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J.O. - Being a Pro ||
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| Faillu |
Posted on 19-08-2013 18:13
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Domestique
Posts: 418
Joined: 14-02-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Zdravstvuyte i dobro pozhalovat' syuda!
Well, maybe I should do this introduction in English, as this is an English website. Since I moved to Moscow, Russian has been the only language I’ve spoken, and therefore I’ve almost forgotten what English is. But I guess I’m ok, as I still remember what the first sentence means, hello, and Welcome to this place!
That’s exactly what I think about it now, because I want to welcome you to my place. Here I’ll share my experiences throughout my cycling career with you. So now, after this intro, I can finally introduce myself properly.
My name is… Wait, I’ll only tell my initials, J.O. I was born in Copenhagen the 14th of March 1994. My mother is Russian and my father is Danish. With parents from two different countries, I’ve learned both languages and speak them fluently. But because we stayed in Denmark, I haven’t had the chance to speak Russian, which is one of the reasons why I moved to Moscow.
My passion for cycling came very late, if you count Russian cyclists in. I was 13 when I bought my first real bike. It was much heavier than my team mates’ bikes. They used to turn it down, and tried to convince me I was stupid. But when we were racing, I was always thinking, when I get a lighter bike, we’ll see who’s the best. The next season was my season. I bought a new bike, and then things happened fast. My prediction was right. The muscles I had built by riding on a heavy bike were now coming my way. Suddenly, I was much faster and stronger than the rest. I began winning local races and I enjoyed myself.
When I was 16, I decided to move to Russia to stay with my grandparents. My plan was to stay there for a year and then move back, but I never moved back. I simply fell for Russia. All those people saying, that Russia is crap can go eat their words. There are so many things here which are awesome. The culture, the people and much more.
I continued my cycling, and after one of my wins Viacheslav Ekimov, general manager of Katusha Team came to me.
Yа lyublyu yego!
He loved it! He loved my way of cycling! This was something important for me. The general manager of Katusha loved me! He told me that I had a chance to be professional, and I could try riding with Itera – Katusha for some time to see if I was good enough. I immediately said yes, but I had to tell my family about it. They were as happy as me. So for this season I signed a contract with Itera - Katusha and this is where I am now.
I’ve taken the first step in my journey to be professional!
Here's my stats at the beginning of my journey,
Edited by Faillu on 04-01-2014 15:15
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 19-08-2013 18:14
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Best of luck here  Hope J.O. does well  |
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| Faillu |
Posted on 19-08-2013 18:15
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Domestique
Posts: 418
Joined: 14-02-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Ian Butler wrote:
Best of luck here Hope J.O. does well
Hey thanks man
I'll hope that too. |
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| krisa |
Posted on 19-08-2013 18:16
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3962
Joined: 12-04-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Good luck
btw weird name
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| Faillu |
Posted on 19-08-2013 18:18
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Domestique
Posts: 418
Joined: 14-02-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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krisa wrote:
Good luck
btw weird name
Heh... It's my initials. |
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| 547984 |
Posted on 19-08-2013 21:31
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5008
Joined: 29-01-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Good luck.
J.O. 
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar! |
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 19-08-2013 21:33
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Team Leader
Posts: 6690
Joined: 11-10-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Good luck!
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 19-08-2013 23:40
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Looks interesting, Good Luck  |
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| baia |
Posted on 19-08-2013 23:46
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5398
Joined: 04-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Looks interesting... good luck.
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| Selwink |
Posted on 20-08-2013 09:19
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8856
Joined: 17-05-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Good luck! When will you reveal your full name?
Edited by Selwink on 20-08-2013 09:19
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| Faillu |
Posted on 20-08-2013 15:15
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Domestique
Posts: 418
Joined: 14-02-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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@547984
Thanks 
@admirschleck
Thanks
@sutty68
Thanks
@baia
Thanks
@Selwink
I don't know, but maybe if I managed to be professional. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-12-2024 07:28
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| krisa |
Posted on 20-08-2013 15:20
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3962
Joined: 12-04-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Jacob Olsen? sounds danish!!!
