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aCross the road: Mud, Sweat & Gears
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 18-04-2014 17:39
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Tour de France Champion
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Raphael needs to get revenge on that coach by becoming a legend  |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 18-04-2014 18:53
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Tour de France Champion
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That'd be lovely. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 12-09-2026 00:17
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| krisa |
Posted on 18-04-2014 18:56
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Classics Specialist
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Comes the cyclo thing back?
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| Shonak |
Posted on 18-04-2014 18:56
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Tour de France Champion
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krisa wrote:
Comes the cyclo thing back?
Yes, in some days the seasons kicks off.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| krisa |
Posted on 18-04-2014 18:58
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Classics Specialist
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yes
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| baia |
Posted on 19-04-2014 09:35
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Can´t win all, Lombardia will be different.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 21-04-2014 00:50
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Tour de France Champion
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@baia: Really can't win everything but one Italian classic in Autumn would be the icing on the cake. 
Italian Fall, Part 2
Il Lombardia
It’s an exciting day for me to ride my first Lombardia. If you want to talk about my childhood dreams, this one is right up there with the Ronde, Liege and CX World Championships. It’s everything to me. A race I hold dear, I race I want to win and to best. But first, I’ll have to work on myself for many years until I can fulfill such a dream. That is to say, if I ever manage.
One rider who has fulfilled this goal already two times achieved his third time today: Joaquim Rodriguez. I have seen first-hand in what a great late season shape he was at some minor Italian classics, and he continued it today with a staggering performance up the Salita di Ello to the town of Villa Vergano. His acceleration put everyone down and we at Cannondale at least knew that it was coming and we marked him good and careful, but what can you do, when he just rides away and you’re still struggling behind there. Contador and Valverde completed the Spanish podium, while World Champion Daniel Martin got 4th and confirmed his good late season form.
Our best guy up front was of course Peter Sagan, who was defeated by Betancur in the sprint though, and came in 6th. I must admit I was nervous at the start and throughout the race. I seemed to have lost the overview and the last time that happened to me, I was contesting in some junior race. At some point, I didn’t know where I was supposed to be, and Sagan might havn’t know either, as he was caught back in a second group and everybody was riding away. I thought about following one of Contador’s many far-out attacks, but riding with Pistolero for 50 kilometer here would have been suicidal and so damn exhausting. I collected my last bottle at the 40 kilometer mark and brought them to Moser, Sagan and Caruso. I was then tasked with providing for Moser some cover and I did good at getting up the Salita di Ello and contesting its descent. With a decent finish, I achieved the 21st rank in the sprint in the big group. I felt it was a worthy achievement of my first Lombardia. 20 places to improve though.
Oh, and by the way: Rodriguez and Boonen have both won two Monuments this season. But which was more impressive for you guys, Purito at Liege and Lombardia or Boonen’s double of Ronde and Paris – Roubaix?
Impressions
Il Lombardia, Results
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Joaquím Rodríguez | Team Katusha | 6h36'35 | | 2 | Alberto Contador | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 23 | | 3 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 4 | Daniel Martin | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 5 | Carlos Betancur | AG2R La Mondiale | + 1'09 | | 6 | Peter Sagan | Cannondale | s.t. | | 7 | Michał Kwiatkowski | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 8 | Rigoberto Urán | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | Enrico Gasparotto | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 10 | Giovanni Visconti | Movistar Team | s.t. |
Spoiler | 11 | Diego Ulissi | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 12 | Bauke Mollema | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 13 | Jan Bakelants | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 14 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 15 | Nairo Quintana | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 16 | Robert Kiserlovski | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 17 | Rafal Majka | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 18 | Moreno Moser | Cannondale | s.t. | | 19 | Chris Froome | Team Sky | s.t. | | 20 | Ryder Hesjedal | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 21 | Raphael Visconti | Cannondale | s.t. | | 22 | Domenico Pozzovivo | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 23 | Luis León Sánchez | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | s.t. | | 24 | Daniel Moreno | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 25 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 26 | Michele Scarponi | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 27 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 28 | Tom Slagter | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 29 | Davide Rebellin | CCC Polsat Polkowice | s.t. | | 30 | Dario Cataldo | Team Sky | s.t. | | 31 | Damiano Caruso | Cannondale | s.t. | | 32 | Vincenzo Nibali | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 33 | Ivan Santaromita | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 34 | Robert Gesink | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 35 | Peter Velits | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 36 | Jakob Fuglsang | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 37 | Simon Spilak | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 38 | Wilco Kelderman | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 39 | Damiano Cunego | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 40 | Chris Horner | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 41 | Michael Albasini | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 42 | Thomas De Gendt | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 43 | Samuel Sánchez | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 44 | Lars Petter Nordhaug | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 45 | Andrey Amador | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 46 | Janez Brajkovič | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 47 | Rohan Dennis | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 48 | Romain Bardet | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 49 | Laurens Ten Dam | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 50 | Andrew Talansky | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 51 | Beñat Intxausti | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 52 | Rinaldo Nocentini | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 53 | Janier Acevedo | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 54 | Yury Trofimov | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 55 | Pieter Weening | Orica GreenEdge | + 2'39 | | 56 | Tejay Van Garderen | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 57 | Ivan Rovny | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 58 | Jean-Christophe Peraud | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 59 | Eduard Vorganov | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 60 | Andy Schleck | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 61 | Paolo Tiralongo | Astana Pro Team | + 4'11 | | 62 | Steven Kruijswijk | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 63 | José Mendes | Team NetApp - Endura | s.t. | | 64 | Marek Rutkiewicz | CCC Polsat Polkowice | s.t. | | 65 | Gianfranco Zilioli | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 66 | Yoann Bagot | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 67 | Ian Boswell | Team Sky | s.t. | | 68 | Frederik Willems | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 69 | Jonathan Monsalve | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 70 | Laurent Didier | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 71 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | + 5'12 | | 72 | Simon Clarke | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 73 | Tim Wellens | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 74 | Leopold König | Team NetApp - Endura | s.t. | | 75 | Bradley Wiggins | Team Sky | s.t. | | 76 | Thomas Voeckler | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 77 | Tomasz Marczynski | CCC Polsat Polkowice | s.t. | | 78 | Maxime Monfort | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 79 | Jelle Vanendert | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 80 | Franco Pellizotti | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 81 | José Serpa | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 82 | Daniel Navarro | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 83 | Arnaud Courteille | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 84 | Donato De Ieso | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 85 | Mikel Nieve | Team Sky | s.t. | | 86 | Richie Porte | Team Sky | s.t. | | 87 | Antonio Piedra | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | s.t. | | 88 | Przemyslaw Niemiec | Lampre - Merida | + 6'26 | | 89 | Vasil Kiryienka | Team Sky | s.t. | | 90 | Jérémy Roy | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 91 | Dries Devenyns | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 92 | Nathan Brown | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 93 | Gianluca Brambilla | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 94 | Jesús Hernández | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 95 | Ben Hermans | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 96 | Simon Gerrans | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 97 | Jens Voigt | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 98 | Patrick Facchini | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 99 | Mattia Cattaneo | Lampre - Merida | + 7'17 | | 100 | Tony Martin | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 101 | Petr Ignatenko | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 102 | John Darwin Atapuma | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 103 | Cayetano Sarmiento | Cannondale | s.t. | | 104 | Igor Antón | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 105 | Serge Pauwels | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 106 | Tanel Kangert | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 107 | Emanuele Sella | Androni Giocattoli | + 8'29 | | 108 | Yannick Eijssen | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 109 | Jan Barta | Team NetApp - Endura | s.t. | | 110 | Matteo Montaguti | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 111 | Adriano Malori | Movistar Team | + 8'59 | | 112 | Bryan Nauleau | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 113 | Evgeni Petrov | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 114 | Maxim Iglinskiy | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 115 | Eros Capecchi | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 116 | Bruno Pires | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 117 | Pieter Serry | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 118 | Phillip Gaimon | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 119 | Daryl Impey | Orica GreenEdge | + 9'37 | | 120 | Vladimir Gusev | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 121 | Marco Frapporti | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 122 | Bartosz Huzarski | Team NetApp - Endura | s.t. | | 123 | Romain Zingle | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 124 | Rafael Valls | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 125 | Francesco Bongiorno | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 126 | Adam Hansen | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 127 | Manuele Mori | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 128 | Matti Breschel | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 129 | Oscar Gatto | Cannondale | s.t. | | 130 | Bram Tankink | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 10'40 | | 131 | Rudy Molard | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 132 | Tiago Machado | Team NetApp - Endura | s.t. | | 133 | Stefano Locatelli | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 134 | David Arroyo | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | s.t. | | 135 | Francis Mourey | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 136 | Jérôme Coppel | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 