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The Red Project - S1M5 - Tour Azerbaidjan
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-01-2014 07:11
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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The team is really doing good at this point. Taiwan may open more opportunities  |
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| duxili |
Posted on 03-02-2014 20:45
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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@ Shonak: Yes the problem is that I need to manage the number of days Jonathan is racing 
@ sutty: they'll do their best in any case
@ The Rider: Well you guess right, Jonathan will be our leader and targetting the win 
@ Ian: Thanks, yes they are doing a great job so far
March 23rd, Taiwan
"Dear all,
After a break, we are back to competition for
Stage 1 – Hills
I couldn't believe it but Jonathan is called stage favorite ahead of Eibegger. It is nice to be back in Asia where competition is obviously weaker than in Europe. May be some visa issue for Taiwan?
Whatever the reason we are favorite and act as such: Alexandre and Gang alternate attacks during the early stage. They are chased by the pack but they grab KoM points along the way and the other teams are weaken by this early job.
In the penultimate climb, Alexandre gets 1’ lead and growing just by maintaining his tempo. I ask Gang to join him so they can work together.
Gang is struggling a bit to join him as Alexandre is better in downhill and seems to have more reserve left. They are now at the front together with 2’ lead on the bunch.
In the last climb, it is time for Jonathan to attack. No one can follow. Leaders are now chasing as hard as they can by themselves.
Jonathan joins quickly our duo and I ask him to adapt his speed for them to keep his wheel. He will create a gap only in the last 1500 meters.
Behind Alexandre is helping an exhausted Gang till the line. Triple for Mapfre Lining!
STAGE CLASSIFICATION | 1 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | 4h52'29 | | 2 | Alexandre Shushemoin | + 39 | | 3 | Gang Xu | s.t. | | 4 | Markus Eibegger | + 1'29 |
Stage 2 – Hills
The stage profile is different : hard at the beginning, flat in the end until the last kilometer up-hill finish. Alexandre easily grabs the KoM points and in the last kilometer, Jonathan, ideally placed, creates a small gap to take his second stage.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION | 1 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | 6h35'31 | | 2 | Abbass Saeidi Tanha | + 10 | | 3 | Eugen Wacker | s.t. |
Stage 3 – Flat
There was nothing to say until in the final a massive fall breaks the pack. It is usually no problem for Mapfre Lining whose key riders stay at the front; unless one of them is falling. Gang has frighten us today. He can still finish the stage despite losing a lot of time.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION | 1 | Anuar Manam | 3h22'39 | | 2 | Aaron Kemps | s.t. | | 3 | Felix Vidal Celis Zabala | s.t. | | 10 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | s.t. |
Stage 4 – Flat
3 riders, all bad sprinters are at the front in the final. Jonathan is benefiting from a slow down to counter and here he is, at the front…
We all believe in his 3rd success. But no, Jonathan is just a man and lacking the extra energy to win the sprint after his chasing.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION | 1 | Ki Hong Yoo | 1h45'23 | | 2 | Glen Alan Chadwick | s.t. | | 3 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | s.t. |
Stage 5 – ITT
Favorite and with the leader jersey, we could not see how Jonathan would lose today. He however only has a 1’’ lead at the 1st intermediate. But suspense is killed soon enough in the second part of the race. He almost close the 2’ gap on his team mate Alexandre!
Gang benefits from the stage to come back in the GC Top 10.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION | 1 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | 16'28 | | 2 | Aaron Kemps | + 31 | | 3 | David Pell | + 33 |
We are still waiting for your explanation concerning the role of administrators.
Best Regards,
JBF"
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| The Rider |
Posted on 03-02-2014 22:40
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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If anyone ever thought that ' the Red Project' was a synonym for communism then think again after that last report. It is more like Stalinism as only one rider is allowed to win (Castroviejo).
Great race in south East Asia once again for the team. I like how Asian riders from the other teams sneak into the top 5 on a regular basis opposed to the usual riders one sees on the podiums in the European 'bigger' races. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 03-02-2014 23:41
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Jonathan can't let this slip |
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| duxili |
Posted on 06-02-2014 20:54
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
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@ The Rider: Come on Daming and Lance won a stage! How unfair you are with JBF
@ sutty: apart from a fall, I can't see it happen either
March 25th, Taiwan
I sure am angry against Mapfre’s Board, but I have to remind myself that the riders have nothing to do with the situation. On the contrary, without their job I would be deep in the sheet… So I go on doing my job too. Today the stage is starting later than usual and I use the time to perform Mohamed Shawal Shafee’s 1-2-1.
"Morning Mohamed,
- Morning coach,
- Tell me Mohamed, how do you feel in the team? How do you consider this first part of the season?
- I am OK,
- Good. And more in details: is it what you were expecting? Are you happy about the team? Are you happy with your performances?
