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Karl Hammarling - Scene 25: The Grand Finale
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 09-12-2014 21:33
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Grand Tour Champion
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Great stage win and podium at Eneco  Looking forward to seeing Karl on UK roads
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.: My Awards :.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 10-12-2014 21:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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@ALL - I know updates are a bit stacato at the moment, but that's only because i want to get the updates just right before posting them. My writing process is a lot slower than before for this reason which slows down posting. I'm planning to do a ton of writing over the weekend so i have enough scenes ready to get me through to the new year 
Act 9: Redemption
Scene 23: Steps to Freedom, Part V
The Tour of Britain. Yeah... Safe to say my history with this race is mixed. Very mixed. Very very mixed. Site of some giant highs and chasming lows. I wore the KoM Jersey in my first appearance. Then in appearance two I won a stage and nailed two more podiums. I was set to win a big race when...
That was when my dad died, at the race. This being one of the chasming lows. Then the last time I was here was in 2014, my final race for Node4-Rexona. I was once again leading the race and set to win when politics and the devil intervened. A poorly timed mechanical and team issues saw me denied yet again.
I'll admit I was uncertain if I wanted to return to the race. Or even the country it was so packed with painful memories for me. But i'm a professional and if the boss wants me to go there then I will go there and give my all for this team that i've helped build. Perhaps I could really get my redemption.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 10-12-2014 22:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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PCM$: 200.00
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Its time for Karl to put this race to bed once and for all by winning the damn thing not just for him but for the memory of his Dad too  |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 10-12-2014 22:55
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
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I couldn't agree with sutty more! Do it for his dad
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.: My Awards :.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 12-12-2014 17:31
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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Act 9: Redemption
Scene 24: Steps to Freedom, Part VI
Before then though was the matter of a few races. Druivenkoers was a pretty simple affair actually. None of the other real big classics guys turned up and I made simple work of a sprint against Le Bon and Altur to win. The World Ports weren't my exact style of race, just helping Ahlstrand.
Jonas delivered with a stage win on day 2, the opening stage having been won by Hofland. Ahlstrand finished 2nd on GC behind Moreno, and I was nowhere really. Just safely in the pack having done my pulls on the front between 20km and 10km from the line.
So now there was nothing to stop me going back to the UK. I had not returned in almost 3 years since I left Lucy that winters night. There was also my dislike towards GB Cycling after they banned me from ever racing with a GB license again. Plus, just the final thing, Node4 would be racing as would O2. Yipee...
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 12-12-2014 20:51
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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This looks interesting  |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 13-12-2014 18:50
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Tour de France Champion
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Act 9: Redemption
Scene 25: In Time, Part I
Personally I would have liked to have made a bigger moment out of stepping of the plane, but the pushing of other passengers put that to one side. Luckily, I guess, I wouldn't get much time to think. Entering the race as a favorite and with my history meant I had a lot of media obligations to keep me busy.
There was a clear split in the media. On one side was the Continental media. Focused on the race, the upcoming worlds and the such. On the other was the British media. Focused on my chequered past and that Node4 would be here with Malcolm. The press conferences and interviews quickly became a chore I just wanted to avoid.
I did get two free days just before the race. The race was beginning in Peebles so there wasn't exactly much to do around town. Short ride and then chill out and chat with my teammates. Fate decided we would share a hotel with Node4 so avoiding them was impossible. I did just enough to never see Malcolm
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 13-12-2014 19:27
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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What were the chances of being put in the same hotel as Node4  |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 15-12-2014 19:27
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Act 9: Redemption
Scene 26: In Time, Part II
I did, however, manage to run into Phil around town the day before the start. I hadn't spoken to him since July and his wedding was coming up soonish in December. Sucking up my manhood I headed over for a quick chat because some stuff needed clearing up before race day.
I won't relay the whole conversation because it went on a while as went off on various tangents. I congratulated him again and got a few more details about the wedding. I asked how Lucy was doing and she seems to be in bridezilla mode making him glad to be away racing. He also caught me up on Eric related news which hurt somewhat.
Just before we parted ways he asked who my “Plus One” was going to be. Tricky to answer because in the strictest manner I didn't have one. Guess I need to put some thought to that one before I end up going alone. And there is no way I can go to my ex-fiance's marriage to my old best friend with my son as the Ring Bearer without a date.
Edited by TheManxMissile on 15-12-2014 19:27
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 15-12-2014 19:39
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
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Good luck at the ToB! Hope the bumping into Phil won't take Karl's mind off the race
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.: My Awards :.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 03:05
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 16-12-2014 01:31
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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Don't let it get to you, win the Tour and take the trophy as a +one  |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 20-12-2014 23:10
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Tour de France Champion
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A few days since the last update and it will be another couple before the next. I've got a nice little Christmas update as something extra but real updates and progress wil continue to be slow until the second week of January.
As such now would be a great time for anyone to catch up on the story and get back into it. Especially with the Awards coming up *hint hint*
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 20-12-2014 23:42
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Don't worry about the updates being slow just go and enjoy Christmas |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 25-12-2014 09:58
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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No Christmas update because i was far too drunk yesterday. But i will get the next part of the ToB up either tomorrow or Saturday. Made a bit more progress in stacking up scenes in the last week so if i'm not too busy in the coming couple of weeks you can expect the pace to pick up quite a bit. It's gonna be one hell of a ride
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 25-12-2014 18:02
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Update when your head has stopped spinning |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 27-12-2014 09:43
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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Act 9: Redemption
Scene 27: In Time, Part III
Sign on the next morning was pretty nice. The crowds were out in force to wave us off from Peebles and the atmosphere amongst the riders was one of high spirits. I was chatting with a few guys near the front of the peloton as we waiting around the start for proceedings to begin. That was when Malcolm made a sneak attack.
I don't know how he did it but it was definitely him. The start-line report was going around grabbing words from various riders which was then beamed to a big screen for all the fans to see. The reporter came over to me and I saw the caption come up below my face: “Karl Hammarling – Convicted Doper”. This was followed by a cacophony boos from the gathered crowds.
After a couple of questions the reporter moved off to talk to one of the young Node4 riders. I didn't hear the question but the answer was clear: “We will be riding hard to make sure the right guys win and the wrong guy does not. We will dominate this race in the way we want as a team.”
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 27-12-2014 15:48
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Malcolm is a right little shit  |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 27-12-2014 17:48
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
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Well that's not right... 
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 29-12-2014 04:52
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World Champion
Posts: 11392
Joined: 17-12-2014
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Dick move there....
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
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 30-12-2014 14:58
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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Act 9: Redemption
Scene 28: Battle Lines
The stage ran the long way to Dumfries over a number of smaller climbs. We, the peloton, rolled nicely out of town before beginning the real racing. As always a large number of smaller teams and lesser known riders attacked to try and make the breakaway. Node4 and Sky took the majority of the controling work.
Eventually a group of 7 went away, no-one known really. They took out the sprints and climbs but were pulled back 30km before the finish. 15Km from the line was 3km 7%c climb. Perfectly placed to incite actions and it was followed by a rolling run in that might benefit a smaller group. Simon Yates, of Sky, placed the first attack but the majority of the peloton stayed together.
The pace was kept high by various riders but eased off in the final kilometer of the climb. Ever the opporunist I took my cue and fired away before any riders could tag along. Flying solo down the decent my radio crackled to life: “Karl, Node4 are giving chase. Node 4 are giving chase.” The Wrong Guy was going to spoil their week.
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