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| Faillu |
Posted on 20-08-2013 16:55
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Domestique
Posts: 418
Joined: 14-02-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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krisa wrote:
Jacob Olsen? sounds danish!!!
Nope not quite,
But almost. |
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| Faillu |
Posted on 20-08-2013 17:00
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Domestique
Posts: 418
Joined: 14-02-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Zdravstvuyte
I’m starting to like this cycling life here in Russia. You have to be well organised and that suits me very well. People in Denmark were telling me that I’m an organised person. Therefore I’ve had this good start, which makes me think positive and hope that a bright future awaits me.
The 5th of January 2013 was the day when I met the team for the first time. All the riders and the coaching staff of Itera – Katusha were there. At first glance they looked very professional, even though it’s only a continental team. Then Dmitriy Konyshev stood up and started talking. Because not all of you speak Russian, I have with me the English translation,
“Welcome everybody, to this first meeting of the season.
The rest of the management staff and I are glad that we’re all here to meet each other. To make sure we don’t just sit here, we have decided to make a little presentation game. We must tell a bit about ourselves. When everybody is done presenting, everyone has to remember a thing about someone else. If a person doesn’t remember the thing, or if it wrong, they must drink some of this vodka. Let’s begin the game.”
When the game was over, I had hopefully remembered everything, and didn’t have to drink vodka. While we were talking, I managed to speak with every other rider. They all asked about my nationality, and which of the two countries I liked most. They almost forced me to say Russia, but every time I said both. I really haven’t made any of them into my friends, but Alexander Ryabkin seems to be a good person talking with. Dmitriy Konyshev stepped up to the microphone again and told that there would be a small break, and the meeting would continue afterwards.
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Now it was time to more serious stuff. We had to know the plans for the season, and thus the goals for each rider. The goals were announced public, so everybody knew when a rider was riding and how they had to plan their fitness. My goals are these,
I guess they’re okay as I’m not professional yet. But I have no idea, why there are no Russian races included. We are though a Russian team. Everybody else is riding in Russia. It might be because I’m not a Russian and only the second non-Russian rider in the team ever. I’m sure I will impress Dmitriy Konyshev so much, that I will get to ride in Russia at some point. I’ll eventually get into a race if someone gets injured or something else which prevents them from race. Underneath I’ve added my feelings of the races,
#1 goal – Étoile de Bessèges
That is an ok race for me, as all the stages are flat enough for me to keep up. It would be even better if there was a time trial included. I love breakaways so I might sneak into some of them during the race. For me that’s the perfect way of winning, getting away from the other riders in the group, and then ride home solo. Overall it’s a decent race, but I don’t think it’s the perfect race for me.
#2 goal – Royal Smilde Olympia Tour
I didn’t even know about this race until Dmitriy Konyshev told me about it. Apparently it’s ridden in Norway, and it consists of a few hilly stages. Again, I’m more the flat type of rider, which can ride for a high tempo over a long period. I can keep up at some climbs, but definitely not when it’s more like mountains. As I said, I didn’t know about this race before I was told about it, so I’ll have to wait and see what I can do in it.
#3 goal – Post Danmark Rundt
This race is the biggest in my other home country. This is probably my only chance to shine in Denmark the whole year so I have to do well here. If I do well, my popularity would increase so I pretty much have to do well. I think it’s pretty safe to say, that this is going to be my most important race of the season. I simply have to shine here.
#4 goal – Chrono des Nations
Here it is, my favourite discipline in cycling, time trial. I believe this is the only race which only consists of a time trial. It’s in the end of the season, which makes it a good way to end the season. I’m chasing a top 10 position in this race. I know it’ll be hard but I can do it because I’m me, and I never give up.
I’ll see you again at Étoile de Bessèges, where I will update regularly.
