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Life After Lance: The Story of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:21
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I am new to this game and forum...but no stranger to dynasty (story) writing...it make take me awhile to figure out the best format...but here goes...as I already have a few races in the book.
Team Leaders for 2007
Hincapie will be our guy for the Northern Classics and cobblestone races. George would love to win the Paris-Roubaix, and his season will be geared towards a victory there. He may also get a look in some of the early season short tours.
Leipheimer has his eye on some late season races and will be co-leader at the Tour de France. He will also be counted on for good results at the California Road in February, but will forgo the SuperGiro de Italia. (as will Hincapie and Contador)
The 24 year old Spainard is the heir apparent to Lance Armstrong. Showing tremendous talent in all phases of cycling, he will be given every opportunity to try and win his first Tour de France. He will do little racing at the start of the season, trying to peak for a run at the yellow jersey in July. He also will lead Discovery team in his home country's Grand Tour...the Gran vuelta a Espana in September.
Another young talented stage racer, Popovych may have the busiest schedule of all Discovery's team leaders. He will lead in the Supergiro de Italia by default, and has his eye on Paris-Nice and Liege-Bastogne-Liege as well.
The Australian sprinter will be counted on right out of the gate at the Tour of Australia and Tour of Quatar, both fairly flat tours well-suited towards sprinters. He is also being counted on to win a stage or 2 at the Tour de France, and will likely compete for the green jersey.
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:22
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1/2/2007
The sponsors have set some pretty high goals for the team this year.
I am confident that we will keep them happy by posting results all season long.
Also...Air Grib an American energy outfit has signed on as a co-sponsor through 2008. They will contribute 16,500 Euros a month towards team costs. I am still searching for 2 more sponsors.
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:24
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1/3/2007
Not too much too report today. Training is going well, as the team is divided into 3 groups and focusing on their respective skills.
Still looking for 2 more sponsors. I also have contacted 3 riders about their services for the season, as I would like to start the season with at least 30 riders. This will allow me a little more flexibility in choosing riders for each race, and give me a little depth when injuries and fatigue set in.
Might as well introduce a couple more team members that we have high hopes for this season.
On days when there are mass sprint finishes and Allan Davis isn't around, Vaitkus will be the guy Discovery will try and set up for a podium spot. He will race early and often, and will be a vital teammate to George Hincapie in the Northern Classics with his above average cobble skills. Tomas is also a probable Tour de France rider.
This Belgian rider is just reaching his peak, and is a fantastic all-around cyclist. A Classic podium or two would not suprise anyone in the Discovery fold. Devolder will also race either the Tour de France or SuperGiro di Italia and will be Alberto Contador's right hand man in the Gran veulta a Espana.
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:25
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1/4/2007
Great news! A rider we were negotiating with is now under contract. It's a long season, so the more the merrier.
Let's welcome the newest member of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team!
We add another Belgian rider to the fold. Jurgen looks like he could be a pretty decent rider in the Northern Classics. We will also be sure to include him in as many Belgian races as possible. We plan on training him as a fighter, meaning that he will be responsible for attacking and chasing down attacks initially, until we see what kind of rider he is.
We also gained another sponsor today. Belgian employment company KSW Interim will help pay the bills this season and next. Still looking for one more financial contributer. We gotta pay these new riders somehow!:rolleyes:
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:27
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1/5/2007
No more news on the sponsorship front, but I am in negotiations with a 2nd rider who would be the signing of the Free Agent period for us. Cross your fingers!
I was initially only going to introduce our team leaders and other top riders....but now think it would be better to introduce the entire team so my reader's can get a better idea of just who Discovery is.
Here are a few more bios for this years team.
Another young talented stage racer, this 24 year old Russian may be a team leader as soon as next season. He will race with Hincapie at Paris-Roubaix, and be at the starting line for as many Northern Classics as his fitness will allow. A very good time trialist, Gusev will represent the team at the ITT World Championships in late September, after taking most of the summer off to prepare.
This young Australian climber will be put to the test early in front of his countryman at the Tour of Australia in 10 days. He may be a support rider at the American tours as well. (California Road and Tour de Georgia) For the most part though, Lowe's schedule will be limited to less important races, as the team will be training the 22 year old hard in preperation for a more involved role in 2008.
