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One in a Billion | Rise to the Summit
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 29-07-2017 14:33
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Grand Tour Specialist
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AbhishekLFC wrote:
Thanks  . Aru and Formolo were and a class apart. I was quite a distance behind 3rd place too! More improvement needed.
Incidentally, the last time you said something looked good on the Palmares was also this race in Austria, two seasons back, when Lotto had not picked a me for the Tour, and I went on to get a podium. Déjà vu 
And later in the year you won Lombardia...
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 29-07-2017 17:44
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Directeur Sportif
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@Kiserlovski: Thanks for that . Hope to become your top favourite soon!
@Aquarius: This is not quite Il Lombardia, but...
Prueba Villafranca - Ordiziako Clasica
I was top favourite along with teammate van Dingenen to win this race in a very weak field. There were just 96 starters, the smallest peloton I've been a part of since my Roompot days. The early break consisted of three riders. We set the pace in the peloton with Tinkoff and Roompot. The break's lead was always kept at below five minutes. Inside the final 40 kilometers, the pace started picking up. With 30 km to go, many riders were already dropped from the peloton and the break's lead was down to ninety seconds. The break was caught with 20 km to go. There ensued a game of high-speed cat and mouse in the peloton, with no one willing to make the attack from so far out. I attacked with 10 km to go. Only Ruben Fernandez and Evgeny Shalunov chased. They caught up to me a kilometer later, we had 50 seconds to the peloton then. We worked well together and soon it became obvious that the race would be decided between the three of us. We passed the red kite together with no one able to shake off the others. Shalunov launched sprint with about 200 meters to go. I followed suit but Fernandez was out on his bike and couldn't. I out-sprinted Shalunov to claim my second one-day race victory of the season!
| 1 | Abhishek Sinha | Lotto Soudal | 4h04'12 | | 2 | Evgeny Shalunov | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 3 | Rubén Fernández | TEAM Cepsa | s.t. | | 4 | Ángel Madrazo | Team Katusha | + 1'05 | | 5 | Mikel Iturria | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 6 | Tim De Troyer | Lotto Soudal | s.t. | | 7 | Egor Silin | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 8 | Jordi van Dingenen | Lotto Soudal | s.t. | | 9 | Brad Malkinson | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | s.t. | | 10 | Oreste Scotta | Team Cannondale - Garmin | s.t. |
Spoiler | 11 | François Bidard | Decathlon | s.t. | | 12 | Stefan Denifl | Liqui Moly | s.t. | | 13 | Bart De Clercq | Lotto Soudal | s.t. | | 14 | Ricardo García | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 15 | Milan Veltman | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | s.t. | | 16 | Sergey Shulga | Lotto Soudal | s.t. | | 17 | Nicolas Roche | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 18 | Jesús Ezquerra | Iberdrola | s.t. | | 19 | Isaac Bolívar | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 20 | Omar Fraile | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 21 | Carter Jones | Team Cannondale - Garmin | s.t. | | 22 | Garikoitz Bravo | Iberdrola | s.t. | | 23 | José Herrada | Iberdrola | s.t. | | 24 | Rafael Valls | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 25 | Karel Hník | Liqui Moly | s.t. | | 26 | Juan Manuel Puntas | Iberdrola | s.t. | | 27 | Hector Saez | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 28 | Miguel Angel Benito | TEAM Cepsa | s.t. | | 29 | Jesús Del Pino | Iberdrola | s.t. | | 30 | Peter Velits | Iberdrola | s.t. | | 31 | Jasper Ockeloen | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | s.t. | | 32 | Guiseppe Lottaroli | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 33 | Patrick Facchini | Team Cannondale - Garmin | s.t. | | 34 | Miguel Mínguez | Kaiku | s.t. | | 35 | Elden Boateng | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | s.t. | | 36 | Erik Drevik | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | s.t. | | 37 | Andrey Lukonin | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 38 | Alex Howes | Team Cannondale - Garmin | s.t. | | 39 | Sjors Roosen | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | s.t. | | 40 | Nans Peters | Decathlon | s.t. | | 41 | Tibor Kozak | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 42 | Chris Mortier | Decathlon | s.t. | | 43 | Luis Largo | TEAM Cepsa | s.t. | | 44 | Antonio Molina | TEAM Cepsa | s.t. | | 45 | Ezequiel Grandi | Kaiku | s.t. | | 46 | Igor Merino | Kaiku | s.t. | | 47 | Maxime Cam | Decathlon | s.t. | | 48 | Ivan Rovny | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 49 | Yuma Koishi | Burgos - BH | + 2'22 | | 50 | Damiano Caruso | Liqui Moly | s.t. | | 51 | Tony Pozniak | Lotto Soudal | s.t. | | 52 | Arnau Sole | Burgos - BH | s.t. | | 53 | Winner Anacona | Iberdrola | s.t. | | 54 | Jon Andoni Martínez Ruiz | Burgos - BH | s.t. | | 55 | Thomas Damuseau | Decathlon | s.t. | | 56 | Egoitz García | Kaiku | + 3'50 | | 57 | Erlantz Feans | Kaiku | s.t. | | 58 | Niels Goeree | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | s.t. | | 59 | Ludovico Perlotto | Team Cannondale - Garmin | s.t. | | 60 | Romeo Pisciotta | TEAM Cepsa | s.t. | | 61 | Marc Goos | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | s.t. | | 62 | Dejan Kokot | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | s.t. | | 63 | Ander Arranz | TEAM Cepsa | s.t. | | 64 | Nikodemus Holler | Liqui Moly | s.t. | | 65 | Víctor de la Parte | TEAM Cepsa | + 4'31 | | 66 | Lucian Oprea | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | + 5'28 | | 67 | Travis Mccabe | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | s.t. | | 68 | Jimmy Duquennoy | Lotto Soudal | s.t. | | 69 | Aser Estévez | Burgos - BH | s.t. | | 70 | Jesús Herrero | Decathlon | s.t. | | 71 | Jon Remigio Díaz de Olarte | TEAM Cepsa | s.t. | | 72 | Marc Garby | Kaiku | s.t. | | 73 | Timo Roosen | Team Cannondale - Garmin | s.t. | | 74 | Juan Carlos Orueta Ibarrola | Iberdrola | s.t. | | 75 | Pascal Ackermann | Liqui Moly | s.t. | | 76 | Moritz Backofen | Liqui Moly | s.t. | | 77 | Matthieu Boulo | Burgos - BH | s.t. | | 78 | Mannase Laud | Team Cannondale - Garmin | s.t. | | 79 | Enaitz Abad | Kaiku | + 6'21 | | 80 | Luis Ángel Maté | Burgos - BH | s.t. | | 81 | Cees Bol | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | s.t. | | 82 | Robin Carpenter | Team Cannondale - Garmin | + 7'42 | | 83 | Michael Marasek | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | s.t. | | 84 | Boy Van Poppel | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | s.t. | | 85 | Miguel Huget | Burgos - BH | s.t. | | 86 | Sérgio Pardilla | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 87 | Pedro Añón | Kaiku | s.t. | | 88 | Wilfried Gallo | Decathlon | s.t. | | 89 | Julien Simon | Decathlon | s.t. | | 90 | Tobias Knaup | Liqui Moly | s.t. | | 91 | Serge Pauwels | Lotto Soudal | s.t. | | 92 | Julio Álvarez | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | s.t. | | 93 | Artem Nych | Team Katusha | + 9'25 | | 94 | Nolberto López | Liqui Moly | s.t. | | 95 | Isidro Billabona | Burgos - BH | + 11'10 | | 96 | Dylan Van Zijl | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | + 13'44 |
Curse lifted!! Three top 10s for Lotto as well!
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| Ripley |
Posted on 30-07-2017 07:57
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Classics Specialist
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AbhishekLFC wrote:
Incidentally, the last time you said something looked good on the Palmares was also this race in Austria, two seasons back, when Lotto had not picked a me for the Tour, and I went on to get a podium. Déjà vu
 I didn't remember that. In any case, an achievement to be proud of. And immediately followed by another, too! |
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 31-07-2017 08:18
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Time to get the White in TDF - before getting too old. 
