4
Ryan Gibbons
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
5
Matteo Malucelli
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
s.t.
Stage 7:
Spoiler
Summary: The final road race stage before taking on the clock. The Cat. 1 climb at the end offers an ideal springboard to win the tour if timed correctly.
That is exactly what Marcus Diamond has tried, taking with him teammate Mark McNally. The morning breakaway of six is still over two minutes up the road with 10kms remaining.
But, Diamond went too early and the peloton catches. Here goes Matej Mohoric! He needs four seconds to steal yellow away from Geraint Thomas.
Mohoric can see the breakaway and the finish line, but here comes Diamond — shot out of a cannon — to close down the gap. Where did this come from!?! Thomas should give Diamond a diamond if the fellow Brit can save his yellow jersey.
Unknown American Colin Joyce takes the stage win from the breakaway, but the bigger story is Diamond reeling back Mohoric to the favourites group in the closing meters. No time gaps for the first 91 cyclists because of it.
Result: 9th - Went on the attack early and didn't work, as I kind of expected but I had to try. Saved up enough energy for a final burst and was able to bring back Mohoric. You are welcome Geraint... Not like he wasn't going to win the tour in the ITT tomorrow anyways.
1
Colin Joyce
Rally Cycling
5h24'33
2
Chris Harper
Bennelong SwissWellness
s.t.
3
Sindre Lunke
Team Fortuneo - Samsic
s.t.
4
Joseph Lewis
Holowesko
s.t.
5
Stefan Mastaller
Team Vorarlberg Santic
s.t.
Stage 8:
Spoiler
Summary: Pedal fast and hard. 8.8kms to decide the tour. The London Eye watches over the cyclists as they go flying down the streets.
Marcus Diamond with an exceptional time, provisional 5th 30 seconds behind leader Gorka Izagirre. Andrew Fenn, Adam Blythe can't match. Luca Pacioni stops the clock at 55 seconds back...
Let me do that math on that...
Diamond will take that spot as well by a second. He has moved inside the Top 5 of GC with Thomas Pidcock sitting fourth in GC right now, second on the stage provisionally 10 seconds slower than Izagirre.
Soren Kragh Anderson slots into fifth provisionally and holds third in GC. But a slow time (+49 seconds) for Matej Mohoric will move Anderson to second overall.
Geraint Thomas... Huh... +30 seconds on the stage. What a terrible day for him. Yet, it won't matter. Anderson needed to make up 25 seconds and only banked eight. Thomas holds on to win on home soil.
Teammate Izagirre takes the stage win and will wonder what could have been if he didn't get caught up in that crash on Stage 4.
Result: 8th, 5th overall - I don't know where that time trial came from, but I'll take it. What a honor to take a Top 5 here in my backyard. Look out world, this 19-year-old is going places.
1
Gorka Izagirre
Team Sky
9'46
2
Thomas Pidcock
Team Wiggins
+ 10
3
Gianni Moscon
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 16
4
Szymon Sajnok
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 18
5
Søren Kragh Andersen
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 22
General Classification
1
Geraint Thomas
Team Sky
31h49'17
2
Søren K. Andersen
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 17
3
Matej Mohoric
Euskadi Basque Country
+ 24
4
Thomas Pidcock
Team Wiggins
+ 29
5
Marcus Diamond
JLT Condor
+ 49
6
Luca Pacioni
Wilier Triestina
+ 50
7
Shane Archbold
Aqua Blue Sport
+ 1'06
8
Gorka Izagirre
Team Sky
+ 1'15
9
Larry Warbasse
Aqua Blue Sport
+ 1'21
10
Adam Blythe
Aqua Blue Sport
+ 1'32
Race Day #38 at Int. Raiffeisen Grand Prix
September 16, 2019
My form peaked in Great Britain, but I still got some juice left.
Spoiler
Summary: Up, down, up, down, up, down, etc.
Staying at the front of the peloton was vital to avoid splits in the rear. We pick up the action with 13kms to go, as a 67-cyclist peloton hits the major climb one last time. All the favourites are here. Who makes the first move?
Joao Almeida tried and Jose Israel Jornet stuck on his wheel. Marcus Diamond watched and followed in the distance. We reach the top and nobody could get clear.
Here goes Stephan Rabitsch with 7.6kms remaining on a false incline.
The boys from Burgo-BH weren't going to let that go clear. Jornet waves his arm at Rabitsch to gesture nice try. 3.8kms left.
