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Forever Agostinho - the return of a national Hero
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 26-09-2012 19:40
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La Flèche Wallonne 
It's time for round two! Agostinho won't be here now, but Valverde and Costa will. They both behaved really good in AMG, with Valverde really close to win. He beated Gilbert, Rodriguez and a lot more. Samuel Sanchez is really strong, and is expected to be the main rival, as Cancellara win was a surprise among so many good specialists, and he didn't even came to Belgium.
Movistar line up:
 Valverde Plaza
 Costa  Amador
Cobo Lopez
Lastras Sanz
Main Rivals
Gilbert  Voeckler
S. Sanchéz  Albasini
Rodriguez  Gasparotto
 F. Schleck Nocentini
A. Schleck  Iglinskyi
The first picture from the race is with Movistar chasing hard. With the break of the day (6 men) with 2'53 on the peloton, it's a 2nd group that is worrying. They have left a while ago and they already have 1'42, and soon will catch the first group. The names of Van Garderen, Jerômé, Weening and Izaguirre are enough for Movistar move to the front.
With 30km to go there are now other teams chasing. Radioshack, Lotto and specially Astana (soon joined by Katusha) are now working hard as the first men have 1'39 and a 9 men group.
With 10km to go and the break on sight, Albasini, Rodriguez and Van den Broeck try to leave the peloton.
With 1.5km to go Sanchez got a good gap, is it enough? Movistar launches desperately the chase...
In deed it is...for a moment it seemed that Valverde would get him, but the best he can do is 2nd place. Rui Costa was 2nd and Lastras was 14th.
Race Results
1 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi 4h47'59
2 Alejandro Valverde Movistar Team + 10
3 JoaquÃm RodrÃguez Katusha Team s.t.
4 Michael Albasini Orica - GreenEdge + 21
5 Enrico Gasparotto Astana Pro Team s.t.
6 Jurgen Van den Broeck Lotto Belisol Team s.t.
7 Rui Costa Movistar Team s.t.
8 Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar s.t.
9 Fränk Schleck RadioShack - Nissan s.t.
10 Philippe Gilbert BMC Racing Team s.t. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 26-09-2012 22:58
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What a performance from Valverde 
Just ten seconds away from a memorable victory  |
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 27-09-2012 20:36
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Liège-Bastogne-Liège
After a 3rd and 2nd place, will Valverde achieve the victory today?
Agostinho is there to work, and the team line up seems pretty strong:
Valverde Cobo
Costa Agostinho
Lastras  Samoilau
Visconti Lopez
The big fish are all there, increasing the difficulty:
S. Sanchez Nibali
Rodriguez Gasparotto
Gilbert A. Schleck
Voeckler F. Schleck
Cunego J. Vanendert
And the first break of a rainy day has 4 men: Stetina, Poux, Bonnet and Hoste. They manage to have a gap of 9 minutes.
With the sun now shinning Katusha has speed up the pace, and imediatelly a gap was created. Having Movistar the whole team, there are a lot of candidates that are left behind including Sanchez, Gilbert, Vanendert, the Schleck brothers, Vanendert, Gasparotto and Cunego. The gap is not big, but it may require an extra unexpected effort.
With 18km to go Rodriguez gets a 30 seconds gap to the peloton.
And there are 4 men on the front, they might go for it...Rodriguez, Sanchez, Gilbert and Cunego. A bit behind is F. Schleck and Vanendert. And the other favorites right behind. 6km to go.
Last km! Still the first 4 have a gap. Valverde is on Schleck's wheel.
And Cunego wins the race. Valverde beated Schleck for 4th place.
Agostinho did his job, but there were other teams stronger. It seemed Movistar didn't managed to put Valverde on the discussion of the race. Maybe Rui Costa's bad day was decisive.
Race Results
1 Damiano Cunego Lampre - ISD 6h49'53
2 Philippe Gilbert BMC Racing Team + 12
3 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 19
4 JoaquÃm RodrÃguez Katusha Team s.t.
5 Alejandro Valverde Movistar Team + 36
6 Andy Schleck RadioShack - Nissan + 47
 7 Alexandr Kolobnev Katusha Team s.t.
8 Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas - Cannondale + 1'00
9 Michele Scarponi Lampre - ISD s.t.
10 Johann Tschopp BMC Racing Team + 1'08
21 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team s.t.
31 Rui Costa Movistar Team s.t.
37 Giovanni Visconti Movistar Team + 2'10
54 Joaquim Agostinho Movistar Team + 6'53
Edited by kimiopn on 27-09-2012 20:36
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Posted on 22-11-2024 20:01
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 27-09-2012 20:39
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Fifth isn't bad.