Brilliant win in Osterreich Rundfahrt.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 03-12-2024 17:49
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 31-07-2017 13:07
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@Ripley: Yup, two in a row
@Tamijo: One last chance next year before I outgrow that classification! Thanks
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 01-08-2017 06:52
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WILL HE OR WON'T HE
- A Het Nieuwsblad Report
Following his back to back wins in the Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt and Prueba Villafranca - Ordiziako Clasica, the big question in the peloton now is what will be Abhishek Sinha's next move. He is in the final year of his contract with Lotto. The team management have expressed an interest in re-signing him but there has been nothing coming out of the rider's camp so far. This silence is being taken as a sign that all is not rosy between the employer and their employee.
Although Sinha now has a General Classification victory under his name, he is yet to prove himself completely in the World Tour. A couple of podium finishes is all he has achieved so far. His performances in the Grand Tours have been inconsistent, with most in the cycling world unsure as to how close he can get to cycling's biggest prizes. He has age on his side for sure, not many have won a Grand Tour while still eligible for the Under-25s classification. Despite this, and despite the rider's self-confidence about his targets, there is still a lingering doubt about his credentials.
What happens next is anyone's guess, but no one will be surprised if this contract saga drags on till the end of the window. Sinha is scheduled to ride in Burgos later this week as a preparation race for the Vuelta, which is his primary target for the season. We might get some answers then.
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"Conveniently forgot about Lombardia, didn't they?", I remarked to myself, as I read the e-paper on the team bus.
Edited by AbhishekLFC on 01-08-2017 06:59
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 01-08-2017 17:18
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The lead up to the Vuelta passes through my usual route, a detour in the Burgos province of Spain.
Nairo led the team, in his last stage of the year, a funny decision given he wasn't due to start in the Vuelta. I wondered whether he was planning to start the Vuelta, having failed to win the TDF. Never a dull moment, is there?! I was given a free role but I knew it wouldn't be feasible for me to try breakaways early on. It would be more of playing the waiting game again.
Stage 1 saw one member of the day's break survive by half a minute and take the stage win. Sean de Bie took 2nd place for us while I managed 5th on the uphill finish.
Sean de Bie, a Stage 2 favourite was dropped well before the line. It was a bad day for us, with only Nairo was unable to keep himself with the lead group. I too lost more than a minute at the finish. Despite this, I only dropped to 8th in the GC.
Stage 3 was mostly flat with another hilly finish. Lotto did a lot of chasing to catch the six man break. I was at the head of the pack on he last climb. de Bie got into a good position in the flat following the descent and won the stage. Nairo came in 7th, with me just a position behind. I held my GC position while Nairo moved up to 10th.
Stage 4 saw the break hold on till the fag end of the race. I attacked with 8 km to go, but lasted ahead of the peloton for just a kilometer. The break was finally caught with 3 km to go. The bunch sprint decided the finish.
Stage 5
Nairo was the top favourite for this stage. I was among the stage favourites too. The ten man break had a maximum of six minutes on the peloton. At the base of the fifth climb of the day, the peloton was down to around fifty riders. At the bottom of the sixth climb, the break was down to a single rider, with a two and a half minute lead, being chased by a forty rider peloton. With 6 km to go, the break was down to 30 and the break had a fifty second lead. The break was caught a kilometer later and Nairo attacked immediately, followed by two others. I was in the fourth group on the road with 1.5 km to go. I was tired by the finish, and managed 11th on the day. Nairo won the stage but could not overtake Pantano for the GC. I missed the top 10 of a stage race after a long time.
