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Modern Times, Old Roads | The End
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 28-05-2014 14:26
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Running Out of Time Matthias Vleminckx was a hero when he won the Ronde Van Vlaanderen earlier this year. but ever since his Giro, he's been off the radar. The King of Flanders rides around uninspired. We wonder what's wrong with our King.
The Tour of Poland is usually a place of glory for our King, yet he didn't deliver there this year. No worries, we thought, we're heading towards the Eneco Tour, a minor goal for Vleminckx this year.
For an entire week, he managed to dodge the cameras, finishing 10th, yet going totally unnoticed. No stage wins, not even a top 5. Maybe the USA Pro Cycling Challenge could spice things up for the ex Belgian Champion?
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge was an interesting race, to say the least. Vleminckx survived the heat and finished 3rd on the overall ranking. Yet in the sprint against a field below his capacities, he wasn't able to celebrate.
 Vleminckx in the final stage.
Time is running out for our King. At a time he should be fighting to show every team should fight for his signature, he's disappearing into the background.
Final Classification - Eneco Tour
| 1 | Peter Sagan | Cannondale | 22h14'20 | | 2 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 1'36 | | 3 | Lars Boom | Movistar Team | + 1'37 | | 4 | Guillaume Van Keirsbulck | TEAM Soleco | + 1'40 | | 5 | Geraint Thomas | Team Sky | + 1'56 | | 6 | Kenneth Vanbilsen | FDJ.fr | + 2'11 | | 7 | Oscar Gatto | Cannondale | + 2'12 | | 8 | Zdenek Stybar | ASUS | + 2'16 | | 9 | Sebastian Langeveld | Garmin Sharp | + 2'22 | | 10 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | + 2'25 |
Final Classification - USA Pro Cycling Challenge
| 1 | Nik Bozic | Orica GreenEdge | 20h39'43 | | 2 | Francesco Bongiorno | Bardiani CSF | + 1'22 | | 3 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | + 2'16 | | 4 | Wout Poels | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 2'25 | | 5 | Charlie Pearce | Orica GreenEdge | + 2'39 | | 6 | Philip Deignan | BMC Racing Team | + 2'47 | | 7 | Tejay Van Garderen | BMC Racing Team | + 2'49 | | 8 | Enrico Battaglin | Bardiani CSF | + 3'41 | | 9 | Simon Yates | Orica GreenEdge | + 4'17 | | 10 | Andy Schleck | Trek Factory Racing | + 4'23 |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 28-05-2014 14:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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LOL Team managers are soo stupid if they pass up on Matt.  But maybe he demands too much money & support for his possible team. Who knows.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Martial1 |
Posted on 28-05-2014 14:38
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 388
Joined: 30-04-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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For anyone else, those are pretty good results. Matt seems to have set himself too high standards  |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 28-05-2014 15:03
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Not too many teams will take a risk on Matthias if he continues in this mood  |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 01:13
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 28-05-2014 15:29
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Shonak - One thing is for sure, though. Matt will get a contract. At about any team he really wants to, I reckon
Martial1 - Well, to be fair, that was the press, so it wasn't Matt who wrote that 
sutty68 - He'll kick back again soon |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 28-05-2014 15:29
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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 GP Plouay 2017
I'm back! I've kept my reporting to a minimum by just posting some articles here. I've been down a tough road but now things are on the up again. I'm in the middle of negotiations with an amazing team. If I can sign there, all my problems are over, believe me!
The press has been making out like I'm declining in abilities but I want to stress that the reporters didn't do their job properly there. I've taken a long break and now I'm building up for the World Championships. That's still a month away so I shouldn't be 100% now, right? But enough talk, let's race!
Profile
 Last year, I managed to take the victory here. Then it was by an escape. Today I'll start as absolute leader. Let's make the most of it.
The race started out hard. Pearce tried to get in the breakaway, but the other teams wouldn't let him. It was a tough battle of about 10 kilometers.
So we got nobody in the breakaway. We decided to go for plan B. Actually this was my favorite plan so I was happy about it.
Plan B: make the race as tough as we can, kill the opponents' spirits.
