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Paul Sherwen-Pinarello Racing Team
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 19-08-2008 20:19
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Grand Tour Champion
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I've done it.
I've quit ITV's Tour de France commentary box to pursue a new career.
A new career as a Directeur Sportif.
I've always felt I was a great tactician and with my contacts in Britain I hope to land myself a position on a domestic team here. Maybe I won't start at the top in a team but I hope I will soon be there in one. I felt a change in my life was necessary and now I've made one.
I'm off job-hunting.
Edited by wackojackohighcliffe on 22-10-2008 17:17
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 19-08-2008 20:58
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Grand Tour Champion
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I've been talking to Dave Brailsford and he says that there are no domestic teams with a position available for me. This is a setback. I doubt that a continental team would be willing to take me on so it closes down my options.
However, Dave hinted that their might be a position open on one of the national teams. But he's being a bit cryptic, kind of unusual. I wonder what it is. And I wonder if there's a catch. |
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| willyfantastic |
Posted on 19-08-2008 22:41
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Junior Rider
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interesting B) |
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 20-08-2008 00:06
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Team Leader
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I'll only read if Ligget isn't providing the commentary on the races.
Some Ligget classics for all of you who haven't heard the commentary those two provide:
"And there's trouble in the engine room"
"He's dancing on the pedals"
"And it appears he's counted his chickens before they hatched"
Imagine watching an exciting tour stage and having that screamed in your face with a British accent, yeah, its that bad. |
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| matt493 |
Posted on 20-08-2008 03:22
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Classics Specialist
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Deadpool wrote:
I'll only read if Ligget isn't providing the commentary on the races.
Some Ligget classics for all of you who haven't heard the commentary those two provide:
"And there's trouble in the engine room"
"He's dancing on the pedals"
"And it appears he's counted his chickens before they hatched"
Imagine watching an exciting tour stage and having that screamed in your face with a British accent, yeah, its that bad.
I dont think is that bad. Who wants a boring announcer?
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 20-08-2008 07:01
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Sprinter
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Joined: 25-03-2007
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Looks good 
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
[url=(color=#0000ff] Team Info[/url]
Media Room
You'll Never Walk Alone |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 20-08-2008 08:52
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
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And with that memory beginning to fail him already he'll soon be forgetting my name
don't worry Ligget's voice will stay well away from the racing
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 20-08-2008 09:15
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
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Still being cryptic, Dave had phoned me up two days ago and told me to meet him at Mallory Park, an important British Cycling training base.I woke up late this morning and I hopped on my bike, eager to get down there and start on the right foot. I completely forget about a recently sustained injury until I was halfway there, when my right kneegave way. I had to think fast. So I called up a taxi and locked my bike to the nearby railings of the local pub. |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 20-08-2008 09:56
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
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I arrived in a hurry to find Dave standing outside the clubhouse.
"Where were you? We've been waiting ages for you."
"I'm sorry. The bike malfunctioned" I lied, covering up my own failures.
"Don't worry. Come on in. Simon's here."
"Simon who?"
"Simon Burney"
"OK"
Wait. Wasn't he the manager of the British....
"Hi Paul"
"Hello Simon"
"Please take a seat. I see that you want a position as a directeur sportif somewhere in England." said Dave.
"Anywhere in Britain really." I replied.
"That's what I'm here for Paul." stated Simon."I've got a free spot for an assistant DS at the British Cyclo-Cross team that I manage. There's a lot of talent in the squad and we plan on taking them through the whole cross season on the continent and the National Trophy series here in England. I'm not entirely sure of my future with the team and I've been looking to train an apt replacement. That's where you come in."
"That sounds fantastic!" I sincerely enthused. "There must be a catch."
"Admittedly there is a small one."
"Yes?"
"We can't afford to pay you. There's only enough money to pay me a wage of 30000 Euros a year and that empties the managerial coffers. But you've still got you're commentary position at ITV have'nt you. so there's no issue. Right?"
