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Project WorldTour | International Racing
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 19-11-2015 21:06
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
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There have been a great deal of stories told on the PCM.Daily site over the years. Some have been long stories, covering many years in-game and taking their team to new heights. Others last just 1-2 seasons, capturing the rise and fall of the life in a peleton.
We have had team stories, we have seen one rider stories. Stories have been told in a POV style from inside and some even come in the form a book, with chapters and acts. Everyone’s interpretation for a story is different, and each one has us glued to the site ready for the next installment.
This story is going to be my version, adding to the wide variety found on the site. It will be a Team Story, based around a custom British team on their rise through the Cycling Divisions. It will be written in a journalistic blog style, covering a number of stages within the one report. Major races or longer races may be covered in more than one report, but my aim is to have it styled similarly to my MG monthly reviews.
I hope you like it!
Database: PCMdaily EP V1.6 w/ some additions
Patch: v1.2.0.0
Difficulty: Hard
Prize Money Coefficent: x2.0
Edited by the_hoyle on 10-02-2016 21:39
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 19-11-2015 21:06
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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New Team on the Block
November 2014
For many, the Cycling Season is over for 2014, and slowly they are turning their attention a winter of rest, base training or Cyclo-Cross. However, there are one or two who still have their mind on the Road.
Gathered in front of a handful of National Cycling Journalists at the Sheffield Hallam University on a cold, blustery Yorkshire day, stood Dean Downing. Former National Champion both on the Road and in Criterium Races, he had just been released from his contract with British team NFTO. Aged 40, he is in his final years as a rider. But he has a vision to finish on a high note, and create a team that will be Britain's next big thing.
Throughout the season, the building blocks had been put in place for it all to kick off in 2015. Negotiations with Sponsors, sounding out riders and discussions with potential staff members all happened as Downing raced and travelled during 2014.
With the new season soon upon us in a couple of months, the time was right to reveal all to the public...
Edited by the_hoyle on 19-11-2015 22:31
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 19-11-2015 21:07
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Sponsors, Financial Banking & The Name
November 2014
Just a couple of weeks ago, Dean Downing announced his plans for the future - a final hurrah in the British Domestique peleton on his own built team that will take the world by storm! Since then, plans have been signed off, deals agreed and announcements were ready to be made.
First up was the company behind Dean's Project and team. Set up in his name, and honour, was DeanDowning Cycling Limited. With sponsors coming and going in the world of cycling, DeanDowning Cycling Limited would ensure continuity in the background and make sure the team was always solid platform to operate. It was based loosely around the idea of Jonathan Vaughters and Slipstream Sports.
Next came the Minor Sponsors - all British based, with most signing deals for two or three years. Of the deals, the one with Online Retailer Wiggle was certainly the biggest. With it, came announcements of links with Torq, as the squad's nutritional supplier, Pact Coffee, who were looking to grow their image amongst cyclists, and ukcyclingevents.co.uk, who are part of the Wiggle Sportive Events.
All this had been the build up to the big reveal of the main sponsor for the new season. Turning to his left, Dean proudly introduced Tom Mockridge, the CEO for Virgin Media. A one-year deal with the Telephone and Internet Service Provider was in place to form Virgin Media Racing, and it gave Dean and the others the perfect stepping stone to get things underway. Further sponsorship beyond 2015 would depend on results and success of the project.
Downing ended with some information on potential riders, but kept the cards close to his chest. All we knew was that there would be more than just British and Irish riders on the team.
Edited by the_hoyle on 19-11-2015 22:33
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 19-11-2015 21:09
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
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Let's Meet The Team
December 2014
The new season is only a month away, and Dean was busy putting the finishing touches to his new project. They had a vision, they had a financial backer, they had a name. All they needed now was some riders and a jersey.
The presentation was a low key affair at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester. The number of press personnel was larger than in Sheffield a few weeks ago, but it was still the usual faces in the crowd. It was what you expected for this sort of event with a new team on the block.
The management team was announced first. Two Director Sportives; Rob Hayles and Malcolm Elliott, were brought on stage to answer a few questions and give their insight on the project. Next came the riders out onto the stage area, proudly wearing the 2015 Team Kit. One-by-one, they were introduced to the crowd, followed by a brief overview of their career and their main attributes as a rider:
| . . .Name | Type | Age | 2014 Team |  Jonathan Cantwell | Sprinter | 32 | Drapac Professional Cycling |  Alex Coutts | Puncheur | 31 | RTS-Santic Racing Team | | Scott Davies | Time-trial | 19 | Madison Genesis | | Dean Downing | Sprinter | 39 | NFTO | | Russell Hampton | Baroudeur | 26 | Unattached | | Matthew Jones | Time-trial | 25 | Unattached |  Philip Lavery | Sprinter | 24 | Synergy Baku Cycling |  Maxime Le Lavandier | Climber | 22 | Neo-Pro | | James Moss | Sprinter | 29 | Velosure - Giordana | | Joseph Perrett | Time-trial | 23 | Team Raleigh | | Damien Shaw | Sprinter | 30 | Aquablue | | Dean Windsor | Sprinter | 28 | Unattached |
The jersey worn by the team looked nice. Designed by Brighton based designers Morvelo, it gave the riders a professional look, whilst offering enough to stand out from the rest of the peleton. It also gave away a few more sponsors which had not been revealed, in particular the Bike Manufacturers. Ribble Cycles, based in Preston, Lancashire, had come forward to provide the frames for this coming season, and was believed to be have agreed for 2016 as well.
