Hi guys, I want to present you my new rider, a 19-year-old Spanish climber, named Javier Nadal, and as you may have guessed, is a little brother of tennis star Rafael Nadal. But let’s give Javi the chance to present himself.
“Hi, my name is Javier Nadal. I was born in Manacor, Illes Balears, Spain in January, 1st 1997. As a cyclist my speciality are the climbs. I have won lots of races in my junior career, and because of that I was offered to ride with Lotto Soudal development team, Lotto U23. I signed a 1-year contract with the Belgian team.
All my life I had to deal with being Rafa’s brother. Always I’ve been acussed of using my “status” to be part of the best teams in all categories. But I have always answered them on the road, beating them. For me it’s not nice to be known as Nadal’s brother, but I will fight to earn myself a name on the sport for not being considered anymore Rafa’s brother, instead of being Javi.
Talking about the team; obviously, the team is like 80% composed of Belgian rider, but for my lucky, the team has another Spanish rider, 22-year-old Joaquin Torres, who I think will make my time here easier. Also, we have a Dane, a Britany, an Aussie, and a New Zealander. After having a look on my team-mates, Belgian Dries van Gestel might be the strongest rider. He’s a bit older than me (21 years) but I think he can develop into a great Ardennes rider.
This year I will have the chance to race all the under-23 calendar, with races as Liege U23, Tour de L’Avenir, Giro della Valle de Aosta, Piccolo Lombardia… But I was a bit disappointed when I was told that as I’m a rider of a U23 team, I’m not eligible for Spanish National Championships. It’s a shame, but in the end it doesn’t even matter
Well guys, see you soon in the team presentation, together with the main team. Is set to be on December 20 in Brugge”
Javier Nadal Nationality: Birth: 01/01/1997 Specialization: Climber / Stage Races
PCM Version: 2015 Database: PCMdaily V1.5 (well, i almost changed it completely) Starting year: 2016 Dificulty: Hard
Track record
Teams
Spoiler
2016: Lotto U23 (U23)
Overall Results
Spoiler
Fleche Ardennaise (2016)
Giro della Valle d'Aosta (2016)
Trofeo PIVA (2016)
Trofeo Almar (2016)
4x Stage Giro della Valle d'Aosta (2016)
Stage Ronde de L'Isard (2016)
Stage Tour de L'Avenir (2016)
Stage Giro del Friuli (2016)
KOM ZLM Roompot Tour (2016)
KOM Tour des Pays de Savoie (2016)
KOM Giro della Valle d'Aosta (2016)
Points Giro della Valle d'Aosta (2016)
2016 Results
Spoiler
-PCM Cup 1 (CYA) : 26º
-PCM Cup 2 (CYA) : 96º
-PCM Cup 3 (CYA) : 5º
-GP de la Ville de Nogent-sur-Oise (1.2U) 22º
-Kattekoers (1.2) 80º
-Trofeo PIVA (1.2U) 1º
-Ronde van Vlaanderen U23 (1.2U) 9º
-ZLM Roompot Tour (2.2U) 47º + KOM
-Liege-Bastogne-Liege U23 (1.2U) 2º
-Fleche Ardennaise (1.2) 1º
-Circuit de Wallonie (1.2) 21º
-Ronde de L'Isard (2.2U) 3º + 1 stage + 1 day leader
-Course de la Paix (2.2U) 23º
-Tour des Pays de Savoie (2.2U) 3º + KOM
-Giro della Valle d'Aosta (2.2U) 1º + 4 stages + Points + KOM + 5 days leader
-Trofeo Almar (1.2U) 1º
-Tour de L'Avenir (2.2U) 3º + 1 stage + 2 days leader
-Giro del Friuli (2.2U) 1 stage + 2 days leader
(Speaker): Welcome everyone to the Lotto Soudal 2016 Team Presentation! We also have today the under-23 squad, Lotto U23. Maybe, in next year’s presentation, one of this young guys will be presented with the “big guys”.
We’re gonna start with the “young boys”. In first place, we have the 20-year-old Steff Cras, from Belgium
(…)
And the last of the Belgian rider, 21-year-old Dries van Gestel !! Starting with the foreign rider, 19-year-old James Shaw, from England
(…)
And last, but not least, the 18-year-old Spaniard, Javier Nadal!!
Then I sat with my team-mates to see the main team presentation
(Speaker): (…) With all of you, the 10-time Tour de France stage winner, the “Gorilla”, ANDRE GREIPEL!!
The first dream has comed true. I was almost face to face with some of the best riders of the peloton, like Greipel, Wellens, De Gendt, Benoot, Gallopin… I can barely believe this!
My next commitment will be my debut in PCM Cup 1, in January 10
It’s the day. My first race day with Lotto U23 is a reality.