- I am OK. But you should tell me if you are happy about the job I have done.
- I think you are doing a great job for the team. I know it is not always easy but you are never complaining.
- So you are not angry I have won nothing?
- You know it is to be expected: there are not so many riders who are winning. And when you have to help his leader it is almost impossible to win!
- Oh yes, I often finish the stages so exhausted. But everyone but me have won something in the team: Jonathan and Alexandre of course but Gang has won a KoM and even Daming and Lance, they both have managed to win a stage…
- They took their chances and it worked. Good for them. You will also get you chance and it might work, or not. It doesn’t really matter. At the end of the day the crucial point is your progression. You are here with us for 3 years and I am sure you will get plenty of win over 3 years. Keep working hard both in training and during the race. If you win this year, that would be a fantastic bonus but today that is not the point.
- OK, thank you coach, can I go now?
- Just a last question: How do you find living in China?
- It is OK. "
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 07-02-2014 14:28
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Nice little chat that was |
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| duxili |
Posted on 08-02-2014 10:47
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
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@ sutty: Thanks
Stage 6 - Flat
We let sprinters do their job in this desperately flat stage.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION | 1 | Anuar Manam | 3h55'28 | | 2 | Peter Latham | s.t. | | 3 | Ho Sung Cho | s.t. | | 25 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | s.t. |
Stage 7 - Flat
Flat again, even if the up-hill finish allows Jonathan to stay with Manam
STAGE CLASSIFICATION | 1 | David Pell | 4h20'19 | | 2 | Anuar Manam | s.t. | | 3 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | s.t. |
Stage 8 - Hills
Long and difficult stage today with a lot of movement, until Jonathan attacks, comes back on a relatively weak break and gets his 3rd solo win.
Behind Alexandre and Gang hardly manage to stay with the other favorites.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION | 1 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | 5h10'00 | | 2 | Anuar Manam | + 2'20 | | 3 | David Pell | s.t. |
Stage 9 - Flat
Another up-hill massive sprint.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION | 1 | David Pell | 3h50'02 | | 2 | Aurélien Passeron | s.t. | | 3 | Anuar Manam | s.t. | | 4 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | s.t. |
Stage 10 - Hills
In the morning briefing I told the guy to eliminate team mates so Gang could attack and move up in GC.
In the penultimate climb Mohamed accelerates but instead of getting the pack split, he involuntary isolate himself at the front. And everyone seems happy to let him go. There are still 40 km and he has got a 4’ lead.
But the pack is still not reacting:
And Mohamed gets his first pro victory!
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
| 1 | Mohamed Shawal Shafee | 4h36'52 | | 2 | Matthias Friedemann | + 5'07 | | 3 | Alexandre Shushemoin | s.t. |
In Taiwan we have won half of the stages and all classifications! All the credit goes to the riders who have really deserved their long summer break.
FINAL GC | 1 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | 38h49'40 | | 2 | Alexandre Shushemoin | + 4'50 | | 3 | Anuar Manam | + 5'37 | | 4 | Hyun Wook Joo | + 6'14 | | 5 | Matthé Pronk | + 6'25 | | 6 | Masamichi Yamamoto | + 6'32 | | 7 | Markus Eibegger | + 6'45 | | 8 | Sung Baek Park | + 7'09 | | 9 | Gang Xu | + 7'20 | | 10 | Mohamed Shahrul Mat Amin | + 7'22 |
Points | 1 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas | 147 | | 2 | Anuar Manam | 115 | | 3 | David Pell | 87 |
Mountain | 1 | Alexandre Shushemoin | 80 | | 2 | Mohamed Shawal Shafee | 51 | | 3 | Gang Xu | 44 |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 08-02-2014 10:50
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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Fantastic! Especially after the interview where he stated a bit down that he didn't anything yet. And now it's his turn.Mapfre Lining with impressive showcase in Taiwan. Castroviejo with another GC win! 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 08-02-2014 18:12
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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FINAL GC
1 Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas 38h49'40
2 Alexandre Shushemoin + 4'50
3 Anuar Manam + 5'37
That is a Great looking Final GC for the team
Edited by sutty68 on 08-02-2014 18:12
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| duxili |
Posted on 10-02-2014 09:27
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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@ Shonak: Ireally did write the interview BEFORE racing the last stage 
@ sutty: It sure did, I love Taiwan, I lived there for 3 years so it rewards me and my team 
April 3rd, Madrid
A last call to Miss Zhang:
« Miss Zhang ?
- Yes I confirm Juan has just signed his contract and we will provide you with the money”
I am relieved when I meet Manuel in the hotel lobby.
« So everything is fine.
