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The Red Project - S1M5 - Tour Azerbaidjan
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| duxili |
Posted on 14-01-2014 09:49
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Domestique
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February 20th, Oman
After a while in France the team is travelling in the Middle East for another category 1 race:
Stage 1 - Flat
The opportunity for our team to ride along some big names: Alexandre Vinokourov, Luis Leon Sanchez, Tony Martin, Sylvain Chavanel, etc. It will be hard to get some results here. May be capitalizing on Jonathan’s form for the ITT or to repeat Lance magical break?
In any case not today as it ends in a massive sprint.
Stage Classification
| 1 | Enrico Gasparotto | 3h27'06 | | 2 | Daniele Colli | s.t. | | 3 | Allan Davis | s.t. | | 33 | Gang Xu | s.t. |
Stage 2 - Flat
Gang benefits from the early climbs to cease the KoM jersey. Before Lars Boom breaks in the final and resists the come back of the pack.
Stage Classification
| 1 | Lars Boom | 4h09'13 | | 2 | Francesco Chicchi | s.t. | | 3 | Enrico Gasparotto | s.t. | | 8 | Gang Xu | s.t. |
Stage 3 - Flat
We have tried. But we failed. Another massive sprint today.
Stage Classification
| 1 | Oscar Freire Gomez | 4h09'13 | | 2 | Heinrich Haussler | s.t. | | 3 | Allan Davis | s.t. | | 25 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | s.t. |
Stage 4 - Hills
First summit arrival today. Jonathan is simply to weak to follow.
Stage Classification
| 1 | Christopher Horner | 4h05'21 | | 2 | Alexandre Vinokourov | 9 | | 3 | Tony Martin | + 1'11 | | 21 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | + 3'28 |
Stage 5 - ITT
It was our only chance to get something out of this race. Jonathan started rather early after yesterday’s result. And he gets the provisional lead.
But we couldn’t dream for long as Millar beated his time by 11’’. No regret really because Luis Leon Sanchez first
And Tony Martin second crashed the best time.
Stage Classification
| 1 | Tony Martin | 28'44 | | 2 | Christopher Horner | 37 | | 3 | Luis Leon Sanchez Gil | 39 | | 8 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | + 1'19 |
Stage 6 - Flat
We have attacked again. And failed again. This Tour d’Oman is to be forgotten. It is a reminder for all the team who might have though we are already good.
Stage Classification
| 1 | Heinrich Haussler | 3h43'11 | | 2 | Oscar Freire Gomez | s.t. | | 3 | Enrico Gasparotto | s.t. | | 43 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | s.t. |
FINAL GC
| 1 | Christopher Horner | 20h03'13 | | 2 | Alexandre Vinokourov | 29 | | 3 | Tony Martin | 39 | | 4 | Luis Leon Sanchez Gil | + 2'01 | | 5 | Simon Gerrans | + 2'11 | | 6 | Sylvain Chavanel | + 2'14 | | 7 | Yury Trofimov | + 2'56 | | 8 | David Millar | + 3'06 | | 9 | Carlos Barredo Llamazales | + 3'08 | | 10 | Jérôme Pineau | + 3'18 | | 15 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | + 4'22 |
Points - Enrico Gasparotto
Mountain - Christopher Horner
Edited by duxili on 03-02-2014 20:55
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 14-01-2014 12:58
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Tour de France Champion
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The team seemed to struggle in Oman  |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 15-01-2014 01:48
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Tour de France Champion
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Still a solid effort from the team in Oman, although the results don't really show that. Many top-riders visit Oman and the list of winners clearly shows that. Alas, just make a check under it and to the next race.
The Chinese National Championship is huge news! Hopefully it will garner much press for the team. HQ guys in Spain and such seem to be a bit obnoxious, maybe XiaoFei should cook for them a yummy meal too like that, maybe that will convince them for good? 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| duxili |
Posted on 19-01-2014 20:17
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Domestique
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@ sutty: well if the guy needed to be reminded that they are not yet king of the word, they got the message loud and clear 
@ Shonak: thanks for the comforting words It was needed... I hope XiaoFei can convince them with just a good meal, I won't allow more anyway
February 21st, Kunming
I have promised her for so long… Tonight I find some time to take her to the restaurant to celebrate Valentin’s day… 7 days later. There are not a lot of romantic places in Kunming so the choice was easy. XiaoFei is so beautiful in her traditional Chinese dress. And she has a gift for me: a Festina chrono watch! Shit I haven’t thought of buying a present back in Europe… And I am stupid enough to tell her. She gives me a disappointing smile but kisses me:
“Don’t worry; what I want is to spend some time with you. This evening will be my gift.”
