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One in a Billion | Rise to the Summit
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Posted on 23-11-2024 11:48
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Tamijo
Even though You would as the “player” like to see constant improvement and victories, as a reader is quite nice that the journey is not always easy. Just give them all you got next season !!
 
AbhishekLFC
I'm always striving to improve. Hence, the harsh review of my performances I guess. I'll give it a go next season for sure Grin
 
AbhishekLFC
2020

It is incredible to think that I've now completed five full years as a pro cyclist! It seems just last week I was being driven from Amsterdam to Luxembourg to sign my first professional contract with Leopard. Since then, it's been a roller-coaster journey spanning three teams, five continents, countless pedal-strokes and even two major injuries. Looking back, I think I was very lucky to get the break that I did, aged just 18...

Lotto Soudal Team Presentation

i.imgur.com/z2hnaQG.jpg

It is clear that Lotto's transformation from a team focusing only on Hilly and Cobbled classics to a stage racing team is complete. Nairo Quintana is the last huge piece of that jigsaw.

Rider Presentation

i.imgur.com/f3JCCna.jpg

Despite the disappointments I faced on the road last year, my progress has remained on track. Another year of good training has resulted in significant improvements across the board. Perhaps I'm better equipped to take on last year's targets this time around.
Edited by AbhishekLFC on 10-08-2017 07:12
 
Raziz
The hill stat and secondaries are what I am surprised about, normally never get that good in my stage racer pro cyclists.
 
AbhishekLFC
Raziz wrote:
The hill stat and secondaries are what I am surprised about, normally never get that good in my stage racer pro cyclists.

I've trained quite a bit across levels in 'Puncher' speciality. That may have something to do with it.

Spoiler
Now, even when I train as a climber the MO stats aren't going up any higher!

 
Tamijo
I wonder if there is a random factor - or it only depends on the choices you make ?
 
Ian Butler
He looks ready for the new challenges Smile
 
Tamijo
Very strong squad ! - Fingers crossed for a good season.
 
AbhishekLFC
Tamijo wrote:
I wonder if there is a random factor - or it only depends on the choices you make ?

No idea at all Pfft
 
AbhishekLFC
@Ian: Let's hope so. There are some schedule differences that has been planned for the coming season. You'll find out soon enough...

@Tamijo: Yes, the team is much stronger in the stage racing than when I joined 2 years ago. I hope that translates to some personal success as well.
 
Aquarius97
Maybe it's time for a reconversion
Manager of [MG] Repsol - Netflix


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AbhishekLFC
Aquarius97 wrote:
Maybe it's time for a reconversion

That's definitely not the plan!
 
Raziz
AbhishekLFC wrote:
Raziz wrote:
The hill stat and secondaries are what I am surprised about, normally never get that good in my stage racer pro cyclists.

I've trained quite a bit across levels in 'Puncher' speciality. That may have something to do with it.

Spoiler
Now, even when I train as a climber the MO stats aren't going up any higher!


Yeah, was going to elaborate on the lower mountain stats Grin
 
AbhishekLFC
I Pledge an Allegiance

Going back in time...


"I didn't know you followed cycling!", I asked my uncle.

I was spending the first couple of weeks of the off-season in Amsterdam, at my uncle's house, my home away from home. My family had come down for a week but they were safely back home the day before. I had just got back from Haarlem, having spent the day there. Off course I'd cycled there and back. I missed the sport too much on vacation.

Not receiving a reply, I went to take a closer look and saw that my uncle had dozed off. I woke him up gently, careful not to startle him.

"You're back early!", he exclaimed. "I thought you were coming back tomorrow."

"I got bored", I said.

"Get yourself a girlfriend."

"Not again." I rolled my eyes in mock disgust but he wasn't looking.

"Which race is this?", I asked.

"The World Championships."

"There could only ever have been one winner this year", I said. "The route was almost tailor-made for Sagan."

"A great race makes a great rider, not the other way round", he replied.

"Have you been playing PCM?" I asked, almost incredulous.

"Funny what retirement will do to you."

I couldn't think of a response. Seeing my predicament, he changed the subject.

"Don't you want to be World Champion?", he asked.

"I won't be eligible. India is not among the top 50 nations in cycling rankings, and will probably never be during my career."

"You don't live there anymore."

"But I'm still a citizen."

"That is not something that can't be changed."

"What are you suggesting? That I take up citizenship here? How can I do that?"

"Why not? I've done it. A lot of people do it."

