I was just driving my car in the streets of Udine, I really wanted to keep out of trouble, I had enough of it when I was a chef at HTC, oh yeah that was where it all started... Now, 3 years after I got my 1st job at cycling I have already been managing Team Jo Piels and recently De Rosa - Stac.
In the past few years I have always aimed for the least possible amount of work, but the new owners at De Rosa have discovered this and I got fired. Luckily, a new UCI ProConti team has just formed in Russia and they needed a manager, so they told me to meet the team directors in Udine.
Suddenly, as I was thinking about my past I noticed a beautiful old car behind me, I tried to figure out what model is it, when I noticed that it was, in fact, following me! I didnt't panick, first, but after I made a u-turn, it was still behind me, I scrambled across the streets like a madman, just to arrive at the meeting with no sign of the old black car. I was releived for a second, but when I tried to open the door, it was locked, I didn't even have any time to think, just as I was turning back to my car somebody just hit me in the back of my head.
I saw a little part of his face as I was lying semi-concious. It was... no it could have not been, but had a feeling that I had seen him before.
As I woke up, I tought I'm in a dark room, but then realised that my eyes were still closed, I opened them and I saw an older man sitting in a leather chair and two younger, probably guards, next to him. He then started to talk to me.
Welcome to my residence, you are not kidnapped, I may explain this later. This is quite much a kidnapping, why have you done that? I have almost no money and my relatives would never pay you anything for me, you might have mistanken me fo...
Enough! I ask questions here. Really sorry, but please just one, could you tell me why I am here?
The Russians owe me a favor...
So, guys, this will be my 1st story, so please go easy on me. (Except when it comes to grammatical or spelling errors, I'd like native speakers of English to correct me if they spot a mistake. Thanks!)
Don't worry the story will be about PCM , just had an idea to make it a bit more interesting Edited by bouyguesfan on 10-09-2012 14:24
So, this talk will be about... about what?
About your job. What? Killing people? I can't even shoot.
No, you idiot. Our cycling team needs a manager. So, the mafia has a cycling team? Anyway, who are you exactly?
Yes Italian cycling is basically controlled by the famiglie and we are the Abruzzese mafia. *I had to concentrate not to laugh at this "title", but I managed to ask a question* And you are the Don?
No, I'm just a Consigliere, the more important one There are two? But anyway which team is it?
Well, we are in control of the Acqua & Sapone team.
But before you start, you have to pledge to the Omertá. What happens if I refuse the job?
Well, then you drove off a cliff near Pescara while being heavily intoxicated. *Pledging to the Omertá* Uhm... I guess your team has a new manager then.
Can I meet the staff?
Yes, but please be careful with the boss. Isn't Mr. Masciarelli control the team?
No, he is just a puppet. Our boss, Mr. Di Paolo is in charge of everything. *Hmm... Di Paolo, sounds familiar*
Now team presentation will really follow, but only tomorrow, as I have other stuff to do now.
Bye for today.
Edited by bouyguesfan on 07-09-2012 19:16
Race difficulty:
Usually hard, normal if I'm too desperate for a win.
Financial difficulty:
Hard
Development of attributes:
0.6
Welcome to Acqua e Sapone Cycling Team.
Thanks. How should I call you? Boss is OK, now let me introduce you the riders.
Carlos Betancour
He should be our absolute leader in the mountains.
He came to Italy to show off his climbing skills, but from here there is no way back...
Danilo Di Luca
He has some experience with the police, that might come handy.
As you might now, once he was amongst the very best, but now he is "only" a decent hilly rider, he will do some pace setting and will also be part of the sprint train if a sprinter of ours survive the hills.
Danilo Napolitano
Our nr. 1 sprinter, as sprinting is quite much the only thing he can do.
Hailing from Sicily, he might be some sort of connection between us and Cosa Nostra
We also have 2 guys, besides our leaders, who are somewhat more important Francesco Ginanni
The man with the beard. He will be an important pace setter and will lead the team in smaller races, because he can sprint and go uphill.
Stefano Garzelli
A former Giro d'Italia winner, the bald guy will set the pace for Betancour, before the Colombian attacks. If Betancour is not present, he will be treated as absolute leader. Also count him in for some breaks.
Helpers: Wladimir Miholjevic
Super domestique, setting pace in mountains and also to be sent in lots of breaks.
I already see him in KoM jerseys.
Francisco Reda
Not a leader, because he is new to Italian Professional teams. I don't trust him yet.
Until he gaines my trust he will be setting pace in mountains and protecting leaders.