We got to work properly. The wind was blowing very hard so we had conditions on our side!
The breakaway was surprised to see they were reeled in with 60 kilometers to go. The peloton was thinning out. Time to get going now. Three of us attacked, our guys immediately stopped pedaling. There were 30 kilometers left.
It was Simon Yates, Matthias Vleminckx, Charlie Pearce. Not three ordinary guys, no. This is the winner of L - B - L, the two times Ronde winner and the runner up in the Tour.
The other teams were unable to organize quickly enough and we gained precious timeç
Behind us, some riders started riding, but that wouldn't be enough. They needed to get together but they didn't. We were already a minute away!
Meanwhile, we kept up our pace. 10 kilometers left to race and Pearce was unable to follow the pace.
The final turn. We had this, what a coup!
Today was for me, and Simon Yates is man enough to respect that and be happy about it. It's my first win since that final Giro stage!
| 1 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | 5h38'05 | | 2 | Simon Yates | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 3 | Charlie Pearce | Orica GreenEdge | + 3'25 | | 4 | Marcel Kittel | TEAM Cube | + 4'26 | | 5 | Nacer Bouhanni | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 6 | Bryan Coquard | TEAM Vittel - Nestlé | s.t. | | 7 | Jens Debusschere | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 8 | Caleb Ewan | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 9 | Jasper Stuyven | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 10 | Giacomo Nizzolo | Garmin Sharp | s.t. |
And this is how we do it! Amazing team work.
All things considered, I'm really going to miss these guys. I'm glad I was able to give the team this victory before I go.
But the season is not over yet! The World Championship is nearing and I want revenge for last year!
See you later,
Matt
Edited by Ian Butler on 28-05-2014 15:37
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 28-05-2014 15:32
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Matthias is back  |
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 28-05-2014 15:33
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Sprinter
Posts: 1765
Joined: 27-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Domination much? |
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| Martial1 |
Posted on 28-05-2014 15:44
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 388
Joined: 30-04-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Simon Yates is a great teammate. Hopefully the Belgians on his world championship team will be just as good (not like Vanmarcke last year) 
Edited by Martial1 on 28-05-2014 15:44
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| FonsDeSpons |
Posted on 28-05-2014 16:32
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Stagiare
Posts: 160
Joined: 30-10-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Amazing win. I am very curious about Matthias' next team |
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| rogvi97 |
Posted on 28-05-2014 22:38
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 933
Joined: 10-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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This is basically your story
Edited by rogvi97 on 28-05-2014 22:42
No signature available
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 29-05-2014 06:53
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Team Leader
Posts: 7293
Joined: 11-04-2012
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What a great win for Matt and the Orica boys!!
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-05-2014 08:04
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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sutty68 - In style
TimoCycling - Just a tad
Martial1 - I sure hope so, too. Too bad he won't have Yates next year.
FonsDeSpons - You'll know in just a little while
rogvi97 - Hahaha good one Though I hope it's a bit more interesting than that.
Jakstar22 - Thanks! We really brought this home!
Thanks guys Have a bit time today, so will definitely get out an update! Hope to get to the WC today!! |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 29-05-2014 08:06
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Clearly a nice team victory, but well... looking it a the time gap, it seems like teams are not even bothering to ride against OGE anympre, no offence. Leaving the team is the right option, to provide him with a new challenge. Otherwise people may start talk like with Messi and such ("He only is so good because he plays at Barca" -> "Matt is only so good because he rides for such a strong team". Long live the King!
Edited by Shonak on 29-05-2014 08:06
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-05-2014 08:25
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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We can't let that happen.
Though there's a chance he'll have even more support at the new team. He won't be joining a bad team there. However, Orica is exceptionally talented right now and having someone like Yates ride for you is just a luxury that will never happen again |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-05-2014 09:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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We're nearing the World Championships. My final big test and prep race for these World Championships were the Canadian Classics. If I can do well here, I know I have an outside shot at the World Title!
 GP de Québec
The GP de Québec is the first of the Canadian Classics. The hilly profile will prepare us for the World Championship Road Race, which is also a hilly parcours.