"It's not that simple."

"Off-course it is. When was the last time you represented your country?"

I had no response.

"Just as I thought. And they won't be sending in your application till you start participating for the national team. As I think that is out of the question given your current commitments, I'd suggest you keep your sentiments to one side and think about what I'm saying. I've followed more of your races than you think, and for longer than I've cared to tell you. You are just as good as any of the riders who represent this country."

"But will I be selected even if I do make the switch?", still digesting what my uncle was implying with his last statement.

"You'll never know if you don't try!"

"I don't know. I don't feel this is the right thing to do."

"Think about it. That's all I'm telling you."

I felt like this was something that I'd probably never consider seriously. After all, I was proud to be the first cyclist from my country to ride for a UCI Tour cycling team.

Just as the thought of dismissing this conversation crossed my mind, Sagan raised his arms in victory as he became the new World Champion. My uncle looked at me with a questioning smile. I couldn't help but feel a pang of hopelessness that I'd never be eligible for a World Championship.

Edited by AbhishekLFC on 06-07-2017 13:58
 
Tamijo
Won't mess with your cultural heritage just for a silly spot on the podium.
Cool

.......silly?

...Wink
 
AbhishekLFC
Schedule for 2020

I kept all the 'silly' talk aside and couldn't wait to get the new season started. 2019 was not a bad season by a long shot but it wasn't quite what I'd hoped it would be. The new season does see some changes to my schedule from the previous one. Here it is:

Month Race Category
January Vuelta a Mallorca 2.1
Febrauary Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia 1.1
March Paris - Nice WT
March Volta Ciclista a Catalunya WT
April Amstel Gold Race WT Classic
April Liege - Bastogne - Liege Monument
May Giro d'Italia Grand Tour
July Int. Österreich-Rundfahrt 2.1
July Prueba Villafranca - Ordiziako Klasika 1.1
August Vuelta a Burgos 2.HC
August Vuelta a Espana Grand Tour
September GP Industria & Commercio di Prato 1.1
October Il Lombardia Monument

There is a change to the start of my season as I head off to my favoured country to get my confidence back. Mallorca and Murcia is a start to the season which has brought me success before. Paris - Nice remains on my schedule but there is a change immediately after it. I go back to Catalunya after giving it a miss last year. Gone are MSR, Pais Vasco and Romandie as I concentrate only on a couple of the Ardennes Classics before the Giro. I go to the Amstel Gold Race this year instead of La Fleche Wallone and end spring with Liege - Bastogne - Liege.

The big news this time around is that I'm not going to ride the Tour. Instead, I'm riding the Giro - Vuelta combo again. The month of May is taken up by the Giro d'Italia, where I hope I can get some confidence back on the Grand Tour stage. I start Int. Osterreich - Rundfahrt on the same day the Tour de France starts, a painful decision, but one that was expected given Nairo is targeting it as his only GT outing this year. I make up for the lull in late July by riding in Prueba Villafranca, the scene of my second serious injury, three years ago!

My preparation for the Vuelta is to happen at the Vuelta a Burgos, as every year. The Vuelta a Espana is once again a big target for a high finish at a Grand Tour. I have unfinished business after last year's less than satisfactory outing. I finish off the season with GP Industria & Commercio di Prato, a race I have not participated in since I left Roompot, and Il Lombardia, which remains one of my favourites on the calendar.

Targets

The only target I've set for myself this year is to perform better than last year. I've learnt my lesson from placing unrealistically high hopes on myself. It just adds to the pressure and takes the fun out of seemingly good results (last year's 9th place in Il Lombardia seemed like a failure to me at the time).
Edited by AbhishekLFC on 08-07-2017 16:20
 
Tamijo
Looks like a fine mix, some "easier" races mixed into your WT races, 2 GT 2 monuments, must be quite a lot of race days.
 
Aquarius97
By my calculations 87 race days this season. I would remove Suisse or Austria. Doing both means you wont have any rest time between Giro and Vuelta
Manager of [MG] Repsol - Netflix


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AbhishekLFC
It is actually 95 race days!

Taking advice from a couple of friends, I have taken the decision to skip the Tour de Suisse this season. As I'm not going to ride in the Tour, there's no need to ride in its prep race. The number of race days comes down to 86.

Note: The calendar post is now updated leaving out Tour de Suisse.
Edited by AbhishekLFC on 08-07-2017 16:21
 
AbhishekLFC
January

I start my season at the end of January in a race that I'm quite familiar with.

