@ sutty & Shonak: yeah, it was really easy at the end of the day. I guess all races won't be the same
@ The Rider: I've made it. Back home and unhurt I guess fcing current wethear after BKK @% degrees ans sunshine, that will hurt me more
@ The Rider & Shonak: you're damn right, Shushemoin did great... and he knows it
February the 2nd, Kunming
With Manuel and Jonathan we are waiting for Miss Zhang in one of the best local restaurant. After last months, it is relief to finally have a meeting with our co-sponsor with no stress. Thank you Jonathan!
For once, Miss Zhang is late. Perfectly dressed in her Channel suit (probably a copy) and with too sophisticated make up for my taste, she is making quite an effect on Jonathan… I hear Manuel whispering:
“That is better than the bimbos dressed in green on the race podium, isn’t it?”
Jonathan’s face might be turning red but he quickly whispers back:
“You might have missed the point, but I am more used to yellow dress when I am invited in the podium.”
They both shut up as Miss Zhang is joining our table. We have a quick look at our results and we move on to the real purpose of this meeting: after our successes, Mapfre Lining’s jerseys are a hit… in the black market. This might please Gang’s friend a lot but it is totally unacceptable for Lining who wants its fair cut!
Miss Zhang personally told us Gang’s solution was OK given Lining didn’t want to produce the jersey. But before I could express my concerns, Miss Zhang completes:
“I therefore convinced Mister Liu to ask for help the world famous cyclist designer, a Belgium named Dozen and to produce the shirt in our factories. Normally it should be ready for the Tour Méditerranéen.”
Before I can say a word Jonathan answers:
“Cool, a new shirt, we’ll finally get rid of these carbuncles on the ass.”
Before he glances to Miss Zhang and turns red again. Gang is starting to have a bad influence on this team, I’ll have to react! Still it is great we’ll get a beautiful jersey; Dozen, I know him, he does fantastic job!
At the end of the meal, the waitress brings a bottle of genuine French Champagne! We are surprise as not only is this kind of product very expensive in China but also quite difficult to find in this sort of restaurant…
"I become S&M, states Miss Zhang, and I want to celebrate with you and Jonathan as your performances make it possible!"
Looking at our faces she quickly adds:
“Heu, I have been promoted Senior Manager. Long Live Mapfre Lining
- Long Live Mapfre Lining”, do we all concur.
I should acknowledge that a vision of Miss Zhang wearing S&M dresses actually crossed my mind…
New jersey looks very good! Decent performance by the team at Etoile des Besseges, especially by Castroviejo and Alexandre. I imagine Castroviejo could beat the team into World Tour status all by himself.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
@ Ian & Shonak: I am very pleased with the jersey indeed. I could certainly not have done it on my own. Some really have talents for those things! Perfs are incredible so far. Hope it will go on
February the 7th
Two days of rest for me, of training for the rest of the team; two days between the end of Bessèges and the start of Tour Méditerranéen. We of course stay in the Region where Manuel found a charming hotel in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. I have seen worse to be honest.
For all our young riders, it is their first time in Europe. So even if it is no holidays, we take the time for a diner in Orange or a visit in Nîmes Roman arena.
Before beginning my 1-2-1 with Alexandre, I was hoping the French atmosphere would have cooled him down. The truth is I was anxious for this meeting, probably the most important one for the future of the team.
« Hi coach, happy to finally have the opportunity to speak to you!
- Goodmorning Alexandre, I am all ears.
- Well, it is that simple : I came here to bike and progress. But I don’t plan to spend my whole life in such a shitty place with uninteresting and bad riders as team mates. Except for Castroviejo, who is simply uninteresting and possibly for Herrada, but I don’t know him well enough to judge.»
I’ll ignore the fact that Kunming got more than 2 millions inhabitants in the city centre, approximately 4 times Astana’s population and answers:
« Your biking and progressing are precisely my objectives too. So are you progressing?