She is wonderful. Lately it is true I haven’t spent so much time with her: building the project, selecting the riders, the staff then planning the season then the travels… For once we won’t talk about the team.
We discuss about her collegues, the teachers in YunDa. There is her new friend MeiMei, the terrible professor LaoLi who is running the English department. No wonder why Kunming is now so famous for its English teaching…
Suddenly I make up my mind:
“You know what? Your Valentin’s gift is a trip with me wherever you want in Asia for 10 days. 10 days with no cycling, no mobile, just you and me. I have worked every day including weekends since September and there will be 20 days between the Giro di Sardegna and the Tour de Taiwan. I’ll just take some holidays!
It is really good to see XiaoFei smiling for real!
We have almost finished our dinner when the last clients of the day get a table close to our: Jonathan looks quite good in his suit. He tells me an embarrassed “good evening coach” before sitting face to face with a beautiful Miss Zhang.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 19-01-2014 21:31
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
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Festina watch... maybe she bought while watching some T.O.T.C. domination? In any case, what a romantic move by Juan, very smart and caring. 
And it looks like Jonathan is getting it on. Good for him. I remember Miss Zhang to be quite a hottie, no? 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 19-01-2014 21:32
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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10 days without cycling? I've heard rumors but... can it be done, really?  |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 19-01-2014 21:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
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There are places for that, Ian. They are called Rehabs. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| duxili |
Posted on 23-01-2014 07:57
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Domestique
Posts: 562
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@ Shonak: Yeah Miss Zhang, is just  and XiaoFei might well have followed TOTC, such a good story that it is famous in China 
@ Ian: I am not sure it can, in any case, JB plans to sneek out of the bed at night to catch up with the cycling news and let a couple of messages to the team but he'll kill you if you report it 
February 23rd, Nuoro
We are back in Europe, in Italy for a category 1 stage race:
When I see Rigoberto Uran, Stefano Garzelli, Damiano Cunego, and co on the starting list, I can only fear the same outcome as in Oman.
Stage 1 - Hills
The profile of this stage offers opportunities:
Alexandre thus attacks from the start then Gang is trying but both are caught back. Daming is the next on the list and succeeds in joining the break. He is participating a bit to the relays and taking the points for the KoM. However with 20 km to go the gap is reduced to 1’35 and I let my car come back to the pack to prepare for Jonathan’s final.
In the last climb the break is caught but on this narrow road the chase is very difficult and only a teammate is doing the tempo in front of Jonathan and Gang.
“Attack, now is the time, do I say,
- Daming is still at the front”, does Jonathan reply
And indeed, in the descent we can see Daming, now alone riding towards the line. He still has a 30’’ lead.
The leaders are still blocked by former break members behind Jonathan and Gang who are slowing the pack’s pace. The gap is up to 40’’.
But the chasing is now resuming, stronger than ever. And Daming has no force left.
And the line is here!
Stage Classification
| 1 | Daming Liu | 3h50'34 | | 2 | Francesco Gavazzi | 24 | | 3 | Egidijus Juodvalkis | s.t |
Stage 2 - Hills
Lance is the first working to protect our lead, then Alexandre attacks to pick the KoM points. Until the big teams are imposing their pace. Jonathan feels good but Alexandre, tired after his effort and Daming are struggling to stay in the lead group of 20 riders or so.
Daming will be one of the first to be dropped with 10 km to go.
And Jonathan finds himself in a small group with Cunego, Uran, Garzelli and Kiserlovski. He will only loose few seconds in the final sprint. Cunego wins the stage and get the leader jersey.