Brajkovic is currently our fittest rider, and thus will see alot of early season action before beginning preperation for the Supergiro de Italia where his climbing skills will be much needed. This Slovenian rider is still only 23 and has a very bright future ahead of him. Expect him to see an increased role as the season progresses.
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:28
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1/6/2007
Discovery team officials are holding a press conference tomorrow to make a big announcement. I wont spill the beans now, but you know its gotta be some pretty decent news.
Training is going well, and in several days I will officially announce the squad for the Tour of Australia which begins on Jan. 17th. Our three Aussie riders will be competing in the Australian National Championships 2 days prior, so they are pretty much locks to race the tour.
Here are 3 more rider profiles for the 2007 season.
Australian Matthew White is a teammates teammate. A guy who rides every race as if it were his last. He is a poor climber and time trialist however, so he will be limited to short flat tours and one day races. His cobble skills are very solid however, so he is in his element in flat Northern classics.
This aging time trial specialist will have a limited role with Discovery, and will not be back next season. He will of course participate in the World Championships ITT and the Chronos des Nations, and will have various starts throughout the season as his services are needed.
Spain's Jose Luis Ruberio is on the squad for one reason...to climb. He will be a support rider in at least 2 of the 3 Grand tours, and will try to compete for mountain sprints whenever possible. His job is to get countryman Alberto Cantador through mountainous stages unscathed. A pivotal member of Team Discovery and their 2007 destiny..
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:31
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Discovery In Spain: Blanco and Latasa Are Coming To America
1/07/2007
The signing of these two riders cannot be underestimated. It makes our squad not only very good...but very deep. Discovery Channel should be a force to be reckoned with now in the Grand Tours. Paying salaries may become an issue if further sponsorship is not found however, and the search in that department continues.
Possessing all the skills needed to be a successful stage racer, Spain's David Blanco will be a near lock for the Tour de France squad. His training and racing schedule will be closely monitored so that he peaks at the right time. I'm feeling alot more confident about the Grand Tours now.
Latasa will be a key member in short tours and may find himself on the podium occasionally if he improves other aspects of his riding. Latasa may end up having a very big role in some very important races. |
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:33
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1/08/2007
This Slovenian rider will be a key in the Northern Classics. A race like Milan-San Remo is right up Murn's alley. His season will be mostly raced in the Spring, and he has the talent to get on the podium occasionally. But he will generally ride in support of George Hincapie.
American Tom Danielson is being groomed to be a Team Leader. He will race in both American tours, and will generally be found somewhere near Levi Leipheimer. Just a step away from being a star, this is the season we hope that he will take a major step forward. Tom is nearly guaranteed a spot on the Tour de France squad.
One of four Belgian Discovery riders, 21 year old Gianni Meeersman will spend alot of time training. He will be used as needed, but will mainly be focused on training and development. By late season, his schedule may increase significantly.
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:34
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1/10/2007
An up and coming TT specialist, Brit Steven Cummings will race early mini tours and peak late season for TT races. He will also be a support ride in mini tours, and will spend some time during the summer at a Discovery sponsored training camp.
Ukraine based Voldomyr Bileka will be a marginal teammate this season . Under contract through 2009, the team will use him as a teammate where needed in minor races. He will also see time at major training camps along with Cummings.
Li is not foreign to hot racing, being a veteran of the Asian scene. His Discovery role will be limited to the American tours however, and he will be counted on as a domestique on occasion.
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:38
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1/12/2007
The beginning of the season is less than a week away, and tomorrow I will announce the team for the Tour of Australia. I have a few more riders to introduce as well, then all the action will begin in earnest.
Sergio Paulinho who hails from Portugal, is another up and coming stage racer, exactly the type of rider suited to Discovery's goals. He will certainly ride in a Grand Tour, and his performance in the early season will dictate where and how often he races.
Belgian Jurgen Van Goolen is a climber who will ride in some Northern Classics races, and has an outside shot at making the Tour de France team. He will ride exclusively in a support role this season, as he offers little in the way of all-around ability.
American Antonio Cruz is in the twilight of is racing career, and will be used sparingly by Discovery. Still a useful rider, Cruz will likely race both American tours, and probably won't be back in 2008. |
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:40
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1/13/2007
As promised, here are the riders participating in the Tour of Australia.