- I think so: training program and racing schedule do make sense. I do think however that I am requested too much work for my team mates during the races.
- You can blame me directly for it; I am giving orders. But do you think you would have more freedom in another pro team?
- I don’t know.
- Then look around! You are in a pro team now. You are here to earn your life first, not to get noticed. If you observe you see tones of talented riders doing the job for their leaders. See, even Vino is working for Nibali.
- Obviously, he is such a has-been now days.
- He might be, but more importantly he is a pro and he is doing his job. The one he is paid for. And if you want to stay pro, you ‘ll have to get use to it. You are in fact incredibly lucky, I allow you to go in the breakaway almost as much as you want. There are no many coaches who would allow this for your 1st professional year.
- I know, it is what my agent is saying.
- Speaking about your team mates, you don’t have to like them. But in case you want one day to be a leader, you’d better get them to like you or at the very least to respect you. Your behavior in the team is not acceptable. You are arrogant and pretentious. Given your talent, it isn’t necessarily a flaw, but showing it certainly is a big mistake that you have to correct as soon as possible. Otherwise you’ll contract bad habits and you’ll do more mistakes. Do you understand what I am saying?
Silence.
- Hmm, yeah, may be.
- Apparently you don’t. it is not “Hmm, yeah, may be”, it should be “Yes sir” or possibly “fuck you asshole” but not “Hmm, yeah, may be”.
- OK, so I suppose I’ll have to continue going to Chinese lessons and to pretend I am trying to learn something?
- Alexandre, we are going to make a deal: you sign for an extra 3 years in the team and you do the necessary efforts to be part of the team and not only during the races. I’ll commit you will get a real team: very soon I’ll hire a top notch coach that only WT team can pay for. And he will train you. I also commit to give you the role of leader during some races before the end of your contract.
- Sorry, but I see no reason to sign for 3 years with such a miserable salary and in this horrible place.
- Because if you don’t want to make any effort to be part of the team then you have no place in the team and I don’t know many coach who hires young riders that have been fired.
- Are you seriously blackmailing me?
- No Alexandre, you are irritating, frustrating but I would for sure honor my part of the contract as long as you do no gross professional misconduct. The point is if you don’t change your mind, I guess you’ll do some. So I am offering you a solution to prevent the issue to happen: if you sign you’ll get the ideal structure to progess both on a bike and to become a leader. It is the team you need: successful and betting on young talents. I know you for only 3 months and I am already ready to invest in you. But you have to want it as well. And to understand that with your current attitude, you will never become the rider you dream to be. You sign with us for 1 year “to see”. Now you have seen, and so have I. Your next contract will be for 3 years or there will be no contract. If I invest in you it is because I believe in your potential. But if you want to leave, I see no reason why I should impose your behavior to the team any longer than necessary. I let you decide wether you want to take the risk or not.
- Can I think about it at least?
- Of course you can. Speak to your agent. Think about everything I’ve just told you and ask yourself what is the best solution for you to progress. A young rider who is not extended by his team never find a top team and hardly a better salary. And even in the unlikely case that you find someone proposing you a 500 EUR salary increase, would it be worth the damage of losing a top notch coach and the freedom to attack during the races? Knowing that Top pros are earning around 100 KEUR a month, is it worth delaying your progress for 1 or 2 years just to get an extra 500 EUR? Not to mention the risk of not finding a new team and losing everything.”