I’m at the starting line in San Sebastian, ready to ride PCM Cup 1. It’s a hilly route, and as is unlikely that I will finish in the main group, I agreed with the team to enter into the breakaway. My breakaway are Bravo (Murias Taldea) and Martin (Burgos BH). I’m only caught when I am in the steepest slopes of the last climb, after an attack from Pieter Weening (Team Roompot ), who finally wins the race, making a 1-2 with Maurits Lammertink. At the end, I finish the race just outside top25, also been the best from my team. What a first race day!
4 days later, we have the second PCM Cup, a flat stage, suited for sprinters. As in the first one, I get into the breakaway, just looking for experience points. In the sprint, Barry Markus beats Jakub Mareczko and Nicola Ruffoni, for a second straight win for Team Roompot
We arrive to the last PCM Cup, which has the hardest route. A day plenty of climbs, which makes me think that if I have a great day, I might be able to make it into the top10.
After anyone attacked in the final climb, I was able to stay on the favourites group, which was not bigger than 30 riders. The final kilometre is uphill, so definitely if I’m able to place myself in the front, I could make it into the top10. Weening sprints, and I try to follow Cunego’s wheel. Weening make 3 out of 3 for Team Roompot, in front of Cunego and Mauro Finetto. With an agonic sprint, I finish fifth, just in front of Linus Gerdemann and Pello Bilbao. Wow!
From now, I will have a 1 month and a half break from races, before taking part in GP de la Ville de Nogent-sur-Oise , the first 1.2U race of the season.
Spoiler
Don't worry if you are missing screenshots. I forgot to do it in the first races, but from the next one not, the following one, you will have screenshots with the reports.
Anyway, i think that everyone that have played PCM 15 should know exactly how are PCM Cup routes
As a Majorcan, the main team invited me to have an experience to be part of Lotto Soudal for a few days. Obviously, I wasn’t going to compete in Vuelta a Mallorca, but I was going to see how the team works, things that might help me during the season. I also had the opportunity to talk with riders such as Rafa Valls, who went into a top10 place in GC, and Thomas De Gendt, who ended second in final stage. The team was able to celebrate the two stages won by the “Gorilla”. Two great nights!
After Rafa’s early departure from Australian Open, he was back in Manacor earlier than expected, so we were able to have a ride together. I clearly dropped him in the climbs, but he recovered pretty well in the flat.
One month later, I was heading to France to race the GP de la Ville de Nogent-sur-Oise. The route doesn’t suit me at all, so my job will be helping one of my team-mates. The race was won by German Willy Willwohl (LKT-Team-Brandenburg). James Shaw ended in 5th place, and I finished inside top25.
Next week I had to ride by first time in Belgian roads. Kattekoers, a 1.2 race, was awaiting us. The “Kemmelberg” will be done twice during the race, and with my 52 in cobbles, I don’t expected to finish in the main group.
As I predicted, I was dropped in the second ascent to Kemmelberg. Pieter Jacobs (Topsport Vlaanderen) took the win, and neither of my team-mates were able to finish in top15.
After the race we received some great news. Tony Gallopin was the Paris-Nice winner, just in front of two superstars, Alejandro Valverde and Alberto Contador.
My next commitment will be a 2-week training camp in Livigno, from where we will be heading into our next race, Trofeo PIVA (1.2U)
We’re already in April, and I will be racing in Italy, the Trofeo PIVA. This race is a 9-lap circuit around Col San Martino. It includes one climb, which makes this race my first real chance to win a race this season.
A 3-men breakaway is in the front until the start of last climb, where in its middle part I would go onto the attack
Quickily, I’m able to gain thirty seconds advantage, thanks to the attack-stop tactic of the other favourites. In a certain moment, just about starting descent, a 3-men group is really close to me, less than 20 seconds. But they don’t collaborate so they are catched by the peloton.
I just have to cross the line for taking my first U23 win...
And there it is!!! YEAH!
Here you can see me in the podium
Wait a moment… why is not my name in the oficial result? Why has someone change my name to Rafael??? They had to do this to me today? The day of my first U23 win? Really? Incredible …
Ronde van Vlaanderen U23
Then I will go to Oudenaarde, where Peter Sagan won, a week ago, his first ever Monument classic, to race the under-23 Tour de Flanders.
It’s not a race where I expected to win again, so my goal might be finishing in the main group.