Profile
 The most important detail of today's stage is the finish. It's an uphill finish, so it won't be for me today. Instead, I'm the last man for Simon Yates. Time to return the favor.
Let's skip ahead, shall we? The first attack of a favorite, two laps from the finish!
I bridged the gap with Simon (Yates) at my wheel.
And then we kept still, allowing Ritchie Porte to return and take the relays. Our plan was to sprint up the final slope with Yates.
When we came to the foot of the final climb and we had Simon in 4th position, we knew we had it. And so it was decided...
| 1 | Simon Yates | Orica GreenEdge | 4h54'25 | | 2 | Sergio Henao | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 14 | | 3 | Luis León Sánchez | Catalunya | s.t. | | 4 | Simon Spilak | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 5 | Matthias Frank | Colombia | s.t. | | 6 | Chris Froome | Team Sky | s.t. | | 7 | Beñat Intxausti | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 8 | Max Kroes | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 10 | Rui Costa | Lampre - Merida | s.t. |
I finished 9th, which is pretty impressive on a finish like this. Yes, my form is coming along great!
GP de Montréal
Day 2 of the Canadian Classics. We already took the first one. With the Orica team going to disband next year and many of the team leaving, we're riding around in our final races as an already legendary team. Let's make it a legendary last couple of races!
Profile
 This looks almost identical to Québec, but there's an important different: the finish is flat. So today is all for me! My big test with my eye on the World Championships. Our plan was simple: get over the final hill in a group. If that works, I can count on my sprint.
Let's skip ahead, shall we? The final climb showed no significant attacks and so we got over it with quite a large group. But don't let that fool you! At this pace, you needed to be inside the top 20 or you were already lost.
Astana made the tempo and it was impressively fast. I was in 6th position, ready to strike!
With 120 meters left, I started the sprint. And so it was decided...
| 1 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | 5h19'14 | | 2 | Rui Costa | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 3 | Richie Porte | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 4 | Roman Kreuziger | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 5 | Nairo Quintana | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 6 | Simon Spilak | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 7 | Daniele Ratto | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 8 | Sergio Henao | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | Thomas De Gendt | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 10 | Andrew Talansky | Catalunya | s.t. |
Bam, two for two for Orica! With only Lombardia and Beijing left on the WT calendar, it's safe to say we pretty much dominated the calendar this year.
Yes, our squad is filled with talent, winners and friends. Because so many are leaving and because the team is changing hands, Orica management have decided to give a going-away party, a few days after Il Lombardia. It'll be a great way to say goodbye.
As for me, I should have about one or two races left in the jersey of Orica.
I might get one more race before the World Championships. Then it's the Worlds (which is in the national jersey), I'll finish my Orica-career at Il Lombardia. After which, it's on to new horizons.
 Vuelta a España | 1 | Alberto Contador | Tinkoff - Saxo | 77h26'10 | | 2 | Daniel Martin | Lotto Belisol | + 2'55 | | 3 | Ion Izagirre | Movistar Team | + 2'56 | | 4 | Warren Barguil | Orica GreenEdge | + 2'58 | | 5 | Thibaut Pinot | TEAM Vittel - Nestlé | + 4'19 | | 6 | Dominik Nerz | Astana Pro Team | + 6'18 | | 7 | Tanel Kangert | Astana Pro Team | + 6'34 | | 8 | Carlos Betancur | Movistar Team | + 6'44 | | 9 | Rigoberto Urán | Lotto Belisol | + 6'46 | | 10 | Janier Acevedo | BMC Racing Team | + 10'03 |
See you at the Worlds!
Matt
Edited by Ian Butler on 29-05-2014 09:36
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 29-05-2014 09:43
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Sprinter
Posts: 1765
Joined: 27-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Great results once again! Also nice for Barguil in the Vuelta! |
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| VoetsT |
Posted on 29-05-2014 09:44
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 851
Joined: 29-06-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Very good preparations for the Worlds
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-05-2014 11:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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TimoCycling - Yeah, Barguil is developing into a great GT rider
VoetsT - Exactly! Let's bring it on
Worlds is next! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-05-2014 11:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Post to bump WC to next page |
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