Allen Davis---AUS (Team Leader)
Trent Lowe---AUS (Teammate)
Matthew White---AUS (Teammate)
Fumiyuki Beppu---JAP (Teammate)
Vladimir Gusev---RUS (Free Rider)
Jason McCartney---USA (Teammate)
Uros Murn---SLO (Free Rider)
Jurgen Van Goolen---BEL (Teammate)
A pretty decent squad for an early season race. We think Davis can win the GC, despite not being in top shape. Vladimir Gusev will be given a shot at winning a stage if the situation is right as well. |
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:41
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1/14/2007
Tomorrow is the Australian National Championships, and all 3 of Discovery's Aussies will be at the starting line. Allen Davis is considered a race favorite.
Here are 3 more riders who have yet to be introduced, including 2 who will be in the Tour of Australia in a matter of days.
A Time Trialist from the United States, Jason McCartney's season begins on the the 17th. Both American tours are on his schedule as well, so his name will be heard early and often for Discovery. His busy early season schedule will yield him some time off come Summer.
Japanese rider Fumiyuki Beppu, will also begin the race schedule in Australia. At only 23, little is expected from Beppu, and he will be a support rider in shorter tours. The team will begin molding him into a rider that can ride successfully in the Northern Classics, but he will probably not race much in 2007.
The least heralded of Discovery's six Spanish riders, Noval will also have a limited role in 2007. He may see some race time in America, and will ride as a teammate for Cantador in the Gran vuelta a Espana in September. |
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:44
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1/15/2007
Davis Earns Podium Spot In Aussie Championships
Allen Davis finished 3rd in the Australian Championships which ended in a mass sprint. No shame in losing to Predictor Lotto's Robbie McEwen who many consider to be the best sprinter in the world. Matthew White finished 41st, while teammate Trent Lowe fell back of the main group after a breakaway attempt and finished 38 seconds off the pace in 46th.
These next 2 profiles will conclude the presentation of Discovery's 2007 team. The season starts in 2 days, and I couldn't be more excited.
Danish cyclist Brian Vandborg may be Discovery team's best time trialer and will be counted on to contribute in both team and individual TT's. His season will begin at the Tour of Quatar, and he will even get a shot as a team leader when Discovery brings a small squad to the Tour of Denmark in August. The World Championships ITT will also be on Vandborg's race calender, where the team hopes for a good result.
Not just another Spanish climber, Egoi Martinez is a good enough rider to be a factor in stage races. He will race in some Spanish Grand Prix races, and his schedule will be smattered with a variety of races and roles.
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:46
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1/16/2007
Tomorrow our season officially begins with Stage 1 of the Tour of Australia.
Our plan is to get Allan Davis a lead-out from Vladimir Gusev or Uros Murn who should be at the front of the pack, in this short flat race. |
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:49
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1/17/2007
Discovery's Davis Takes Stage 1
Allan Davis won the mass sprint going away after catching some wheels the last 8 kilometers. With the stage win time bonus, Davis leads the overall General Classification as well, by 8 seconds.
Side Note: My apologies for not having screen shots, as that was my original plan for most races. I fudged up during the race replay and couldn't get back.
The day wasn't all peaches though, as Japanese rider Fumiyuki Beppu had to abandon after being involved in a 17 rider pile in the middle of the pack around 10 km. He is currently with the team doctor, and some more information on the seriousness of his injury will be known tomorrow.
All six of the remaining Discovery riders finished with the main group and our all +20 off the pace. |
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:52
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1/18/2007
Tour of Australia (Stage 2): Fieluu The Quickest, Davis Shares Lead
Romain Feillu of Agritubel, took today's sprint, and a share of the overall lead, due to winning today's top time bonus. The race featured a 6 man breakaway, one that included Discovery's Vladimir Gusev, that had a 7 minute lead on the peleton at one point.
Stage Results
1) Romain Feillu---Agritubel---3 hr 49 02
2) Baden Caoke---Unibotte---+0
3) Patrick Fedrigo---Bouygues Telecom---+0
4) Martin Muller---Milram---+0
5) Fabrizio Guidi---Barloworld---+0
6) Elia Rigotto---Milram---+0
7) Matti Brecshel---Team CSC---+0
8) Thor Hushovd---Credit Agricole---+0
9) Iljo Keisse---Chocolade---+0
10) Anthony Geslin---Bouyges Telecom---+0
21) Allan Davis---Discovery---+0
37) Jurgen Van Goolen---Discovery---+0
40) Matthew White---Discovery---+0
43) Uros Murn---Discovery---+0
65) Jason McCartney---Discovery---+0
107) Trent Lowe---Discovery---+8 22
110) Valadimir Gusev---Discovery---+11 02
Predictor Lotto's 21 year old phenom Greg Van Aver Maet was part of a failed breakaway attempt.
