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Story of Orbea-Oreka
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 10-03-2008 20:50
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Starting from January 1st on Euskaltel's feeder team Orbea-Oreka. Team focus on developing young Basque talent 1st and foremost - although winning something ain't prohibited by any means 
The squad I inherited had following pool of talent and not-so-talented :
Edited by seldon71 on 10-03-2008 20:54
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 10-03-2008 20:55
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Care tell why you made two threads?
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-12-2024 02:55
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 10-03-2008 21:01
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I sure can not answer the question "why?" when I do not even know the answer to "how?" 
But this is the correct thread. 1st one lacks the team presentation attachment. |
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 10-03-2008 21:02
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Looks like Issoisso is going to have to repeat his quote  |
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 10-03-2008 21:02
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Right, i wanna be a productive mod and close the other thread. Also because i love the lock option.
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| issoisso |
Posted on 10-03-2008 21:10
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Tour de France Champion
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Waghlon wrote:
i love the lock option.
especially just after you post in an argument so you can have the final word 
Anyway, seldon71, as I was saying, if you stick to only basque riders I'll read this religiously
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 10-03-2008 21:32
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Well, won't be SOLELY Basque riders... but definitely trying to keep this linguistically and budget-wise realistic. I have recruited one Venezuelan, one Cuban and one Italian for the 1st season though.
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| boycie001 |
Posted on 10-03-2008 22:47
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brilliant presentation
if u keep that up for race reports, the story will go far 
good luck |
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 11-03-2008 21:20
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Total of 8 races to be concentrated on. Achieving goals appear to be heavily loaded on shoulders of Aarón Villegas. Need of some recruitment is also noticed and will be addressed soon.
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 11-03-2008 22:02
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Playing on PCM Spain DB with difficulty at "Hard" |
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 14-03-2008 18:15
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As already hinted in representation of season targets, the management of Orbea-Oreka has listed following needs to be addressed :
1) The total number of riders under contract is below our needs and would not enable us to compete in 2 simultaneous races ie. f ex Vuelta de Castilla y Leon & Tour de Normandie. We need to recruit minimum 5 riders to total number of 18 to be ready to tackle schedule and be insured against injuries.
2) We lack the captain for hilly/mountain 1-day races ie. GP Miguel Indurain and Klasika Primavera on the spring and then Subida Urkiola & Circuito de Getxo on late summer. One true leader is an absolute MUST!
3) There is a dire lack of mountain and hill helpers. Some additional climber team mates are needed in support of Villegas, Aramendia and the new captain.
However, it is also imperative to find people who WANT to ride for Orbea-Oreka. Our current riders are on semi-pro-level payments so there is NO way we are going to pay 10,000 or more to ANY rider. Cycling is a team sport and team spirit shall not be upset.
Introducing my 1st recruit who has written his name to a 2-year contract. From Mediterranean side of the Pyrenees and a BIG name from cyclo-cross world : Jose Antonio Hermida.
Born 24th of August, 1978 in Puigcerda, Province of Girona, Catalunya, Hermida is best known for his Olympic Silver Medal in Athens Olympics 2004. However, just last autumn our new biker was sent home from MTB World Championships before ever setting to the trail. Operacion Puerto was cited as the reason, but as of now there has been no conviction or a ban.
However, as a "persona non grata" in MTB, Hermida has welcomed the chance to join Orbea-Oreka and test his legs on asphalted roads. We hold our fingers crossed that there won't be no proven doping violation nor ban from CTT competition (ProTour races won't welcome Hermida but Orbea won't have many/any of those in calendar).
If let to race, Hermida should be really dependable climbing lieutenant.
Edited by seldon71 on 14-03-2008 18:16
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| p3druh |
Posted on 14-03-2008 18:19
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The picture didn't work the first time because you were missing an L in the link... Instead of html you had htm...
Good signing...
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 14-03-2008 18:47
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As there were not too many high class Spanish (never mind Basque) riders available on free market, we had no choice but look elsewhere as well. After targets like Matias Medici, Andrei Sartasov, Pedro Nicacio etc. were pricing themselves above our range, we were positively shocked to be able to close an acceptable deal with a rider with more "palmares" than the rest of the team combined!
Originally from Pescara, Ruggero Marzoli will be 31 years of age just before his spring target races : GP Indurail & Klasika Primavera! While no longer in developmental phase of his career, Marzoli should prove to be a real challenger for trophies of the targetted one-day races in his programme. Combining sprinting ability, climbing legs and stamina of grizzled veteran is a package which might just be enough to bring in victories not only Top 10 positions. Simply said we are ecstatic about this one-year contract.
Ruggero Marzoli has won 9 different stages + Trofeo Matteotti during his 8-year career in teams like Cantina Tollo, Alessio, Acqua-Sapone and Lampre. That without ever before being a designated and fully-supported team captain.
RuggeroMarzoli
173 cm, 61 kg
2.4.1976 in Pescara, Italy
Edited by seldon71 on 14-03-2008 18:50
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 16-03-2008 10:42
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As of 5th of January, Orbea-Oreka has secured the services for three years each of two more riders who shall be serving as adjutants for Aarón Villegas and Ruggero Marzoli :
1) Tomas Gil (Tomas Aurelio Gil Martinez)
Being born 23rd of May, 1977 in his native of Venezuela makes Gil already a veteran at 29 years of age.However, he is a newcomer to the world of professional cycling as his previous career has been solely completed as a member of Venezuelan National Cycling Team. That career includes a bronze medal in individual time trial of 2006 Central American & Caribbean Games in Cartageña, Colombia and a stage win in 2004 edition of Vuelta a Cuba. Gil is also a reigning Venezuelan Time Trial champion and will be proud to showcase his national jersey in time trial stages!