| 1 | Jarlinson Pantano | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | 18h26'15 | | 2 | Nairo Quintana | Lotto Soudal | + 1'15 | | 3 | Matvei Mamykin | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 4 | Alberto Contador | TEAM Cepsa | + 1'34 | | 5 | Jeffrey Perrin | Team Cannondale - Garmin | s.t. | | 6 | Carlos Verona | Team Sky | + 2'04 | | 7 | Tejay Van Garderen | Astana Pro Team | + 2'18 | | 8 | Hector Saez | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 9 | Tony Pozniak | Lotto Soudal | + 3'15 | | 10 | Tilegen Maidos | Astana Pro Team | s.t. |
Spoiler | 11 | Abhishek Sinha | Lotto Soudal | + 3'39 | | 12 | Jonathan Castroviejo | Team Sky | + 3'42 | | 13 | Vincenzo Nibali | Astana Pro Team | + 4'25 | | 14 | Nicolas Roche | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 4'50 | | 15 | Diego Rubio | TEAM Cepsa | + 6'09 | | 16 | Björn Thurau | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | + 6'17 | | 17 | Serghei Tvetcov | Liqui Moly | + 6'43 | | 18 | José Ramella | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 19 | Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev | Astana Pro Team | + 6'57 | | 20 | Christopher Juul-Jensen | Team Europcar | + 7'50 | | 21 | Francesco Bongiorno | Team Cannondale - Garmin | + 7'58 | | 22 | Peter Stetina | Team Cannondale - Garmin | s.t. | | 23 | Nick Van Der Lijke | Iberdrola | + 9'25 | | 24 | David De la Cruz | Team Sky | + 9'26 | | 25 | Ulf Hausweiler | Liqui Moly | + 9'38 | | 26 | Pim Ligthart | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | + 10'09 | | 27 | George Preidler | Iberdrola | s.t. | | 28 | Sean De Bie | Lotto Soudal | + 10'33 | | 29 | Vitaliy Buts | TEAM Cepsa | s.t. | | 30 | Alberto Gallego | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 10'43 | | 31 | Mathias Rask Jeppessen | Team Cannondale - Garmin | + 11'51 | | 32 | Óscar González | Iberdrola | + 12'24 | | 33 | Lukas Löer | Team Sky | + 13'24 | | 34 | Matteo Rabottini | Team Cannondale - Garmin | + 13'25 | | 35 | Romain Hardy | Team Europcar | + 14'28 | | 36 | Marc Garby | Kaiku | + 15'13 | | 37 | Brayan Ramírez | Burgos - BH | + 15'39 | | 38 | Oreste Scotta | Team Cannondale - Garmin | + 16'32 | | 39 | Mikel Bizkarra | TEAM Cepsa | + 16'49 | | 40 | Tobias Wauch | Liqui Moly | + 17'25 | | 41 | Eddie Dunbar | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | + 17'49 | | 42 | Lucian Oprea | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | s.t. | | 43 | Juan José Lobato | Team Katusha | + 18'36 | | 44 | Hamish Schreurs | Kaiku | + 18'44 | | 45 | Patrick Facchini | Team Cannondale - Garmin | + 19'11 | | 46 | Marco Haller | Liqui Moly | + 20'20 | | 47 | Federico Pozzetto | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 48 | Raymond Kreder | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 49 | Markus Freiberger | Liqui Moly | s.t. | | 50 | Alexandr Komin | Team Katusha | + 20'44 | | 51 | Boy Van Poppel | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | s.t. | | 52 | Stepan Astafyev | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | s.t. | | 53 | Garikoitz Bravo | Iberdrola | + 20'54 | | 54 | Antonio Molina | TEAM Cepsa | + 21'20 | | 55 | Giangesuino Ongaro | Team Europcar | + 21'21 | | 56 | Karel Hník | Liqui Moly | + 21'44 | | 57 | Juan Carlos Orueta Ibarrola | Iberdrola | + 22'12 | | 58 | Stéphane Poulhiès | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 59 | Malte Hoersen | Liqui Moly | + 22'47 | | 60 | Alexander Evtushenko | Team Katusha | + 23'01 | | 61 | Garry Atkins | Team Sky | + 23'11 | | 62 | Jonathan Dibben | Team Sky | + 23'17 | | 63 | Travis Mccabe | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | + 23'19 | | 64 | Jesús Ezquerra | Iberdrola | + 23'24 | | 65 | Jon Ander Insausti | Kaiku | + 23'35 | | 66 | Matteo Malucelli | Astana Pro Team | + 23'53 | | 67 | Sérgio Pardilla | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 24'05 | | 68 | Johannes Christofel Nel | Kaiku | + 24'20 | | 69 | Valerio Agnoli | Astana Pro Team | + 24'32 | | 70 | Araik Storozhuk | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 24'46 | | 71 | Leigh Howard | Lotto Soudal | + 25'00 | | 72 | Bert-Jan Lindeman | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | + 25'17 | | 73 | Elmar Reinders | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | + 25'19 | | 74 | Jarl Salomein | Lotto Soudal | + 25'23 | | 75 | Guiseppe Lottaroli | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 25'44 | | 76 | Oleg Savchenko | Astana Pro Team | + 26'03 | | 77 | Mikhail Akimov | Team Katusha | + 26'14 | | 78 | Ibai Salas | Burgos - BH | + 26'55 | | 79 | José Herrada | Iberdrola | + 27'24 | | 80 | Ben King | Team Cannondale - Garmin | + 27'39 | | 81 | Anton Vorobyev | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 27'53 | | 82 | Jens Geerinck | Lotto Soudal | + 28'05 | | 83 | Flavien Dassonville | Team Europcar | + 28'39 | | 84 | Jon Andoni Martínez Ruiz | Burgos - BH | + 28'51 | | 85 | Ximo Ela | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 29'15 | | 86 | Jasper Bovenhuis | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | + 30'04 | | 87 | Romain Combaud | Team Europcar | + 30'08 | | 88 | Miguel Huget | Burgos - BH | + 30'15 | | 89 | Luke Durbridge | Team Sky | + 30'21 | | 90 | Nino Honigh | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | + 30'37 | | 91 | Juan Manuel Puntas | Iberdrola | + 31'01 | | 92 | Egoitz García | Kaiku | + 31'02 | | 93 | Miguel Mínguez | Kaiku | + 31'26 | | 94 | Niels Goeree | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | + 32'25 | | 95 | Enaitz Abad | Kaiku | + 32'43 | | 96 | Matthieu Boulo | Burgos - BH | + 32'48 | | 97 | Luis Ángel Maté | Burgos - BH | + 35'06 | | 98 | Isidro Billabona | Burgos - BH | + 35'49 | | 99 | Dylan Van Zijl | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | + 36'25 | | 100 | Jon Aberasturi | Kaiku | + 37'17 | | 101 | Cees Bol | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | + 37'23 | | 102 | Andrés Vigil | Burgos - BH | + 38'48 | | 103 | Etienne Fabre | Team Europcar | + 40'31 | | 104 | Andrea Guardini | TEAM Cepsa | + 40'33 | | 105 | Miguel Angel Benito | TEAM Cepsa | + 41'45 | | 106 | Tim De Troyer | Lotto Soudal | + 42'00 | | 107 | Jonas Tenbrock | Liqui Moly | + 43'22 | | 108 | Ron Aalbers | Team Katusha | + 43'28 | | 109 | Benoit Dubrulle | Team Europcar | + 46'01 | | 110 | Julius van den Berg | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | + 46'39 | | 111 | Luis León Sánchez | TEAM Cepsa | + 56'37 |
| 1 | Jarlinson Pantano | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | 71 | | 2 | Sean De Bie | Lotto Soudal | 45 | | 3 | Anton Vorobyev | Tinkoff-Saxo | 44 | | 4 | Juan José Lobato | Team Katusha | 42 | | 5 | Nick Van Der Lijke | Iberdrola | 37 |
| 1 | José Ramella | Astana Pro Team | 55 | | 2 | Juan Carlos Orueta Ibarrola | Iberdrola | 54 | | 3 | Nairo Quintana | Lotto Soudal | 33 | | 4 | Jarlinson Pantano | Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton | 31 | | 5 | Jasper Bovenhuis | Team LottoNL - Jumbo | 24 |
Young Riders Classification
| 1 | Tony Pozniak | Lotto Soudal | 18h29'30 | | 2 | Abhishek Sinha | Lotto Soudal | + 24 | | 3 | Mathias Rask Jeppessen | Team Cannondale - Garmin | + 8'36 | | 4 | Lukas Löer | Team Sky | + 10'09 | | 9 | Oreste Scotta | Team Cannondale - Garmin | + 13'17 |
| 1 | Lotto Soudal | 55h26'54 | | 2 | Astana Pro Team | + 1'04 | | 3 | Team Sky | + 1'54 | | 4 | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 4'45 | | 5 | Team Cannondale - Garmin | + 7'23 |
Not the ideal preparation race for the Vuelta. I don't know what the team were thinking having me ride without support before my target race. I'll need to have a word with them soon. We definitely need to sort out some priorities.
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 02-08-2017 07:13
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Stupid management - showing of the big "gun" rather than looking at the longer perspective.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 02-08-2017 14:57
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Posts: 11684
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No kidding. And he's not even going to the Vuelta!
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 02-08-2017 15:10
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4191
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Maybe it's time to move out of Lotto... you have to find a team where you are the absolute leader for GC
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 04-08-2017 11:31
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Posts: 11684
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It's been a busy fortnight...
