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Karl Hammarling - Scene 25: The Grand Finale
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 31-12-2013 15:18
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Tour de France Champion
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I suppose you should be happy with 35th place  |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 31-12-2013 18:16
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Tour de France Champion
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@Sutty - Considering the hand yeah. But no sportsman is happy unless they are winning!
Act 2: Paved with Good Intentions
Act 28: Expectations
Another perk of being back in the UK was being able to spend some more time with Lucy. Of course we were both back in town for the Nationals and, against various team regulations, were sharing a hotel room. Equally I managed to find time to hunt down some of my other friends in the area. Great catching up with people I hadn’t seen in months and months.
A lot of the time was not exactly perfect. Almost constantly I was being followed by various reporters and photographers. I was reigning champion and had a growing number of major wins to my name. Not like I was on the levels of Cavendish, Froome, Millar, Thomas or Wiggins who were still the big 5 riders in the UK but I was not too far below them apparently.
First up is the ITT on Wednesday before the main event on Sunday. Lucy is also taking part in the women’s events on Thursday and Saturday. Wonder what the odds are that we both end up as National champions? Not long to find out now.
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| Ad Bot |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 31-12-2013 18:32
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Tour de France Champion
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Would be great if you and Lucy became National Champions  |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 01-01-2014 13:28
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Tour de France Champion
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Act 2: Paved with Good Intentions
Scene 29: National Time Trial
The Time Trial was based around the Docks on the edge of the Seven River. It was about 30km total length, but ridden over a couple of shorter laps in the Docks area. The main favourite was Wiggo but he was going to be run close by Froome and Thomas for sure. I was hoping to beat my 7th place from last year.
Peter Kennaugh, former teammate, set a great early time at over 40km/h average speed. Tennant, one of the outside favorites, could not beat that time, really setting it up as competitive. I set off late on with only 3 riders behind me. Ahead on the road was Millar, riding his final Nationals as part of NetApp-Endura. I was working off his splits the whole way, and on the line beat him by 4” to move into provisional 4th.
Froome, Wiggins and Thomas were all behind me on the road, and all of them posted very fast times. Thomas was first in moving into second place, Kennaughs time still the benchmark. Froome did go quickest by 17”, but Bradley Wiggins did it again beating Chris by 10” to win yet another National Time Trial title. I ended up in 7th place again. Could I repeat 2014 exactly?
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 01-01-2014 14:51
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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7th place was a Great performance considering who you were up against |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 01-01-2014 18:11
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Tour de France Champion
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Act 2: Paved with Good Intentions
Act 30: The Second Finale
The Road Race. Last year I was lucky Sky missed the chase and could steal a breakaway victory. This time around I knew there would be no such luck. I was a marked man, so no breakaways today. If I was going to win I would have to do it the hard way with a late move, assuming Sky can bring the breakaway back in time.
So the day kicked off and the breakaway formed. It was 6 strong and consisted of lesser known teams and riders. The biggest name was probably House from Rapha. However this year it was not just Sky near the front. Node4 were showing themselves, and clearly had hope in Kennaugh. He clearly had form and was a good puncher. Perhaps Froome and Sky would have real competition.
We passed the 50km to go mark when Sky upped the pace and started to thin the field down. Before long the break was caught and the front group down to serious selection. Froome was still there, with support from Edmonson and Thomas. Kennaugh was still there but out of support. I was till there on my own like the rest of the day. This was going to be fun.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-01-2014 10:04
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Tour de France Champion
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Joined: 12-05-2012
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Interlude I
Double Champion
Karl Hammarling Doubles in Bristol
The 2015 UK National Championships were won, for the second time in a row, by Karl Hammarling. The young Brit attacked over the top of the days final climb and took Edmonson from Sky with him. Both pushed hard on the descent to establish a gap heading into the finale 3k. The chase group behind could not properly organize itself handing the win to the two late attackers.
Edmonson was the first to release his sprint with 300m to go, but the more suited Hammarling eased around the Sky rider inside the final 150m to take his second National title by a couple of lengths. The podium was rounded off by Geraint Thomas, also of team sky.
Karl Hammarling rides for Motorola-Subaru and is really making a name for himself at the top level. Earlier on in the year he won the major VDK Four Days of De Panne race in dominating style, as well as twice leading the Tour of Britain. From here big things are expected of the youth as he gets his first try at some World Tour races later into the season.
Finally to cap off the Nationals weekend it ends on a special note. With Karl's win in the Elite Mens race, and Lucy Garner's win in the Elite Womens race a rare occurrence shows. Both riders are part of a, now, well known couple. Former Junior World Champion Garner had this to say; "Karl's ride was just amazing. I can't believe we've both become National Champions at the same time! I really love him."
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 02-01-2014 14:26
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Yay, Karl retains the National jersey 
And nice that Lucy is too |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-01-2014 19:21
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Tour de France Champion
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Interlude II
Fairytale
A Dream Couple
Today it was confirmed that Karl Hammarling and Lucy Garner are Engaged. Rumors had been circulating almost constantly since the Nationals last weekend, and today the couple confirmed the event in an interview with CyclingNews.