"Right" I replied.
Grovelling to ITV wouldn't be fun but my first job as a DS.
I was fired up. |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 20-08-2008 10:20
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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After pleading with ITV for my commentary position and, once I'd got it back, Phil Ligget not remembering me, I got introduced to the squad.
Simon was right about talent. A lot of them are relative rookies to the sport but I've seen such talent, especially from Field and Last. This lot will ride out of their skin this year, I reckon and the more experience they gain the better they'll become. At their peak they could be right at the top.
Alexander is another good rider and Liam Killeen could succeed if he paid a bit more attention to cross instead of mountain biking. Roger Hammond will try and pass on tips to the younger lads but he isn't going so well this late in life.
Onto the two leaders.
Tom Last. He's young and he's gonna be great. He'll do well this year I reckon. He has a lot of room to improve and he's concentrating on his finishing kick, so he can take them at the finish.
Ian Field. A little older than last and better on the dirt and mud. He isn't as good at the finish but he is working on it and he's trying to reach Tom's ability at carrying the bike. It could be a big year for him.
My own position is to take charge of any colliding races, some of the early season rides and the National Trophy Races. I also might go along with Simon to the bigger races. A lot of that depend on commentary. Who knows?
My first race with the team is our first of the season, the American season-opener at Redmond. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-12-2024 13:25
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| Wiggo |
Posted on 20-08-2008 11:50
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Classics Specialist
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Can't wait!
Also 2 things:
I've raced at Mallory Park!
I know Tom Last's sister Annie! |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 20-08-2008 15:51
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Grand Tour Champion
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Very cool
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 20-08-2008 16:32
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
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We flew in to the US 3 days ago so the lads might be a bit jet-lagged but we couldn't afford to go in any earlier. Redmond will have the US national and U23 teams, the Irish squad and some other teams, mostly national.
I'm here with Simon for my first race and have Daniel Alexander under my wing, who has been given a free role from Simon. I won't show you the course map as the UCI have mucked everything up and they are wildly innacurate. Today's 100km parcours has a long section of offroad punctuated by a small climb and descent separated between each lap by some sections of road.
I told Dan to sit at the front of the group and let the Americans do the work. The Americans are the strongest non-European squad and they pulled the race along fast. Dan said he was feeling good early on and I told him to hold his position.
But, with 40km remaining none of the squad, and none of the race, could hold on to the coat-tails of the five best Americans and the race had it's first serious split.
The team faced it's first dilemma here. Should we set the pace? Rob Jebb was already out the back and Hammond was close to cracking. However, our questions were answered when Canada and the USA U23 team took over the pace-making. Dan told me he was feeling the fatigue in his legs but I told him to attempt to stay with the group. We watched Hammond fall of the pace with 15 to go and I took it upon me to keep giving Dan encouragement. He was digging deeper and deeper so, to try and distract him, I kept him up to date with the race.
"Wicks has just attacked his team-mates with about 7k left. He looks like he might make it."
But his colleague, Tim Johnson, bridged up to him with 3k to go. USA would win, but who?
Back with us, the pace had dropped significantly and, passing over the hill where Hicks had left his team, Ian Field recieved Simon's orders to attack. It was a good move because he was not our fastest finisher, Last had that honour, and therefore wouldn't take a bunch sprint but he was the strongest on the day.
The win was easily taken by Johnson, who creamed Wicks in the sprint.
Ian Field managed 7th for us, with Last in 9th and a shattered Alexander rolling in 17th, quite pleased with his performance and thanking me for my cool head. I was chuffed.
One thing I'm surprised by is the prize money. Despite relatively modest placings in quite a minor race we took home a hefty 1325 Euro sum.
