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No Way Back | Finished
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 31-10-2017 01:20
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Danilith - Nokere Koerse
Voices from the Peleton
I spend the entire day in the break, it goes all the way, and im spent before the sprint. I seriously need to work on my endurance.
| 7 | Michael Hendrickx | AGO - Aqua Service | s.t. |
I felt great the entire day, and i get taken out on the last lap. Rain, cobbles and Belgium in March. Not a great combo for me. Shivers went down my back as i hit the ground, reminding me of 2015.
| 105 | Theo von Maes | AGO - Aqua Service | + 4'04 |
Edited by hillis91 on 31-10-2017 01:26
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 31-10-2017 01:47
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Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux - Stage 1
Voices from the u23 Peleton
What was supposed to be a leadout for Theo ended up in a late solo attack from the front. If the race only was 50 meters shorter, i would have won my first race as a pro. All be it, a u23 race, but still. So close!
Finally got coach on the phone last night, got some great pointers. It allways helps doing buisness with him.
| 2 | Michael Hendrickx | AGO - Aqua Service | s.t. |
The start of the u23 season and we were on today. We allmost got ourself the victory on the first stage, which would have resulted in us riding in the yellow jersey. Our timing was off as Michael went of the front late. Im not mad, he has been in a mood ever since the doping speculations surrounding coach.
I have to be keep Michael happy, so i need to talk to coach, to get him to make him focus more during the leadouts. He is the only one who can break through to him. And it sure does not help with all the other teams refusing to even talk to us. It's hard.
| 4 | Theo von Maes | AGO - Aqua Service | s.t. |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 31-10-2017 12:01
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Team Leader
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Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux - Stage 2
Voices from the u23 Peleton
Riding rear gunner in the leadout for Theo, not my favorite thing in the world, but i got to pay my dues i guess. I tried getting away early in the race, but after yesterday nobody wanted to let me go.
| 18 | Michael Hendrickx | AGO - Aqua Service | s.t. |
Yihaaaa! My first win as a pro! Although it's in the u23 series, im still buzzing hard right now. A great leadout by the team today delivered me perfectly. Michael rode rear gunner, and it worked great. I need to call coach more often.
| 1 | Theo von Maes | AGO - Aqua Service | 3h02'34 |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 31-10-2017 12:19
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Team Leader
Posts: 5895
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Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux - Stage 3
Voices of the u23 Peleton
Riding to defend Theo's leader jersey today. It was great to show up all the others after their silent treatment the last days. Rode as the main leadout for Theo in the sprint, got myself a top 10 in the process.
| 8 | Michael Hendrickx | AGO - Aqua Service | s.t. |
When it rains it pours! Two in a row baby! The team rode perfectly the entire day. We never let the breakaway get more then two mintues, then reeled them back in just in time for our leadout to take control. Michael delivered me in a great position, and i finished it off.
| 1 | Theo von Maes | AGO - Aqua Service | 3h31'04 |
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| dominox |
Posted on 31-10-2017 12:28
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Wow, great start for the youngsters! Those boys are going wild. |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 31-10-2017 12:34
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Great coaching does great things to a young cyclist 
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| Ad Bot |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 31-10-2017 12:40
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Team Leader
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Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux - Stage 4
Voices of the u23 Peleton
The same as yesterday, working to keep our lead with Theo. Being the last stage and the last chance to make something happen, the entire team was on high alert. We kept together in front, and made sure we kept Theo safe. Rode rear gunner again today in the leadout. It's ok i guess.
| 25 | Michael Hendrickx | AGO - Aqua Service | s.t. |
Another podium and the overall win. What a great couple of days for me and the team. Michael won't look me in the eyes, but im chalking that up to the whole coach situation. We are on to bigger and better things now. This u23 series is great for my confidence.
| 3 | Theo von Maes | AGO - Aqua Service | s.t. |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 31-10-2017 15:14
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They Are Merely Revealed
Michael took a deep breath and opend the door. He walked through and caught the eyes of the receptionist sitting at the desk. She gave him a smile as she brushed her hair to the side.
"Michael Hendrickx right?"
Michael nodded as he swung his arms a bit, clapping one time as his arms met.
"Just wait right there, i'll bring someone to show you around"
The receptionist pointed to a couch.
Minutes had gone by, and Michael was left alone in the studio. He had been forced to put some makeup on, for the screen they said. The room was dark, and there was only two chairs with two bright lights over both of them. Michael thought about just leaving, but he couldn't, he had to do this.
"...So Michael... Take me back to the night it all changed for you"
The reporter crossed his legs, and put his head between his hands which he just had put together.
Michael took a deep breath as he felt tears allready pushing from the back of his eyes.
"Well... Ok..."
Edited by hillis91 on 03-11-2017 00:54
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 31-10-2017 22:11
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Team Leader
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"It was back in 2011, late November to be more exact. I had just came back from a late night run when i was met by my grandfather at the front door."
Michael took a sip of water, and coughed into his fist. Starting to feel the tears pushing behind his eyes.