Allan Davis takes the intermediate sprint uncontested.
After riding solo for 15 Km, the pack catches Allan Davis 20 km from the line.
Fiellu takes the sprint ahead of Baden Caoke.
Davis managed to get through the stage relatively unscathed, but made an attack 5 km from the intermediate sprint to gain green jersey points. The effort made him flat for the sprint. Gusev's effort left him well behind the main group. Aussie Trent Lowe, was a disappointment, unable to keep pace with the main group after riding near the front in protection of Davis for the first part of the race. |
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:56
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1/19/2007
Tour of Australia (Stage 3): Victory For Arveson
Team CSC gained their first victory of the young season when young pup sprinter Kurt-Asle Areveson won the mad dash towards the line. Discovery's Allan Davis finished 9th, and now sits in 2nd on the overall GC. Yesterday's winner Frenchman Romain Feillu of Argitubel finished 3rd, and took sole possession of the leader's jersey. The race featured another ill-fated breakaway, and many of the GC leaders in the Top 10. Teams Argitubel, AG2R, Barloworld and Discovery were all teams riding at the front today...controlling the pace.
Stage 3 Results
1) Kurt-Asle Areveson---Team CSC---
2) Elia Rigotto---Milram---+0
3) Romain Feillu-Argitubel---+0
4) Fabrizio Guidi---Barloworld---+0
5) Baden Coake---Unibotte---+0
6) Pierrick Fedrigo---Bouygues---+0
7) Laurent Brochard---Bouygues---+0
8) Thor Hushouvd---Credit Agricole---+)
9) Allan Davis---Discovery---+0
10) Marcus Ljungquist---Team CSC---+0
27) Uros Murn---Discovery---+0
28) Vladimir Gusev---Discovery---+0
46) Jason McCartney---Discovery---+0
49) Matthew White---Discovery---+0
52) Jurgen Van Goolen---Discovery---+0
53) Trent Lowe---Discovery---+0
Arevesen wins by a bike length.
Predictor Lotto's Van Aver Maet is in the breakaway group for the 2nd straight day. He is also the mountain jersey wearer...but is 3rd to last in Overall GC.
Van Aver Maet goes for the final sprint points.
Allan Davis leads the charge up the final hill, 1k from catching the breakaway.
The yellow jersey had a shot at another stage win.
Allan Davis drops to 2nd in the Overall GC, but the race is far from over...with 2 more probable mass sprint finishes in the works.
All 7 Discovery rider's finished in the main group. It was a nice bounce-back effort from Trent Lowe, who fell behind the hot pace yesterday. Jurgen Van Goolen, Matthew White, Jason McCartney, and Uros Murn have all riden soild tours and are key in perserving Davis's energy for late race heroics. |
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Posted on 01-12-2007 07:59
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1/20/2007
Tour of Australia (Stage 4): Unibotte's Coake Finally Breaks Through!
After 3 Top 10 finishes including a 2nd in Stage 2, Australian homeboy Baden Coake pulled away from Milram's Elia Rigotto in the last 20 meters to win the 4th stage of the 2007 Tour of Australia. Pierrick Fedrigo of Bouygues, another rider who has been all over the leaderboards finished 3rd. Yellow Jersey clad Romain Feillu once again had a good shot at another stage win, but finished 4th. Discovery's Allan Davis road an uninspired race, opting for the comfort of the middle of the pack, but did climb the Overall GC podium for a 4th time, but also was bumped into 3rd by stage winner Coake. This time a breakaway nearly worked as 3 riders held a minutes lead with 15 kilometers to go. A breakaway in the races first 5 km., lasted 110 km., but claimed both victims, as Freenet's Christian Lener and Patarac's Robert Mclechlan both had to withdraw for their efforts.