- Yes,
- I can see that: you look handsome in the new Mapfre Lining shirt. Piepos has done a great job! »
For once the meeting starts in time. As we enter the Mapfre Board’s room everyone is glancing at me and my rather unusual suit. President Marquez decides to ignore it and open the meeting:
« Mister Fernandez, Mister Camunas, welcome. May I introduce you to Peter Hazard and Gilberto Moignoni. But please, I let you start with your report.
So I start with the results
I then let Manuel continue
“Thank you gentlemen for this excellent presentation. Is there any comment or question ? No, so let’s move to the next point on the agenda. I will first let misters Hazard and Moignoni introcude themselves.
- Thank you mister President. My name is Peter Hazard, I have been in charge of many cycling pro team in the North of France or Flandres, I think I have already demonstrated my ability to be successful at this level and I would like to use this experience to ensure your group can further progress.
- Buon giorno signore Fernandéz, hé as you know, I am working for Macron that are ready to launch a ciclista, hé, cyclist business. I have the intenzioné, hé the intention, to become d'administratore de la squadra Mapfre, hé Mapfre cycling team administrator. Not only can I help you regarding your Finance but also can I bring some of the knowledge used in other sports like physical préparationé, hé fitness? they are using in football. Ah, I also brought el novuo maglia fabricato per piepos, hé the new shirt designed by piepos:
But I see signore Fernandéz has already adopted it!
- Thank you misters. We are thus validating the use of the new shirt starting the next race. Moreover and as discussed, we will change the team governance. As we are not cycling experts we have thought misters Hazard and Moignoni could help you managing the team and optimizing its resources. They will thus participate to your daily decisions and ensure Mapfre’s interests are well considered. So if there is no question, I let you discuss together…
- I am afraid I can’t agree mister President.
To be continued
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 10-02-2014 09:51
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Once again some bloody brilliant graphics and depth in this team story |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 07:11
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| Shonak |
Posted on 10-02-2014 10:16
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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Yup, wonderful presentation. And now show its up to Juan to show them that they don't need Hazard and Moignoni on the team's bill. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 10-02-2014 18:43
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Agree with these guys , the presentation is Great |
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| duxili |
Posted on 11-02-2014 18:04
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
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@ Ian & sutty thanks mates
@ Shonak: Do I post it
- I beg your pardon, but I thought…
- You thought mister President? With all your respect and not talking about misters Hazard and Moignoni whose competences are above questions, you thought what? At least you could have discussed the matter with me before hand!
- well I do have discussed it with mister Camunas, personally. In any case, I don’t see any choice here. This meeting is over.
Marquez is standing up. While all the Board members are following, I stand on the table:
« Misters, I just need a few seconds.»
Everyone is so astonished that no one dares to move for now. I have just the time I need to tell the speach I’ve prepared:
“You may be used to take stupid decisions among friends and congratulate yourselves without looking at the reality. But you should at least be professional! Spend 2 minutes to explain my Financial director what you have in mind, is not in my world, discussing the matter with the Head coach. I reckon you know nothing about cycling but neither do you about China and its legislation. If you knew, you would see that our results are truly exceptional, so why on earth should I accept any administrator? You go on criticizing my job from our first meeting, with no reason. You cut my budget before we could do anything to justify it. And when despite all that, we deliver extraordinary results you want to impose some administrators. You are going right into the wall. So please let me do my job. You don’t have the power to impose a new governance, you can’t fire me either, at least not without Lining’s green light. And believe it or not but you won’t get it. Please take your time to read the co-sponsorship contract MAPFRE China has signed. So I will continue to do my job the best I can, send you reports. You are our sponsor at least till the end of the year. If if there is only 1 thing that will work in MAPFRE China this year, it will be its cycling team. And as you are so helpful as to give advises on topics you don’t know, I give you mine too: sell MAPFRE China before your brilliant decisions make it bankrupt. Ah, yes, how do you say? This meeting is over.”
So I leave the room in front of Manuel letting behind me a bunch of petrified old men.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 11-02-2014 18:12
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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Uuuh, buuurn!
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 12-02-2014 09:30
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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I hope that standing up to them makes them see sense 
Oh and wipe your foot marks off the table before you leave  |
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| duxili |
Posted on 13-02-2014 07:10
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
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@ Shonak What can I say? you killed the suspense
@ sutty: Ah, it was leaving too long in China, I forget to clean the table  , I called the cleaning service to apologize afterwards
New team, new race, new shirt. First race for José and his team mates and they are full of motivation after all these months of training only. Dare we dream to a victory, as each time we have used a new shirt? Today, the flat profile is not to help us, however Kun manages to get in the break and pick the only Mountain points of the day.
And it is soon clear that the break will make it! So when Avery, the best rider of the break on the flat is attacking, Kun counters. He is now at the front with 2 other very poor sprinter! Alas the rest of the break comes back. Kun’s only chance is to anticipate the sprint.
He will be punished with a 9th place.