Rank Name Team Time
1 Timothy Johnson USA 3h10'23
2 Barry Wicks USA s.t.
3 Ryan Trebon USA + 1'36
4 Mark McCormack USA s.t.
5 Thorsten Struch Duitsland + 3'20
6 Todd Wells USA + 4'56
7 Ian Field Groot-Britannië + 7'52
8 Geoff Kabush Canada + 8'05
9 Tom Last Groot-Britannië + 8'37
10 Andrew Pinfold Canada s.t.
11 Paul Voss Duitsland + 8'51
12 Fabian Brzezinski Duitsland s.t.
13 Daniel Neyens USA U23 s.t.
14 Joseph Thompson USA U23 s.t.
15 Ryan Hopping Canada s.t.
16 Charles Marzot USA U23 s.t.
17 Daniel Alexander Groot-Britannië s.t.
18 Mathew Hewitt Canada s.t.
19 Bjorn Selander USA U23 + 9'30
20 Sascha Wagner Duitsland + 9'51
21 Karl Schoknecht Duitsland + 10'15
22 Bryan Fawley USA U23 + 10'55
23 Peter McConville Ierland s.t.
24 Roger Hammond Groot-Britannië + 11'03
25 Robin Seymour Ierland + 11'47
26 Robert Jebb Groot-Britannië + 12'47
27 Rodger Aiken Ierland + 13'19
28 Andreas Hestler Canada s.t.
29 Robert Lamont Ierland + 13'31
30 Joe McCall Ierland + 14'15
It's a pleasing first performance for me and Simon won't be available for our next race so he has given me full charge of the team. Yes! |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 20-08-2008 16:41
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Team Manager
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Good luck with the Brits, it wont be easy with their stats
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 20-08-2008 17:03
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
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My first race in charge of the whole team was in Canada and despite the increased action I have less to say. Mainly because I have to go and brief the boys on what went wrong.
The Vancouver race had a lot of climbing and this would impact on the riding.
Guys were drained slower but their speed was dulled as they were so used to the climbing and the consistent US pace. Our teams chances were far from boosted when Liam Killen crashed on the first lap and had to retire with injury. With 12k to go the Yanks left everyone behind, in somewhat of a trademark style now, and amid the confusion their leader, Trebon, attacked.
While he was charging off our riders could not react, their legs tired and not up to the accelerations of Trebon. I told them to keep near the front and hold their positions for the sprint but they sent lead-out man to Last, Hammond, back to collect energy gel. During this time, Last dropped back through the group and Field retreated to try and help him to hold his position. When Hammond returned, they were all stuck at the back, because they didn't heed my advice. I was angry.
However, it didn't affect the race result, Trebon taking a tres bon victory.
Our riders couldn't make it through the group at the finish and placed dissapointingly, Field the best in 19th.
Rank Name Team Time
1 Ryan Trebon USA 2h18'49
2 Mark McCormack USA + 18
3 Barry Wicks USA + 52
4 Timothy Johnson USA s.t.
5 Phillip Walsleben Duitsland + 1'30
6 Daniel Neyens USA U23 s.t.
7 Bjorn Selander USA U23 s.t.
8 Paul Voss Duitsland s.t.
9 Mathew Hewitt Canada s.t.
10 Todd Wells USA s.t.
11 Geoff Kabush Canada s.t.
12 Ryan Hopping Canada s.t.
13 Andrew Pinfold Canada s.t.
14 Robin Seymour Ierland s.t.
15 Mathieu Toulouse Canada s.t.
16 Joseph Thompson USA U23 s.t.
17 Sebastian Hannöver Duitsland s.t.
18 Niall Delahaye Ierland s.t.
19 Ian Field Groot-Britannië s.t.
20 Roger Hammond Groot-Britannië s.t.
21 Karl Schoknecht Duitsland s.t.
22 Tom Last Groot-Britannië s.t.
23 Bryan Fawley USA U23 + 2'10
24 Daniel Alexander Groot-Britannië + 2'38
25 Morgan Schmitt USA U23 + 4'14
26 James McClusky Ierland + 4'22
27 Sascha Wagner Duitsland + 5'34
28 Dave Gill Ierland + 5'42
29 Rodger Aiken Ierland s.t.
There is a possibility I will be at the Las Vegas event but, as of yet, nothing has been confirmed.
