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In The Pursuit of Glory | Thank You!
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| VoetsT |
Posted on 07-06-2014 15:54
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 851
Joined: 29-06-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Didn't knew you had a new story, good luck with it 
I hope it will be as good as that with the Bianchi team.
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 07-06-2014 16:07
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
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@fernando: racing will start tomorrow
@mvh: Martijn's calendar gives him 30 days of racing. Injuries and schedule changes might obviously add to it
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 23:57
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Bot Agent
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| PeterRyder |
Posted on 07-06-2014 17:26
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Domestique
Posts: 540
Joined: 16-04-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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I aprove everyting, Martijn really knows what he should do! 
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 07-06-2014 18:30
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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@voets: you have not missed much  only a few pages to catch up on
@Ryder: glad you approve 
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 07-06-2014 18:37
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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Glad i took the idea i did for my new story, otherwise it would have been very similar to this (taking a young GB guy through the dev programme and beyond). Good stuff so far and will be interesting how you develop the personal sides of the story
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 08-06-2014 16:04
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
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@TMM: Thanks  Great minds must think alike eh!
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 08-06-2014 22:03
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
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And so it arrives: the first ride of a hopeful fruitful career for me. I get things started in France, over a course that could suit my breakaway / late solo attacks down to a tee.
Defined as flat by the organisers, the Paris-Troyes route should suit one of the big French Sprinters at the Race. Coquard, Giraud and Hivert are all present in the Startlist, as well as a good selection of British and US Domestic Sprinters.
I didn't know if it was the nerves or not, but I was the first man to try and make a move of the front 6km into the race.
I was briefly joined by Rafael Silva (LA AlumÃnios - Antarte) for a small moment, but it would seem that we were too dangerous to go off the front. Europcar and La Pomme hit the front and pulled us both back in less than 10km.
I settled back into the peleton, knowing that any further attacks would be a waste of energy. Besides, Tim Kennaugh had jumped out the saddle as soon as the pace dropped again, and was looking good as part of a 5 man lead group.
Sitting patiently in the peleton is not my thing, and I restrained myself until the peleton hit the final small climb of the day. It was more hope than anything else, but as I took other riders with me, I seemed to be a good move.
I formed a 4 man group with my move, that instantly swallowed up the Day's Breakaway men. I was in a good group with the move, as Hivert (Sojasun), Ghyselinck (Cofidis) and Dion (Bretagne) were my company with 5km to go.
Sadly, it just wasn't to be. That is just how it sometimes. Hivert would hang on for the win, ahead of Coquard (Europcar) and Rodriguez (Jelly Belly). Simon Yates did the Development Squad proud though, sprinting for 5th, as I finished my first Professional Race in 24th. Hell of a lot better than last, like I was an amateur.
| 1 |  Jonathan Hivert | Sojasun | 3h41'32 | | 2 | Bryan Coquard | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 3 |  Fred Rodriguez | Jelly Belly p/b Kenda | s.t. | | 4 | Benjamin Giraud | La Pomme Marseille | s.t. | | 5 |  Simon Yates | Great Britain Cycling Team | s.t. | | ... | | 24 | Martijn North | Great Britain Cycling Team | s.t. |
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| PeterRyder |
Posted on 08-06-2014 23:32
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Domestique
Posts: 540
Joined: 16-04-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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First race and you are already breaking the peloton! What a beast! 
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 08-06-2014 23:33
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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The Russian Revolution [Part 1]
After my first race in France, I head out with the team to Russia and the Grand Prix of Sochi. As a stage race, this is something new to me as a cyclist. I have only ever really raced in one-day events.
Whilst Stages 1 & 2 will favour other riders, I will be focussing on Stages 3, 4 & 5. All have a Hilly profile to them, and will most likely be the stages that will decide the GC. I can only hope not to lose too much in the ITT on Stage 2.