After all cobbles sections (only 3 or 4) I was still in the main group. Obviously, I had no chance to win this in the sprint, so I just watched how Dutchman Stef Kurl beat Ivan Garcia Cortina in the sprint. I surprised myself finishing ninth in the sprint
The same day, Sagan made the cobbles’ double, winning in Roubaix his second straight Monument. My next race will be a 3-day stage race, ZLM Roompot Tour
Thanks! Javi is really looking good, but also he's far from his best shape. That's because his main objetives will be around August-October, with Tour de L'Avenir, Giro del Friuli and Piccolo Lombardia
DiCyc
It was made on purpose, for the story
welker3257
Thanks, i will have in count, but for the two next chapters, it won't be possible
It’s mid-april and I’m going to compete in my first U23 stage race, ZLM Roompot Tour. There will be 3 days, with two flat stages, and a 15-km timetrial. I will try to win the KOM, and also test myself by the first time in a TT.
As I said, I’m gonna fight for KOM, so I got into breakaway, with just another rider. Allessio Bottura. I pass first in the only categorised climb of the day.
Obviously, I receive my KOM jersey in stage 1 podium
The TT is awaiting in the second stage
I start my first TT with the polka dot jersey
The win is for Dutchman Stef Krul (Metec-TKH), who previously won Flanders U23. Succesfull season for the 20-year-old.
In last stage, I entered the breakaway again, looking for securing KOM. Again I was first in the top of the only climb of the day, so I won KOM.
Overall goes to Stef Krul, with Brent Luyckx (Leopard DT) and Ivan Lutsenko (Itera-Katusha) joining him in the podium. I manage to finish 47th out of 50 riders. I didn’t care about this GC, obviously.
Liege-Bastogne-Liege U23
In the first day of May, we have the second U23 Monument of the season, Liege-Bastogne-Liege U23, which has a shorter route, and in its final part is a bit different. Instead of ending in Cote de Ans, like the Profesional race does, it finish after 4 flat km, still in Ans.
Surprisingly, I will race alone, with no team-mates, as in the same day other team members will be racing the Frankfurt U23 Classic, and a stage race in Poland, also U23, which has no real route, only the “Plouay stages”
Almost with 40 km to arrive to Ans, we’re passing through La Redoute. After this steep hill, there’s only a 4-men group, in which I am included.
In the Cote de Sant-Tilman, Alex Peters attacks and drops me
For a few kilometres, the diference keeps constant in 30 seconds, but only when we’re climbing Cote d’Ans, I can reduce the gap to 15 seconds
But I had almost no energy left, so it’s impossible for me to reduce the gap, and Alex Peters wins 2016 Liege-Bastogne-Liege U23, being the successor to Guillaume Martin, who won last year in front of Silvio Herklotz and Tao Geoghegan Hart
My first goal of this season is not accomplished, but at least is a second place, which is not that bad.
Hilly one-day race in Belgium. Being listed as one of the pre-race favourites makes me happy and confident about a great result in the finish of Beaufays
A crash with 35 km to the finish, left Van Gestel out of contention, making me the only leader of the team.
The final part is 4-lap circuit around Beaufays.
Seeing the passivity of the bunch, I decide to attack before starting the final lap, because there are some escapees that have more than a 2-minute gap
In the very last kilometre I catch Jakobsen (SEG Racing) , who was race leader alone
In the end, I beat him in the sprint to take my second win of the season
Circuit de Wallonie
At the following day, I have another one-day race in Belgium, the Circuit de Wallonie
Here we can see how is the final part, another circuit with a steep hill, a “Murito”. If I have energy left there, I should be able to perform well
We’re on the second to last pass by the “Murito”, and it looks than I won’t be able to fight for the win, due to my little energy left for the final lap
In the end, Frederik Veuchelen (Wanty) wins the race by being better than his breakaway mates. Elmar Reinders (Jo Piels) and Kenny Dehaes complete the podium
It’s time for my first stage race with mountains, Ronde de L’Isard. My main rivals will be Robert Power (Jayco-Ais) and Aurelien Paret-Peintre (Chambery CF)
First stage will take us to a mountain finish, in Goulier Neige
In a 1st categorised climb, 50 km away from the finish, Paret-Peintre and Power attack. I decide to stay within the group, with Hermans and Cras pulling from the group. When we are passing the intermediate sprint, I am 2 minutes away from race leader.
I choose to stay in the group, despite my team-mates has no energy left, at least until the 3rd categorised climb which is less than 15 km from the finish. The disadvantage keeps increasing to 3 minutes. In the climb I catch Power’s group, and now there are only 2 riders in front, Paret-Peintre, and a breakaway guy
With only 5 km to go, I managed to reduce to distance to less than 2 minutes
I push to my limit to close on the French rider, and with 600 metres to go I’m almost on his wheel.
I sprint first, exploding with 100 metres to go, but Paret-Peintre can’t pass me. YES!! What a win!!
Second stage will take us to the top of Plateau de Beille, an amazing climb, long and steep. A bad day here and your race is over.