Karl and Lucy had been dating since late March/early April, and had previously been involved in 2012/13. The Engagement of the National Champions is being described as fairytale. Everyone close to the couple has expressed their joy at the announcement.
Neither of them will discuss details, probably because they have not yet been made. Lucy is back in action shortly with a number of races in Denmark and North Germany. Karl's calendar is unconfirmed for the near future, but he has expressed desire to the Eneco Tour and Canadian Classics in August and September.
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 02-01-2014 19:27
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Team Leader
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Noticed that you're ignoring your readers and guys who actually comments on your story. It's not really making us continue to comment. Remember what you wrote:
Sorry if you find it offensive, but just wanted to indicate you a little problem in this story.
Anyway, i am following and really enjoying. You're great story writer.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-01-2014 19:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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@admir - I answered Sutty on Tuesday, answered the last comment from Dippo... What more can i do. I don't answer every comment, never have and never will. I know some people answer every comment, but half of the comments are just "nice result" or "well done" type stuff, which doesn't warrant an answer.
Write an engaging comment and i will reply. Write a criticism and i will reply. Ask a question and i will reply. Say "well done" and i probably won't, cause it's about as useful as a "+1" comment... If i write a comment i make it something worth while, a suggestion, a review, a criticism, just something that gets the writer to think. It shows that bit more engagement as a reader.
Just reading is great. But if you are going to make the effort to leave a comment, actually make the effort.
Nice to know you are reading even if you don't comment a lot
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-01-2014 22:09
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Tour de France Champion
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@All - On the subject of comments... This should get some... Final of the Interludes, after this it's into Act 3. Will be a break before it starts while i get some other projects off the ground, and fiddle with the opening scenes following a change to the running order... And bonus points for anyone who gets the interlude title
Interlude III
I Will Go To Texas
Just Another Day For Cycling
Cycling, for all it's want and effort, is stuck in a seemingly endless cycle. Every year it gets hit with yet another allegation of corruption and another case of doping. The peak was thought to have been reached in 2012 and 2013 with the end of Lance Armstrong and Pat McQuaid. Alas every year there is a new name added to the long long lists of broken heroes.
Karl Hammarling is the latest addition to the club. Earlier today the British Cycling Federation held a press conference and announced that Mr.Hammarling had provided a positive doping test at the National Championships three weeks ago. Karl Hammarling won that race from a two man late attack, and won the title in 2014 from a breakaway.
Full details are not yet available to the press or public, but it is confirmed that Karl Hammarling is banned from Cycling until 22nd June 2017. The full two year sentence for a doping positive. As yet there is no word from Karl or from his team Motorola. Just another promising talent lost to dark side of drugs and cheating...
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-01-2014 22:14
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Tour de France Champion
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Well done.
Spoiler Nah I'm just joking here 
I'm very curious about what's gone down here with Karl. Hope to see his side of the story about this. And what'll Lucy think. |
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| Dippofix |
Posted on 02-01-2014 22:24
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Classics Specialist
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Not good at all. 
And i was thinking i'd be the only one to have his rider get caught for doping, at least today. 
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-01-2014 22:41
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Tour de France Champion
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@Ian - Well then you'll have to keep reading
@Dippo - Without giving too much away, this is certainly not the end of the story. And yes, what were the chances of that!
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 02-01-2014 23:02
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Directeur Sportif
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Tbh, i was expecting something like this after reading your comment on Mre's doping case a few days (?) ago, but i like how you kept it kind of a mystery for now Curios about how Karl will get out of this (if he does) and like Ian i wonder if this will effect the dream couple
In general, i still enjoy the updates on this! Some well written stuff with interesting wtf-moments as well Also like your choice of pictures, except of that couple-beach-scene in your previous act - too f***ing romantic
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 02-01-2014 23:41
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Team Leader
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Thanks for answering. Well done.
I expected answer like that. And you're somehow right, but it just makes us commenting more often when you answer, does not matter if it's "+1" or long reply. That's my opinion, it's your story and do whatever you think is right. Hope you got point.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 03-01-2014 09:24
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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@tsmoha - I've been leaving clues a lot longer than that post. Some of them might only become clear now though. And yes that beach pic is so over-the-top, but you'd be surprised how few good proposal pictures there are on google.
@admir - Fortunately i don't write this one for views or comments. Even if the counter only went up by 1view per post i'd keep writing
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 03-01-2014 12:19
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Nooooooooooo,Karl wouldn't cheat........................would he  |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 03-01-2014 15:26
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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@Sutty - Well he's been caught for something. But mistakes can be made...
@All - Aiming to begin Act 3 on monday. And it is going to be one hell of a ride. Word of warning, obviously there is no PCM action coming up because of the ban. So for the moment this is certainly not a pcm story, but equally it will be a great read
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