Race Report [Stage 1 & 2] Despite what I thought about Stage 1, the opportunity still arose for me to try and steal it away from one of the sprinters. I attacked with 6km to go, and really caused a stir amongst the teams.
Sadly, like in France, it wouldn't work out. I was caught within the last 800metres, as Francisco José Pacheco (Christina Watches) took the victory. Owain Doull sprinted well for 5th, and I hung on for a Top 10. Sam Harrison's solo attack earned him the KoM jersey for a few days, making it a great day for the team.
The ITT on Stage 2 was going to be a day where I need to limit my loses to the bigger names within the Peleton. Lawson Craddock (Bontrager), Riccardo Zoidl (Gourmetfein) and André Steensen (Cult Energy) posed as my main threats on GC, and were all better TT riders than me.
In the end, I felt I did myself proud. I come home 11th on the stage, only losing 1'18 to Zoidl and less than a minute to Craddock and Steensen. Bring on the Hills!
General Classification after Stage 2 | 1 |  Riccardo Zoidl | Team Gourmetfein Simplon | 4h57'13 | | 2 |  André Steensen | Team Cult Energy | + 40 | | 3 | Ben Jacques-Maynes | Jamis - Hagens Berman | + 50 | | 4 |  Francisco José Pacheco | Christina Watches - Onfone | + 1'00 | | 5 | Lawson Craddock | Bontrager Cycling Team | + 1'05 | | ... | | 12 | Martijn North | Great Britain Cycling Team | + 1'18 |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 08-06-2014 23:36
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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@Peter: Tried to break the peleton, but just not strong enough in the end. Russia had another nearly stage as well...
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| PeterRyder |
Posted on 08-06-2014 23:37
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Domestique
Posts: 540
Joined: 16-04-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Unfortanly you aren´t very good in TT, but i know that you gonna won at least a stage
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| fernando97 |
Posted on 09-06-2014 07:53
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2167
Joined: 01-01-2012
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Great tries throughout the first race, he is a real fighter!
Also, good to see Martijn only lose 1'18 in the TT, I hope he can come back in the hills! |
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| mvhoogdalem |
Posted on 09-06-2014 09:12
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2244
Joined: 30-06-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Great to see him on the attack in his first race for the team.
Not a bad start in Russia. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 09-06-2014 09:14
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Martijn with some real nice efforts here |
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| eslotes |
Posted on 09-06-2014 11:29
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Junior Rider
Posts: 37
Joined: 11-07-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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I really like this story keep it up!
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| Martial1 |
Posted on 09-06-2014 11:35
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 388
Joined: 30-04-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Solid performance by Martijn! If he continues to put in that kind of effort, the results will follow! |
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| javibozada |
Posted on 09-06-2014 15:14
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Stagiare
Posts: 153
Joined: 16-12-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Those are very good results!! You can make a podium in any stage for sure (and maybe in the GC)
[ICL] Sevilla Cycling Team |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 09-06-2014 15:18
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Going on the attack just six kilometres in to his first race shows that Martijn has got guts |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 10-06-2014 19:52
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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@all: thanks for all the comments Martijn is feeling really popular! Russian Revolution Part 2 to be posted tonight
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 10-06-2014 21:33
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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I was two stages into the Grand Prix of Sochi, and people were looking at me as a podium favourite. Yes, the route in the final 3 stages suited me down to a tee, but come on! I am a neo-pro, only my second race in the pro peleton, and I am with some much bigger riders!
Well, whether I am a favourite or not, I will fight my corner til the bitter end!
Race Review [Stage 3, 4 & 5] I knew that if I was going to perform well in the final few stages, I needed to keep myself positioned well...
Stage 3 was quite easy enough for the team. The break went away early, and despite containing Dan Craven (Baku), who was a favourite for the stage and overall, it was allowed up to over 6 minutes.
I waited until the final climb of the day before I made my move. The climb was too slow and I didn't want to waste energy going nowhere. I learnt that plenty of times as an amateur. The downhill suited me just nicely, and with the conditions putting many riders off a quick decent, I made my decision to go.
