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One in a Billion | Rise to the Summit
AbhishekLFC
A Lot of Reassurances Later

Is it worth it? To put my body through so much pain? To pursue what I love so far away from loved ones? Was it worth it to put them through so much worry every time an injury happened? Personally, it was worth it, most of it. I wish I could stop them worrying, but they got worried when I returned home half an hour later!

It was easy enough convincing myself to go on. It was easy enough to push myself to get back on the bike and out on the road after this latest injury. It wasn't easy to convince the folks. I guess I couldn't blame them. However, I needed them to understand. Come back home, they said. You've had your moment, they said. It's not too late to change careers, they said. There was no way, I said to myself!

After a lot (and I mean a LOT) of convincing, through most of my recovery in August, I finally got my folks on to my side. There was no way I was giving up this easily. Yes, this was hard. Yes, this was unlike any pain I'd ever felt before. But I couldn't think of doing anything else with my life anymore. I had to make one just one promise - to go back home for the holidays after the season ended. I agreed. I could use some home made food. I do miss that sometimes...
 
Ripley
It's all part of the hero's journey. What doesn't kill you, and so on.
 
Tamijo
Nice twist to bring the worrying family into the story.
Wink
 
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AbhishekLFC
@Ripley: Absolutely! Time to rise from the ruins, again!
@Tamijo: Well, can't ignore them. But they've come around. Although not entirely convinced.
 
AbhishekLFC
It's All in the Mind

When I had the injury last year, it was a question of conditioning the injured leg to get back into shape for cycling. It involved a lot of exercise to get the form back.

With this latest injury, the recovery was completely different. An injury to the head does not physically affect the ability to ride a bike. It does however make your mind play a lot of tricks on you! Getting back on the bike was easy. Convincing myself to go downhill at 80 km/hr was not!

A lot of mental conditioning and self motivation later, I was finally back to riding and training full time in the second half of September. If there's something I've realised over the two injuries, it's that out on the road, on the bike, one is pretty much on his own. No matter how much 'support' your team provides you, in terms of pacing you or protecting you from the wind, you are the one who is finally in charge. No one can protect you at the climax.

Like Ripley said in his last correspondence, two injuries have made me realise that I'm stronger mentally that I myself used to think...
 
AbhishekLFC
October

Guess who's back!!

Back where I belong. I was itching to get back in action before the end of the season. The doctors gave the all clear for the final race on my schedule, the Chrono des Nations.

Chrono des Nations

You know sometimes you get so excited you bang into the starting enclosure when putting your bike up there. Ah well, it happens! I'm still young. Pardon me Wink

The race went very well. I even ended up going past the Team Sky rider who started 2 minutes ahead of me! As I crossed the line, the clock showed 10th place. I ended up 17th, a bit over 2 minutes behind winner Taylor Phinney. A very satisfying return indeed.

1Taylor PhinneyBMC Racing Team1h05'32
2Alex DowsettMovistar Team+ 24
3Yoann PaillotTeam Marseille 13 KTM+ 1'00
4Bob JungelsTeam Sky+ 1'15
5Michael HepburnTeam Sky+ 1'17
6Salvatore PuccioTeam Sky+ 1'28
7Arnaud GérardBretagne - Séché Environnement+ 1'36
8Rick FlensIAM Cycling+ 1'47
9Jonathan CastroviejoMovistar Team+ 1'48
10Joey RosskopfBMC Racing Team+ 1'57

Spoiler


i.imgur.com/89xroxp.jpg

Me going past Team Sky's Alessandro Ballan on the road
 
Tamijo
Fine result against all those world tour riders.
 
AbhishekLFC
Thanks Grin. It's good to be back!
 
AbhishekLFC
2016 Season Recap

Making the step up to the PCT this year was a challenge, but one I enjoyed facing. The racing became more competitive, as well as more tactical. The difference in the way Roompot operates to how Leopard does was clear in the very first days itself.

There were more firsts this year, with a first podium in the U25s, also one in the KOM standings and finally winning the U25 classification and getting on the podium in Sibiu. That race is one I will always hold very dear to me. The injury happened at a time when I was in top form. It hampered the latter part of my season almost entirely, but unlike last year I was able to get back on the road before the racing this year. I am particularly proud of my performance in Chrono des Nations. All in all, a satisfying year in terms of progress. I did convince myself that I do belong here.

And now, I'm going home...