While Jornet was chating with Rabitsch, Diamond takes off in the shadows. He waited and waited for this opportunity. The remaining peloton needs to react. This is dangerous!
Diamond can see the banner through the trees. He was in this exact position a year ago with the sprinters on his wheel. Could have won. Now, he has a pretty decent gap. What a redemption story this would be. Or, possibly more heartbreak.
Diamond around the final corner. The finish line! He can't look back...
The sun shining down, Marcus Diamond lifts his arms to the sky.
Extreme poise and patience from the 19-year-old to wait for the perfect time to attack, a lesson learned from last year no doubt. His second career win. This budding star is one to watch in the future.
Bad positioning last year got me a 46th in this race. Let's do better.
Spoiler
Summary: The cross winds not as powerful today and we have a fairly large peloton going into the final cobble section with 10kms to go.
Steady tempo across the cobbles and then an attack by Ludwig De Winter. Winter is coming!
Three cyclists form the chase group behind De Winter. Piet Allegaert is leading the charge with red-hot Marcus Diamond and Jarno Mobach on his wheel. A peloton of 19 cyclists is close behind and could bring back these three.
The limited peloton does. Diamond decides he has to go now with De Winter opening a 25-second gap with about 5kms to go.
That works! Diamond has broke free. The chase is on to get De Winter. Diamond is trying to win back-to-back one-day races after his triumph at the Int. Raiffeisen Grand Prix a week ago.
What a finish this is turning out to be. De Winter trying to hold on with Diamond coming on strong and now Allegaert has attacked from the peloton and is chasing down Diamond. Who still has the willpower for a strong final kilometer?
De Winter hangs on. But what a pursuit by Diamond. If he had 300-400 more meters, I think he would have got him. Allegaert can't hold off the sprinters and takes 6th.
Result: 2nd - That was excited. Another win would have been nice, but I don't want to get too greedy. Nothing wrong with a runner-up finish here. Props to De Winter, heck of a race by him.
- Each member gets 3.0 points to spread however they like over the 13 attributes listed above. One post per member.
- Stats work on a decimal system starting at 55.0.
- Stats are bumped up in PCM when they hit that number, ex. 55.9 = 55 in-game, and 61.4 = 61 stat in-game.
- The decimal numbers will remain hidden.
- There is a threshold for each stat when more points are needed to increase that stat. It's start off on a 1-to-1 scale where 1 point equals 1 stat upgrade. However, the scales get exponentially further and further apart the closer that stat gets to the maximum of 85. The increasing scale will also remain a mystery.
- Comment below to provide stat upgrades
Night out on the Town: Marcus Diamond takes the team out to a local night club in Austria after winning the Int. Raiffeisen Grand Prix. It's the least he can do to be a team player and try to avoid another unfriendly text messages.
Diamond feels out of place, but is trying to have a good time. Then, out of nowhere, a girl approaches, "Hi, are you Marcus?"
Confused Diamond responds, "Yes, how did you know that?"
"Your friends, I'm not trying to be a stalker."
Diamond looks over at his teammates across the room, smiling and giving him a thumbs up. Diamond looks back at her, but no words came out. She smiled, her brown eyes and hair shining in the dimly lit room.
"I'm Sophie. Do you want to dance?"
(Option A): "Yes, of course." Diamond grabs her hand and they spend the rest of the night together, including some fun time back in the hotel room. Unlikely Diamond will ever see this local again, so why not?
(Option B): "I'll warn you now, I'm not that good of a dancer." Diamond and Sophie dance and talk for a few hours before parting way. Sophie tries to push things further, but eventually gives up and just gives Diamond her number.
(Option C): "No thanks, I don't dance." Sophie eventually walks away disappointed and Diamond doesn't hear the end of it from his teammates for blowing her off. A one-night stand or a possible relationship isn't worth pursing at this time. Got to stay focused.
What a great run of form for Marcus, Britain was amazing for a 19 y/o at such a level, Raiffeisen was a fantastic victory and Gooikse was a fantastic ride as well. After all that he deserves a nice night out, I'll go for Option A. A relationship might be nice, but an Austrian when he lives in Ireland won't work out
+2 Baroudeur
+1 Acceleration. Give him some attacking stats for the step up to PCT and WT wildcards next year.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
The Juventus stranglehold continues with an eighth straight league title. Internazionale finishes runner-up for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
A.C. Milan takes third and finishes in the Top 3 for the first time in six years.