Date: 9th August, 2020. Sunday.
Time: 11 AM
The discussion with the team management got a little heated. I made my feelings known to them in no uncertain terms. I was right, Nairo had indeed asked to team ride in Burgos to test if he had the legs for the Vuelta. The team management had duly obliged. Bad news for me and the chance of a good preparation lost. I had time on my hands they said. Maybe you plan your star's season better I retorted. I left in a hurry before I said something I'd regret.
Date: 9th August, 2020. Sunday.
Time: 6 PM
"You busy, boss?" asked a voice I had grown so accustomed to hearing.
"Good news or bad?, I replied.
"Mostly good. You have five offers on the table. Are you interested?"
"Anything from Lotto?"
"Yes. They want to keep you. They're offering you the most."
I couldn't help but smile. So this is their way of appeasing me, I thought.
"You there boss?"
"What about the others?"
"MTN and Orica have offered you outright Grand Tour leadership. But they can't match what the others are offering."
"Who else?"
"Cepsa and Sky are offering you the chance to be their leader for one week races."
"I've told you Jan, no Grand Tour, no deal."
"I thought you'd say that. I've kept the best one for the end. Stella Artois are offering you the chance to lead in two GTs. You will have Dumoulin and Barguil as teammates, among others. You will be replacing Pinot who is moving to Tinkoff. I believe they hold you in high regard."
"I'm interested. Hold on to the Stella offer."
"For how long?"
"Till at least after the Vuelta"
"I'll do my best. Good day boss."
"I know you will. Bye Jan."
Date: 19th August, 2020. Wednesday.
Time: 4 PM
Team Presentation
Date: 19th August, 2020. Wednesday.
Time: 4:30 PM
"Hello boss."
"Jan, I'll sign with Stella tomorrow.
"If you're absolutely sure, I'll have everything ready tomorrow morning."
"Thank you Jan."
"Something new has popped up with Stella that I think you should know."
"What is it?"
"They'll have a new sponsor next year."
"I don't care Jan. As long as the management and the offer is the same."
"Sure boss."
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes you will. Bring a pen that works."
"Bye Jan."
Date: 21st August, 2020. Friday.
Sinha signs with Duvel
- A Marca Report
The team management of Stella Artois cycling team, who will be sponsored by Duvel next season, announced the signing of Indian cyclist Abhishek Sinha for the 2021 season in a press conference late last night. The timing of the announcement is extremely surprising given that we are on the eve of the Vuelta a Espana, where Sinha leads the Lotto Soudal team.
This announcement is sure to raise some eyebrows and we can only speculate as to what the situation is like in the Lotto team bus. There have been reports of a sponsor discontinuation for the team, and this latest development will surely not help them attract a new one.
Stella Artois, more famous in their previous avatar of Quick-Step, already have the likes of Dumoulin, Alaphilippe and Barguil in their ranks. They are losing Pinot to Tinkoff, and Sinha has been drafted in as a long term replacement. Unlike Lotto, they have already secured their future by signing on Duvel as their new sponsor for the 2021 season. The details and duration of the sponsorships is not yet known but should become clear in the coming days...
I made up my mind to leave Lotto when I saw our start-list for the Vuelta. Absolutely no support on the climbs. I didn't even want an explanation. This was the last straw. I will be riding for Stella Artois, sorry Duvel, next season and challenging for bigger and better things. That's the plan anyway...
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 04-08-2017 21:09
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Good news the time with lotto was clearly turning in a wrong direction.
Some good teammates on Quick Step (sorry) hope it will be a good time there.
Nb: just a one year ?
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 05-08-2017 03:29
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PCM$: 1861.50
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Yes, just a one year deal. In fact, all the offers that I received were one year deals. The teams probably want to test me out before they commit for the longer term. Understandable on their part I guess.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 05-08-2017 08:59
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11684
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
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It felt weird on the start line. The same riders I had got to know so well over the past two and a half years, now seemed to have become distant. I knew I had not helped their cause by making this announcement the day before. I clenched my teeth and carried on. I didn't have a lot I could say. Not that preparations left me with a lot of time for chit-chat. The DS called me over at the start of the day and made it clear that I'd be on my own. There would be no protection offered. This was literally going to be every man for himself for us. I shrugged and went away to get myself registered.