Alexandre does not answer but seems shaken when he gets out. I doubt it was the best way to motivate him for the Tour Méditerranéen but if it can win us a 3 years contract…
Damn, you sure know how to handle your top talent. I can really see this become a great "love-hate" relationship between Alexandre and Juan, a flawed relationship between a future, aspiring star and his boss. Edited by Shonak on 25-12-2013 19:19
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
@ Shonak: I do my best. Wait and see for the result
8th of February, Avignon
It is my first trip to Europe ! Thank you MAPFRE LINING. Another benefit of becoming a pro. And I start with Avignon and its famous papal palace:
How wonderful is it to see it for real! This is history. Talking about history, we all hope to write a new episode in the team’s one tomorrow. We will start from Maubec, not far from here and we have booked a hotel in town. During the pre-race briefing the coach has not been as ambitious as usual: apparently it is a race for punchers and sprinters and we have time trial and mountain specialists… Of course Jonathan will still be our leader and target a Top 10. Gang and Alexandre will fight for KoM. Finally Daming, Mohamed and me will do our best to protect our leader. But “everyone will get his chance” says the coach. And when I see what Daming has done in Malaysia, why not me here in France?
@ sutty: let's hope this new jersey will bring us a 1st win for its 1st race. Could we dare?
@ Shonak: yeah, more than Alexandre
February 9th, Tour Méditerranéen
My first words after the 1st stage of
I love France, I love biking, I love my team, I love my sponsor, I love WINNING! My first victory in Pro. Whatever comes next, I would have done that at least once in my life. And as it was not enough, I get the yellow jersey as a bonus!
OK, I’ll try to tell you from the beginning. This morning the coach told us: “you need to be ready from the start because of the 2 hills. Gang, Alexandre it is your jobs. Jonathan you try your special in the final.”
Gang has attacked at a perfect timing and get our new shirt his first breakaway. He passed the first climb first but the pack was riding hard to catch him back. Then Alexandre counters any attack but he as well was not allowed in the break. So at the bottom of the 2nd hill, it was Gang’s turn again to attack. So he will wear the KoM jersey tomorrow.
After the pack has regrouped, no one dares accelerating. When the coach asked me how I feel, I answered “over the top”! And because the rest of the stage was flat he told me. Banco! Go for it!
I was leading, alone, with 50 kilometres to go. I thought to what Daming had told me: save some energy for the final! Then 3 riders were countering me: Rousseau for BigMat, Honkisz for CCC and Serry for Topsport. I didn’t know any of them but my lead was limited: only 1’30. The coach told me to stay focus on my effort for the time being so we observe how gap were fluctuating before making a decision.
The chasing group quickly got a gap of 1’30 over the pack but my lead had reduced to 50’’. But the coach told me to accelerate and not to save any energy for later: “you have no chance in case of sprint anyway so let’s try to win this even if you end up at the 4th place at least we would have taken our chances.” Under the red triangle, I was still ahead but for only 30’’ and with no energy whatsoever.
I couldn’t hear a sound. I have been told that the crow was very supportive. I have been told that the coach was shouting in the earpiece. But I was hardly in the real word anymore. In my world, nothing existed but my body, my bike and this fucking line, still so far away. In my word, only my legs were shouting. And their message is clear: they were exhausted, out of power, incapable of any extra effort. In my world it was so simple, there was one unique goal: pass the line first.
And when I saw this line under my wheels, the bike, my legs, everything, all disappeared. Only happiness remained.
@ sutty: Tx for the jersey, Lance winning, I would not have bet a penny on it. So sweet
@ Shonak: Tx for the comment. Appreciated.
February 12th
Driiiiing, Driiiiing (yeah I am a bit old fashion, my mobile'ring is desperately classic).
"Yes?
- Hello coach, José speaking, is it ok for you to talk now or would you like me to call you back?
- Sure José please go on.
- Heu, you told me to call you if I had a problem. So... It is going better with the team and the guys they are know listening to my advises.
- Great! That is also what Jianye is telling me. He is delighted with the influence you now have on the team. But I suppose it isn’t the problem, is it?
- Oh, no! It is for Chinese lessons: I am so bad at learning Chinese and everyone is joking about it and it is starting to get depressing. It is not that I am not working, I am. But you see the teacher he says a sentence once and Muhamad he understands it and he can repeat it. Me, I have to read it again at home but the following day I have already forgotten… I would really like to stop the lessons. I will never speak Chinese anyway and it destroys my legitimacy within the team.