Those three teams have combined to win the last 17 Serie A titles.
League Table
Past Winners
Award Winners
Top Scorer
Golden Glove
Team of the Year
Head Coach
Player of the Year
Tournaments
Coppa Italia
Evaluation
Training Ground *Community Growth Development*
Spoiler
- Each member gets 5.0 points to spread however they like over the 36 attributes listed above. One post per member.
- Stats work on a decimal system starting at 1.0.
- Stats are bumped up in FM when they hit that number, ex. 2.9 = 2 in-game, and 13.4 = 13 stat in-game.
- The decimal numbers will remain hidden.
- There is a threshold for each stat when more points are needed to increase that stat. It's start off on a 1-to-1 scale where 1 point equals 1 stat upgrade. However, the scales get exponentially further and further apart the closer that stat gets to the maximum of 20. The increasing scale will also remain a mystery and is different from the cycling progression scale.
-Comment below to provide stat upgrades.
Indecisive (Night Club continued): "I had a fun night tonight."
Sophie smiles and leans in. Marcus can't help himself and the make-out session begins. It lasts for a few minutes before Marcus pulls back, "Sorry I can't go any further. I don't even know your last name."
"Does it matter?" Sophie says while trying to unzip her red lacey dress.
"No. I mean, yes... This isn't happening right now," Marcus pulls back again and attempts to leave the room, which is more like a closet the two had drunkenly stumbled into at the night club.
"Wait... OK, fine," Sophie regathers herself. "Can I at least give you my number? I have a soft spot for professional athletes."
To get out of the awkward situation, Diamond pulls out his cell phone and hands it to Sophie. She enters her number, "It's Strobele, Sophie Strobele. Always flattering when somebody doesn't know who I am. Hopefully you will change your mind Marcus."
So Marcus has the number of an Austrian model now then? Nice
+2 Pace
+2 Anticipation
+1 Stamina if you know what I mean
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
It's been four weeks since my last race at the Gooikse Pijl. My form has dipped quite a bit, so don't expect anything magical here is Japan. Mostly just a joy ride and a free vacation for me. Life is pretty good.
Also, a final chance to say goodbye to my JLT Condor teammates.
Race Day #40 at Japan Cup
October 21, 2019
Final race of the season and with JLT Condor.
Spoiler
Summary: After the peloton gets ripped apart across each circuit, four attackers get away late for a highly contested sprint finish. Daniel Felipe Martinez edges out last year's winner Giulio Ciccone, Warren Barguil and Amaro Manuel Antunes.
Result: 26th - Yo-yoing off the back of the peloton, I finally dropped with 35kms to go. I found myself in a group that picked up all the pieces up the road as cyclists went into the red and had no energy left to give. Made up around 15 spots that way. Regardless, still a spot worse than I finished last year (25th).
*To be updated in the upcoming 2019 Season Review post.*
What's Next
Complete Moving Time: No training ride this month.
Marcus Diamond is packing up the rest of his things to complete the move to his new apartment in Ireland (not Scotland ). Leaving home, his mom and younger sister Alison won't be easy, but it's for the best.
2019 Football Offseason (Part 4): Bundesliga Recap
The final league review for this offseason. The new season is right around the corner. After Bayer Leverkusen won its first-ever league title last season, Bayern Munchen has returned to the top of the throne.
The German powerhouse has won six of the last seven league titles.
League Table
Past Winners
Award Winners
Top Scorer
Team of the Year
Head Coach
Player of the Year
Tournaments
DFB-Pokal
Evaluation
Training Ground *Community Growth Development*
Spoiler
- Each member gets 5.0 points to spread however they like over the 36 attributes listed above. One post per member.
- Stats work on a decimal system starting at 1.0.
- Stats are bumped up in FM when they hit that number, ex. 2.9 = 2 in-game, and 13.4 = 13 stat in-game.
- The decimal numbers will remain hidden.
- There is a threshold for each stat when more points are needed to increase that stat. It's start off on a 1-to-1 scale where 1 point equals 1 stat upgrade. However, the scales get exponentially further and further apart the closer that stat gets to the maximum of 20. The increasing scale will also remain a mystery and is different from the cycling progression scale.
-Comment below to provide stat upgrades.
First practice: Nerves are high, but so is the excitement level as Marcus Diamond hits the pitch for the first time with his new club: Limerick F.C. Last season, Limerick needed to win a playoff game to stay in the top flight of Irish football. The pressure is on to perform better this season.