I didn't have high hopes for the TTT on Stage 1 and that expectation was met. We finished over a minute down on stage winners Tinkoff. Like in most GTs before this, I was playing catch up to my competitors.
Stage 2 was categorised as flat, but there were quite a few areas where the road rose and fell. A break of four was allowed to go away only after the first intermediate sprint. They built up a seven minute lead and for some time it looked like they might survive. After frantic chasing, the break was caught inside the last kilometer. The pace was extremely high in the last thirty kilometres. Four of my teammates could not stay with the peloton. I stayed safe as Geuens picked up the win.
Stage 3
The first differentiator did not disappoint. Having stayed with the pack. The first attacks were launched on the third climb. I could not follow and decided to go at my own pace instead. I lost a lot of time in the process, riding mostly alone. I managed 12th on the stage, but lost more than three minutes to stage winner Sergio Henao. I did move up to 13th in the GC.
Stage 4
Another tough stage in the first week. The break built up a lead of five minutes but did not survive till the end. This time, I did manage to follow the attack from the other riders. I tried to launch my own attacks a couple of times but could not get away. The reduced bunch finished together despite the steep gradients.
Stage 5 had peloton go over four uncategorised climbs. The pack split on the scond hill and then again on the third but none of the GC favourites were affected. I did a lot of work trying to get rid of some riders, but it did not work out. A bunch of around 50 riders reached the line together, where Demare sprinted to victory.
| 1 | Sérgio Henao | Orica-GreenEDGE | 15h48'18 | | 2 | Ilnur Zakarin | Swissair | + 44 | | 3 | Peter Sagan | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 49 | | 4 | Ion Izagirre | TEAM Cepsa | + 56 | | 5 | Daniel Martin | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 2'32 | | 6 | Arnaud Duteil | Team Giant-Alpecin | + 2'38 | | 7 | Cameron Meyer | Drapac Professional Cycling | + 5'48 | | 8 | Dayer Quintana | Colombia | + 5'51 | | 9 | Cyril Gautier | Team Europcar | + 5'53 | | 10 | Carlos Verona | Team Sky | + 6'14 | | ... | | 13 | Abhishek Sinha | Lotto Soudal | + 7'17 |
To be continued...
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| Ripley |
Posted on 05-08-2017 11:47
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3341
Joined: 25-11-2014
PCM$: 300.00
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Let's hope it was the right move, leader in two GTs is a lot of pressure. And you're already on the back foot again in the Vuelta, probably should have tried harder to stay with the top guys on stage 3. |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 05-08-2017 14:26
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11684
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
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@Ripley: I could see the situation in this race repeated again and again if I stayed at Lotto. The move allows me to experience something new. Their mountain support is definitely stronger. Their TT squad is stronger too. If it doesn't work out, it's just a year long deal, so I can look elsewhere again. Not ideal, but not much I can do!
Didn't have the legs on stage 3. Haven't peaked yet.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 06-08-2017 04:57
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11684
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
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Stage 6
The early break was caught at the base of the intermediate climb. At the top, the select group was down to forty. Ion Izagirre and Dan Martin attacked out of the group with me and Bongiorno following. We caught up with the others but I eventually dropped back to the chasing group. Martin won the stage ahead of Izagirre and Bongiorno. Sergio Henao gained a few seconds to the bigger group. I finished 8th on the day, losing 30 seconds. I gained two places in the GC.
Stage 7 was flat and won by Sagan. Theuns got 3rd place for us.
Stage 8
The break was caught before the category 2 climb but there were no attacks from anyone on the ascent. Three riders attacked on the descent but two were caught very soon. I could not stay with my rivals once again, losing three minutes to stage winner Zakarin. The Russian took the lead in the GC. Despite my losses, I moved up to 10th in the GC.
Stage 9 was a gradual downhill with a small climb just before the finish. A select group of 20 riders reached the finish together with Sergio Henao taking the sprint victory. No time gaps were recorded at the top.
Stage 10 was another flat stage. The early break consisted of 26 riders, which soon came down to 19. With 90 km to go, the break was just a single riders. Dan Martin fell with around 50 km to go and lost three minutes to the peloton. He managed to recover with the help of a couple of teammates. The break was caught with 15 km to go. Danny Van Poppel won the sprint. Theuns finished 7th for us.