- Hmm, I see the point. Let me some time to try to find a suitable solution. I so insisted for everyone and Alexandre to learn Chinese that it has become difficult to make an exception. Apart from this, are you feeling more comfortable in China now?
- There is no problem. I wouldn't say I love China but I am getting used to it. It is just learning Chinese that…
- Yeah, Chinese lesson, I got it. Listen, the race is starting in 5’ I really have to go for now but I promise I’ll think about it and call you back later."
After the race.
"Hello José ?
- Yes coach.
- So here is my proposal: I really can make no exception for Chinese lessons. But I understood that your main issue is to have collective lessons together with your teammates. So I think about private lessons with my wife XiaoFei: as she needs to practice her Spanish you could do some exchange so you can learn a bit of Chinese at your pace. Anyway, you may never speak fluent Chinese but learning more words and a bit of practice can be useful for your time in China. So what do you say?
- That sounds perfect coach.
- Good, so I’ll deal with it when I come back to Kunming in 3 days. That was your last problem, wasn't it?
- Yes it was. Thank you coach!
- So now we have solved this issue, what would you say about a prolongation of your contract?"
Edited by duxili on 09-01-2014 09:09
@ Ian Butler: OF course it is in Chinese, we are in China, but we have prepared a translation specially for him
@ Shonak: Coach job is a hard one
February 14th
The dream has lasted for 4 days. The coach promised we will fight to keep me the lead. He kept his promise. I have spent 4 days dressed in yellow. Today I have believed till the end despite this:
But let’s come back to previous stages: my first day in yellow was easy: a flat stage where Gang picked some extra KoM points to reinforce his lead, then a mass sprint won by Anthony Ravard. I had time to enjoy the podium: yellow jersey, green jersey, white jersey… only this
Stage Classification
1
Anthony Ravard
2h47'00
2
William Bonnet
s.t.
3
Sébastien Minard
s.t.
22
Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas
s.t.
34
Lance Cowley
s.t.
The third stage was a copy-paste of the second with a new win for Anthony Ravard who is taking me the green jersey.
Stage Classification
1
Anthony Ravard
3h08'36
2
Denis Flahaut
s.t.
3
Benoît Vaugrenard
s.t.
26
Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas
s.t.
37
Lance Cowley
s.t.
The 4th stage was hilly. The coach told me to hang on that I can still keep the yellow. It all started very fast and I was feeling bad. Fortunately the pack slows down so I can recover behind Daming and Mohamed who have done the job chasing the break at a gentle pace. Both have been fantastic during the whole week. When I see what it brings to the team, I can only be motivated for the next races where it will be my turn to ride for my leaders.
But Nicolas Roche joined the break seriously threatening my lead so Alexandre did his part of the job too. Until FdJ accelerated the tempo. Benoît Vaugrenard wining the stage was a nice reward. The good news is that I managed to stay with Jonathan and the other favorites to keep my yellow.
Stage Classification
1
Benoît Vaugrenard
3h42'14
2
Bert De Waele
+ 8
3
Matteo Montaguti
+ 17
7
Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas
+ 28
43
Lance Cowley
s.t.
So as planned by the coach the whole race will be decided in the last climb of the week: the terrible Mont Faron. With my 47’’ lead on Vaugrenard and 1’29 on the other favorites, I could believe in my chances. If not for the overall victory at least for a nice place.
But it attacked even before the beginning of the climb and I was powerless. I did my best but this climb is genuinely terrible! So I paid the bill and finished with Alexandre in a small group, 6’ after today’s winner. And for the first time this year, Jonathan did no miracle: he finished only 11th in the stage and in GC. Only Gang has succeeded to win the KoM.
