Hotel Gran Vía, Maracaibo, Venezuela
Sunday 5.7.2020
Vuelta Ciclista a Venezuela stage 1: Maracaibo – Maracaibo 91.9 km
The weak breakaway with two riders was caught very early, from about 15 km Coloquick set up their train right behind the two Team Lotto - Kern Haus riders pulling the pack forward.
700 meters left and Nicolai Brøchner fastest coming out of the last corner, but the timing is not 100% perfect and he loses a little momentum in the end, overtaken by Johan Colon from Equipe Continental Orgullo Paisa on the last 100 meters, never the less 2nd on the first day is a good result.
Hotel Country Express, Valera, Venezuela
Monday 6.7.2020
Vuelta Ciclista a Venezuela stage 2: Cabimas – Valera 188.6 km
We do not get the usual morning breakaway. Several km after the intermediate sprint, halfway trough the stage, we get the first breakaway staying away for a longer period and even this trio never get a minute.
The pack reach the first KoM united, with less than 40 km left. Adne Van Engelen from Bike Aid take the 6 points.
Nicolai Brøchner takes a single point at 2nd intermediate sprint, and also attempts a late attack, tempted by the possibility to take the race lead, but the competition is hard and he probably also used too much energy too early on a stage where the profile was quite good for him.
Joshua Huppertz from Team Lotto - Kern Haus takes the stage win.
Nicolai Brøchner 9th and all the important coloquick riders with the same time as the winner.
Blue Loft Hotel, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Tuesday 7.7.2020
Vuelta Ciclista a Venezuela stage 3: Monay – Barquisimieto 184.4 km
The third day with close to 40 °C is beginning to set a mark on the riders, also some of the Coloquick riders, today especially Oliver Wulff Frederiksen and Frederik Wandahl struggling with the extreme heat. Just as yesterday we don’t see anyone able to establish a breakaway, and despite his difficulties with the temperatures Frederik gets 6 points on the cat.2 climb.
After the KoM we finally get a breakaway able to get some distance to the pack, three riders, strongest Colpack Ballan’s puncher Andrea Piccolo.
It comes to the mass sprint that this kind of profile would suggest, Nicolai Brøchner in a fine position under the red kite but gets a bit blocked sitting too close to the left side banner.
The stage was won by Theodore Yates from Memil - CCN Pro Cycling. Team ColoQuick’s best Nicolai Brøchner 6th, all Coloquick riders in same time as the winner.
Hotel Italia, Guanare, Venezuela
Wednesday 8.7.2020
Vuelta Ciclista a Venezuela stage 4: Quibor – Guanare 219.8 km
A long stage, luckily it is not as hot as yesterday.
Again it is difficult to establish the morning breakaway, but when Suleiman Kangangi from Bike Aid opens the first substantial gap after some 45 km, the peloton start to slow down and we get a 4 rider break.
The breakaway gets close to 4 minutes, but again the breakaway is caught in time for the sprint trains to form.
Coloquick launches Nicolai Brøchner earlier than yester to avoid getting blocked again, and this time he gets a nice gap with 500 meters to go, but it turns out to be a tad too early and he was overtaken basically at the line.
The stage was won by Jérôme Baugnies from Canyon - dhb p/b Soreen, Nicolai Brøchner comes 3rd. Noah having no duties in the train, besides not getting dropped, got a fine result for himself finishing 6th.
So close for Nicolai on several occasions. Should've won a stage already but didn't work out unfortunately. Nevertheless good results so far, curious to see what the team can do during the remaining three stages.
@MrUfo87 - thanks and here we go with the last part of the race:
Venezuela 2/2
Hotel Italia, Guanare, Venezuela
Thursday 9.7.2020
Vuelta Ciclista a Venezuela
Stage 5: Carretera Nacional – Guanare ITT 36.3 km
William Blume Levy ColoQuick’s first rider on the route. William having great legs today comes in provisional 2nd, 1’06 behind current stage leader Andrea Piccolo from Team Colpack Ballan.
Oliver Wulff Frederiksen lost 2’43” to Andrea Piccolo
Anthon Charmig, 3’01 behind Piccolo
Frederik Wandahl, lost 2’48” to Piccolo.
Rasmus Lund Pedersen with another good time for the team, provisional 5th losing 1’19 to Piccolo who is still leading the stage. William Blume is now provisional 3rd.