What is expected from Gil is simply put : tireless work for his captains. As soon as he reaches a satisfactory fitness he should be able to stay there until the final attacks. Should be a very important team mate.
No photo available of Gil at this point. Sorry for that.
2) Floren Marquez
18.5.1987 in Ossa de Montiel, Albacete
178 cm / 66 kg
Young talent from Albacete region was "stolen" from Saunier Duval's youth system and given a chance to join men's game already at age of 19. Marquez' 1st year will likeliest be spent in protecting team captains over the hills, but make no mistake : Together with Javier Aramendia, Marquez will be the future of the team. This recruitment should really start producing results on the 3rd contract year latest.
Edited by seldon71 on 16-03-2008 10:44
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 16-03-2008 17:01
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The great relationships between Spain and Cuba has netted Orbea-Oreka truly surprising inclusion : The reigning RR and TT champion of Cuba Arnold Alcolea!
Alcolea is only 24 years of age and already has a lot of international experience from South American races like Vuelta al Tachira, Vuelta a Cuba and Vuelta Ciclista a Costa Rica. That experience is not without successes either - he has won mountain jersey of his native tour while finishing 6th & 7th in overall standings. He also won 13th stage of 2007 Vuelta al Tachira just before joining the team.
Alcolea is a premier time triallist who doesn't really have any glaring weaknesses. Might well captain the team in some flatter stage race and gives a 3rd option for an asked-for stage win in Euskal Bizikleta.
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 16-03-2008 17:09
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And it is time to introduce the world the LAST, the YOUNGEST and maybe the MOST FAMOUS recruit of them all : Hodei Mazkiaran!
At only 18 years of age, Mazkiaran is already a household name in the world of track racing and keirin. The native of Alsasua, Navarra is a big boy at 193 cm and 85 kg which will cause struggle in getting over the hills, but watch out for him in TTs and some sprints.
Of course, Mazkiaran was mostly recruited for his publicity value and not for actual racing or results. He will be featured in some road competition but naturally will be (from team's viewpoint) hindered by keirin calendar and only available when those responsibilities do not overlap with Orbea-work. On the other hand, that enabled us to secure his (limited) services cheaply and let's see whether he becomes a more committed roadie after 2008 Olympics are out of the way.
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 18-03-2008 21:48
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Season starts in Marseille. Report attached.
Upcoming next is a run of Spanish 5-day stage races for conditioning (Mallorca, Ruta del Sol, Vuelta Valenciana)
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 19-03-2008 16:33
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Analysis of GP d'Ouverture La Marseillaise :
With the lone exception of Igor Romero who got dropped mid-way of the race on Col d'Espigoulier and driving solo could not reach the finish inside time limit, the Orbea team really excelled in season-opening race!
As his task was, Ivan Melero got to the breakaway and was a strong adhesive force in it by keeping the attacks in bay over the last 30 km. Very strong effort which enabled the rest of the team take it easy in the peloton.
Villegas showed surprisingly strong form in managing to make a solo jump from peloton to the breakaway. That strong and well-timed effort could have oh-so-easily produced a victory or podium spot, but not this time.
Aramendia handled the bunch sprint very well and performed way above his maturity level. Great 5th place from 20-year-old.
Also a really solid team performance from the helpers : Agirre, Fernandez, Zubero and Zumeta keeping their captains out of wind and trouble all the way to the finale.
I give a grade of 9/10 for the 1st race.
Now to Mallorca where a very diverse 5 days of the 16th Edition of Challenge Volta a Mallorca awaits :
Day 1 (Trofeo Mallorca) is a dead-flat 100 km circuit race on Palma's beachline promenades.
Day 2 (Trofeo Cala Millor-Cala Bona) is also a flattish race. As it is longer and bit undulating, it will require better condition levels than Day 1, but still should be sprinters' day
It all changes with Day 3 and Trofeo Pollenca - with 1st category Puig Major on the way and uphill finish at Es Colomer this will be a day for climbers when sprinters hope to be inside time limit instead of the podium.
And the same trend will go on with Trofeo Soller on Day 4 with no less than four 2nd category climbs in programme.
5-day Challenge ends with Trofeo Calvia - another lumpy-profiled race with long and fast-paced descent to the finish. You need to be well-positioned at the top and then go down as a daredevil.
Orbea is sending in the following team :
Josu Agirre
Javier Aramendia
Asier Fernandez
Ruggero Marzoli
Ivan Melero
Iker Mezo
Xabat Otxotorena
Aaron Villegas
Julen Zubero
Aramendia will be our only overall candidate, but Otxotorena will definitely be keen on 1st stage bunch sprint while Villegas & Melero are going to explore their chances on latter stages. For Marzoli this will be purely about getting racing kms in and the rest of the team are honing their form in helper's duties. |
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| seldon71 |
Posted on 20-03-2008 18:22
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Race report attached.
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| p3druh |
Posted on 20-03-2008 20:03
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Do you think you could start posting pictures and reports of the races?
Because most people really can't be bothered downloading the report...
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