Stage Classification
1
Benoît Vaugrenard
4h34'00
2
Bert De Waele
+ 9
3
Nicolas Roche
+ 21
11
Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas
+ 2'22
52
Lance Cowley
+ 6'15
Final GC
1
Benoît Vaugrenard
17h18'43
2
Bert De Waele
+ 29
3
Nicolas Roche
+ 1'09
4
Dries Devenyns
+ 1'46
5
Matteo Montaguti
+ 1'51
6
Sébastien Minard
+ 2'02
7
Sandy Casar
+ 2'43
8
Jonathan Hivert
+ 2'53
9
Arnold Jeannesson
s.t.
10
Kristof Vandewalle
s.t.
11
Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas
+ 3'14
29
Lance Cowley
+ 5'38
Points
1
Anthony Ravard
51
2
Benoît Vaugrenard
47
3
Matteo Montaguti
36
9
Lance Cowley
25
Mountain
1
Gang Xu
84
2
Frantisek Rabon
28
3
Benoît Vaugrenard
20
To my sweet love for Valentin’s day. Such a regret to spend this evening in Paris airport rather than with you.
Kisses,
Lance
Edited by duxili on 03-02-2014 20:58
First two pictures don't work because of bandwith, mate.
Lance enjoyed his spell in the leader's jersey but on the last stage came the man with the hammer. When even Jonathan couldn't keep up than Lance has nothing to be ashamed of. Great fight from the team in France.
Edited by Shonak on 11-01-2014 01:41
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
@ Shonak: problem solved. Pfff.... And yes Lance did is best. Given his stats, I would have never dreamt of any win for him. I fear it might be his first and last pro victory
February 15th, Kunming
In the Spring city, the sky is getting pink in this end of afternoon. Time to put a sweatshirt on; get the snacks on the table and the QingDao out of the fridge. It might not be Chinese but end afternoon cocktail hour is to be imported. And I bet it will become popular in China very soon!
XiaoFei’s beer is getting warmer as she is cooking in the kitchen. Manuel is sitting quietly in his long chair. Might be the sun set ambiance or just the need to catch our breath but I do really enjoy this peaceful end of evening.
It has been 5 months since we have celebrated Juan’s promotion in Tamariu and launched the Red Project. And suddenly it all starts again: Juan is showing up with no Champaign but an excellent news: Kunming Mayor has accepted to mobilize his team to organize the Chinese National Championship. We are still lacking the Sport Ministry green light but with a friend of the Mayor dealing with Sport in the Party… And as MAPFRE China will sponsor the event the cost will be minimal for the Administration. They already contacted KArt, the guy who succeeded to organize the Malaysian National Championship for the 19th of October!
There should be around 10 riders taking part including 4 of our team; and on our training road… Hopefully the sponsor investment will be rewarded by a National title. It is now too late to be ready for June given the legendary Chinese bureaucracy… We therefore set the date for the 13th of September and the 11th for the ITT.
We have also already contacted the other pro teams who have Chinese riders. All are OK to let the riders participate. And following the rumor of a new Chinese National Championship, the Republic of China (official name of Taiwan) has also decided to organize its own Chinese National Championship!
Surprisingly Juan doesn’t seem to bother: if Taiwan organizes its own Championship it might well create an extra media exposure.
"How ridiculous is all those political stuff…
- Well you are lucky you only have to deal with it once a year, tells me Juan. I is becoming almost impossible to do any business in this environment and the HO guys in Spain they don’t want to understand!"
Juan looks really worried. His CEO’s job doesn’t seem to meet his expectations. Knowing the “HO guys in Spain”, I can easily understand why…
I still try to insist to get a Unified Big China Championship that would gather PRC (1), RoC (2) and Hong-Kong. At the end of the day that is what the sport is for, isn’t it?
“No way we can get Beijing’s approval in only a couple of months. I can ask the Mayor to study this if we are sure Taiwanese and Hong-Kongese teams will support. After lengthy discussions in the Party we may have a chance to organize it next year.”
There we stop as XiaoFei calls us to share her famous YuXiangRouSi.
(1) People Republic of China, China’s official name
(2) Republic of China, Taiwan’s official name. Both governments claim to be legitimate to govern the whole China.
How smart 