My attack was enough to break all but Zoidl! He would seem like he is going to be a tough guy to crack. Craven took the win, as I finished 3rd behind Zoidl. More importantly, I moved up to 3rd on GC.
Stage 4 saw me start in White, 1'34 down on Zoidl in Yellow. Whilst this stage was about trying to put the Yellow Jersey under-pressure, I now had a podium place to defend. I couldn't push myself too hard.
Amazingly, it was Gourmetfein who would do my main work for me. With one lap of the hilly circuit, there were just 6 of us off the front, and only Zoidl and I were in the Top 10 on GC. Luckily I have Dribben for company, but he was beginning to struggle.
For the second stage running, Zoidl would beat me in the end, but I managed to hold on and take 2nd on the stage behind him. Furthermore, Craven finished a long way behind, and I was now 2nd on GC! This is close to dreamland for me.
And so I went into the final Stage 5 knowing that only a disaster on the road would stop me finishing on the podium. Zoidl had a 3'14 advantage on me, and was looking like he couldn't be beaten on the road. He was in some great form.
The plan was simple. On the final climb, I would set a pace that would stop any attacks from those who threatened my podium. Doull did a great job looking after me all stage, and put every ounce of strength left in him to get me over the top.
Reaching the top, my internal urge to attack kicked in. I looked back at Zoidl, and begged for him to go with me. I wanted a battle to finish this race. On the descent, I didn't look back, but Team Radio was shouting at me to go hard!
Approaching the finish, it suddenly dawned on me that it was only three of us would contest the sprint. My hard ride had taken its toll, so I couldn't contest for the win, but I would finish in 3rd again.
I crossed the line to the Team GB coaches telling that Zoidl had cracked on the descent. But surely he couldn't lose over 3'15 in the last 23km over the top of the climb...
He finished 3'38 after I did. I had won!
| 1 | Martijn North | Great Britain Cycling Team | 20h46'14 | | 2 | Riccardo Zoidl | Team Gourmetfein Simplon | + 21 | | 3 | André Steensen | Team Cult Energy | + 1'47 | | 4 |  Dan Craven | Synergy Baku Cycling Project | + 3'00 | | 5 |  Jure Golcer | Tirol Cycling Team | + 3'35 |
| 1 | Riccardo Zoidl | Team Gourmetfein Simplon | 70 | | 2 | Francisco José Pacheco | Christina Watches - Onfone | 67 | | 3 | Martijn North | Great Britain Cycling Team | 65 | | 4 | André Steensen | Team Cult Energy | 50 | | 5 | Jure Golcer | Tirol Cycling Team | 46 |
| 1 | Eric Schildge | Jamis - Hagens Berman | 70 | | 2 | Dan Craven | Synergy Baku Cycling Project | 54 | | 3 |  Dieter Bouvry | Etixx - iHNed | 54 | | 4 | Robert Partridge | Team UK Youth | 28 | | 5 |  Bram De Kort | Cyclingteam Jo Piels | 28 | | ... | | 8 | Martijn North | Great Britain Cycling Team | 18 |
| 1 | Martijn North | Great Britain Cycling Team | 20h46'14 | | 2 | Riccardo Zoidl | Team Gourmetfein Simplon | + 21 | | 3 |  Hossein Alizadeh | Amore & Vita | + 7'00 | | 4 | Carter Jones | Bissell Cycling | + 10'10 | | 5 | Brennan Townshend | Madison Genesis | + 11'14 |
| 1 | Team Gourmetfein Simplon | 62h51'30 | | 2 | Jamis - Hagens Berman | + 1'13 | | 3 | Christina Watches - Onfone | + 11'10 | | 4 | Synergy Baku Cycling Project | + 11'30 | | 5 | RusVelo | + 11'53 | | ... | | 7 | Great Britain Cycling Team | + 13'53 |
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