Statistics

Continental Rankings CQ Rankings
Me 198th - 46 points 361st - 139 points
Roompot Oranje 13th - 688 points 29th - 968 points

 
Tamijo
Say Hello to the family !
 
AbhishekLFC
2017 is Here

A new year is here. I was lucky enough to get to spend it with family and friends this time. It was a long stay at home for me, but the cycling continued as I strove to keep myself fit through the holiday cheer. Along with the joys of home-coming, staying in shape was equally important.

I set off back to Amsterdam on the second day of the new year. On the same day, Roompot held their press conference presenting their new look team to the world. Our sponsors have definitely become more open to the idea of non-Dutch nationality riders in the team!

The family say "Hi" to you too Tamijo Smile

Roompot Oranje Team Presentation

i.imgur.com/hGT8Rva.jpg


Team Leaders

Barry Markus Sprinter
Lilian Calmejane Puncher
Abhishek Sinha Stage Races
Maurits Lammertink Puncher
Alexander Krieger Sprinter


Rider Presentation

i.imgur.com/ZbJH6wq.jpg

Edited by AbhishekLFC on 27-05-2017 06:38
 
Tamijo
Good luck in the comming season.
 
AbhishekLFC
Rumblings...Inside and Out

Luck! Was it luck that I needed? Or was it something else...

The team management were kind enough to allow me to go home for more than 2 months at the end of last year. I returned back in good spirits, feeling refreshed and ready to get back together with my teammates, old and new, for the pre-season training camps. The first couple of days were fine. I was enjoying the camaraderie and the jovial atmosphere in the camp. However, as more time passed, I felt a little coldness among my teammates. It started with a couple and seemed to spread to a dozen quite soon!

All through the winter, I had been fighting my own internal demons. Two serious injuries in two years were starting to have a psychological effect. I have been a professional for two whole years now, but without a win to show for it. Although the trip home was meant to be refreshing, I was plagued by thoughts of whether I truly belonged at this level. I did get on the podium in Romania last year, but it was more an effort in consistency than outstanding brilliance. And things would just get tougher the more I stayed in pro cycling.

Having convinced myself that my thoughts was just me being paranoid, it was difficult getting such vibes from the same teammates that I rode with the past season. It was not as if they were being rude. It was just that the bond seemed to have vanished. There was one big silver lining among the new faces though. I knew Alex Krieger well from my Leopard days, and was glad to be able to ride and chat with him. Being ever the observer and the good listener, I picked up the fact that other riders were of the opinion that the team management were giving me too long a leash in terms of training and holidays, just because I had been injured. I knew this was not true but I didn't want to keep explaining myself to everyone. I let it slide for the time being. Making my riding speak for me would be the best answer...

I think I'll take that luck you wished Tamijo. This could be a make or beak season for me!

Spoiler

 
AbhishekLFC
January

Just one race in January, that too right at the end of the month. I was off to sunny Spain once again to start my season at Mallorca.

Vuelta a Mallorca

Lilian Calmejane was assigned as the leader of the team. I was given a free role. I particularly enjoyed having free reins to do as I pleased at the start of the season.

Stage 1 was purely for the sprinters. I sat in the pack all day and rode home comfortably. Fernando Gaviria won a hotly contested sprint ahead of Michael Matthews.

Stage 2 was more of the same as the sprinters battled to reign supreme once again. Michael Matthews went one better this time, claiming the stage win and the Points jersey on this stage.

Stage 3 went wrong for me even before the halfway stage. I was dropped from the peloton and spent the entire day trying to get back time. I ended up losing 12 minutes to stage winner Tony Gallopin. Calmejane grabbed a top 20 spot for us.

I joined the 11 man break on Stage 4. This stage had a lot of climbs and many KOM points on offer. The break went down to 9 riders after the second climb. I myself got dropped after the fifth climb and was caught by the peloton with 40 km to go. Tired and not quite up to speed yet in terms of race fitness, I was duly dropped by the peloton too. I lost more time while the stage was decided in a sprint among a very select group of leaders. Valerio Conti triumphed going uphill, preventing Gaviria from claiming another stage win.