We get two new best time, John Archibald from Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling cutting 1’17” of Piccolo’s time. Soon after Daan Hoole from SEG Racing Academy 2nd just 2” slower.
Noah Takaima has quite bad legs and it shows in this time, provisional 30th 3’53” behind Archibald, Nicolai Brøchner even worse with the team’s worst time provisional 70th 4’38” behind Archibald.
The stage was won by John Archibald who also take the race lead, ColoQuick’s best William Blume ended 8th at 2'23”. Best on GC is now Rasmus Lund Pedersen 7th at 2’36”.
Nicolai Brøchner on the route, having a very bad day in the saddle
Hotel La Casona, Nirgua, Venezuela
Friday 10.7.2020
Vuelta Ciclista a Venezuela stage 6: Ospino - San Vicente 214.2 km
Temperatures at 35°C, going to be a very hot stage, this is clearly the hardest stage of the race, with its 214.2 km and the last 40 km mainly uphill. Six riders take off to form the breakaway, none of them climbers in any respect and are caught at the early part of the mountain with some 40 km left.
The first serious selection happens a few km after the category 2. with some 10 km left, about 40 riders make it into the favorite group. ColoQuick with Nicolai Brøchner, Noah Takaima and Rasmus Lund Pedersen, the latter having a more protected role today as best rider in GC.
3.2 km to the top, we see that looks like the decisive move from Thymen Arensman, SEG Racing Academy, Noah attempts to follow the move but haven’t got the kick to keep up.
Thymen Arensman win the stage in from of Mekseb Debesay from Bike Aid. Arensman takes the race lead.
Noah comes in 10th at 2’28, a nice result with this startlist. Rasmus Lund Pedersen with surprisingly strong 18th at 2’47”, still team best in GC as 11th.
Hotel Suite Caribe, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela
Saturday 11.7.2020
Vuelta Ciclista a Venezuela stage 7: Nirgua – Moron 142.8 km
It is very hot today 39°C sunny and absolutely no wind.
Noah attempts an early attack, taking the KoM but was not allowed to stay away for long.
After Noah was caught a counter attack from Edison Munoz, Equipe Continental Orgullo Paisa develop into a three riders breakaway, they get almost 6 minutes and for a while it loos like they might take the stage but when the sprinter teams, Coloquick included, up the pace with some 60 km left, the distance melt away rapidly.
It comes to a mass sprint, again Coloquick comes forward a bit late and Nicolai Brøchner was caught in the traffic, anyway he was fast and finish fifth.
The stage was won by Joshua Huppertz from Team Lotto - Kern Haus, Noah notice the good result from what may become his teammate, Joshua also with a 5th position in the GC.
Thymen Arensman, SEG Racing Academy won the GC, Coloquick’s best Rasmus Lund Pedersen 11th.
ITT and mountain stage were tough and unfortunately once again struggles with the mass sprint. Nevertheless good results, looking forward to the next race.
valverde321 wrote:
Havent been able to catch a voting period recently, but atleast some decent results still, and not bad earnings wise either.
Thanks, and sorry for not waiting very long with the votes, but as they are quite frequent, I am afraid to slow down the story too much.
No worries, makes no sense to halt the voting period for multiple days just to get an extra vote or two. Im usually not as active on weekends so no way to really avoid it.
Hotel Paraiso, Oliveira do Bairro, Portugal
Thursday 16.7.2020
Volta a Portugal do Futuro (2.2U)
stage 1: Águeda - Oliveira do Bairro 176.0 km
Coloquick aiming to make an impact on the race, attacks right from the beginning of the stage, with first Frederik Wandahl then Noah Takaima and then Frederik Wandahl again, but the pack is fast and all attempts over the first 27 km are reeled back in, until Sven Zurawski from Lotto - Kern Haus slips away.
Coloquicks Rasmus Lund Pedersen counters, capture and later drop Zurawski, making an impressive solo ride today, taking the KoM and the intermediate sprint, before he was finally reeled in, with just 13 km left.
Rasmus Lund Pedersen and Sven Zurawski
It has started to rain.
Coloquick set the train: William Blume Levy to deliver the train at 6 km, Frederik Wandahl delivering the sprinter at the 3 km, and then Sebastian Kolze Changizi opening for Oliver Wulff Frederiksen.
The setup work well and Oliver Wulff Frederiksen first with 500 meters left, but caught on the line by ACA Pro Racing’s fast young talent Taj Jones who wins the stage.