Stage 11
The ITT was a chance for me to get back some time to those around me. The course was favourable and I wanted to take full advantage. I crossed the first intermediate 13 seconds down on the best time. In the seconds time check, I was in the lead. At the finish, I was two second shy of Moser's best time! Zakarin, the last starter, blitzed the field, consolidating his lead in the GC. Ion Izagirre finished with the same time as Moser, which meant I finished 4th on the stage.
| 1 | Ilnur Zakarin | Swissair | 36h19'49 | | 2 | Ion Izagirre | TEAM Cepsa | + 2'08 | | 3 | Sérgio Henao | Orica-GreenEDGE | + 4'18 | | 4 | Peter Sagan | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 7'57 | | 5 | Daniel Martin | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 9'23 | | 6 | Arnaud Duteil | Team Giant-Alpecin | + 11'16 | | 7 | Abhishek Sinha | Lotto Soudal | + 11'20 | | 8 | Rafał Majka | TEAM Cepsa | + 11'42 | | 9 | Cyril Gautier | Team Europcar | + 11'43 | | 10 | Dayer Quintana | Colombia | + 12'31 |
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 07-08-2017 08:56
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Team Leader
Posts: 7406
Joined: 14-07-2015
PCM$: 599.00
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Fine comeback at the hilly ITT, a GC top 5 could be possible if all turns out right.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 07-08-2017 12:51
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11684
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
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Top 5 definitely within reach now
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 07-08-2017 16:39
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11684
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
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I write this report from the second rest day of the Vuelta.
I felt the effects of my effort in the ITT on Stage 12. The early break was caught with 20 km left. The pace picked up and I couldn't handle it. I gradually got distanced from the pack and lost just over a minute to stage winner Vuillermoz.
Stage 13 was flat. The early break consisted of of five riders. Four of them were caught 2 km from the line but Adriano Malori survived to take the stage win.
Stage 14
Four climbs and the MTF awaited us on this stage. The early breaks were briyght back each time. A strong break of seven, including Oomen and Rolland, were allowed to get away after the first climb. We lost a teammate with Roelandts abandoning after a fall on the second climb. The peloton was down to around ninety on the fourth climb. The big casualty of the day was Sergio Henao who was dropped on this climb and didn't recover. Dayer Quintana made the first attack but was quickly brought back by the good work of Leigh Howard. I missed the decisive attack of the GC leaders but chased at my own pace. Sagan and Dan Martin were distanced early on the climb to the finish. I started making up the places and caught back to everyone in GC contention barring Zakarin, Vuillermoz and Sepulveda. I ended up 7th on the day, with Penven winning from the break. I moved up to 5th in the GC.
Stage 15
de Gendt joined the strong nine man break. Two more riders joined up with the break before the first climb. The peloton was down to less a hundred riders on the first category climb. de Gendt and a couple more from the break fell back to the pack with 20 km to go, before the climb to the finish started. Once again, I held my steady pace as the attacks started. For some time, I lost my bearings as to who was going forwards and who backwards and just kept pedalling at a high gear. I kept jumping from wheel to wheel, barely looking up to see who I was following. I made my way back to within two minutes of the stage winner, Mads Theodorson, once again from the day's break. Zakarin clocked the same time, two minutes ahead of me. When I looked at the timing screens a couple of minutes after finishing, I was shocked to see I had moved up to 3rd in the GC. All those wheels I had been traversing had been of my rivals, struggling a whole lot more than I was!
| 1 | Ilnur Zakarin | Swissair | 53h10'35 | | 2 | Ion Izagirre | TEAM Cepsa | + 7'21 | | 3 | Abhishek Sinha | Lotto Soudal | + 15'32 | | 4 | Alexis Vuillermoz | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 15'37 | | 5 | Peter Sagan | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 16'37 | | 6 | Daniel Martin | Tinkoff-Saxo | + 17'16 | | 7 | Eduardo Sepulveda | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 8 | Dayer Quintana | Colombia | + 17'41 | | 9 | Rafał Majka | TEAM Cepsa | + 18'07 | | 10 | Arnaud Duteil | Team Giant-Alpecin | + 19'11 |
I am now within sniffing distance of my first podium. The last week of racing remains.
To be continued...
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