General Classification

1Tony GallopinLotto Soudal13h38'46
2Daniel MartinTinkoff-Saxo+ 49
3Sebastian HenaoIAM Cycling+ 51
4Maciej PaterskiMTN-Qhubeka+ 1'16
5Tom SlagterTeam LottoNL - Jumbo+ 1'18
6Fabio AruAstana Pro Teams.t.
7Beñat IntxaustiTinkoff-Saxos.t.
8Thomas De GendtLotto Soudals.t.
9Edoardo ZardiniTeam Cannondale - Garmins.t.
10François BidardBurgos - BHs.t.

Spoiler


Points Classification

1Michael MatthewsLotto Soudal65
2Fernando GaviriaTinkoff-Saxo51
3Giacomo NizzoloMovistar Team42
4Tony GallopinLotto Soudal34
5Reinardt Janse Van RensburgMTN-Qhubeka28


Mountain Classification

1Lars BoomTeam Cannondale - Garmin56
2Julien SimonCofidis, Solutions Crédits38
3Vitaliy ButsTeam Europcar36
4Cameron MeyerTeam Sky34
5Anthony TurgisIAM Cycling32


Young Rider Classification

1Sebastian HenaoIAM Cycling13h39'37
2François BidardBurgos - BH+ 27
3Valerio ContiTeam Katusha+ 4'04
4Lilian CalmejaneTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton+ 4'09
5Benjamin BrkicTEAM Pirelli+ 6'37


Team Classification

1Lotto Soudal41h00'57
2Tinkoff-Saxo+ 45
3Astana Pro Team+ 5'21
4Movistar Team+ 7'12
5Team Katusha+ 8'37

An underwhelming start to the season for me and the team. The only bright spot here was Calmejane's GC top 20 and the 4th place in the U25s. I got 10th place in the latter classification too.
 
Tamijo
Better luck next race
 
AbhishekLFC
Thanks Tamijo Smile
 
AbhishekLFC
February

I continued my early season in Spain with two more races. The first was the one day race in Murcia followed by traditional early spring race in Andalucia.

Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia

I was assigned with the role of protecting Calmejane again, something which I wasn't too pleased with. Despite the Frenchman's good outing in Malorca, I felt I was in good enough form to ride for myself. However, I buckled down and got on with my role. The race was a uneventful one for the most part. The breakaway was caught well before the line, but the fast pace prevented further attacks and most of the pack weer together at the finish. Alexander Geniez took the win for the newly formed Burger King team, the successor to erstwhile BMC. Our best was Martinez in 29th, with me coming in at 42nd place.

1Alexandre GeniezBurger King4h32'10
2David De la CruzTinkoff-Saxos.t.
3Rafael VallsMovistar Teams.t.
4Dayer QuintanaTinkoff-Saxos.t.
5Beñat IntxaustiTinkoff-Saxos.t.
6Joaquím RodríguezTeam Katushas.t.
7Jan BartaBurger Kings.t.
8Fabio DuarteColombias.t.
9Eddie DunbarTeam Katushas.t.
10Joseph DombrowskiBurger Kings.t.

Spoiler


I did my role as best as I could, but the team leaders failed to bring a good result.

Vuelta a Andalucia

A stunning starting line-up saw me line up alongside against multiple WT big guns. Froome, Nairo Quintana, Pinot, Joaquim Rodriguez, Betancur, Zakarin, Gallopin, Kreuziger and Contador were some of the names starting this race! I was all starry eyed as I rolled in to the starting area.

Stage 1 was the short ITT where not much time gaps were expected. The time clock showed 1st place when I crossed the lne. I was on the hot seat for a while. Eventually I ended up in 8th place, just 14 seconds off the pace. I actually beat both Contador and Froome by 12 seconds, both having clocked in identical times. This was huge!

Stage 2 saw me assigned as team leader. This stage was more about not losing touch with the leaders, more than anything else. I managed to do that till about 12 km to go before the attacks started. I rode on till the end, trying to limit my losses. Thibaut Pinot won from a group of 4, while Contador took over the leader's jersey. I fell to 21st in the GC after losing more than 90 seconds on the stage.

Stage 3 was similar to stage 2. The break did not survive and the leaders started their attacks as we reached the closing stage. I finished in the fourth group on the road, moving up to 15th in the GC and 1st in the U25s. Betancur took over the lead in the GC, having finished in the same group as stage winner Gesink while Contador lost time.

Stage 4 was mostly for the sprinters, with a slight uphill finish sure to shake things up a bit. I rode in the pack without incident. The end saw Tony Gallopin prove strongest as the uphill sprinter. Roompot had two riders in the top 10.