The day concluded with a short track session around the velodrome in Manchester, with a number of different events put on for the crowd and press group. Jonathan Cantwell won the short 15km sprint race, Philip Lavery took the 10km Scratch Race, whilst Scott Davies stormed to the Individual Pursuit victory. Next stop for the squad was their training camp in Spain, where the season plans would be finalised.
Edited by the_hoyle on 21-11-2015 10:42
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 19-11-2015 21:10
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Season Planning
January 2015
Minus the Australian duo, the Virgin Media team, with management in tow, headed out to Southern Spain for some winter sun and to plan out the season ahead. It was also a good way to get an insight to the squad, see the riders on their daily life before the season got underway.
First was the week's briefing - an run over the training rides, individual meeting schedules etc. It looked like all standard stuff to Dean. He looked in his element to be honest.
It was around the hills and climbs of Andalucia that the majority of the training took place. Whilst one group of 8 headed out for the morning rider, the others stay back at the main base for their one-to-ones with the Management. Schedules, plans for development and how they see their future in cycling was all discussed at length and in detail. No stone was left unturned.
In other meeting rooms, it was a hive of activity. The phone was ringing off the hook with different race organisers confirming or declining invitation to events across Europe. Slowly over the week, the calendar began to fill up:
| January | | 8th - 11th | Australian National Championships | Australia | | . | | February | | 3rd - 8th | Etoiles des Besseges** | France | | . | | March | | 1st | La Drome Classic** | France | | 15th | Paris - Troyes** | France | | . | | April | | 6th | Tour of the Battenkill** |  United States | | 12th | Tour of the Reservoir | Great Britain | | 16th | GP de Denain** | France | | 26th | Rutland-Melton Classic | Great Britain | | . | | May | | 1st - 3rd | Tour de Yorkshire** | Great Britain | | 11th | Lincoln GP** | Great Britain | | 13th - 29th | Tour Series Rounds 1-6** | Great Britain | | 18th - 25th | An Post Ras | Ireland | | 31st | Boucles de l'Aulne-Chateaulin** | France | | . | | June | | 3rd - 13th | Tour Series Rounds 7-10 | Great Britain | | 21st - 24th | Tour of America's Dairyland** | United States | | 26th - 30th | Irish National Championships | Ireland | | 26th - 30th | British National Championships | Great Britain | | 27th - 29th | Championnat de France | France | | 29th | Wales GP | Great Britain | | . | | July | | 12th | Stockton Velo29-Altura GP | Great Britain | | 13th | GP de Pont a Marcq** | France | | 18th | East Yorkshire Classic | Great Britain | | 20th | Ryedale GP | Great Britain | | 25th | Central European Tour** |  Hungary | | . | | August | | 2nd | Prudential RideLondon Classic** | Great Britain | | 16th | GP Kralovehradeckeho Kraje |  Czech Republic | | . | | September | | 6th - 13th | Tour of Britain** | Great Britain | | . | | October | | 4th | Tour de Vendee** | France |
** indicates Sponsor Goal
As the week draw to a close, there was a real unity amongst the team, and a real bond between the different riders. They were happy with life in the newly formed squad, and all eyes now looked to Australian National Championships and Virgin Media's first ever race.
Edited by the_hoyle on 29-11-2015 12:59
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 19-11-2015 22:30
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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Cool 
I hope we have another great story on our hands, one to stay around for a while.
Good luck, man! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 19-11-2015 23:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Everything looking great and towards what will hopefully be a long and successful story for you, good luck mate |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 21-11-2015 10:48
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
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@Ian & Sutty: Thanks a lot guys! Looking forward to this, as it has been a while since I was in the story world
*****
Third reserved post has been updated - final one to be completed tonight and then the race reports will start
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 04-12-2024 08:45
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| Shonak |
Posted on 21-11-2015 11:12
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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all the best, the introduction and first posts are already amazing and got me hooked
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Kiserlovski01 |
Posted on 21-11-2015 11:36
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4057
Joined: 26-04-2012
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Great to see you back in the story section, I'll follow for sure! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 21-11-2015 23:41
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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Nice mixture of youth and talent in the squad  |
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 23-11-2015 11:41
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Team Leader
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Im ready when you are.  just keep em com'in
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 25-11-2015 21:14
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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@shonak: Nice to see you following and liking the introduction posts - I'm hoping to have the story grow as the season goes on
@kis: Great to be back and nice to see you following!
@sutty: that was the plan. Youth to stay with the team going forward, and talent for the current season
@tamijo: nice to see you following - I should give your Christina Watches story a look over some time soon
*****
The final introduction post has been updated - time to get the racing underway 
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 26-11-2015 03:49
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Being relatively new to this forum, this is the first story I'll be following from the start. Should be fun
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| NikVis28 |
Posted on 26-11-2015 06:08
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Amateur
Posts: 17
Joined: 16-11-2015
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Looking forward to this one. Sure it's gonna be great! |
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| DiCyc |
Posted on 26-11-2015 06:36
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Sprinter
Posts: 1636
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Good luck, it looks like a great story |
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 26-11-2015 11:03
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Team Leader
Posts: 7406
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looking forward to the :Etoiles des Besseges
Will be the first important test, to see how the team can compete in a tough 2.1.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 26-11-2015 15:52
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Nice looking calendar for the guys to get there teeth in to |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 26-11-2015 19:06
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Cool calendar, looking forward to get the racing started |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 29-11-2015 12:58
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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@AbhishekLFC, NikVis28 & DiCyc: Thanks and nice to see you here
@Tamijo, Sutty & Ian: I think the calendar should give the team a good challenge over the season, and the riders could be out of their depth at times, but it will be worthy experience
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