"And.. Ehm.."
He had to take another sip of water.
The reporter did what the media allways does, and tried his best to milk the situation by leaving him out to dry alone. Not cutting in.
"He told me that my brother had been in an accident."
Michael stopped for a bit, he struggled to keep his tears back.
"Your brother, Alexandre Hendrickx, who was hit by a car that night?"
The reporter said it with a low voice, trying to push Michael to start talking again.
"Yes. He had been out with his team to celebrate their season. And a drunk driver struck him when he crossed the road. He ended up in a coma, for about four months.... Before they had to pull the plug."
Michael blurted it out quickly. It felt wierd to say out loud. He could not keep the tears back this time, and he felt it comming out his eyes even though he did his best to keep it back. Hulking a bit in the process.
"And... I was in a deep depression for months... My brother, who was and still is, my hero was now gone. I stopped riding my bike. I stopped hangning out with friends. I stopped doing anything. I was in a dark place."
Michael took another sip of his water, starting to regain his composure.
"I remember my father allmost draging me along to watch Tom Boonen win Paris-Roubaix one weekend, and when we got home a couple of days later. Coach Goossens was waiting outside our house."
The reporter perked up and interrupted him.
"Coach Hugo Goossens, the doping doctor?"
Michael shook his head
"No, Coach Hugo Goossens, the man who saved my life."
The reporter felt his anger, he was hesitent but still went for it.
"He does have a history of doping his riders?"
Michael countered quickly.
"That is all lies and you damn well know it! He coached my brother, my dead brother, and then me. If it wasn't for him, i would most likely not be sitting across from you right now. Im done!"
Michael walked fast, he was heading for the front door, he threw his microphone to the ground as he moved towards the door.
"Michael, hold up!"
The reporter was chasing him down.
"You can't just run away from a live interview!"
He was shouting after Michael, but he did not care. He had enough.
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 31-10-2017 22:25
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Team Leader
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Joined: 30-11-2006
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It was dark outside, and Hugo was in his favorite chair with his favorite beverage. The snow had finally left his backyard, and he could soon start to enjoy his flowers. His cottage was his escape from it all. Him and his wife bought it back in 2003 and kept it throughout the years. He planted the flowers in 2012, and they represent hope and second chances. It was a dark period in his life, being banned from working with his lifes work. He had been doing some minor coaching under the radar, because he simply could not keep away. It felt dirty and wrong, but he simply could not keep away. It was not like he sought it out. It started as a thank you to the von Maes family and then a phonecall from the Hendrickx. One client turned into two. He felt he couldn't turn any of them down, considering the cirumstances. Training with Michael helped him a lot, with both using cycling as an escape from the death of Michaels brother, Alexandre.
"Honey! Come quick. Michael is on television!"
Hugo jumped up and started running downstaris, he stumpted his foot on the way down.
"Got damn it. Remind me why we didn't buy a cottage that only has one floor?"
He turned the corner and saw his wife looking stunned at the television.
"Wow. Can you belive this?"
She turned to Hugo with a shocked look on her face.
"Do you think he will tell it all?"
Hugo shook his head calmly.
"No, i highly doubt it."
Edited by hillis91 on 01-11-2017 00:10
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 01-11-2017 00:56
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Team Leader
Posts: 5895
Joined: 30-11-2006
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Liège - Bastogne - Liège U23
Voices from the u23 Peleton
I remember as a kid, when we traveled to watch the Liege - Bastogne - Liege, i allways wondered how it was like to attack up Côte de Saint-Nicolas. And i did not need a second invitation to try. I felt great the entire day, and instead of waiting for anybody else, i made the move.
Me and two others, made a trio over the top of Côte de Saint-Nicolas, and i trust my finish. And guess what?
I WON!
| 1 | Theo von Maes | AGO - Aqua Service | 4h31'48 | | 2 | Pavel Sivakov | BMC Development Team | s.t. | | 3 | Scott Davies | Team Wiggins | s.t. |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 01-11-2017 13:33
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Paris - Roubaix Espoirs
Voices from the u23 Peleton
The one day in the calendar that is important to me, the Paris - Roubaix. To me, the most important day of cycling. Now, this is the Espoirs version, but to me, this is just like the real thing. I've been in my own head to much lately, dealing with the respons from my television apperence. However, when the race hit the serious cobble parts - i went for it!