Stage Classification
| 1 | Damiano Cunego | 5h02'25 | | 2 | Rigoberto Uran | 11 | | 3 | Robert Kiserlovski | 25 | | 4 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | s.t |
Edited by duxili on 03-02-2014 20:53
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 23-01-2014 09:09
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Tour de France Champion
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What a great win for Daming Liu on stage 1 |
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Posted on 25-11-2024 10:02
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| Shonak |
Posted on 23-01-2014 10:00
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Yeah, what a courageous effort by Daming and a truly deserved win for him. Plus a sweet reward to geleader's jersey. Bad that he lost it already the next day though but against such competition it's tough to hang on. Some real nice tactical racing too with Jonathan and Alexander slowing down the pace. Jonathan looks good in GC anyways.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| duxili |
Posted on 25-01-2014 08:04
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
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@ sutty: ts, yes great win and the objective of winning with a Chinese is met already
@ Shonak: we needed everything to get Daming this win, as for Jonathan, wait and see what he can do...
@ all: I really wonder about this story: it never really get many intererst, may be because the private part is too long, and putting it in this demore section of the forum is really discouraging. I guess I'll end it sooner rather than later
February 24th, Nuoro
Drinnnngg !!! drinnnggggggg !!!
Another masked number. Since our wins in Europe it keeps ringing all the time. I wonder how all those people do to find my mobile number.
Ah? I got a message this time:
“Allo? Heu goodmorning, my name is Gilberto Moignoni. I am working for Ets Macron, do you know the brand?? Hé I call you because I’ve learnt you are looking for a designer for your maglia, heu your shirt, right? Hé we know bene, heu well, piepos… So I call you to tell we are ready to finance your maglia, hé your shirt, because Asia is molto importante, hé very important, for us, capito? Oh you know we are famous all over the world. We sponsor AS Monaco football team and tutti quanti squadre, capito? And you, you manage to get un cinese wining in Sicilia, hé a Chinese, alora… Allo?? Pfff téléfono di merda !!! ”
What the fuck ? The guy is speaking with such an Italian accent that I barely understand a word. I call Manuel:
“I didn’t know you were imitating the Italian accent so poorly!
- What?
- Your stupid joke about Macron. You could do better than that; they are even not sponsoring any cycling!
- But what are you talking about?
- Seriously? Gilberto Moignoni, that wasn’t you?
- Of course not! What is it about?”
I sum up the message and he tells me he will call back, just in case.
“By the way have you looked at Monster today?
- No more since I got a job!
- Well, you may want to know that Mapfre is looking for a cycling consultant. The guy would “report to the President of Mapfre Seguros Board and work in close relationship with the cycling pro team head coach. He will be in charge of:
o Reviewing the monthly report,
o Validate the head coach decisions regarding the recruitment strategy (riders, young riders, staff), the renewal of contracts, the planning of racing, etc In case of any doubt he would have to report to the Board for Arbitrage.
- Now you are joking right?
- I am afraid I am not.”
When I call in Mapfre, no one was available for comment.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 26-01-2014 11:31
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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Oh my, what's up with them? There's really not much need for a cycling consultant. They should rather just invest more. Wonder who that will be.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| duxili |
Posted on 27-01-2014 20:18
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
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@ Shonak: ha, you'll see - if I continue long enough this story
February 26th, Cagliari-Elmas Airport
Stage 3 - Mountain
The team started the day in a parade: Daming in green, Gang as KoM leader and Jonathan as Continental Ranking leader! We were only lacking the most important Cunego’s yellow.
Everything happens in the last climb today. And the best finished 1 and 2. Jonathan arrived next in a small group and confirm his GC 4th place.
Stage Classification
| 1 | Damiano Cunego | 4h17'49 | | 2 | Rigoberto Uran | 38 | | 3 | Leonardo Bertagnolli | + 1'25 | | 4 | Stefano Garzelli | s.t. | | 5 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | s.t. |
Stage 4 - Hills
With 2 climbs at the start of the stage and a flat profile after, the objective is for Gang to take KoM points. But when he attacks he gets chased by Lampre and Jonathan has to make a big effort to close a gap in the pack. He finally gets back at the front of the pack while Kiserlovski and Uran are respectively 2’ and 3’ behind. Gang then let him caught to ride for his leader.