Fabio Taborre
Leadout man of Napolitano and sprinter if the Sicilian is not present.
He can even go up some hills quite fast.
Andrea Masciarelli
Faithful and hard-working member of the team, has the family's full trust.
He will mainly do pace setting and chasing breaks on hills.
Alessandro Proni
Nothing much to say about him, has balanced abilities and will protect our leaders on flat terrain.
Massimo Codol
Ok in mountains and hills, he might be looking to be in some breaks.
Claudio Corioni
Important part of the leadout train, he will mostly be working for Taborre and Napolitano.
Waterboys: Ruggero Marzoli
He and this part of the team will most likely be chasing breaks on flat stages and fetching water bottles.
Alessandro Donati
Bidon-Specialist
Simone Masciarelli
Nothing to say, looking to be in some breaks. Brother of Andrea.
Paolo Ciavatta
His aim is not to finish last and bring water to his temmates.
Special team: Björn Schröder
Isn't he cycling in Germany?
No, he earns more here, and he is exceptionally good in his job. Well, I don't remember him winning anything
Your head still hurts a little, doesn't it?
So he is our hired muscle and self-proclaimed cobbles leader.
Francesco Di Paolo
Mio padre, most important rider, he is a future legend. Wow! What is his speciality?
Losing touch with the peloton. Don't be dumb, he is awful, but as he is my son, I love him and I want to see him in breaks.
So this is our great team.
Stats:
Team goals and early calendar will be next.
Edited by bouyguesfan on 11-09-2012 18:52
The objectives set for us are very mixed, but I think I can't afford to fail many, who knows what happened to the previous manager...
The most important ones are, of course, the seemingly hardest races.
Top 10 in MSR
I think Napolitano, who will have his first peak in late-March may get us the top 10, but that looks a bit out of reach.
Stage Win in Tirreno
Maybe a bit easier, Garzelli will be aiming for it. (I already have a wildcard, I guess boss had fixed it)
Win Giro dell'Emilia
Unsure of the competition there, but this looks easier. Di Luca and Ginanni are aiming for that one. Betancour will be there, as the regining champion, he should at least be present in the race.
Top 10 Amstel Gold Race
Are they actually serious? A race where we never participated before, has a long route and usually fierce competition... Expect us to fail this one, but miracles can happen.
Top 10 Paris-Nice
This is already failed as I did not ask for an invitation here, instead I asked and got a wildcard to Tirreno.
Win Giro del Lazio
Another late season classic to win, we must be able to handle it.
Wear Pink in Giro
Early brakes and intermetiate sprints, here we come!
Top 10 in Vatenfall
Björn had arranged this goal for us, I'm quite sure that we will struggle with it.
Top 10 in Plouay
Another PT race, boss expects us to be one of the dominant forces in ProConti.
2 and 1 star goals are .HC and .1 Italian races, we will try hard there as some of the main goals look too hard.
I also have a personal goal, Trofeo Melinda, I really like that race and it even has the same route as Giro dell'Emilia, so perfect for mastering the course.
Here is our calendar for the first 3 months:
I made a mistake with not declining Qatar, we might just abandon there and MSR wildcard is pending.
Our January calendar consists only Tour of San Luís, has already been raced, so next is report from Stage 1.
Edited by bouyguesfan on 09-09-2012 14:45
Hey, Tom! (that's my name) We have to go to Argentina. Well... ok?
No, I mean you have to go too and also select 6 riders and bring them. I tought we are not racing in San Luis.
Things change and we have some big business going down there. So we are going there to make people think we are just racing?
Exactly, I see you are getting in the hang of the things quite fast, unlike your predesceedor... Oh, and Björn can't come with us, he has some work to do in Dubai.
Well, looks like we have to race in San Luis, our team has bad fitness because, we have called thge riders back from their vacations.
(S6 will be raced in normal, other stages are in hard.)
The first stage is a flat one, we expect a break to be caught around 20k left.
Team goals: Place a rider in the break before leaving the city. Get a top 5.
At the first KM the first attack occured, CSF rider Colbrelli attacked, followed by Isaychev of Katusha, Alacrón of Barbot and our Di Paolo, around 40 Kms later Coldeportes rider Duarte joined the break.
The break before uniting.
They weren't seen as any treat until 60KMs left, then (suprise, suprise) Sky took over the peloton.
Sky leading the peloton. (looks like my imagination is running out, mostly with captions)
The escapees had a max of 4 minutesnow reduced to 50', but 20KMs before the finish, Colbrelli had seen the 10K gate, what he tought is Flamme Rouge, so attacked, most of the break followed him, Duarte who, I assume, was fully empty andDi Paolo, who opted to save energy and finish within the peloton did not.