Stage 5 fell on my birthday and I led the team again on this day. I stayed in the pack till the breakaway was caught. I launched an attack soon after, with 10 km to go. I was soon caught by a group of 8 high placed GC riders. I went away again inside the last 5 kms and this time there was no swift response. I took my first stage win, a remarkable day for me. I was overjoyed and could hardly control myself as we celebrated!

i.imgur.com/kLQx2IK.jpg

Me taking my first stage victory, wearing the White Jersey too!


i.imgur.com/e6JEbau.jpg

And I made the headlines!


1Abhishek SinhaTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton4h00'09
2Fernando GaviriaTinkoff-Saxos.t.
3Sonny ColbrelliTeam Katushas.t.
4Sondre Holst EngerTeam Jokers.t.
5Robert GesinkMTN-Qhubekas.t.
6Maurits LammertinkTeam Roompot-Oranje Pelotons.t.
7Carlos BetancurTinkoff-Saxos.t.
8Alberto ContadorTeam Katushas.t.
9Joaquím RodríguezTeam Katushas.t.
10Jonathan HivertAg2r La Mondiales.t.


Stage 6 was all about protecting my White jersey and making this race even more special. After the break was caught, I tried another sneaky attack with 5 km to go. This time I wasn't successful this time though as the sprint trains swept me up in the final couple of kilometres. Krieger got Roompot a 9th place. Betancur won overall.

General Classification

1Carlos BetancurTinkoff-Saxo19h44'44
2Joaquím RodríguezTeam Katusha+ 21
3Alberto ContadorTeam Katusha+ 36
4Robert GesinkMTN-Qhubeka+ 50
5Chris FroomeTeam Sky+ 55
6Nairo QuintanaMovistar Team+ 1'00
7Edoardo ZardiniTeam Cannondale - Garmin+ 1'07
8Jesús HerradaMovistar Team+ 1'28
9Tony GallopinLotto Soudal+ 2'49
10Mikel LandaTeam Katusha+ 3'57

Spoiler


Points Classification

1Tony GallopinLotto Soudal55
2Carlos BetancurTinkoff-Saxo53
3Robert GesinkMTN-Qhubeka52
4Fernando GaviriaTinkoff-Saxo52
5Joaquím RodríguezTeam Katusha44


Mountain Classification

1Yuriy AgarkovBurgos - BH31
2Peter VelitsTeam Cannondale - Garmin15
3Jesús Del PinoTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton13
4Robert GesinkMTN-Qhubeka10
5Víctor de la ParteMovistar Team10


Young Riders Classification

1Abhishek SinhaTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton19h48'49
2Emanuel BuchmannTeam LottoNL - Jumbo+ 4'15
3Lilian CalmejaneTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton+ 10'14
4Ever RiveraColombia+ 12'08
5Willie SmitTeam Joker+ 14'43


i.imgur.com/tb5hNEw.jpg


Team Classification

1Team Katusha59h18'36
2Team Cannondale - Garmin+ 2'15
3Tinkoff-Saxo+ 3'55
4Lotto Soudal+ 6'29
5Movistar Team+ 6'55


12th place in this field! Just look at the riders I finished ahead of. 1st in the U25s! To top it all off, THAT brilliant stage win after a dual attack on stage 5. This has been the best race of my professional life so far. Spain really is my lucky charm. And I proved to the team that I can lead in tough races. Quite a good race for the team too. Just perfect!
 
Tamijo
What a wonderful stage and on your birthday too Wink
Overall a great race.
 
AbhishekLFC
Sure was. It's been a long time coming!! Smile
 
AbhishekLFC
Spoiler

March

I rode into March full of confidence after having claimed my first stage win in Andalucia. Two stage races and a lone one-day classic was scheduled for me. My reward from the team for having won my first stage, a chance to ride in my first ever World Tour race in Catalunya at the end of this month! It was fitting that this milestone was reached in Spain too, given my love affair with the country when it came to riding well. First up though, I was off to Taiwan...

Tour de Taiwan

It was odd flying over my native land but not touching down there, But the racing couldn't wait and I was the team leader in Taiwan. I wanted to keep my good run going, having enjoyed the limelight over the past couple of weeks.

Stage 1 was for the sprinters and I stayed safely in the pack. Marc Sarreau took an unlikely victory here.