Oliver Wulff Frederiksen came 2nd, a perfect result with many faster riders behind him.
Noah Takaima not a part of the train also did very well as 6th. Sebastian Kolze Changizi 7th.
Hotel São Pedro, Arouca, Portugal
Friday 17.7.2020
Volta a Portugal do Futuro (2.2U)
stage 2: Santa Maria da Feira – Arouca 137.3 km
KoM leader Rasmus Lund Pedersen was off course allowed to attack in the defense of the jersey. He quickly opens about a minute on the pack, with a few other riders attempting to bridge the gap.
3 riders join Rasmus. He comes 2nd at the first KoM but with very good legs he drains the others, winning the next two KoM’s with a margin. After the third KoM Rasmus leads the competition with 10 points. The breakaway was over with 19 km left and prior to the last KoM.
Rasmus Lund Pedersen winning the 2nd KoM on today’s route
The peloton do not split over the late hill and it develop into a mass sprint finish, the weaker sprinters though marked from the fast pace uphill.
Coloquick set up a train intending for William Blume Levy to deliver the train at the 5 km mark, then for Noah Takaima to open the sprint as late as possible for both Frederik Wandahl and Oliver Wulff Frederiksen to get a shot at the finish line. Sebastian Kolze Changizi in a free role having his own shot at a good result.
Frederik Wandahl and Oliver Wulff Frederiksen approaching the line side by side, but the are not alone, coming fast from behind Development Team Sunweb’s Niklas Märkl, it is a photo finish…
For the 2nd day in a row Coloquick loses at the line and Niklas Märkl wins the stage.
Never the less a brilliant day for Coloquick, extending the KoM lead and four riders in top ten. Frederik Wandahl 2nd, Oliver Wulff Frederiksen 3rd, Sebastian Kolze Changizi 4th and Noah Takaima 6th.
Casa Avó Chiquinha, Montalegre, Portugal
Saturday 18.7.2020
Volta a Portugal do Futuro (2.2U)
stage 3: Castelo de Paiva - Montalegre 151.5 km
Again, KoM leader leader Rasmus Lund Pedersen accelerating to defend his KoM jersey, and he does become part of todays 7 riders breakaway, but with the very different profile the breakaway consists of much stronger riders than Rasmus. Anyway the breakaway was caught long before we get to the first KoM. Yevgeniy Fedorov from Vino - Astana Motors takes the first KoM with a late attack from the pack. Also the 2nd KoM was won by attack for the favorite group this time Marius Mayrhofer from Development Team Sunweb
Over the top of the climbs the favorites group was reduced dramatically. Every Coloquick rider dropped after the 2nd cat.1, but on the downhill the escapees was not able to work together and three of Coloquick riders rejoined after some good teamwork, all in all 13 riders in the favorite group, with Noah, Aksel and Oliver, all hurt by the fast pacing and gruesome weather but at least back in the race.
Mayrhofer attacks basically from the foot of the final climb, soon another 5 riders have left the original favorite group behind. The group with the three Coloquick riders up the pace as much as possible and with some 3 km to the top Noah slowly dropped all the other riders now only having 4 riders in front of him.
Top favorite Mayrhofer wins the stage with 1’41” down to Alexandre Balmer from Groupama - FDJ Continental Team. Mayrhofer also new GC leader.
Noah Takaima did come closer but could not catch anyone in front of him, coming in 5th at 2’48, with this also 5th in GC.
With no KoM points today Rasmus Lund Pedersen lost the jersey to the race leader. Now 4th on the KoM leaderboard. Coming in 9th today Oliver Wulff Frederiksen took enough points to take the Green Jersey.
Noah reach the mountain finish, in pouring rain
Hotel Premium Porto Maia, Maia , Portugal
Sunday 19.7.2020
Volta a Portugal do Futuro (2.2U)
stage 4: Montalegre – Maia 195.7 km
The morning breakaway three riders, none of them very strong rouleurs and all more than 10 minutes behind in the GC. Coloquick decides not to help in the pack, as they are ok with the possibility of a breakaway win. Anyway others do the job and they are brought back with about 14 km left.
The breakaway with 25 km left, at this point they are within sight of the pack
The stage finish with a rather steep uphill sprint, Coloquick’s top puncher Frederik Wandahl has diamond legs today leading the Coloquick train up the hill, practically dropping the entire pack behind the train.