Feelings are not the best with a -1 at Plateau’s bottom
, and with 11 km to the top, Lafay (Chambery) sets an storming rhythm which drops me from the reduced group of favourites, which only include Paret-Peintre, with Lafay, and Power, who yesterday lost 4 minutes.
With 5 to go, I pass the 3 minutes barrier. This climb has been for me like a slap in my face.
In the end, Paret-Peintre sprints to win the stage, with Lafay making the 1-2, and Power being third.
My loss is about 3 minutes, but I still have more than 1 minute over Power for keeping my second place. Let’s see what I can do in the two stages left.
After winning in Goulier Neige and collapsing in Plateau de Beille, I have two stages left in this stage race to comeback and try to win the GC
Hilly stage, where my 71 in VAL should be enough for fighting for stage wins, unless a breakaway makes it to the end.
I go onto the attack in the penultimate ascent, with 14 km to go. Power tries to follow me
It looks that Power and me are going to sprint for the stage win, having a 30-seconds advantage after last summit, but Power attacks me just before the 3 km banner, and takes the stage win.
I just had to settle for second place.
With the 15 seconds that I have taken from Paret-Peintre, plus the 6 second bonus, I reduce the distance to 3’02. With just one stage left, it’s unlikely that I will overcome that disadvantage
Final stage of 2016 Ronde de L’Isard. This stage will end in Saint Girons, after three first categorised climb, each one with more difficulty than the previous one. It won’t be easy to take 3 minutes on Paret-Peintre, but as I already have a stage win, it’s all for the overall
Oh! There is a crash for race leader! He’s been dropped from my group. His entire team waits from him, and at the same time, I am awarded with a provisional +5. This is getting better. If Paret-Peintre is still behind when we start the final climb, anything can happen
A few km later, two of my team-mates crashs
Meanwhile, Paret-Peintre catches us and we start all together the 25-km climb. I decide to attack with 16 km to the summit, after watching the very slow rhythm that Paret-Peintre team-mates are doing
As yesterday’s stage, only Power tries to follow me. With 10 km to the top, we have a 1-minute advantage on leader’s group
Power attacks me, and I just stay on my rhythm. With more than 25 km of descent, having some energies will be key, if I want to win this race. Behind, Lafay seems to be doing a Froome-Wiggins with Paret-Peintre
Power is the first to reach the summit. I’m 1 minute behind him, and further 45 seconds is Paret-Peintre with Lafay
Paret-Peintre is a better descender than me, so he catches me quickily, and even drop me during some km, but in the flat to Saint Girons i’m able to stay with him. In the front, Robert Power takes stage win. Paret-Peintre beats me in the sprint for second.
Finally, I end in third place in GC.
Next one, Course de la Paix U23, in Czech Republic
Another 2.2U race, now in Czech Republic, la Course de la Paix. There will be only 3 stages, but there are one flat, one mountain and one hilly. My main rivals for the overall win, are likely to be the Axeon riders, Ruben Guerreiro and Tao Geoghegan Hart
The first stage is a flat one, expect for the start, which features two little climbs, and should be one for the sprinters, which quality is not very good, as this race concurs with Paris-Roubaix U23, and most of the sprinters in U23 teams are more likely to race in Roubaix than in Czech Republic
In the sprint, Franco Ballerini (Unieuro Willier) wins from Van Gestel. I finish sixth, thanks to my good ACE stat
The second stage will be the hardest, an stage where you can win or lose this race, with the final ascent to Praded
The rhythm is really high during the first part of the race, and only because of my +5 I’m able to stay in the group of favourites at the start of Praded.
Geoghegan Hart launches an attack with 6 km, and I follow his wheel, but I’m not able to close the gap
Under the 1 km banner, the gap is 12 seconds. Tao doesn’t look to be able to sprint, that’s my chance to win
I sprint with 700 meters to go, but is not enough
Geoghegan Hart wins stage 2 of Course de la Paix. I finish second in same time, but 3 seconds behind him in GC, because of bonus time.
The last stage is a hilly one. It will a tough fight to recover those 3 seconds on the Britain
In the descent of the first climb of the day, I crash
Van Gestel has also crashed with me, and a couple of Unieuro’s rider. After a few kilometres, It’s obvious that I can’t follow Van Gestel’s rhythm
With 60 km to the end, I’m empty of energy
At least, after Pols collapse with a -5, I have a team-mate with me for passing through this easier
Adrien Costa wins the stage, with Geoghegan Hart finishing second and taking the overall win. I cross the line more than 11 minutes later than Costa, and I go down to 23rd place in GC. What a disappointment
sounds like a promising beginning!
Pieter Weening (Team Roompot 
), who finally wins the race, making a 1-2 with 
Jakub Mareczko 
and 
and 
Linus Gerdemann and 
, the first 1.2U race of the season.