Stage 4 Results
1) Baden Coake---Unibotte---3hr 49 15
2) Elia Rigotto---Milran---+0
3) Pierrick Fedrigo---Bouygues---+0
4) Romain Feillu---Agritubel---+0
5) Kurt-Asle Arvesen---Team CSC---+0
6) Samuel Dumoulin---AG2R---+0
7) Thor Hushovd---Credit Agricole---+0
8) Matti Breschel---Team CSC---+0
9) Laurent Brochard---Bouygues---+0
10) Fabrizio Guidi---Barloworld---+0
38)Vladimir Gusev---Discovery---+0
41) Jurgen Van Goolen---Discovery---+0
44) Jason McCartney---Discovery---+0
75) Allan Davis---Discovery---+0
77) Uros Murn---Discovery---+0
78) Matthew White---Discovery---+0
82) Trent Lowe---Discovery---+0
Baden Coake pulls clear as the line approaches.
Christian Lener and Robert Mclechlan were hero's for 100 kilometers.
Lener takes the mountain sprint before having to withdraw.
AGR2 and Barloworld were once again leaders up front, as the pack puts the hammer down on the escapees.
At least the scenery was majestic as Christian Lener struggles to stay in the race.
For the 2nd straight day, the yellow jersey is within striking distance for a win.
The ride by Davis was a disappointment, as there is a very strong group of sprinter's in this tour, and you can't let your guard down for a minute. Perhaps he was saving energy for tomorrow's stage which will likely prove to be the most difficult, and perhaps most tactical of the tour. After that, the Stage 6 Tour finale is another flat affair at the site of Stage 1. |
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Posted on 01-12-2007 08:03
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1/20/2007
The Overall General Classification looks like this going into tomorrow's 2nd to last stage.
The 148 kilometer affair tomorrow will feature the first decent size climb of the tour. Right at the end of the race, this may be the stage where a well timed breakaway might work.
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Posted on 01-12-2007 08:05
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1/21/2007
Tour of Australia (Stage 5): Brilliant Effort By Fedrigo Earns Yellow Jersey!
Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo of Bouygues Telecom made a timely attack on the climb 27 kilometers from the finish, and rode free for a stage victory and the top spot in the Overall General Classification. Fedrigo was simply stronger than everybody else today, despite the efforts of Tour Champion contenders Allan Davis, Romain Feillu, and Kurt-Asle Arveson. His winning margin was 1 minute and 44 seconds, good enough to all but guarantee a GC victory. Discovery's Allan Davis won the sprint to the finish amongst the lead chase group to finish 2nd, while yellow clad Romain Feillu finished 3rd. Uros Murn of Discovery turned in a very stout effort, finishing the Stage 7th with the lead chase group, while moving into the Top 10 overall.
[B]Stage 5 Results
1) Pierrick Fedrigo--Bouygues---3 hr 36 35
2) Allan Davis---Discovery---+1:44
3) Romain Feillu---Agritubel---+1:44
4) Kurt-Asle Arvesen---Team CSC---+1:44
5) Johan Van Summeren---Predictor---+1:44
6) Simon Gerrans---AG2R---+1:44
7) Uros Murn---Discovery---+1:44
8) Elia Rigotto---Milram---+3:04
9) Philip Thaaux---Patatrac---+3:04
10) Thor Hushovd---Credit Agricole---+3:57
13) Vladimir Gusev---Discovery---+3:57
44) Jurgen Van Goolen---Discovery---+3:57
62) Matthew White---Discovery---+3:57
66) Trent Lowe---Discovery---+3:57
84) Jason McCartney---Discovery---+3:57
Another day in Australia starts with an early, ill-fated breakaway.
With 70 kilometers to go, the peleton starts to wake up.
Pierrick Fedrigo makes his decisive winning attack.
Discovery's Davis tries to counter-attack.....
.....but Fedrigo is long gone.
Fedrigo finishes the descent and heads towards the finish.
Davis leaves Predictor Lotto's Johan Van Sumeren in his dust as he heads for the consoloation prize.
After yesterday's lack of focus, Team Discovery was on their game today, placing Davis on the podium again. Uros Murn was especially impressive today. Not only did he give Davis a nice leadout, but it was his strong pulls that propelled the chase group home.
With tomorrow's stage almost a formality, Allan Davis still has a shot at moving back into 2nd in the GC.
Murn's vault into the Top 10, put Discovery on top in the Overall Team Rankings. A true team effort today, as the squad protected Davis very well, gave him and Murn an opportunity to win the stage, and despite a tough climb, finished together with the main group. No shame in losing to Fedrigo, as he was just in ridiculous form. |
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