cunego59 wrote:


I prefer them like they're now, good length and layout. Just if there are some spectacular moments that you want us to experience, like sutty said.

Hi Sam. I can understand some people frowned last Tuesday when they read your name at the top of the Belgium NC TT results, even Belgians.

I can understand that, I wouldn't have predicted myself as the winner either. And I've been racing away from home soil a lot as well.
Of course I suppose I'll be getting some more media attention now, especially with that Belgian jersey.
There'll be more pressure as well, but I'm ready to handle it.

Tell us, how does a young Belgian rider like you end up in a Spanish team without any other Belgians here?

From childhood on, I have always dreamed about La Vuelta. The last couple of years, my favourite GT has in many cases become a preparation race for the World Championships or
a second chance for riders who failed to perform at le Tour. To few teams still focus on la Vuelta, so I decided I wanted to join a team that still does. Then Caja Rural made me a really interesting offer.

But still, you're only 21 years old. Isn't it difficult to live on your own quite far away from home?

I'm still young, that's true, but I'm used to living away from home. During my studies, I rented a studio closer to college, together with some friends though. I didn't want to leave Belgium before I graduated so I stayed with Lotto-Soudal U23 until last season.

Right now, it's not always easy to be alone, but luckily staying in touch with family & friends has become way easier with all these modern technologies. And then there's also
the staff who I can always count on in case I have any questions or problems.

Doesn't language impose any problems?

It's not as easy as the Dutch communication last year at Lotto, but my studies really help me here. I've been taught French, English and a bit of German and Spanish.
No digo que comprendo todo que uno dice, pero comprender es más fácil que responder. In case I don't understand, hispanoblantes often are expressive enough to make sure I understand what they mean.

How do you like to spend your time off the bike?

That's a hard one. Cycling is my biggest but certainly not my only passion. I love to read and I try to follow quite some different - mainly American police or drama - TV series.
I find it fascinating how the ideas or fantasy from one single person or a smaller group of writers can captivate hundreds of thousands of people. I can also enjoy visiting a museum as I'm really interested in history as well.
My new flat in Valencia also allows me attend a football game of Los Ché, my favourite team, every now and then.

How do you see your future in the world of cycling?

I'm happy where I am right now and my contract doesn't expire before 2020, so I want to learn as much as I can right now. Beñat Intxausti really serves as an example. As a stage
racer, he may be a step beneath the big guns, but he lives 100% for his job. And very important, he knows extremely good what he is capable of.

As I told you before, personally, I'd love to win La Vuelta (because it's my favourite race) or La Flèche Wallonne ('cause it's a race with a steep finish on home soil) one day.
This TT title might suggest something else, but at Lotto-Soudal U23 I was considered a future stage racer. Nothing in the world of cycling comes easy so it will be a matter of keeping up the hard work.

Okay, that'll be it for now. Thanks a lot for your time!

De nada. Hopefully there will be some results worth talking about again soon.

Kiserlovski01 wrote:
Hey guys, just a quick question. In the last few reports, I didn't use any in-game screenshots out of necessity: I hadn't made any when I played them.

As I did use some in previous reports, I'd like to know what style you guys prefer??

miguejack wrote:
Nice interview

sutty68 wrote:
Nice little catch up with Sam

Kiserlovski01 wrote:
I'm afraid I have to put this story on hold for now due to the fact that I currently don't have a computer to play the game on.

sutty68 wrote:


Hmmm, not having a computer is a major problem for story writers

Kiserlovski01 wrote:


Well I managed to get the game working on my new one so Caja Rural will be back soon

miguejack wrote:

A new one and a better one?

Kiserlovski01 wrote:


It should last for quite a while

Ochoa and Parra travel to Bucaramanga, a city in Northern Colombia. It's located close to the border with Venezuela and counts over 520.000 inhabitants, which makes it Colombia's 7th city when taking in account their population.


The pack is up for an extremely mountainous route and easily allows a group of 3 to attack. The guys in front are Parra, Rubiano and Rivera.
The only one left in the pack who's interested in taking the title is Dayer Quintana. He makes the catch on his one and makes the trio a quartet.


Rubiano and Parra are the first to be dropped with over 80K to go and the steep slopes don't allow to come back on their own.

At the end, Rivera goes all-in on the last climb and manages to keep Quintana behind him at the line. The breakaway guys are the only one mentioned in the race results, as the pack didn't bother to finish within the time limit.

1		Ever Rivera	Colombia	6h38'35
2		Dayer Quintana	Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies	+ 38
3		Heiner Parra	Caja Rural - Seguros RGA	+ 20'56
4		Miguel Rubiano	Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton	+ 23'03

sutty68 wrote:
A podium finish with the new PC

Tamijo wrote:
Nice podium, and wow crazy time diffrences, a killer stage.

Gonçalves, Guerreiro and Silvestre stay at Pataias for a relatively short road race: 154 kms. No-one of them is considered a favourite for the Portuguese jersey.



Ruben is the first to attack and eventually he ends up in a group with former Caja rider Vilela and Domingos Gonçalves, José's twin brother.

Co-operation fails as they are reeled in before the finale came even close. Another attack from favourites Costa and Oliveira is neutralised just before the red kite.



And that's when Fabio makes his move! Can he surprise everyone?