Ollfardh wrote: Ciao Turkey, it's a me, Mario! I am riding the Tour of Turkey at the moment, and it is going much better. I'm scoring points for the team now. The first mass sprint was not good. I grabbed the wheel of the Belkin train, so I was in a good position, but they just couldn't launch. They got themselves locked in, and me included
So it was a disappointing 9th place for me, but I got points, that was something to remember for the second day. I tried a different wheel today, and got much better results. 5th today, but a podium wasn't too far off. If I recover well enough, more might be possible later on in this race.
I feel this lineup isn't as good as Qatar, no world class sprinters here. Maybe on a hillier stage I can try something? I really want to show the manager I deserve to be a leader in this race.
~ Mario
Pah, The Calzone disagrees. Edited by Shonak on 25-03-2014 10:22
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Ollfardh wrote: Ciao Turkey, it's a me, Mario! I am riding the Tour of Turkey at the moment, and it is going much better. I'm scoring points for the team now. The first mass sprint was not good. I grabbed the wheel of the Belkin train, so I was in a good position, but they just couldn't launch. They got themselves locked in, and me included
So it was a disappointing 9th place for me, but I got points, that was something to remember for the second day. I tried a different wheel today, and got much better results. 5th today, but a podium wasn't too far off. If I recover well enough, more might be possible later on in this race.
I feel this lineup isn't as good as Qatar, no world class sprinters here. Maybe on a hillier stage I can try something? I really want to show the manager I deserve to be a leader in this race.
I can't believe how unprofessional this race is. We don't get to be on tv anymore, due to some government decision. I don't race well when there's no camera on me. So yes, the latest sprint have not been well. As this was my main goal this season part, I have to say I'm really disappointed. There's only one more chance for a stage win, so it will be all or nothing for the team tomorrow!
I promised you all or nothing yesterday, and I kept my promise. I was one of my better sprints. When Coquard went, I grabbed his wheel and followed. I was thinking of staying there and getting second, but the manager really wanted a win, so I tried to come out of his wheel and overtake him.
For a moment it went well, and I could almost see victory. But then my legs got heavy all of a sudden and I fell back. Four others passed me just before the line so I finished 6th. I'm very disappointed of course, I was hoping for one spectatcular result here and it just didn't happen. I picked up some points for the team of course, but I don't think it will be enough.
As this was my last race of this season part (I'm still upset about the UCI not selecting our team for the Giro), you'll see me again in the national championships!
Ciao Italia! It's a me, Mario! I'm so happy to be home again. I've been training really hard for the last few weeks, because I had no races. After the great season start, it was all a bit less for the team lately. I heard we have a few new national champions already, but since they all come from small African countries, it doesn't really count. Any Italian rider could beat them. But for the Italian Championship, it will be hard. We only have a two riders there, so we can't really do much except hang on.
I prefer a sprint of course, but I doubt it will happen, since it can be a hard race and the big teams like Lampre and Cannondale can control the race. Still, I hope to do better than Gerald Ciolek in Germany, as we had a bet. Which is unfair, since he has better support, and is a better rider, and the course suits him more, and the opposition isn't that hard. Wait, why did I make a that bet?
Guten Abend Afrika,
it's me again, Josef! The last few days have been really hectic, as I've been out preparing for the German Nationals. The route is slightly hilly, so I reckon I might have a chance if I attack on the last ascent of the main climb. However, I will most likely be working for my teammate Gerald, if he can handle the hills well enough. He has however been preparing for watching the World Cup, and he was annoying the whole team with his favourite singer again. I've linked the video below, so you can see for yourself. If he continues like this, I think I'll just attack either way!
But now, it's time to get on training. See you at the nationals!
The time trial was a catastrophe, as predicted. I did show myself in the road race, however. I know I could not wait until the big names attacked, so I went in the early break.
But Scarponi was very strong and attacked from far out. Here he came, we were done.
Eventually the peloton passed me in the sprint, or I would've had a nice top 10. Very unfortunate, but the African part of the team did really well, winning multiple jerseys! See you after the Tour!