Vuelta a Mallorca

The first race of the year and I'm riding with Nairo Quintana. My first chance to look at his preparations for a race. My chance to learn from arguably the best pure climber in the peloton at the moment. I've actually been quite excited looking forward to riding with him.

Stage 1 was flat and it was down to the sprinters. Jasper de Buyst finished 10th for us.

Stage 2 was much of the same. de Buyst timed his sprint to perfection and narrowly missed out on the win, getting 2nd.

Stage 3

i.imgur.com/ydReUfa.jpg

I joined the break on this stage. Even Sagan was in it. I took 18 points from the three climbs I was out ahead, including two KOM sprint wins. I was caught with 125 km to go, but again joined the next break of eight riders. The peloton caught up with me again with 90 km to go. Things settled down for the next 50 or so kilometers. With 30 km to go, at the base of the third climb, I found myself in a group of 30 riders chasing two out ahead. At the top, the break was caught, both Quintana brothers had escaped from the peloton and I was the lone chaser. I lost a couple of places on the climb to the finish to end up 5th on the stage and the GC. Younger brother Dayer got the better of Nairo to win the stage and take the lead in the GC. Nairo settled for 2nd.

Stage 4 saw the lead group reduce to 90 riders on the second climb. I was setting the pace in the pack, trying to set up a Nairo win and help him take the GC. I went away from the pack on effort on the third climb but I could not keep the lead. I was back in the pack on the fourth climb. The peloton did not catch the break and Nairo did not attempt an attack late on. I sprinted to 10th place at the finish.

General Classification

1Dayer QuintanaColombia13h40'47
2Nairo QuintanaLotto Soudal+ 1'05
3Peter SaganTinkoff-Saxo+ 2'08
4Anastasio AniaTinkoff-Saxo+ 2'24
5Abhishek SinhaLotto Soudal+ 2'28
6Clément ChevrierTeam Europcar+ 3'44
7Cyril GautierTeam Europcar+ 4'36
8Eddie DunbarTeam LottoNL - Jumbos.t.
9Sam OomenTeam Giant-Alpecins.t.
10Nelson OliveiraStella Artois+ 5'05

