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Nordic Cycling | Final Farewell
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 31-10-2013 21:35
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Great win for Erik there
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| welker3257 |
Posted on 01-11-2013 03:27
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Gig 'em Aggies
Fast N' Loud Cycling Project - ICL
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 01-11-2013 10:07
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maxime: Thanks. Gallopin are the next big thing overall in the cobbled classics as he (opposed to McDermott) both can handle hills and sprint quite well. Stats attached.
Jakstar: Couldn't agree more 
welker: Thanks, I'll pass them on to him
And feel free to vote for the story as Story of the Month - October if you think it deserves it
Edited by Atlantius on 01-11-2013 10:18
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 01-11-2013 11:27
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Oh and wouldn't that guy from Astana (Troels Rønning Vinther) be interesting for the team? Finishing top 10...
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 01-11-2013 12:06
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Ian: In theory he would, but I have decided that for the team to be a real locomotive for Nordic Cycling we should allow good riders to have success elsewhere and focus on developing talent in stead of buying up all the good ones. He was on our shortlist for several seasons though - we just weren't able to attract him when he was still an undeveloped talent/luxury helper at Saxo and now it's a strength for cycling in the region as a whole that we can have a captain on another team.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 12:59
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 01-11-2013 12:52
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That's a nice philosophy. And at least you have the winner of the race, not just a top 10 guy 
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 01-11-2013 15:41
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Followers of the team may remember that the Ardennes-week is usually a bit embarrassing for us as a team, but nevertheless it's that time of the year again...
 Amstel Gold Race 
Brian Matzen is in top shape for this race, with support from Chris, Jakob and Lasse he has every chance to do well. At least compared to how we usually do in the Ardennes…
Early on we just let the breaks go while Rabobank, Nissan and Belisol for some reason keep things completely closed.
With 150 km to go 10 riders have just over a minute.
On the 100 km mark the Rabobank, Nissan and Euskaltel are leading the chase. The front group has 5 minutes advantage.
With 40 km to go Monfort and Gatto has 1’19’’ to Geslin, Berkhout, Dubrovin and Majka and a further 2’31’ to the favourites group where we have only lost Bak, Wallin and Arntsen.
A few of the favourites bridge the gap to the front group with 25 km to go.
Brian misses out on that occasion, but joins up with Gilbert and Costa a few km later.
With 11 km to go 25 riders have been united in front. Chris and Brian are both in there.
Kreuziger and Betancur attacks on the 10 km mark, but Brian is caught between Andy Schleck and the camera bike so he can’t follow.
Sadly the attack was decisive and all hope of a top 10 is gone with 5 km to the line.
Van der Sande takes a superior win in front.
In the 2nd group Brian proves that he could have done great things hadn’t he been blocked by the camera. I expect the organizers to have a serious chat with that guy!
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| MrUfo87 |
Posted on 01-11-2013 15:44
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Stupid camera man.  Hope you have more luck in Belgium.
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 01-11-2013 16:46
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MrUfo: Well at least Brian showed in the final sprint that he's fit enough to get a top 10 
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 01-11-2013 17:43
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Brian did well to grab 12th
But how better could it have been if it wasn't for the cameraman 
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 01-11-2013 18:29
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Not the best result but he can do better when not being blocked. So I expect two top 10s for the next two Ardennes 
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 01-11-2013 20:53
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sutty: 12th isn't all that bad - especially with our track record in the Ardennes...
Ian: That's the goal
Edited by Atlantius on 01-11-2013 20:54
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| welker3257 |
Posted on 01-11-2013 21:04
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Stupid Schleck
Gig 'em Aggies
Fast N' Loud Cycling Project - ICL
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 01-11-2013 21:19
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World Champion
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Damn you Schleck, go prepare the Tour. 
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 02-11-2013 07:10
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welker: Yeah, him too
Miguel: 1. It's Andy, 2. He's riding for Bjarne. Focusing on the Tour should be a given. Don't know why heøs even here 
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 02-11-2013 10:10
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 La Flèche Wallonne 
Pretty much the same deal as Amstel, only this time we hope that TV can stick to reporting without affecting the race!
Since Joel Wallin did a good job in Amstel and wants to do well in this kind of races in the future I gave him permission to join the break today.
Sadly Gesink kept going with the break, so the other big teams wouldn’t allow it to get away.
Due to the high pace set by Santander the peloton breaks in two with 120 km to go leaving 81 riders in front. Once again the three youngsters are lost behind, but that’s ok – they weren’t here to make a difference in the last 100 km anyway…
A strong mid-race break with Brajkovic, Roux, Marcato and Rabottini forms so Chris jumps in there.
50 km to go and they have 4’30’’ to the peloton.
With 2 km to go the break holds on to a gap of just under two minutes.
With 12 km to go Chris decides to try a solo effort with the peloton only 1’28’’ behind.
He doesn’t get a lasting gap, but the break is kept alive and with 2,5 km to the finish line the five in front has 21 seconds to Kreuziger and Gasparotto and an additional 19 seconds to the main group with Matzen & Co.
Roux is leading into the final km.
500 m from the line they get caught by the group from behind.
A chaotic sprint where Fuglsang and Matzen has a hard time finding the space to sprint. The price we pay for not wanting to push up the speed reducing Sørensen's chances ahead.
Kreuziger makes the most of it, while Chris provides us with a lovely 6th place.
Our best Ardennes result ever!
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-11-2013 11:25
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Good job. Best Ardennes for the team, so that's real great! Not for Liege maybe a top 5?
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 02-11-2013 13:07
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Ian: Time will tell. A top 5 would be amazing, but we'll be happy with a top 10 as well. You will see later today how it goes...
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 02-11-2013 13:09
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CAS beeing CAS. 
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 02-11-2013 14:23
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Miguel: Almost winning is a bit of a speciality of his
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Romain Bardet
Diego Ulissi
Roman Kreuziger
Carlos Betancur
Chris Froome
Janez Brajkovič
Chris Anker Sørensen