137 | Davide Malacarne | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 138 | Lars Ytting Bak | Lotto Belisol | + 11'30 | | 139 | Enrico Barbin | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 140 | Salvatore Puccio | Team Sky | + 12'11 | | 141 | Angelo Pagani | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 142 | Sérgio Paulinho | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 143 | Fabio Felline | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 144 | Amets Txurruka | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | s.t. | | 145 | Maciej Bodnar | Cannondale | + 12'59 | | 146 | Lawson Craddock | Team Giant - Shimano | + 14'00 | | 147 | Natnael Berhane | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 148 | Marcos García | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | s.t. | | 149 | Christophe Le Mével | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | + 14'26 | | 150 | Jacek Morajko | CCC Polsat Polkowice | s.t. | | 151 | Heiner Parra | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | s.t. | | 152 | Jos Van Emden | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 153 | Alexey Tsatevitch | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 154 | Johannes Fröhlinger | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 155 | Thomas Peterson | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 156 | Adam Yates | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 157 | Patrick Gretsch | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 158 | Mickaël Delage | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 159 | Matthew Busche | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 160 | Ben Gastauer | AG2R La Mondiale | + 15'52 | | 161 | Andreas Schillinger | Team NetApp - Endura | s.t. | | 162 | Gert Dockx | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 163 | Laurent Pichon | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 164 | Luis Ángel Maté | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 165 | Anthony Geslin | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 166 | Tobias Ludvigsson | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 167 | Luke Durbridge | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 168 | Marco Marcato | Cannondale | s.t. | | 169 | Simone Ponzi | YellowFluo | + 18'22 | | 170 | Giorgio Cecchinel | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 171 | Iván Velasco | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | + 18'49 | | 172 | Maciej Paterski | CCC Polsat Polkowice | + 19'48 | | 173 | Erick Rowsell | Team NetApp - Endura | s.t. | | 174 | Mirko Tedeschi | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 175 | Giovanni Bernaudeau | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 176 | Francesco Lasca | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | + 20'55 | | 177 | Łukasz Owsian | CCC Polsat Polkowice | s.t. | | 178 | Egoitz García | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 179 | Filippo Fortin | Bardiani CSF | + 22'07 | | 180 | Jimmy Engoulvent | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 181 | Antonino Parrinello | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 182 | Mateusz Taciak | CCC Polsat Polkowice | s.t. | | 183 | Eugenio Alafaci | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 184 | Markel Irizar | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 185 | Paolo Colonna | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 186 | Alessio Taliani | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 187 | Samuele Conti | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 188 | Frantisek Padour | Team NetApp - Endura | s.t. | | 189 | William Bonnet | FDJ.fr | + 24'24 | | 190 | Marco Coledan | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 191 | Roy Curvers | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 192 | Albert Timmer | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 193 | Yonder Godoy | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 194 | Emilien Viennet | FDJ.fr | + 26'25 | | 195 | Morgan Lamoisson | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 196 | Daniele Colli | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 197 | Andrea Dal Col | YellowFluo | + 26'55 | | 198 | Mattia Pozzo | YellowFluo | + 27'41 | | 199 | Adrian Honkisz | CCC Polsat Polkowice | s.t. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 21-04-2014 01:25
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 33999
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice to see Raphael doing the domestique duties for his team mates |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 21-04-2014 07:24
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
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Hmm, I think Purito's LBL and Lombardia is more impressive. Because I expect Boonen to take the double in good shape, but Purito finally winning Liège and then Lombardia, which is months apart. Shows good fitness peaking |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 21-04-2014 10:06
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15579
Joined: 16-07-2013
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@sutty68: After all, it's what he's paid to do. 
@Ian Butler: Yes, I think I agree. Additionally Purito really was the strongest on both days, with Boonen and OPQ you never really know. Both impressive deeds of course, and ones that Raphael will aim towards.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Vali |
Posted on 21-04-2014 16:16
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Domestique
Posts: 734
Joined: 05-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Actually i also think that Purito was more impressive, because he, as Ian already mentioned, was able to peak for two races that are months apart.
all in all i think that it has been a really successful season for Raphael |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 21-04-2014 17:21
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15579
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Hey there, nice to see back on the forums. (I decided (later on) that Raphael is italian-austrian cyclist, so yeah... one reason more to follow, eh? )
So here comes the last Italian Fall Part. There'll be a little summary then for the season and then we kick off CX already, a few days maybe because of the EPIC Giro 2013. You guys ready?
Italian Part 3
I had four more races to go until there would be Cyclo-Cross time again. All four of them were beautiful experiences, however I am missing out on time as I already have to prepare for the muddy trails. Mostly, I need to spend some serious hours in the gym to train my arms again for all the bike-carrying that lies ahead of me.