Spoiler
11Alvaro CuadrosAstana Pro Team+ 6'26
12Carlos VeronaTeam Skys.t.
13Thomas De GendtLotto Soudal+ 7'25
14Rigoberto UránStella Artoiss.t.
15Bakhtiyar KozhatayevAstana Pro Teams.t.
16Ruben GuerreiroTEAM Cepsas.t.
17Emanuel BuchmannTeam Giant-Alpecins.t.
18Jeppe Lykke Hartvig NielsenCULT Energy Pro Cyclings.t.
19Alexander FoliforovTinkoff-Saxos.t.
20Alexey LutsenkoAstana Pro Team+ 8'41
21Thomas BonninTeam Europcar+ 8'47
22Chris FroomeTinkoff-Saxo+ 9'06
23Davide FormoloAstana Pro Team+ 9'37
24Goredema DabengwaMTN-Qhubeka+ 9'48
25Valerio ContiAstana Pro Team+ 10'03
26Beñat IntxaustiMTN-Qhubekas.t.
27Ryan MullenTEAM Cepsa+ 10'48
28Jonathan CastroviejoTeam Sky+ 10'55
29Jon Ander InsaustiKaikus.t.
30Björn ThurauTeam Roompot-Oranje Pelotons.t.
31Marc GoosTeam LottoNL - Jumbo+ 11'00
32Antoine LavieuTeam Giant-Alpecin+ 11'02
33Brad MalkinsonTeam Roompot-Oranje Pelotons.t.
34Manuel Antunes AmaroTeam Taviras.t.
35Carlos BarberoMTN-Qhubeka+ 11'57
36Gianni MeersmanStella Artoiss.t.
37Alexandr ShushemoinActiveJet Teams.t.
38Eduard PradesTeam Katusha+ 12'13
39Chad HagaTeam Cannondale - Garmin+ 12'56
40Lorenzo RotaAstana Pro Team+ 13'14
41Pello BilbaoTEAM Cepsa+ 13'20
42George PreidlerIberdrolas.t.
43Eurico SemeanoTeam Skys.t.
44Fredrik LudvigssonTeam Taviras.t.
45Loïc VliegenLotto Soudals.t.
46Dylan GirdlestoneMTN-Qhubekas.t.
47Jasper De BuystLotto Soudal+ 14'10
48José HerradaIberdrola+ 14'17
49Dylan GroenewegenMTN-Qhubeka+ 14'19
50Reinardt Janse Van RensburgMTN-Qhubekas.t.
51Rubén FernándezTEAM Cepsas.t.
52Jérôme BaugniesStella Artoiss.t.
53Alexis GougeardTeam Europcars.t.
54Luis León SánchezTEAM Cepsas.t.
55Davide CimolaiTeam Cannondale - Garmin+ 14'35
56Ricardo GarcíaTeam Katusha+ 14'43
57Jaco VenterMTN-Qhubekas.t.
58Patrick FacchiniTeam Cannondale - Garmins.t.
59Rafal PalikAstana Pro Team+ 15'08
60Juan José LobatoTeam Katusha+ 15'42
61Manuel SenniTeam Katushas.t.
62Davide MalacarneTeam Cannondale - Garmins.t.
63Lukas LöerTeam Skys.t.
64Oliver KarjalainenTeam Katushas.t.
65Kristian SbaragliLiqui Moly+ 16'04
66Elia FavilliTeam Cannondale - Garmins.t.
67Michael MørkøvCULT Energy Pro Cyclings.t.
68Markus FreibergerLiqui Molys.t.
69Omar FraileTeam Katusha+ 16'08
70Anders NewburyUnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team+ 16'10
71Luca SterbiniAstana Pro Team+ 16'31
72Gaël MalacarneTeam Europcars.t.
73Rudy KowalskiTeam Europcars.t.
74Joshua EdmondsonTeam Skys.t.
75André LooijTeam Giant-Alpecin+ 16'57
76Jonas BokelohMTN-Qhubeka+ 17'03
77Andrea ZordanLiqui Molys.t.
78Pieter SerryStella Artoiss.t.
79Rubén ZepuntkeCULT Energy Pro Cyclings.t.
80Andreas VangstadCULT Energy Pro Cyclings.t.
81Artem NychTeam Katushas.t.
82Juan Carlos Orueta IbarrolaIberdrola+ 17'32
83Matteo PelucchiTeam Sky+ 17'34
84Vyacheslav KuznetsovTinkoff-Saxos.t.
85Aitor GurruchagaTEAM Cepsas.t.
86Winner AnaconaIberdrolas.t.
87Kiel ReijnenUnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team+ 17'39
88Peter StetinaTeam Cannondale - Garmin+ 17'54
89Ángel MadrazoTeam Katushas.t.
90Argiro OspinaColombias.t.
91Alexander KriegerTEAM Cepsa+ 18'34
92Bert-Jan LindemanTeam LottoNL - Jumbo+ 18'37
93Eduard-Michael GrosuLotto Soudal+ 18'38
94Wesley SulzbergerUnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Teams.t.
95Robin CarpenterTeam Cannondale - Garmins.t.
96Steven LammertinkTeam Giant-Alpecins.t.
97Adrien CostaStella Artoiss.t.
98Lucian OpreaTeam Roompot-Oranje Pelotons.t.
99Ian StannardLotto Soudals.t.
100Hamish SchreursKaikus.t.
101Piotr BrozynaActiveJet Teams.t.
102Jos Van EmdenTeam Giant-Alpecins.t.
103Thomas MosesIberdrola+ 19'07
104Jasha SütterlinTeam Giant-Alpecin+ 19'28
105Iuri FilosiUnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team+ 19'29
106Nick Van Der LijkeIberdrola+ 20'18
107Stéphane PoulhièsTeam Europcar+ 20'50
108Yuma KoishiBurgos - BHs.t.
109Ricardo van DongenTeam LottoNL - Jumbo+ 21'09
110Edwin ÁvilaColombias.t.
111Michael VingerlingTeam LottoNL - Jumbos.t.
112Travis MccabeTeam Roompot-Oranje Pelotons.t.
113Lluis Guillermo Mas BonetUnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team+ 21'48
114Enrique SanzTeam Sky+ 21'53
115Shane ArchboldColombias.t.
116Roy JansStella Artoiss.t.
117Tobias WauchLiqui Molys.t.
118Zdenek StybarStella Artoiss.t.
119Sven ReutterActiveJet Teams.t.
120Miguel HugetBurgos - BHs.t.
121Marc GarbyKaiku+ 22'03
122Igor MerinoKaiku+ 22'44
123Ricky TimmerTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton+ 23'00
124Sérgio PardillaTinkoff-Saxo+ 23'12
125Brayan RamírezBurgos - BH+ 23'26
126Patrick GretschTeam Giant-Alpecin+ 23'30
127Haritz OrbeKaiku+ 23'36
128Anton VorobyevTinkoff-Saxos.t.
129Jon Andoni Martínez RuizBurgos - BH+ 23'38
130Thomas BertoliniTeam Tavira+ 24'07
131Jens GeerinckLotto Soudal+ 24'12
132Armindo FonsecaTeam Europcar+ 24'24
133Filippo FortinLiqui Molys.t.
134Casper FolsachCULT Energy Pro Cyclings.t.
135Jesús EzquerraIberdrola+ 25'17
136Gorka CeballosIberdrola+ 25'50
137Kristian HaugaardColombia+ 26'15
138Davy GunstTeam LottoNL - Jumbos.t.
139Christian KochLiqui Moly+ 26'32
140Kamil ZielinskiActiveJet Team+ 26'53
141Antonio MolinaTEAM Cepsa+ 27'45
142Mattia FrapportiTeam Cannondale - Garmin+ 28'00
143Jonathan DibbenTeam Skys.t.
144Revy AmhaouchTeam LottoNL - Jumbo+ 28'10
145Jonas AhlstrandUnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team+ 28'57
146Marco KönigLiqui Moly+ 29'03
147Jaime CastañedaColombia+ 29'13
148Evan HuffmanUnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team+ 29'17
149Jon AberasturiKaiku+ 30'09
150Egoitz GarcíaKaiku+ 30'16
151Ibai SalasBurgos - BH+ 30'57
152Sergey RozinUnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team+ 31'32
153John Alieu RobergCULT Energy Pro Cycling+ 31'48
154Alfonso LópezColombias.t.
155Levani KoparevCULT Energy Pro Cyclings.t.
156Stepan AstafyevTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton+ 32'07
157Aurélio BrásTinkoff-Saxos.t.
158Nicklas Bøje PedersenTeam Tavira+ 32'45
159Jon BozicActiveJet Teams.t.
160David StaggenborgCULT Energy Pro Cycling+ 32'48
161Aser EstévezBurgos - BHs.t.
162Samuel MagalhaesTeam Tavira+ 33'26
163Rolão RosalinoTeam Tavira+ 33'52
164Piotr KirpszaActiveJet Team+ 34'02
165Diego León CuervoColombias.t.
166Andrija JanecekTeam Tavira+ 34'19
167Dylan Van ZijlTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton+ 34'43
168Huib BakTeam LottoNL - Jumbo+ 36'16
169Konrad DabkowskiActiveJet Team+ 37'45
170Unai IparragirreKaiku+ 38'44
171Andrés VigilBurgos - BH+ 39'10
172Reinis AndrijanovsTeam Tavira+ 41'36
173Rico ReekersTeam Roompot-Oranje Peloton+ 42'08
174Carlos Antonio JiménezActiveJet Team+ 42'51
175Isidro BillabonaBurgos - BH+ 53'51