Good for Agostinho that he' doing his job, the team will remember that |
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 27-09-2012 20:45
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Great results for Valverde! Agostinho has been a good helper for him! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 28-09-2012 09:17
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Looks like Valverde has got some great form at the moment |
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 29-09-2012 10:56
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In deed Valverde had a good month of April. Now the team is facing Tour de Romandie as a preparation for Giro D'Italia. Thank you sutty68, Timocycling and Ian Butler for keep reading and commenting my story |
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| dienblad |
Posted on 29-09-2012 10:59
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Hey, I read it to, but don't comment that often. Story looks nice, with some good an realistic results!
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 29-09-2012 11:02
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Thank you dienblad. It's very important to me and it keeps me motivated. I gave Agostinho a lot of potential and i hope i can make him have the results he almost had on his real life. (you can check them here: https://www.cyclingarchives.com/coureu...ureurid=89 )
Edited by kimiopn on 29-09-2012 11:28
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 29-09-2012 11:20
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Tour de Romandie
As an important World Tour race the team decided to include Rui Costa and Ruben Plaza that is also in a good shape. The rest of the squad should be preparing to Giro, including Intxausti, the expected team leader in Italy. Agostinho is going to Vuelta Asturias and Valverde is now resting before the training camps expected for him on May.
So, the prologue set the first differences between riders as the first leader is found: Tony Martin.
Stage 1 Results
 1 Tony Martin Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team 4'20
 2 Peter Velits Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team + 4
 3 Chris Horner RadioShack - Nissan + 7
 4 Richie Porte Sky Procycling + 9
 5 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Sharp + 10
6 Rubén Plaza Movistar Team + 12
7 Brett Lancaster Orica - GreenEdge + 14
 8 Michal Kwiatkowski Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team + 16
9 Marco Pinotti BMC Racing Team + 17
10 Christian Knees Sky Procycling s.t.
 11 Roman Kreuziger Astana Pro Team s.t.
12 Rui Costa Movistar Team + 18
22 Beñat Intxausti Movistar Team + 20 |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 29-09-2012 11:33
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A Good finish from Plaza on stage 1
A steady start overall for the team |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-09-2012 11:33
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Costa for a top 5? |
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 29-09-2012 12:31
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Stage 2 Tour de Romandie
So with a hilly profile and a very strong team backing him, Costa is for sure aiming Top 5.
With 60km to go Movistar increases the pace and difference to the break is now 3'02. Bole, Minard, Oroz and De Greef are the escapees. On the back a lot of riders are in trouble to follow the rhythm of Castroviejo.
With 8.5km to go there are only 35 men in front with Movistar having Amador, Intxausti, Plaza and Costa...Tony Martin is also there...
Scarponi attacks! Plaza tries to answer...
Luis Leon Sanchez tries to pass through Movistar train, Intxausti is trying to close the gap...
And Rui Costa wins!!!!! He was faster than Rodriguez, great team work by Movistar, with Intxausti being 6th
Stage Results
1 Rui Costa Movistar Team 4h47'04
2 JoaquÃm RodrÃguez Katusha Team s.t.
3 Johann Tschopp BMC Racing Team s.t.
4 Sandy Casar FDJ - BigMat s.t.
5 Eros Capecchi Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
6 Beñat Intxausti Movistar Team s.t.
7 Amaël Moinard BMC Racing Team s.t.
8 Luis León Sánchez Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
9 Michele Scarponi Lampre - ISD s.t.
10 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team s.t.
Tony Martin didn't handle the final attacks and loses the yellow to Velits. Rui Costa in now third, Plaza 4th and Intxausti 9th!
General Classification
1 Peter Velits Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team 4h51'28
2 Chris Horner RadioShack - Nissan + 3
3 Rui Costa Movistar Team + 4
4 Rubén Plaza Movistar Team + 8
5 Roman Kreuziger Astana Pro Team + 13
6 Marco Pinotti BMC Racing Team s.t.
7 JoaquÃm RodrÃguez Katusha Team s.t.
8 Sérgio Paulinho Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank + 14
9 Beñat Intxausti Movistar Team + 16
10 Thomas Dekker Garmin - Sharp s.t. |
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| dienblad |
Posted on 29-09-2012 12:32
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wow, great win, excellent team achievement.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-09-2012 12:37
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Brilliant start! |
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 29-09-2012 13:32
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Stage 3 Tour de Romandie
Today's race is like yesterday...up and down the whole day.
