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Michael Matthews - Australias Future
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 23-09-2011 15:29
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9th if January 2011
Hello, this is just a little update from my race today, which was the Australian Championships. And it's also my first blog update of the year! I hope you will follow me through my year with Rabobank Cycling Team! It's always nice to start your season with a race at home! It's a 160 kilometres long race with a circuit ridden 11 times. Up and down all day, so my plan was to get in the break.
Australian Road Race Campionships 2011
As the peloton didn't let me go early, I settled in he bunch and decided to attack at a later tme. At around the halfway mark it started raining, which didn't make riding in the peloton enjoyable even if there was only 31 riders in it. Eight riders were up front with four minutes when there was about 80 kilometres left. With 50 kilometres to go I sent Brown forward to pace as the break still had over four minutes. Allan Davis had also attacked and rode between the two groups.
With 30 kilometres two go, and two more hills to ascend I launched my attack to try and bridge to the break who had 1'25 at the time.
But the pack chased me back quickly. At the start of the last climb, Gerrans attacked followed by Evans. I decided to keep my own high pace up the climb as I have no chance of following those two. At the top I was together with Rogers and Goss, and I chased Gerrans, Evans and MacEwen(last rest of the break).
Here is me chasing the three man strong group.
I decided to follow Goss as he started his sprint. I launched from his wheel with 100 metres to go, and I was almost up there with the three leaders!
And I won! I still can't believe it guys! Here is a picture of me crossing the finish line!
Thanks for everyones support! My next race is the Time Trial Championship in two days, where I have no ambitions. But now I'm off to celebrate!
1. Michael Matthews - Rabobank
2. Robbie McEwen - Radioshack
3. Cadel Evans - BMC
Edited by AndySchleck on 23-09-2011 22:41
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 23-09-2011 17:31
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Nice win 
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| YvesStevens |
Posted on 23-09-2011 17:46
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Nice win with Matthews there |
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 23-09-2011 19:16
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Thanks guys! I'm gonna play the TT now, have been out riding myself! |
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 23-09-2011 20:21
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11th of January 2011
Australian Time Trial Championship
The weather was better today, and I was just doing this to get in better shape before the Tour Down Under. The favourites today were Evans, Rogers and Porte. I was hoping for at least top 10, as I think I'm in better shape than many of the other riders.
Here is me right after the start.
As I passed the first and only time check I was in second behind Bobridge, but that was before the favourites had passed. After everyone had passed I was 5th! 15 seconds behind Porte.
I crossed the finishline second! Under a second behind Bobridge. Maybe I could het a top five? And in the end Riche Porte was strongest and won in front of Evans and Rogers. Bobridge made me fall out of top five as Sutherland was faster in the end....
Picture of Richie on his way to victory.
1. Richie Porte - Saxo Bank...54'50
2. Cadel Evans - BMC...........+0'26
3. Michael Rogers - Sky........+0'30
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6. Michael Matthews - Rabobank +0'56
A good day for me and It looks like I'll be in shape for the Tour Down Under! I'm going to France for a pre-season camp and will be back in Australia a couple of days before the tour! |
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| Wiley |
Posted on 23-09-2011 20:28
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Domestique
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I love Matthews, hope he does well
Ferrari-BA > Psuedo Man Game
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 23-09-2011 20:42
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Thank you, I hope so too! |
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 23-09-2011 22:46
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19th of January 2011
Hey guys, just a short update before I have to leave for breakfast before the first stage of Tour Down Under! This night the news told us that RadioShack won't prolong their sponsorship of the cycling team! What this will lead to, I don't know yet...
Edited by AndySchleck on 23-09-2011 22:48
I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.
Alexander The Great
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 23-09-2011 23:28
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19th of January 2011
Tour Down Under stage 1
The first stage ends in a uphill finish which suits me well, and as I'm in the best shape in the team I was going to lead the team! My teammates for this race is: T.Leezer, M.Breschel, G.Brown, P.Weening, D. van Winden and C.Vermelfoort.
I didn't really excpect a good result today as there are so many good sprinters here. Boasson Hagen, Cav, Hushovd, Boonen, Rojas, Petacchi and more! Vermelfoort was supposed to give me protection and Breschel was going to find a wheel for me before the sprint.
Here I am wearing my national champs jersey for the first time!(I think the Geox rider is Felline.)
