In 2012 both boys start at Copenhagen Business College sport line, where they can fit their cycling training into their education. But John slowly lose focus on the cycling, he is more interested in International Economy, law, language not to mention girls and party.

While Aram trains hard and also ride many amateur races, mostly in Denmark but also some in Norway and Germany, his abilities as a climber is quite impressive considering his age.

In 2014 only 17, Aram gets a contract offer from Danish development and UCI Continental team, Team Trefor. They will support him with gear and pay some of the expenses he has when riding international amateur races, he will also be joining some of their training sessions. But he is still associated with Hvidovre Cykel Klub. Aram is in Heaven.

But while things are going well for Aram, John’s world fall apart when his grandfather Knud Balleby, gets cancer again and passes away late autumn 2014. It not only the grief, he also feels very alone, just him and his mother now. Aram is so occupied with his training and everything.

In the summer of 2015 Aram and John both passed their high school exams, John with a better result than Aram due to the many hours spent on the bike. Aram took a break from cycling and they had a wonderful summer together with their friends.

It was a long time since John had felt this great, spending time with his longtime friend and having a nice short summer romance with a cute girl called Susanne.

Aram was shyer, it was not easy for him with the girls, much more introvert than his friend, but he did not mind much, he had the notion that: “the right one would turn up at the right time�

John was admitted to university, starting in early September studying economy. Aram had no plans, his parents was well of, his father now an university educated expert in Persian culture and Iran relations, his mother a senior nurse. They would surely give him freedom to pursue his athletic ambitions.

Anyway that was never an issue, he got several offers over the summer and in late August he signed a professional contract with Team Trefor. Far from the strongest of the teams he had to choose between, but closest to home and riders he already knew and liked.

Tamijo wrote:
Ian Butler: Hope you like the development.

Aram’s parents buys him a small apartment in Vejle and a used car, making him able to visit them as often as possible, that was the most insanely great present he had very got and the most wonderful Christmas Eve he could remember ever having spent.

After that he joins the team in January officially starting his training. The ability to get some professional backup and coating has its effect and he soon begins to feel how he is slowly but steadily improving.

Aram sends a sms to his father at night after the race, after having a single beer with the boys, to celebrate the first race of the season, although it was on team level no success.

Hi, I’m writing to you before I go to bed, I’am so waisted.
At the startline I was so nervous my legs was shaking, but that was over after a few km. One of my teammates Niklas Eg was ready and joined a group getting away.

My job was to help our leader Daniel Foder, so I just placed myself in front of him, protecting him from all the wind I could, in Netherlands very close to the Atlantic it was sometimes tough with wind speed at 45km/h.

But I soon found peace, settling down and getting into my rhythm, for a long time I was enjoying myself, looking at the landscape and talking a bit with Daniel when the pace was moderate.

On the last 30-40 km the pace was getting higher, suddenly I felt just how hard professional racing was going to be. With 12 km left it was all over for me. It was the hardest ever 12 km just to get to the line in one piece.

But I don’t mind dad, this was fantastic, just fantastic and maybe just maybe I learned to let go a few km earlier.
Cheers and say hello to Mom

The speaker was playing Miles Davis: Bitches Brew, a strange kind of music that Aram did not like, but to avoid a 10 minute lecture from Grandpa Hamid, he did not mention.

Hamid smiled and said: “Sound like a great experience, now Aram please tell me about the team and you fellow riders�.
Aram: “Skelde is the boss, from what I know he is fine, but everyone except Daniel seems to be a little afraid of him, the one you want to impress for sure!

Bojesen is my daily coach and manager, the one I talk to about everything regarding what and when to do, a very nice person I like him a lot.�

Hamid: “sounds pretty good, what about the other riders?�
Aram: “Besides me, there are 12 riders, but not everyone I know very well yet.�
We got two veterans, clearly our best rider is Daniel Foder he is pretty good no matter the terrain, and also fast enough in the time trails. You know the one thing I hate!

The other one is Christian Moberg, he is not a super rider, but he is aggressive as hell, always looking for his chance. Both riders are very friendly and easy to be with.

Amongst the young rider my best friends are Mads (Würtz Schmidt) just 21 and so good on a bike, he was best young rider in last year’s Post Danmark Rundt. Another friend is Niklas (Larsen) he is just 18 and our best on the time trail, he can’t climb and I can’t time trail, we are a perfect pair�..Aram laughs.

Hamid: Sure sounds like you are havin’ fun
Aram continues: “There is also Thomas Riis, Bjarnes son you know? And we got a good sprinter in Mark Sehested.

Grandpa thanks for tea, I've Gotta Run first dinner at “mothers kitchen� and later I will visit John, early tomorrow back to Vejle, in four day we are going to Vicenza in Italy to take part in my 2nd. race.

John have got an apartment in Bymuren, not the nicest neighborhood, but a lot better than living with mom. When Aram enters the room, Chimaira is hammering out a set of large floor speakers.

“For “Allah’s� sake turn that shit down� Says Aram with a big smile, John turns the volume down saying “Do you want a beer� – “no thanks I need to keep clean, have you got coffee� – “sure I’ll make some�. John opens a beer for himself and starts brewing coffee.

Aram have just returned from Trofeo Banca Popolare di Vicenza, and now the two have decided to watch the races John have recorded on the TV box, Milano – Sanremo and Ronde van Vlaanderen. As soon as the coffee is ready he turns on the TV.

When the transmission from Milano – Sanremo starts there is about 60 km remaining, 2 groups ahead of a large full peloton, Daniel (Ag2r), Slagter (Cannondale) Le Bon (FDJ), Oomen (Giant) Burghardt (BMC) in the first group with 4’37�, 10 riders inbetween. Etixx - Quick Step leading the bunch.

After the first 30 km where the peloton got slowly closer, John says “Looks to be a borefest, but you did not tell me about your race�

Aram takes a sip of coffee “Well I guess that is because it was worse than bore, it started great though, I was appointed leader because it was a U21 race and my teammate got in the breakaway as planned, but let’s watch the finish in Sanremo�

The peloton caught the breakaway and it came to a mass sprint, Fernando Gaviria leading Marcel Kittel to what was a clear win in front of Mark Cavendish.

John started the broadcast of Vlaanderen. That was better, 18 strong riders had left everyone behind closing in on Oude Kwaremont some 60 km left.

John opened his 3rd beer and said: “Ok it started well in Vicenza and…? – “Yes everything was going well on an undulated route that was perfect for me, then on the 2nd last hill my teammates was no longer able to help and I was not patient, I attacked.

Quick Step had 3 riders in the group, Zdenek Stybar attacked on Kwaremont splitting the group, only 10 rider left Boonen Cancellara Degenkolb Kristoff Roelandts Stannard Stybar Terpstra Van Avermaet & Vanmarcke started Koppenberg together.

Aram said: “That attack worked well but mine did not, I only got away for a few KM, was caught on the downhill, and slowly melted like a snowman on the final climb.

On Kruisberg Fabian Cancellara attacked and lit up the diesel engine, so far Sep Vanmarcke, Niki Terpstra, Tom Boonen & John Degenkolb were close behind.

Aram said: Wow he is just a machine but I was not, even lost to my teammate Nicolaj Steen, he came 16th, I was 40th losing 25 positions on the last km. It was one of the most embarrassing days of my life, because I knew I could have done much better if not being stupid.

“Chear up mate, you get other chances� Said John now on his 4th beer – Yes I guess I will, Aram stopped feeling sorry for himself, suddenly noticing that John was drinking way to heavy.

Fabian Cancellara won in front of Niki Terpstra and Sep Vanmarcke.