Very nice story... I was a bit dissapointed when I read all the riders you signed, especially if Zabriskie was to come in. Luckily you kept it rather young and britsh in the end, with a few exceptions...
defkon2 wrote:
Great story. But...I have a question for Mr. Allan Smith. Why is your story name Project Raleigh?
Good thing youve been following this story because his name is Allan Smile and if you actually followed this story you'd know why it was called Project Raleigh.
SotD wrote:
Very nice story... I was a bit dissapointed when I read all the riders you signed, especially if Zabriskie was to come in. Luckily you kept it rather young and britsh in the end, with a few exceptions...
Any chance I can get to see the riders stats? :-)
I get bored building up a team slowly over multiple seasons - but then again, I may revert back for the season after - depends on how I feel
Rider stats will be posted tomorrow, when I can get onto my computer (on laptop at the moment)
Stage 4
The key stage today, Dan Fleeman would be looking to attack whilst Liam would be holding on in the pack to go for the sprint.
Two tough hills, back-to-back, with 10km to go would decide the race, as the pack came in together at the base of them. Dan Fleeman immediately got on the front on the first ascent, setting a tough pace, pushing a lot of riders into the red, but no gap formed.
Second climb, Dan was back on the front, making it difficult, when suddenly, an attack flies past him!
Holohan!
That's right, Liam felt exceptional, and decided to go for it, and he quickly got a gap, and kept it to the line!
A Fantastic Result!
It was only a 30 second gap, but that's all that was needed to take the lead going into the final stage tomorrow – the boy's are on cloud nine, it's been a great month, now we just need to finish it off.
Stage 5
Today was a day for controlling, and that's what we did – the break of 9 contained nobody who could challenge Liam, so we kept it at a comfortable distance, and even let it go all the way, giving a stage win for Santiago Perez, with the pack following at 1'07, giving Liam a fantastic overall win, plus the U25 jersey, rounding off a fantastic month for the team.
Final GC:
1. Liam Holohan TEAM RALEIGH 20h08'23
2. Krzysztof Jezowski CCC POLSAT + 17”
3. Joquin Ortega BARBOT – SIPER + 31”
4. Ben Swift TEAM SKY + 41”
5. Constantino Zaballa CENTRO CICSLISMO DE LOULE + 43”
Points: Krzysztof Jezowski U25: Liam Holohan
Edited by Crommy on 17-04-2010 10:58
Team Raleigh August Update Posted online at teamraleigh.co.uk, direct from the laptop of DS Allan Smile!
It's been perhaps the best month the team has had so far. The month off in July appears to have completely reinvigorated the team, and they were in sensational form throughout the month. Liam Holohan has been the obvious star of the month (see below), but the team can be proud of their work, and we're looking forward to what will hopefully be the very successful highlight of our season, the Tour of Britain.
Elsewhere, it's been another good month for Mark Cavendish, as he won the Vattenfall Cyclassic
Results:
-- Post Danmark Rundt: Richard Handley 43rd.
-- Fyen Rundt: Liam Holohan 1st.
-- Tour of Ireland: Liam Holohan 1st in GC, stage 4 win, U25 Jersey; Dan Fleeman 7th in GC.
Rankings:
Continental Individual Rankings:
1. Kenny van Hummel SKIL – SHIMANO 797
2. Coen Vermeltfoort RABOBANK CT 795
3. Bobbie Traksel VACANSOLEIL PRO CYCLING TEAM 707
65. Liam Holohan 164
107. Daniel Fleeman 105
377. Tom Barras 12
474. James Stewart 4
Physio's Report: Dr. Mike Jensen reports yet another injury free month!
Rider of the Month: Liam Holohan
Liam has been in the form of his life, and it's shown by some incredible performances. His breakaway in the Fyen Rundt was very impressive, whilst his use of the tough pace being set by Dan Fleeman in the Tour of Ireland to push for the stage and overall victory was nothing short of stupendous. Look out for him in the Tour of Britain!
Next Month:
The team will be looking at possibly the most important month for us, as we begin the month at the British Time Trial Championships, where it'll be everyone against Bradley Wiggins, then we move to our season's focus, the Tour of Britain. The month ends with the World Championships, then the Circuit Franco-Belge. Hope to see you Team Raleigh fans on the streets of Britain, cheering us on!
British TT Championships
Bradley Wiggins is the overwhelming favourite for this race, and he would not disappoint, taking a huge, as he took a huge 2 minute win over everybody else. Dan Fleeman looked strong by taking fifth, whilst the podium was finished off by Tom Southam then Stephen Cummings.
Unstoppable Wiggo!Edited by Crommy on 25-04-2010 18:41
Tour of Britain
Our home race we've brought the strongest team possible, led by Dan Fleeman, but also with Liam Holohan given his brilliant form. Team Sky are the heavy favourites here, having brought the super talented Edvald Boasson Hagen
Stage 1
A short prologue, it was Boasson Hagen who powered to a 1 second win over teammate Arvesen, whilst Dan Fleeman impressed to come 4th, only 5 seconds down.