With 65km to go and Castroviejo imposing a hard pace, there are 4 dangerous men trying to join the break. It's Minard, De Greef, Slagter and Henao. We're approaching a 2nd category climb and Kennaugh, Saramotins, Moinard and Poels have 4'25 on the peloton.
With 20km to Poels, Kennaugh and Slagter still remain in front with 1'40 on the peloton.
With 5 km to go and the Movistar train already formed Fuglsang got a 40 second gap. Is it enough?
1.5km to go, seems Fulsgang will take it, FDJ has 4 riders well placed...
And Fulsgang takes it! Rui Costa almost closed the gap, but only managed 2nd place.
Stage Results
 1 Jakob Fuglsang RadioShack - Nissan 3h45'03
2 Rui Costa Movistar Team s.t.
3 JoaquÃm RodrÃguez Katusha Team s.t.
4 Luis León Sánchez Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
5 Sandy Casar FDJ - BigMat s.t.
6 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Sharp s.t.
7 Eros Capecchi Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
 8 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
9 Richie Porte Sky Procycling s.t.
10 Tony Martin Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
The bonus is enough to Rui Costa take the lead!
General Classification
1 Rui Costa Movistar Team 8h36'29
2 Peter Velits Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team + 2
3 Chris Horner RadioShack - Nissan + 5
4 Rubén Plaza Movistar Team + 10
5 JoaquÃm RodrÃguez Katusha Team + 11
6 Roman Kreuziger Astana Pro Team + 15
7 Marco Pinotti BMC Racing Team s.t.
8 Sérgio Paulinho Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank + 16
9 Beñat Intxausti Movistar Team + 18
10 Thomas Dekker Garmin - Sharp s.t.
(2 portuguese on top 10 ) |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-09-2012 13:50
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Still going good for GC |
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 29-09-2012 15:24
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Stage 4 Tour de Romandie
With a profile not so hard has the previous stage, today's final is uphill. Will Rui Costa hold on his lead?
43km to go and 3 riders try to leave the peloton: E. Martinez, Dekker and Santambrogio. In front, the 7 men break has 2'21 on the peloton.
With 10km to go there are 11 men in front, as we approach the final climb, Movistar is moving up ahead protecting Rui Costa.
Rodriguez attacks as the final escapees are caught. 4km to go, Movistar tries to answer...
Last km! Rodriguez still has a gap. Tschopp and Hesjedal are in front of Intxausti and Rui Costa...
Rodriguez wins! And Costa is 2nd again, and loses the yellow!
Stage Results
1 JoaquÃm RodrÃguez Katusha Team 3h58'33
2 Rui Costa Movistar Team + 21
3 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Sharp + 33
4 Tom Slagter Rabobank Cycling Team + 41
5 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
6 Roman Kreuziger Astana Pro Team s.t.
7 Michele Scarponi Lampre - ISD s.t.
8 Peter Velits Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
9 Jakob Fuglsang RadioShack - Nissan s.t.
10 Beñat Intxausti Movistar Team s.t.
General Classification
1 JoaquÃm RodrÃguez Katusha Team 12h35'03
2 Rui Costa Movistar Team + 14
3 Peter Velits Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team + 42
4 Chris Horner RadioShack - Nissan + 45
5 Roman Kreuziger Astana Pro Team + 55
6 Marco Pinotti BMC Racing Team s.t.
7 Sérgio Paulinho Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank + 56
8 Beñat Intxausti Movistar Team + 58
9 Thomas Dekker Garmin - Sharp s.t.
10 Jérémy Roy FDJ - BigMat + 1'00 |
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 29-09-2012 15:25
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Meanwhile Joaquim Agostinho has started his presence on Vuelta Asturias, it was a flat stage, won by Koldo Fernandez, with Agostinho on the peloton, and Ventoso in 8th place.
Vuelta Asturias
Stage 1 Results
1 Koldo Fernández Garmin - Sharp 3h13'45
2 Marcel Sieberg Lotto Belisol Team s.t.
3 Michel Kreder Garmin - Sharp s.t.
4 Michael Matthews Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
 5 Fumiyuki Beppu Orica - GreenEdge s.t.
6 Mitchell Docker Orica - GreenEdge s.t.
7 Gianni Meersman Lotto Belisol Team s.t.
8 Francisco José Ventoso Movistar Team s.t.
9 Tom Leezer Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
10 Manuel Cardoso Caja Rural s.t.
37 Joaquim Agostinho Movistar Team s.t. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-09-2012 16:34
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Costa doing good. Only behind Rodriguez, not bad! |
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