We also managed to get van Winden in the break of the day. With 30 kilometres to go I could report good legs as the break was just over two minutes up the road from the pack! When the break was caught, Breschel did a great job keeping me at the front and out of the wind. As the Sky train for Hagen advanced to the left of us Matti easily set me up perfectly on the wheel of Hagen!
Unfortunately I wasn't strong enough to follow him as the sprint started, and I finished 5th which is a great result anyways! There was nothing to do with Boasson today, he easily took it in front of Davis and Cavendish
Rank Name Team Time
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen ¨- Sky ProCycling 3h25'40
2. Allan Davis - Pro Team Astana s.t.
3. Mark Cavendish - HTC - Highroad s.t.
4. Daniele Bennati - Leopard Trek s.t.
5. Michael Matthews - Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
6. José JoaquÃn Rojas - Movistar Team s.t.
7. Tom Boonen - Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
8. Koldo Fernández - Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
9. Juan José Haedo - Saxo Bank SunGard s.t.
10. Thor Hushovd - Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
_______________________________________________________________________
I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.
Alexander The Great
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| Wiley |
Posted on 23-09-2011 23:36
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Domestique
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Thats an extrmely difficult startlist.
I hope you can find a stage win somewhere *hint willunga hill*
Im about to hit this race, with Cavs confirmed aswel
Ferrari-BA > Psuedo Man Game
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 23-09-2011 23:42
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Agreed a difficult startlist  I'm really happy for the 5th place so we'll see how it goes...
I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.
Alexander The Great
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| Mr_Monk |
Posted on 24-09-2011 00:38
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I like it  |
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| rorzcp |
Posted on 24-09-2011 02:42
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Domestique
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Protip: I'm friends with Chris Sutton on facebook, he has Michael Matthews as his Brother. ( You may want to write something about them together) |
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 24-09-2011 11:53
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rorzcp wrote:
Protip: I'm friends with Chris Sutton on facebook, he has Michael Matthews as his Brother. ( You may want to write something about them together)
Thank you! I'll see if I can use that!
@Mr_Monk: Thank you!
I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.
Alexander The Great
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 24-09-2011 12:43
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20th of January 2011
Tour Down Under stage 2
Today's stage was 145 kilometres and flat. It was most likely to end in a mass sprint, where I will be our man for the tour after my great result yesterday! Today it was 30 degrees celcius, and the sun was almost unchalleged by the clouds.
There was a big 13 man break today, but Sky HTC and Euskaltel kept the pace high enough so they didn't get too much of a gap. Vermefoort helped me stay at the front protected from wind.
The team gathered around me as Leezer tried to reduce the gap to the break which had 3'30 with 44 kilometres to go.
Greame Brown said he had fantastic legs today, so we decided to go for him instead, so we would make a sprint train today to try and challenge Sky, HTC and Garmin. Also, Robbie Hunter fell, but nobody else got involved, luckily.
Our train: Vermefoort-Van Winden-Breschel-Me-Brown
With the chaos of the break being caught right before the finish, we were the only ones with a decent train and with 300 metres to go Breschel could launch his sprint with me and Brown behind him! With 200 metres to go I went for it, and Brown followed.
Here I am leading the bunch:
And with 100 metres left, as the other sprinters came towards the front, he sprinted away. And he hold off to the line!
Fantastic win for us! Even though it came mostly because of the other sprinters being far behind because of the breakaway being caught messing up the peloton, and Brown' fantastic daily form!(+5)
Rank Name Team Time
1. Graeme Brown - Rabobank Cycling Team 3h27'29
2. Alessandro Petacchi - Lampre - ISD s.t.
3. Juan José Haedo - Saxo Bank SunGard s.t.
4. Allan Davis - Pro Team Astana s.t.
5. Daniele Bennati - Leopard Trek s.t.
6. Tom Boonen - Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
7. Filippo Pozzato - Katusha Team s.t.
8. Thor Hushovd - Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
9. Michael Matthews - Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
10. Koldo Fernández - Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.
Alexander The Great
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| Tebs17 |
Posted on 24-09-2011 13:41
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Big Matthews fan! And well done to Brown- experience over youth there!! |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 26-09-2011 09:25
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World Champion
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Good luck with Matthews, he is very talented.
Nice story so far, keep up the good work
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 26-09-2011 18:22
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Thank you guys! I'll get a report up shortly I think.
I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.
Alexander The Great
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| YvesStevens |
Posted on 26-09-2011 18:26
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you think?.... |
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 26-09-2011 18:31
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Yes, I think.
I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.
Alexander The Great
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