Stage 2 was a mountain top finish with an easy easy approach. The GC favourites stayed together till the base of the climb. Riders started dropping from the already reduced bunch. I was a part of the lead group of 3 riders with 4 km to go. Benat Intxausti attacked soon after. I too followed suit but the Spaniard was already too far ahead by then. He took the stage win comfortably. I managed to distance Geniez and claimed a brilliant 2nd place.

1Beñat IntxaustiTinkoff-Saxo2h26'20
2Abhishek SinhaTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton+ 1'09
3Alexandre GeniezBurger King+ 2'27
4David De la CruzTinkoff-Saxos.t.
5Sindre LunkeBora - Argon 18+ 2'42
6Diego RosaMovistar Teams.t.
7Jan HirtBora - Argon 18+ 2'54
8Patrick KonradA1 Telekoms.t.
9Rafael VallsMovistar Team+ 3'08
10Yoann BagotTeam Europcars.t.


Stage 3 was ridden at a leisurly pace by the peloton which allowed the break of the day to claim victory, just hanging on ahead of the sprinters in the pack.

Stage 4 saw me categorised as one the favourites! I managed to keep myself with the other GC favourites till about 12 km to go. I got dropped taking on water from the team car, something which still does sit too well with me, to be honest. This was one of the main reasons I lost more than 5 minutes on this stage, dropping down to 8th in the GC.

Stage 5 was another flat stage, which meant there was no further scope to make up time in the GC. A late attack spoilt the day for the sprinters once again as Sergey Nikolaev took home the win.

General Classification

1Beñat IntxaustiTinkoff-Saxo13h15'34
2Alexandre GeniezBurger King+ 1'55
3Diego RosaMovistar Team+ 2'10
4Sindre LunkeBora - Argon 18+ 4'37
5Jan HirtBora - Argon 18+ 4'49
6Rafael VallsMovistar Team+ 5'03
7David De la CruzTinkoff-Saxo+ 6'01
8Abhishek SinhaTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton+ 6'05
9Javier MorenoMovistar Team+ 7'03
10Ever RiveraColombias.t.

Spoiler


Points Classification

1Marc SarreauTeam Europcar47
2Beñat IntxaustiTinkoff-Saxo46
3Michael SchwarzmannBora - Argon 1842
4Alexandre GeniezBurger King36
5Diego RosaMovistar Team35


Mountain Classification

1Beñat IntxaustiTinkoff-Saxo28
2Alexandre GeniezBurger King24
3Diego RosaMovistar Team24
4Sindre LunkeBora - Argon 1812
5Rafael VallsMovistar Team12


Young Riders Classification

1Sindre LunkeBora - Argon 1813h20'11
2Abhishek SinhaTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton+ 1'28
3Ever RiveraColombia+ 2'26
4Óscar GonzálezMovistar Team+ 3'45
5Alexis GuerinTeam Europcar+ 4'52


Team Classification

1Movistar Team40h01'08
2Tinkoff-Saxo+ 7'13
3Bora - Argon 18+ 10'24
4Burger King+ 10'57
5Colombia+ 17'24


Second place in the U25s is all I come away with in the classifications from Taiwan. It could so easily have been 2nd place in the GC! An amateur mistake which became very costly. I know I'm still in good form though, which is a good thing.

Nokere Koerse

I was picked as a helper for Lammertink. With 12 km to go, Sander Helven rode away from the pack with no one chasing. I was riding at the front and looked back to see if Lammertink was feeling up for an attack. He shook his head and gave me license to ride my own race going ahead. I decided to chase the solo break and no one chased me either! I kept closing the gap, but ran out of road in the end. I settled for 2nd place, my best placing in a one day race yet!

i.imgur.com/ebBAYM4.jpg

That's me in the background coming home in 2nd place!


1Sander HelvenColruyt4h27'10
2Abhishek SinhaTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton+ 29
3Boris ValléeTrek Factory Racing+ 3'00
4Edward TheunsLotto Soudals.t.
5Fabio FellineLotto Soudals.t.
6Andrea ZordanLeopard Development Teams.t.
7Marco HallerTeam LottoNL - Jumbos.t.
8André LooijTeam Giant-Alpecins.t.
9Florent DelfosseVeranclassic - Ekois.t.
10Zico WaeytensEtixx - Quick-steps.t.

Spoiler


March has started off with two great results. Catalunya is still to come. Let's see what I can pull off there.

To be continued...
 
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