This sums up my cycling life. Podium. Just barely not enough. Third.
| 1 | Nils Eekhof | Development Team Sunweb | 4h39'01 | | 2 | Kristoffer Halvorsen | Joker - Icopal | s.t. | | 3 | Michael Hendrickx | AGO - Aqua Service | s.t. |
It was a beutiful day, sunshine and great tempratures. The scene was set for us to be great. For the first time in my profesional career, i had to work for somebody else. Michael delivered us a podium. We can call this day a success.
| 16 | Theo von Maes | AGO - Aqua Service | + 3'08 |
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| dominox |
Posted on 01-11-2017 16:12
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Wow, win in Liege-Bastogne-Liege U23 and 3rd place in Roubaix U23. Those are definitely great talents! |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 01-11-2017 19:22
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Team Leader
Posts: 5895
Joined: 30-11-2006
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Performing on a high level for sure 
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 01-11-2017 23:49
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Team Leader
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Championnats de Belgique ITT
Voices from the Peleton
A great day for me to improve my PR on the time trail bike. And an added bonus is that i was only 39 seconds behind the winner Victor Campenaerts.
| 12 | Michael Hendrickx | AGO - Aqua Service | + 39' |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 02-11-2017 00:10
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Team Leader
Posts: 5895
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Championnats de Belgique
Voices from the Peleton
My objective today was to work for the team, and by team i mean, Theo. I did my part in the beginning by making sure we got our man into the breakaway, which we managed. With five laps remaning, i could not keep up anymore. I had to let the peleton go.
| 48 | Michael Hendrickx | AGO - Aqua Service | + 6'15 |
One of my main goals of the season, Nationals. The first two parts of the race we played out perfectly. We got a man in the break, and the team kept me at the front and out of trouble. I even saw my family during one of the laps, that was awesome. With two laps to go, i simply could not keep up with the best. It was sort of a pleasure to hear that Philippe Gilbert inched out Greg Van Avermaet and Pieter Vanspeybrouck in the sprint.
| 29 | Theo von Maes | AGO - Aqua Service | + 4'43 |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 03-11-2017 01:12
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Team Leader
Posts: 5895
Joined: 30-11-2006
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When Nothing Is Going Right
A month had gone by since nationals, and Michael had almost not touched his bike once. Weight lifting and running was his escape as he had no obligations to team before august. The feeling of darkness and hoplesness kept creeping back as the memories of 2011 and 2012 became more and more regular. The mornings and late nights were the worst, as he spent that time of the day alone. Pictures of his brother was all around his room, and with the tattoo "Never Forgotten" on his left chest muscle, ment that he was allways with him. His own personal motivator. It was allways like this at this time of the year, Alexandre's birthday was in a couple of days. Aswell as his date of death. He was the primary reason for Michaels drive when it came to cycling. He did it in his brothers honour. He even tried to ride the way his brother did, hard and unforgiving. Until now it had given him great success, a top 15 in the individual time trail at nationals and three cycling lengths short off winning the Paris - Roubaix u23.
The interview seemed like a great idea at the time. Speaking out in defence of coach is something he would always do, no mather what. The backlash from it however, was not great. People he thought had become his friends, was not talkning to him. Even his childhood friends had turned their back on him. For some reason everybody now thought he was on drugs. His recent succsess came as a suprise to some people. They don't see all the hard work behind it, that was all Michael could say to himself whenever he heard the rumours.
Days had turned into nights, and nights into days. The only real escape he now had was the suffering he got from working out. What should have been an hour of running often turned into four. He often wondered if he should pick up the phone and call somebody, but it stopped with the thought of it.
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 03-11-2017 01:44
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Team Leader
Posts: 5895
Joined: 30-11-2006
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Over thirty hours of training every week, Theo was motivated after being dropped so close to the finish. The amount of training was exhausting, but september was going to be his month. He had been working extra hard on his sprint and acceleration. The amount of wattage he now could produce, was ridiculous. With several victories already under his belt, he was even more hungry now. If he could only improve a little bit, he would dominate in every terrain for the remainder of the season.
His father, who was a tough man to impress, had given him a brand new apartment in Chelsea. Chelsea, London. His father had never said he was proud or impressed, but a new appartment in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Europe had to be a sign. A sign of approvement. Atleast for Theo, he was over the moon. The only thing that concerned him was the fact that Michael had yet to call him. After his mood swings during nationals, Theo could not muster up the courage to make the call. He felt like Michael was angry with him. Michael had to work for him the entire season, and the lack of opportunities probably had built some resentment. In the past, theese things had blown over, so Theo figured it would this time aswell. As long as it all was worked out before september.
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 05-11-2017 02:36
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Team Leader
Posts: 5895
Joined: 30-11-2006
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Olympia's Tour - Stage 1
Voices from the u23 Peleton
Some time off was right for me, i mean, im flying out here. Me and my TT bike is a match made in heaven.
| 2 | Michael Hendrickx | AGO - Aqua Service | + 1 |
Im still a bit tired after a hard training period. Im still in the hunt. And let me tell you - what an honor to start last as the leader of the u23 Tour.
| 14 | Theo von Maes | AGO - Aqua Service | + 7 |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 08-11-2017 01:42
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Team Leader
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Olympia's Tour - Stage 2
Voices from the u23 Peleton
A hard day in the saddle, chasing the breakaway. We allmost caught them. Atleast our leadout was on point. Theo was amazing in the sprint.
| 23 | Michael Hendrickx | AGO - Aqua Service | s.t. |
We were unable to catch the break. Sucks. I had great legs. It really sucks that we caught them right before the line, and i barely got a top ten.
| 9 | Theo von Maes | AGO - Aqua Service | s.t. |
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