But neither Lampre, nor Pinotti’s BMC, nor Garzelli’s Acqua & Sapone bother to relay our team. So Astana could get back Kiserlovski… and Shushemoin, who relays an exhausted Gang. Unfortunately with only 7 km to go Sky also gets Uran back.
At the end of the day, Jonathan lost 1 place in GC due to bonus taken by Garzelli.
Stage Classification
| 1 | Damiano Cunego | 4h27'35 | | 2 | Sacha Modolo | s.t. | | 3 | Francesco Gavazzi | s.t. | | 4 | Manuele Mori | s.t. | | 5 | Leonardo Bertagnolli | s.t. | | 23 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | s.t. |
Stage 5 – Hills
First part of the stage allows Gang to secure KoM.
For the GC everything once again happens in the last climb. On this punchers’ slope Jonathan gets dropped very early, too early and has to let the Top 5 go. It is still a good Top 10 given the competition present in Italy.
Stage Classification
| 1 | Damiano Cunego | 4h13'25 | | 2 | Francesco Gavazzi | + 1'02 | | 3 | Rigoberto Uran | s.t. | | 4 | Stefano Garzelli | + 1'16 | | 5 | Leonardo Bertagnolli | + 1'35 | | 10 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | + 3'27 |
FINAL GC
| 1 | Damiano Cunego | 21h51'30 | | 2 | Rigoberto Uran | + 2'17 | | 3 | Stefano Garzelli | + 3'45 | | 4 | Leonardo Bertagnolli | + 4'52 | | 5 | Marco Pinotti | + 4'55 | | 6 | Robert Kiserlovski | + 5'25 | | 7 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | + 5'59 | | 8 | Luca Mazzanti | + 6'01 | | 9 | Francesco Gavazzi | + 6'45 | | 10 | Manuele Mori | + 7'33 |
Points - Damiano Cunego
Mountain - Gang Xu
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 28-01-2014 00:08
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Tour de France Champion
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Gang Xu rules the Mountains |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 28-01-2014 01:46
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
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Major parts of work done by Mapfre Lining in all 3 stages. Wished there would have been a stage win or some improvement GC-wise, but Gang's mountain jersey is at least a bit of a compensation for all the efforts.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| duxili |
Posted on 29-01-2014 19:11
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Domestique
Posts: 562
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@ sutty: yes he likes the jersey
@ Shonak: Yeah, it has been disappointing especially stage 4... But at least got a bit of something.
March the 1st, Kunming
“Mister President, Misters the Board Members,
Please find enclosed our activity report for February.
Before entering the details of this month figures, we would like to highlight our astonishment to have discovered the job offer of cycling consultant Mapfre has posted on Monster. We would appreciate an explanation that may dissipate a possible misunderstanding.
Moving to the results, February has once again been above expectations with 4 victories. Beyond Jonahtan’s expected Tour de Langkawi (catégorie HC) overall win, 3 different riders have won a stage in three different category 1 stage race. We are therefore ahead of our objective schedule:
Financially speaking we are also in green territory:
Finally March Calendar will be very light with only 1 race scheduled: the Tour of Taiwan. It will be the last race of Jonathan and his teammates before their long summer break. (From April José will lead fresh riders in the races we will participate in).
Best Regards,
Juan Bautista Fernandez and Manuel Alvaro Camunas"
Edited by duxili on 03-02-2014 20:48
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| Shonak |
Posted on 29-01-2014 22:27
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
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May be only one race but with 10 stages this is will keep the team still occupied. It was a great february for the team.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 29-01-2014 23:30
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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Lets hope the team rides a good race in Taiwan |
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| The Rider |
Posted on 30-01-2014 00:15
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Grand Tour Specialist
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With Xu being the king of the mountains I am real happy, believe it or not.
Taiwan should yield at least one stage win for the team and maybe a top 10 overall with Shushemoin (not counting the Spaniard who may well win).
Good to see the team in the green with finances although the scouts cost TOO much money..... |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-01-2014 07:11
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Posts: 21854
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The team is really doing good at this point. Taiwan may open more opportunities |
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