Stage 2
This was a stage that was almost disastrous for us. The break got to big a gap, and Team Sky, despite their lead and their vast superiority, refused to take responsibility, so it was up to us to chase down the break – we just about managed to do it, but 1 rider just held off the pack, giving Matthias Lisson the stage, whilst Juan Antonio Flecha took second, profiting from our work.
We're forced to work hard, as Sky do nothing
I was furious afterwards, and made some pretty scathing comments about Team Sky, which drew a lot of support from other managers – everyone felt Team Sky really shirked their responsibility today.
Stage 3
Today's stage ended in a chaotic sprint, which Charles Huff won, whilst Liam Holohan took 4th. No GC change.
Stage 4
Another stage that came down to a sprint, today's finale was a lot more organised, and we got a good train going, but it was Nico Eeckhout who won a close fought sprint, with Dan our best rider in 5th, and he falls to 5th overall due to time bonuses picked up by Rasmus Quaade in the break.
Stage 5
Today was a pretty lumpy stage, which could cause a GC shake-up, but we were determined to not let the Sky boys get any advantage on us, and maybe even eat into Hagen's lead.
35km to go, and with the break close to being caught, Sky send both Boasson Hagen AND Flecha onto the attack. We're immediately on the front, as a break of 12 form, and we just catch them with 15km to go, but Boasson Hagen attacks again. A front group of 16 forms, with 3 Sky riders, 2 of whom push the pace for Boasson Hagen, but today, we've got this under control, and reel them back in just as the sprint begins.
However, with a slight advantage in the sprint, Sky take a hugely impressive 1-2-3, as Flecha wins in front of Arvesen then Boasson Hagen. Outrage followed as the commisaires gave Flecha and Arvesen 25 seconds to the bunch, and Boasson Hagen 12 seconds, giving them a 1-2-3 lead in the GC too. I unleashed my fury on the media later.
Atrocious decorum
C24: So what did you think of today's stage, Allan?
AS: It's absolute bulls***. What the f*** are the race commisaires playing it, no way was there a gap
C24: A bad decision then?
AS: Of course it was a bloody bad decision. It's just favouritism towards the big British team. It's absolutely outrageous
C24: Will you be launching an appeal?
AS: Already done, already rejected. It's ridiculous, Dan Fleeman has moved to 6th now and is 35 seconds off the pace because of this stupid decision. I hope Sky are happy, it's not what they deserve after all they've done so far, refusing to work, then attacking when we're working. The management should have a good hard look at themselves and their tactics.
C24: I'm sure they'll find that interesting. By the way, any more announcements on your signings?
AS: We've signed everybody we want to, and we've got some big, big names, who are really excited to join us. You'll have to see who they are in 2011!
Stage 6
No surprise I got reprimanded yesterday for my outburst. But it needed to be said, and the riders look super motivated to get one up on Sky.
The day saw another break going, and us being forced to work by Sky again in order to reel it in. They've got the first 3 GC places for Christ's sake!
It came down to a sprint, and Dan was strong again to finish 3rd. Unfortunately, GC leader Kurt-Asle Arvesen took the stage, and extended his overall lead to 41 seconds on Dan
Sky keep winning, I get angrier
Stage 7
The final stage, and a final attempt at disrupting Sky's success – heck, I don't even care how we do, as long as Sky's plans are disrupted.
A break goes, and finally, finally, Sky take some responsibility in chasing the break – no, wait, it's just an attempt to crank up the pace, as Juan Antonio Flecha attacks with 25km to go. He quickly passes the earlier escapees and begins soloing. More attacks follow, and Dan manages to get into the second group of 14 – which whilst containing Arvesen, does not contain EBH – good enough for me, as the group nears the finish line.
Flecha soloed in for a fantastic win, whilst Dan followed in the group behind to take 7th on the stage, but moves up to 3rd overall as EBH loses over a minute! We'll take it!
Flecha takes a strong victory
Final GC:
1. Kurt-Asle Arvesen TEAM SKY 21h52'20
2. Juan-Antonio Flecha TEAM SKY + 14”
3. Daniel Fleeman TEAM RALEIGH + 45”
4. Phillip Mann BAHATI FOUNDATION + 48”
5. Rasmus Quaade TEAM DESIGNA-KOKKEN + 48”
Points: Juan-Antonio Flecha TEAM SKY
KOM: Lee Davis MOTORPOINT
U25: Rasmus Quaade TEAM DESIGNA KOKKEN
Team: Team Sky
Date: 1st October 2010 From: To: Subject: Circuit Franco – Belge: Stage 1
Sprinter's stage, Kenny van Hummel won, we were safe in the pack