Coppa Sabatini
A wonderful race, that just looks perfect. It’s landscape from Legioli to Peccioli is an art in itself. Most of the kilometers are raced on a circuit with around 20 to 22 kilometers and I enjoyed each one of them. Maybe I should have spent less time enjoying though and more climbing.
There were two hills in each round and after some laps, they sure took their toll already. As the weather gets worse, riders like Nerz and Frank get dropped on the hilly parcour and the list of favourites diminishes. In most faces of my rivals I see the expressions of a long campaign. They look forward to the winter, to some off-time. Their legs are all tired already when they start.
Under various attacks from many local and international stars, Ulissi finally makes the split. Moser and me were both in the chasing group, but no real work was done there. Instead the riders continued to tirelessly attack each other over and over again, while Ulissi rode to a clear victory. After the finish, it starts to rain. Something we were eagerly racing from. I finish 7th, Moser 10th.
Giro dell’Emilia
I got to wear the honour of wearing our number 1. Well, basically I had the number 141 ahead of Damiano Caruso. Unfortunately I couldn’t take real use of the shared captaincy. Purito was just once more out of this world and rode easily away from us. He attacked with still 30 kilometers left and his solo – well, that was just incredible. Despite NetApp’s and our chasing efforts, there was nothing to be done. I tried my own luck at the 10 kilometer mark later, but I was just one of many unfortunate men that got taught a lesson today.
Giro della Romagna
Another beautiful route sees me trying my best. The pace of the race was fast to begin with. At 50 kilometers left, only 50 men were left. Additiontally to the pace, some narrow roads backed up the selection process and made it hard to keep in front. I felt like riding the Ardennes classics occasionally.
When race favourite Pozzato was trapped back in the peloton, Ulissi attacked and went for another win. I couldn’t react initially, however I hang myself onto Acevedo (GRS) and tried to hang onto them on the last climb. Trofimov was there with us too and with him we managed to catch Ulissi, while there was a break of the day joining us from up ahead. A 12 group was there in the finale, and the ensuing attacks made the race organizers, sponsors and tv company happy. It was great racing for an Italian afternoon in front of the tv. At first I was chasing many of the attacks together with Ulissi and Cataldo, howver I soon noticed that this took too much energy. That’s why I tried to save some energy by reducing my relay-turns. I kept thereby within my limits, I wasn’t breathing too hard. My legs felt great.
The race was pure life. You couldn’t wish for a better advertisement, well – until the point where Trofimov went clear and the Russian won this race in Italy. Worse things have happened. But not so many for me lately, as I finish first in the sprint I can now complain about a missed winning opportunity. However, I made a decision between chasing and waiting it out later in the race, and I must have decided for a good result rather than winning.
I regret that since I want to live by the way of always trying to win. And I want to race in such a way too. Give it all.
Good results are a cyclist’s daily bread, but I want those wins. Over and over again.
Coppa Placci
It was us against Purito in my last race of the season. And Purito won. With Steep hills all around us through the mountaineous town, over and over again. I got into a small group of some men and only Ulissi managed to eventually keep up with Purito when he accelerated into the finish. I snatched a decent result.
I am still missing that win in Italy. They publish a caricature of me in Gazzetta dello Sport, where I ride on hills and pretend I’m Belgian. It’s embarrassing and mean by them and if they think they found a victim they can bully and make fun off. They are wrong. There’s no way they will be able to break me in such a way.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 21-04-2014 17:50
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Gazzetta dello Sport 
Raphael will prove them wrong one day, terribly wrong. |
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| Vali |
Posted on 21-04-2014 18:27
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Domestique
Posts: 734
Joined: 05-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Shonak wrote:
Hey there, nice to see back on the forums. (I decided (later on) that Raphael is italian-austrian cyclist, so yeah... one reason more to follow, eh? )
Yeah i didn't have too much time lately, but it's nice to be back
Even though i also haven't really posted too much before 
That's true 
BTW: Love the part about the caricature |
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| baia |
Posted on 22-04-2014 00:04
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5377
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Amazing rides by Purito.. for sure Purito´s both wins are more impressive..
Good duty rides by Raphael... i´m sure he will show to Gazzetta dello Sport how wrong they are..
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 22-04-2014 02:24
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 33999
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Raphael is still looking pretty strong even at this stage of the season |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 22-04-2014 09:12
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15579
Joined: 16-07-2013
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@baia: Yes, hopefully he will. Stuff their mouths with lots of victories.