The attack of Colbrelli. (Should be the name of a spaghetti-western or something.)
The last escapee was caught with 10 kilometres left. The trains were lining up.
10 KMs Left.
Thanks to Alacrón, we lost Donati, who was supposed to stick behind Lampre's second man. At least he did the same for Androni's train and Ubeto.
The trains of Lampre, Saur and Quick Step with us trying to hang on.
As the Sprinters darted for the last kilometre, Ginanni launched himself from Lampre's leadout, can he?
No, he can't, Hondo wins in a very close finish, he just edged out Trentin.
Results:
1
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
3h46'55
2
Matteo Trentin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Troels Ronning Vinther
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
4
Julien Simon
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
5
Oscar Gatto
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
6
Francesco Ginanni
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
7
Miguel Ubeto
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
s.t.
8
Ángel Vicioso
Katusha Team
s.t.
9
Filipe Cardoso
Efapel - Glassdrive
s.t.
10
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Luke Roberts
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
12
Daniele Colli
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
13
Alessandro Bazzana
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
14
Davide Cimolai
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
15
Jimmy Casper
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
16
Baden Cooke
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
17
Leigh Howard
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
18
Elia Favilli
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
19
Gert Steegmans
Omega Pharma QST
s.t.
20
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
21
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky Procycling
s.t.
22
Danilo Di Luca
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
23
Stéphane Poulhiès
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
24
Michael Barry
Sky Procycling
s.t.
25
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
s.t.
26
John Gadret
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
27
Julien Bérard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
28
Cameron Meyer
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
29
Bruno Pires
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
30
Jonathan Hivert
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
31
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
s.t.
32
Brice Feillu
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
33
Fumiyuki Beppu
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
34
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
35
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
36
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
37
David Tanner
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
38
Simon Spilak
Katusha Team
s.t.
39
Denys Kostyuk
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
40
José Serpa
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
s.t.
41
Matteo Rabottini
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
42
Kristof Vandewalle
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
43
Ricardo Vilela
Efapel - Glassdrive
s.t.
44
Wilson Marentes
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
45
John Darwin Atapuma
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
46
Svein Tuft
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
47
Vasil Kiryienka
Movistar Team
s.t.
48
Alessandro De Marchi
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
s.t.
49
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky Procycling
s.t.
50
Víctor Hugo Peña
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
51
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
s.t.
52
Sérgio Ribeiro
Efapel - Glassdrive
s.t.
53
Mitchell Docker
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
54
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
55
David Blanco
Efapel - Glassdrive
s.t.
56
Daniel Navarro
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
57
Simone Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
58
David López
Movistar Team
s.t.
59
Rony Martias
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
60
Vladimir Miholjevic
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
61
Jeremy Hunt
Sky Procycling
s.t.
62
Luke Rowe
Sky Procycling
s.t.
63
Alessandro Donati
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
64
Fabio Felline
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
s.t.
65
Juan Pablo Suarez
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
66
Luis Felipe Laverde
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
67
Salvatore Puccio
Sky Procycling
s.t.
68
Kevin Hulsmans
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
69
Stijn Vandenbergh
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
70
Alexander Serebryakov
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
71
Rafael de Mattos Andriato
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
72
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
73
Filippo Fortin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
74
Alexander Kvachuk
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
75
Rubens Bertogliati
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
76
Steve Houanard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
77
Luca Mazzanti
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
78
Marco Haller
Katusha Team
s.t.
79
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
80
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
81
Francesco Di Paolo
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
82
Omar Lombardi
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
83
Filippo Savini
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
84
Marco Coledan
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
85
Andrea Pasqualon
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
86
Stefano Pirazzi
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
87
Vitaliy Buts
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
88
Kasper Klostergaard
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
89
Iván Gutiérrez
Movistar Team
s.t.
90
Sergio Pardilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
91
Jean-Lou Paiani
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
92
Raúl Alarcón
Efapel - Glassdrive
s.t.
93
Sonny Colbrelli
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 3'16
94
Vladimir Isaychev
Katusha Team
s.t.
95
Fabio Duarte
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 4'41
Other classifications are mainly same, no KoM yet.
Guys, this was my very first report, so if you have any suggestions besides a picture of the profile and the winner in the podium (I already tought about that), please tell me.
Thanks for followingEdited by bouyguesfan on 10-09-2012 14:26
, just had an idea to make it a bit more interesting 