I was hoping I could ride any races with time trials or generally rough terrain for the end of the season. So pretty much the Chrono des Nations, and also some of the other stage races.
Hey everybody,
I'm the new guy at MTN-Qhubeka. Maybe you have already heard it, I signed a one-year contract. This is my first professional cycling team ever, so let's see how I will do on that exceptional level.
First something short about me: I'm 18 years old now and have grown up in Johannesburg. Recently it was rated the unfriendliest city in the world (https://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/14/tra...?hpt=hp_c6) and, believe me, that's true. There's crime everywhere and you may not feel save at any place. It's gangs and struggle everywhere.
Well, my struggle was usually with the police. If you wanna live in such a rough environment, you know, you have to do stuff. But I didn't wanna end up like some of my bros in jail, so I did some deep thinking how I could be safe from the cops. That was when I got my first bike. It made me a fast escapee, so I could never get caught.
Furthermore it kinda made some fun. So I started spending a bit less time hanging around smoking something, but started to cycle around from time to time. Well, don't get me wrong, smoking pott.. eh something.. was still a good part of my life, but what you really need to feel good is a dream on top.
Just half a year ago, I met some guys from the Qhubeka foundation delivering bikes somewhere in town. These guys are brilliant giving other people bikes so they can enjoy their life and freedom a bit more. Great foundation, really. However, I just took a ride with some of the pro riders that time and afterwards they asked if I'd want to participate a youth program of the team.
At the beginning, I really didn't wanna give up my prescious life with all my guys and stuff, but it just took me another little knife fight until I realised that I could give it a shot. So, I ended up in their headquarters in Johannesburg. I've been riding some more with the guys and it was great that I could still see my friends in town.
But from time to time I got more into that new society of cycling and used to the other young guys trying to make it to the pros. As I've been signing the contract now, I fear, my old life will be kinda gone. Maybe I won't see my hood anymore and, on top of that, I was told that ganja isn't good for me if I wanna do high-performance cycling. I bet it's just a lie and I already got the explanation: It just makes you too damn good, physically and mentally, so it's considered doping and therefore forbidden. I'm a genius, ain't I?
Well, until I start riding races with the team from next year on, I'll surely train hard and spend some more time with the team members. The feeling is great around here and I really like the guys - my new life. So, thanks to the manager and the whole team for giving me this opportunity. I'll pay back, for sure!
Bye fellas,
Husani
Edited by Silvio Herklotz on 07-01-2015 16:56
Ollfardh wrote: Scusi singore manager, do you have a schedule for me already? Will I be riding in Italy this season part?
~ Mario
Hi Mario,
Unfortunately we haven't been able to find suitable Italian races. Your two races for this season will be the Dutch Food Valley Classic and the Vuelta.
MTN
---
Hi Husani,
Thanks for introducing yourself to the team. We hope you can be the most succesful product of Qhubeka and we'll try to support you as much as possible in that for the next season.
I guess most of you heard the news already, I won't be staying on the team next year. It's not like I was having a bad time or anything, it's just that it seems the best choice for me at the moment. I would like to thank the team and their manager for the support this year, and I will continue to give it my all to get a few more results in. I'm really grateful for the chance MTN gave me, but my future lies elsewhere.
I am very happy to have signed with this team, as it feels like a homecoming for me as I have known a lot of these riders growing up and have raced them at races, so I feel very happy that I can return to racing on a team with them.
As I was growing up I have always dreamed of racing for Barloworld as they were a South African team, however when they broke down, I felt like the part of cycling had left me. However to join another African team is a great feeling, and I hope that I can lead the team and win for the team as I think that we Africans can be just as successful as the Europeans.
This team for me gives me an opportunity to lead in some of the biggest races in the world, and as a rider I have always dreamed of riding in a grand tour like the Giro, because I love the Italian racing scene, and I think that it suits me more as a rider as I am very chilled out.
Bye for Now,
Prince.
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