@sutty68: Thanks mate. He has to be in shape, after all CX season is coming up.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Shonak |
Posted on 22-04-2014 10:54
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15579
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Season Review 2014 / Part 1
And this concludes the season for me. I’m shipping up to… Valkenburg for the first race of my new CX season. I should catch up on some sleep, but I decided to need to do this now or I’ll be damned.
As you see, I haven’t contested in any Grand Tours. It’s not my cup of tea. I find it boring to watch and I may as well find it boring to race it myself. Of course, I’d like to win a stage once or twice at the Tour de France, but call me a weirdo, I have never dreamt of winning le Tour. A guy who definitely did dream of winning le Tour has fulfilled it this year: Alejandro Valverde. He was just incredible this season. Not only did he manage the double of winning le Tour and la Vuelta, he was consistent throughout the year. From winning in Catalunya to coming in 3rd in Lombardia. He was just always there, always ready to fight and win. This was his year most of all.
Peter Sagan finished 2nd in the ranking and I doubt he would have had a chance at winning the World Tour Ranking if he had been fit for the Ardennes classics. Although he won quite a lot this season, Sagan didn’t score that big win yet. He is still missing that yearned Monuments win. I don’t know if he will have better chances to do so at Team SKY, but one thing is for sure: His payment definitely is monumental by now.
On a shared third place are Alberto Contador and Chris Froome with 560 points. Last year’s Tour de France winner had a great Giro, but was disappointing at le Tour. Contador kicked in incredibly in the third week of le Tour, while also winning quite some races such as Tour de Suisse.
Two Monuments win for… Boonen and Rodriguez. Certainly a season neither of them will ever forget. Of course, you also see a certain Spanish/Belgian dominance in all five races. It’s bitter that no Italian made it up there. Not even on the podium once. The Gazzetta dello Sport may be onto something with all their condemning. A similar picture was lastly seen at the World Championships, where the English-speaking countries stroke back in Ponferrada in form of Daniel Martin for Ireland and Chris Froome for Great Britain. Kwiatkowski scored two bronze medals, the Time Trial is still one of the weirdest things where Kwiatkowski, Dubridge and Wiggins all finished with nearly the same time, all 55 seconds down on Froome.
Rankings
| 1. | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar | 1255 | | | 2. | Peter Sagan | Cannondale | 734 | | 3. | Alberto Contador | Tinkoff-Saxo | 560 | | 4. | Chris Froome | SKY | 560 | | 5. | Joaquim Rodriguez | Katusha | 556 | | 6. | Daniel Martin | Garmin-Sharp | 496 | | 7. | Vincenzo Nibali | Astana | 443 | | 8. | Rui Costa | Lampre-Merida | 438 | | 9. | Chris Horner | Lampre-Merida | 432 | | 10. | Michal Kwiatkowski | Omega Pharma | 423 | | . | | . | | 74. | Raphael Visconti | Cannondale | 54 |
Team Rankings
| 1. | Movistar | 1735 | | 2. | SKY | 1329 | | 3. | Tinkoff-Saxo | 1197 | | 4. | Omega Pharma | 1144 | | 5. | Lampre-Merida | 1113 | | 6. | BMC | 1088 | | 7. | Katusha | 1015 | | 8. | Cannondale | 1003 | | 9. | Garmin-Sharp | 817 | | 10. | Astana | 694 |
Relegation: FDJ and Europcar are heading down to PCT level, while IAM and Cofidis head one up.
Ch-Ch-Changes
Following the recent success of Cannondale’s new signing in Spain, T.J. Van Garderen, the team operator Brixia Sports Spa, has announced that Citigroup will be the new main sponsor of the team for at least three years. Cannondale of course stays heavily involved but the move can cut cost for the American Bicycle manufacturer.
This comes as no surprise since the team is eager to stay competitive after the departure of Cannondale’s main gun Peter Sagan. An increase in budget helps the cause of finding success in the World Tour. It will be a season of points longing, which may not fly by easily, but confidence is to be felt with the new signings of T.J. Van Garderen, Thomas De Gendt and Lawson Craddock.
Stay tuned for my personal review of 2014 before we finally kick off CX season. This time for real, I promise.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Vali |
Posted on 22-04-2014 11:17
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Domestique
Posts: 734
Joined: 05-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Wow Valverde really had an amazing season. Has anyone ever managed to get over 1200 WT Points?
With the departure of Sagan and the 3 great new signings being all some kind of stage racers, does that mean that Raphael will get more opportunities to lead next year?
Good luck for Raphael and Citigroup in 2015 |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 22-04-2014 12:33
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Kittel winning Tirreno just cracks me up
Time to get back into the field, it was a nice review of the road season |
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