Noah’s job is just to get to the line in one piece and he has taken the wheel of top sprinter Oliver Wulff Frederiksen, almost accidently he outsprints his teammate in last second and takes an unlikely stage win. The icing on the cake and also his retrospective alibi will be than the bonus seconds make him overtake Maxim Van Gils from Lotto U23 in the GC, moving up to 4th.
Coloquick took a one two three four, Noah, Oliver, Frederik, Sebastian.
Marius Mayrhofer, Development Team Sunweb, won the GC and the KoM
Oliver Wulff Frederiksen, took the points classification and came 9th in GC
Team ColoQuick won the team classification, a great race for the team.
@Croatia14/Ripley/MrUfo87
Thanks a lot, was great to see Frederik killing the pack on that Hill and for some reason Noah had a bit more red bar than everyone else.
How come the prize money is € 0
No prize money in U23 races, just the bonus from OK Benzin.
After a few day off following Portugal and a longer period without racing, training his abilities to become a technical rider, learning to keep up high watt’s on difficult surfaces, Noah have been called to the manager’s office.
Christian Andersen: Hi Noah, come in and sit down. As you have clearly fulfilled my expectations, I have after long consideration decided that you will be allowed in our main objective of the season. Post Danmark Rundt or as they like us to say now PostNord Danmark Rundt.
You will have a domestic role, as you are not expected to be the strong on these kinds of profiles. I think it will be good for you to get a taste of pace we will see from the high-level riders, we expect to face here. If you should have perfect form maybe you can attack for the KoM, but only if it won’t jeopardize team interest.
The importance of Danmark Rundt will be shown in the nice bonuses from Coloquick
We got a one-day race later in August but you will not be on the startlist.
Noah comes into the office: Hi boss, just want to say I’m about to leave now, will stay with my mother for the two days we race on Sjælland.
Christian Andersen: Ok I thought so, but can you wait a few minutes?
Noah looks at the mobile to check the clock: …yes sure.
Christian Andersen: Transfers have officially started and I have got all the offers for you, everything negotiated, we can’t get anything better than this, I think.
There is also the option that you want to stay with us. Honestly I think you are better than you think, and I hope for you to get abroad to develop your technical skills, but if you want to stay off course you can, but the financial situation is not too good, we may face a situation where we might lose important riders, just so you know.
Anyway take these papers and let me know at the end of the month, what you think.
Beat Club Rotterdam, Netherlands
Salery: 2500 €: Rent – 500 € = Monthly Income 2000 €
Sign on bonus: 2 Year Contract: 16.000 €, 3 Year Contract: 25.400 €,
Fine: 550 € / month + 2.5 % of new sign on bonus
Winnings Riders share 6 %
Skill effect: +1 COB - +1 FLA
(3rd round transfers to decide contract length)
Lotto–Kern Haus , Weitersburg Germany
Salary: 2500 €: Rent: - 400 € = Monthly Income 2100 €
Sign on bonus: 2 Year Contract: 12.000 €, 3 Year Contract: 23.100 €.
Fine: 450 € / month + 2 % of new sign on bonus
Winnings Riders share 5 %
Skill effect: +1 COB - +1 ACC
(3rd round transfers to decide contract length)
Felbermayr–Simplon Wels Wels, Austria
Salary: 2500 €: Rent: - 650 € = Monthly Income 1850 €
Sign in bonus: 1 Year Contract: 8900 €, 2 Year Contract: 18.600 €.
Fine: 700 € / month + 1.5 % of new sing on bonus
Winnings Riders share 4.5 %
Skill effect: +1 COB - +1 HIL
(3rd round transfers to decide contract length)
Coloquick , Hvidbjerg, Denmark
Salary: 2500 €: Rent: - 0 € = Monthly Income 2500 €
1-year extension, no bonus.
Fine: no
Winnings Riders share 5 %
Skill effect: +1 COB - +1 SPR
(no 3rd round transfers as only one option)
Explanations:
“Fine” is what he has to pay if he leave prematurely, x euro / month for the number of months remaining on the contract, typically if the riders are approached by a higher-level team, signing as trainee after 1/8 or between seasons.
Winning riders share is the % all riders get of winnings, before the rest is split according to CQ ranking points.
VOTE
Vote on one or two team to join for the 2021 season. 1st priority gets 2 points, 2nd priority gets 1 point.
As usual first mentioned team is decider if two teams get the same points