Edited by wackojackohighcliffe on 20-08-2008 17:04
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 20-08-2008 17:13
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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SportingNonsense wrote:
Good luck with the Brits, it wont be easy with their stats
I can safely say that promotion is a little infeasible. And to the Cyclo-cross DB makers, I find Roger Hammond's, a former cross Junior World's winner, a multiple British cross champion and 11th in a recent World Champs, stats completely out of order. Sort it out if you do one for 08.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 20-08-2008 17:16
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Team Manager
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I dont think anyone will complain if you give your riders a small stats boost so that they at least have a chance, particularly considering how bad they are to start with 
Edited by SportingNonsense on 20-08-2008 17:24
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 22-08-2008 13:37
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
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I won't be doing that majorly but I will be adding some british junior riders at the end of the year with maybe elevated talent. And I might nick some mountain bikers/roadies
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 28-08-2008 10:27
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
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My first British race was in Abergavenny, a Welsh town, due to host the British Championships this year.
The Americans have followed us back to England so, for the moment, a win seems unlikely. Ian Field is still leader.
It was a day of bad luck for us. As the Americans upped the pace with 60k still left, Ian punctured, leaving me unsure of what to do, with none of the team in the front group.
Nick Craig had already cracked, while the others all remained ahead of Field. However, my prayers were answered in traditionally British unlucky fashion as Last punctured and dropped back to Field's group.
They joined forces to catch the group in front, racing hard for 20k to make up a 2 minute gap.
When they caught the middle group, containing the remainder of our team, they chose to sit on, leaving Paul Dixon and the US U23 Team to organise a chase. As 2 laps to go was signalled, I sent the boys onto the front, to try and catch the riders who couldn't stick with the Americans pace. We caught Todd Wells, a man dead on his wheels, and Thorsten Struch.
But with 4k left the team had all cracked. Bar Ian Field.
He stormed off to leave a group of empty shells behind and stole sixth, Killeen rolling in for 7th and Last surviving for 10th.
It was Ryan Trebon, though, who continues to dominate the Anglo-American season.
Rank Name Team Time
1 Ryan Trebon USA 3h18'31
2 Timothy Johnson USA + 1'04
3 Barry Wicks USA + 2'16
4 Phillip Walsleben Duitsland s.t.
5 Mark McCormack USA + 4'26
6 Ian Field Groot-Britannië + 11'04
7 Liam Killeen Groot-Britannië + 11'36
8 Thorsten Struch Duitsland + 11'49
9 Daniel Neyens USA U23 + 12'06
10 Tom Last Groot-Britannië + 12'38
11 Fabian Brzezinski Duitsland s.t.
12 Andrew Pinfold Canada + 12'46
13 Bjorn Selander USA U23 + 12'54
14 Ryan Hopping Canada + 13'02
15 Mathieu Toulouse Canada + 13'10
16 Sascha Wagner Duitsland + 13'50
17 Geoff Kabush Canada s.t.
18 Sebastian Hannöver Duitsland + 13'58
19 Robin Seymour Ierland + 14'22
20 Peter McConville Ierland + 14'30
21 Robert Lamont Ierland + 14'46
22 Bryan Fawley USA U23 s.t.
23 Todd Wells USA + 15'02
24 Phillip Dixon Groot-Britannië + 15'18
25 Mathew Hewitt Canada + 15'42
26 Nicholas Craig Groot-Britannië s.t.
27 Morgan Schmitt USA U23 + 15'50
28 Nicholas Weighall USA U23 + 16'06
29 Joe McCall Ierland + 17'18
30 Niall Delahaye Ierland s.t. |
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 28-08-2008 10:37
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Team Leader
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Cool ill catch up on this |
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