Points Classification

1Peter SaganTinkoff-Saxo1074
2Davide CimolaiTeam Cannondale - Garmin840
3Alexey LutsenkoAstana Pro Team3737
4André LooijTeam Giant-Alpecin034
5Jasper De BuystLotto Soudal032


Mountain Classification

1Ryan MullenTEAM Cepsa1664
2Eduard PradesTeam Katusha3854
3Abhishek SinhaLotto Soudal038
4Jon Ander InsaustiKaiku030
5Bert-Jan LindemanTeam LottoNL - Jumbo028


Young Riders Classification

1Anastasio AniaTinkoff-Saxo4h13'0213h43'11 (1)
2Abhishek SinhaLotto Soudals.t.+ 4 (2)
3Alvaro CuadrosAstana Pro Teams.t.+ 4'02 (5)
4Eddie DunbarTeam LottoNL - Jumbos.t.+ 2'12 (3)
5Sam OomenTeam Giant-Alpecins.t.+ 2'12 (4)


Team Classification

1Lotto Soudal41h12'26
2Tinkoff-Saxo+ 2'16
3Team Europcar+ 4'50
4Astana Pro Team+ 6'50
5Team Giant-Alpecin+ 12'58


An unspectacular but solid start to the season. The first experience of riding with Nairo was a positive one. I managed high placings in three classifications, a little disappointing that I couldn't come away with any jersey. A good start to a very important season for me.
 
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