STAGE 1 CLASSIFICATION | 1 | Adrian Why Chuah Kit | 4h13'59 | | 2 | Mariusz Wiesiak | s.t. | | 3 | Serguei Kudentsov | s.t. | | 9 | Kun Jiang | s.t. | | 12 | Lucas Sebastian Haedo | + 2'05 |
The second stage is supposed to be hilly but is not really selective. José assumes his role of favorite by attacking in the final. But with a strong wind he can’t resist the comeback of the sprinters.
STAGE 2 CLASSIFICATION | 1 | Patrick Lane | 3h25'28 | | 2 | Markus Eibegger | s.t. | | 3 | Matthias Friedemann | s.t. | | 6 | José Herrada Lopez | s.t. |
Following stages are again deseperetly flat. Sprinters and fighters get the bulck of it. MAPFRE LINING is managing the gaps though.
| Etape 3 | Sven De Weerdt | | Etape 4 | Lucas Sebastian Haedo | | Etape 5 | Lucas Sebastian Haedo | | Etape 6 | Simone Campagnaro |
It is then time for a 17 km ITT. Kun is struggling from the start and will lose a lot of time.
José is only outsider and his real objective is to limit his loss before the Mountain stage. And so he does, losing only 19’’ to the winner and probable main competitor: Eibegger. Against all odds, Chuah Kit has kept his yellow today!
STAGE 7 CLASSIFICATION | 1 | Markus Eibegger | 22'55 | | 2 | Jonathan Cantwell | + 2 | | 3 | Aurélien Passeron | + 8 | | 10 | José Herrada Lopez | + 19 |
And the last transition stage is won in a massive sprint by
| Etape 8 | Jonas Aaen Jörgensen |
Chuah Kit remains the leader but will most likely give up his jersey in one of the two last difficult stages.
Eibegger is ideally placed but everything is still possible and our leader José can still dream of a first victory. And no doubt Kun will try to defend his Top 10.
GC AFTER 8 STAGES | 1 | Adrian Why Chuah Kit | 28h38'20 | | 2 | Mariusz Wiesiak | + 2 | | 3 | Markus Eibegger | + 1'29 | | 4 | Kun Jiang | + 1'39 | | 5 | Jonathan Cantwell | + 1'41 | | 6 | Jonas Aaen Jörgensen | + 1'42 | | 7 | Lucas Sebastian Haedo | + 1'43 | | 8 | Sven De Weerdt | + 1'46 | | 9 | Matthias Friedemann | + 1'52 | | 10 | Ho Sung Cho | + 1'57 | | 15 | José Herrada Lopez | + 2'04 |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 13-02-2014 07:59
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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kun looks solid in the gc. certainly a nice start as they still lack race practice i presume
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 13-02-2014 13:48
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Kun Jiang is riding well in Korea |
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| duxili |
Posted on 16-02-2014 08:33
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Domestique
Posts: 562
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@ both: Kun will struggle in Mountain stage, Jose is probably in a better position given their is no big gap in GC and he is building his form as you are right Shonak, they are lacking competition at this stage
April 23rd, Korea
« Morning Devendra, what can I do for you?
- Morning coach, I ask to talk to you because I know you have already offered a new contract to Jonathan, José, Alexandre and Kun, and all the other riders have a contract for next year but me. So I wonder what you have in mind for me?
- Devendra, our team is still in building mode and there is place for everyone. Jonathan and José are oue leaders, they are the one who didn’t want to sign for more than 1 year to see if our project could succeed; it is really a great new that they have accepted a new contract. Alexandre and Kun are both young like you. But Alexandre have already achieved great results and Kun has demonstrated a big potential in training and already performed well in Korea.
- Of course, I have just started my season and you ask me to work for the team every day. How do you want me to have achieved anything?
- I agree with you, you had no opportunity to demonstrate anything in races yet. And as I said there is room for everyone in this team. It is up to you to demonstrate you can progress quick and get some results whenever you will have the opportunity.
-So you don’t want to offer me a new contract yet. It is so unfair: You give one to Alexandre who behave like a assho… I mean bad when I do my best to learn Chinese and integrate myself. So what you are saying about team spirit and all that, it is just bullshit, right?
- Devendra, we are in real world and we are a pro cycling team. Of course the first criteria is your performance on a bike, not only you results in racing but also what you do in training, the progresses you have accomplished, the potential you have demonstrated. All is to be considered. And the behavior and the team spirit are part of the items. I am not here to discuss about Alexandre. I would just like you to know that behavior is fundamental for him too. But now we are speaking about you. Rong tells me you are serious at training, I can see the efforts you put to integrate to our team. And this is good. But it isn’t enough. I want progresses and I want to see what you can do in racing.
Silence.
- You look depressed now. There is no reason, really. You are lucky enough to be part of a successful team, a team who will need more talent next years. Now it is on you!”
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