Diamond is the only Brit on the team and is finding it awkward to fit in. What should he spend more time on at the start of the season?
Option A: Building bonds and chemistry with his new teammates.
*This option will increase the hidden attribute: Professionalism.
Option B: Trying to impress new Limerick F.C. head coach Owen Heary.
*This option will double the training ground progression this session.
Sophomore season wrapped up. I'd say it went pretty well, but I might be biased. Got my first two career wins — Memorial Philippe van Coningsloo and the Int. Raiffesien GP — plus took Top 5 overall in my home OVO Energy Tour of Britain.
Lots of room for improvement, but I have also developed a lot in my two seasons with JLT Condor. I can't thank the coaching and training staff enough.
The team is still trying to sign one or two more cyclists before the offseason ends. But, overall, a pretty strong PCT Team. I'll be entrusted with leading the cobbles unit and can provide some support in the climbs.
A more in-depth team preview in an upcoming update.
Evaluation
Offseason Training Ride *Community Growth Development*
Spoiler
- Each member gets 3.0 points to spread however they like over the 13 attributes listed above. One post per member.
- Stats work on a decimal system starting at 55.0.
- Stats are bumped up in PCM when they hit that number, ex. 55.9 = 55 in-game, and 61.4 = 61 stat in-game.
- The decimal numbers will remain hidden.
- There is a threshold for each stat when more points are needed to increase that stat. It's start off on a 1-to-1 scale where 1 point equals 1 stat upgrade. However, the scales get exponentially further and further apart the closer that stat gets to the maximum of 85. The increasing scale will also remain a mystery.
- Comment below to provide stat upgrades
Cobble Up: The INM coaches have asked Marcus Diamond to put most of his offseason training efforts into taming the cobbles since that's where the team needs him to shine this season.
*All progression points used on cobbles will be doubled, however Diamond does risk injuring himself before the season even starts if he goes too hard training on just the cobbled streets.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Ok Still, looks like Marcus will be a WT rider in 2021 with that squad!
Also are football upgrades still open? If so, +5 Flair
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Feels weird no longer being a teenager. 20. I'm still dealing with the aftermath of a wild night on the town for my birthday. A few teammates — Karl Chambers, Killian Brouder and Aaron Galvin — took me Irish bar hopping and got me hammered.
I don't remember what truly happened that night. But, I did drunkenly text Sophie and got some revealing photos from her and I also have a bill for puking in the Uber on the way home. Live and you learn.
At least I'm not a superstar with cameras on me 24/7. I feel sorry for guys like Kylian Mbappe. That said, I have to grow up. I've sworn off alcohol, for now.
After two weeks of try-outs (I made the cut, obviously) and training with the first and second teams at Limerick F.C., the focus started to turn to the three-game friendly session and competing with each other for playing time.
First-year head coach Owen Heary tried me out in a few positions, but likes my potential at CAM with the possibility of dropping me further in the midfield if needed. Works for me.
The problem is, Heary wants to run a 4-4-1-1 formation with only one CAM. It's been quite a position battle between Lee Lynch, Kari Chambers and myself.
A day before the team departed for the Christmas/New Years holiday break, Heary called me into his office and sat me down.
"Marcus, there is no easy way to say this. And I don't want you to take this the wrong way, as you've shown flashes of what you can do. But, the coaching staff and I feel it's in your best interest to develop more before joining us full time."
I leaned forward in the chair, "What do you mean? I'll done everything you asked."
"We got an offer. A loan offer and we already have two solid playmakers in the middle with Lee and Kari. This isn't personal, we just believe this makes sense to let you develop more and get you game time elsewhere."
"Sir, I'm good enough to play on this team. I want to play here."
"Sorry Marcus, it's already a done deal. If you perform well there, we have a clause in the contract and can bring you back at any time. Otherwise the loan will run through the end of their season and you'll be back with us in July."
"I'll be back before July. Where are you sending me?"
Spoiler
Back to the depths of English football I go... I need a beer.
OVO Energy Tour of Britain
Int. Raiffeisen Grand Prix
Gooikse Pijl
Vuelta a Espana
WC RR
WC TT
and Gooikse was a fantastic ride as well. After all that he deserves a nice night out, I'll go for Option A. A relationship might be nice, but an Austrian when he lives in Ireland won't work out 
Japan Cup
Still, looks like Marcus will be a WT rider in 2021 with that squad!