Edited by Faillu on 20-08-2013 17:03
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| Selwink |
Posted on 20-08-2013 18:18
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8856
Joined: 17-05-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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1. Olympia's tour is ridden in the Netherlands
2. Those seem some tough goals for you, but they should be possible
3. I don't think everybody would mind to lose that game
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| baia |
Posted on 20-08-2013 18:28
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5398
Joined: 04-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Well, imo Dmitriy Konyshev didn´t choosed the best races for you but he should know what he´s doing...
Good luck for the races..
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| Faillu |
Posted on 20-08-2013 18:40
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Domestique
Posts: 418
Joined: 14-02-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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@Selwink
Oops, that one is my mistake.
@baia
I guess he's kinda sceptical about foreigners |
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| _AlEkS |
Posted on 20-08-2013 19:32
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Free Agent
Posts: 122
Joined: 15-12-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Ydachi, ya bydy sledit` za tvoei istoriei)
Good luck, I`ll follow your story) |
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| Faillu |
Posted on 21-08-2013 14:34
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Domestique
Posts: 418
Joined: 14-02-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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_AlEkS wrote:
Ydachi, ya bydy sledit` za tvoei istoriei)
Good luck, I`ll follow your story)
Bolshoe spasibo.
Edited by Faillu on 21-08-2013 15:35
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| Faillu |
Posted on 23-08-2013 13:58
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Domestique
Posts: 418
Joined: 14-02-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Bonjour
I’m in France at Étoile de Bessèges, and this is tough. Basically this first stage has been hell. Even though I managed to keep up with the best riders, this was a harder first race than I thought. Now you can say I am not good enough, and I shouldn’t have signed this contract, but I ended as our second best rider in this stage. After all this reflecting, let’s see how the stage actually turned out.
It was pretty good terrain for me to start out with. No real difficulties, which would make me feel comfortable in the pack, and therefore relax during this first race as a Katusha rider. As you can see in the profile, there were two climbs. Our plan was to get in a break and then hope to reach the summit of the climbs first, which would result in a mountain jersey tomorrow. I couldn’t get in a break because I wasn’t at the right place at the right time, but fortunately Alexander Ryabkin was there. He attacked and got away with Julien Duval – Roubaix Lille Metropole and Antonino Parrinello – Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela. After a lot of attacks, the peloton finally let them some riders get away. At the first climb this happened,
Yeah… Alexander isn’t the best climber in the world. He ended last in the front group. Antonino Parrinello came first. He is a climber so it’s only natural that he comes first. Things were still looking good for the breakaway with just over 7 minutes. Well, Alexander had another chance at the second climb. I was relaxing in the pack while talking to David Millar - Garmin - Sharp, who later had an important role.
Alexander didn’t reach the other climb first either. In fact he ended last again. Antonino Parrinello won again. Yeah, yeah, yeah, congratulations and all that stuff. I wanted to see a Katusha mountain jersey for tomorrow, but now we don’t have one. Just shortly after, the break was caught and the sprinters started to make their trains. Those locomotive men ride fast. About 55 km an hour. This is where this stage turned into hell. Basically the locomotive men accelerated and I struggled to keep up with the front riders. Even Sergey Nikolaev struggled. He is our best sprinter, and usually when he struggles, it’s because the pace is really high. In the end I ended as number 57th with Baden Cooke - Greenedge as the winner.
| 1 | Baden Cooke | Garmin - Sharp | 3h27'22 | | 2 | Julien Simon | Sojasun | s.t. | | 3 | Kevyn Ista | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 4 | Aidis Kruopis | Orica-Greenedge | s.t. | | 5 | Gert Steegmans | Omega Pharma - Quickstep Cycling Team | s.t. | | 6 | Gianni Meersman | Omega Pharma - Quickstep Cycling Team | s.t. | | 7 | Brett Lancaster | Orica-Greenedge | s.t | | 8 | Romain Feillu | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | Kristoff Goddaert | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 10 | Taylor Phinney | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 57 | J.O. | Itera-Katusha | s.t. |
Edited by Faillu on 23-08-2013 14:46
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