Could we finally achieve a goal? Probably not after De Ronde, but with more of a flat race, Sebastian has a chance.
We continued our good run of getting seen. Svein was in a large chase group which eventually blended into an even larger breakaway.
There was no mention of Sebastian while the favourites attacked. Things weren't looking good.
Then we saw him! He was in the min group, which had under 20 riders. The Top 15 goal was looking achievable.
We then saw him leading the chase group of 15, chasing the solo break of Vanmarke. As long as he didn't come last in his group or another one caught up, Seb had our goal.
Our boy was the only one to counter Boonen. YES!
Seb took the wheel in the Velodrome. Vanmarke should have enough to win.
Unfortunately Boonen seems to have the better sprint. Still though, GOAL ACHIEVED!
But look at this! Seb gets back, and the battle for 2nd is on.
AND HE'S DONE IT! SEBASTIAN LANGEVELD WITH OUR BEST RESULT OF THE SEASON! YES!
So my first three races are behind me and I’m proud to say that I never left basque country once. For such a multi-national circus like the Pro Cycling world it sure is quite basque-centered. But hey, that’s alright. I had time to visit my family in between and I saw my name here and there painted on the road, however I presume that was meant for my cousin Mikel and not for me.
Basque Race Series: San Sebastian. My name on the list!
I have already talked about the San Sebastian race a bit earlier on but I might as well include it again:
I knew that I wouldn’t be playing much role in the Basque Race Series in my first season. As a 18 year old upcoming talent, I still lack all sorts of power, knowledge and courage to make an impact here. Learning the ropes, that what you could call it. Nevertheless, I was very, very proud to be on the startlist of the first Basque Race Series, ready to impress my competition or possible managers.
The first race I participated on was on the course of the Clasica San Sebastian. My hometown, wonderful. Of course I knew the roads quite well and in training rides I was up there with the best. However, in the race itself I struggled here and there to keep the pace and was often found on the far back of the peloton. I somehow always managed to stay in there while more experienced riders dropped. When the likes of my cousin or Igor Anton attacked of course, I just didn’t think of going with them.
Back then, I was still looking for a contract and I was allowed to ride for Peter Luttenberger’s Team NetApp – Endura. Quite an honour and alongside Iker Camano. It definitely helped me to secure a contract in a World Tour Team such prestitigious and excellent like Orica GreenEdge. So a big thank you to the Basque Race series. I finished 30th, Igor Antón won the race.
Vuelta Ciclista a PaÃs Vasco: My place, my race
Next up was another basque race. I dreamed of racing here one day and I’m very happy to already compete at such a young age. Unsurprisingly though, I didn’t play any sort of role in any of the stages and merely was used as a domestique. But that was alright. It was a wonderful feeling to ride alongside my teammates and help them. I enjoyed my spell in the sun and was often asked by them about the landscape, sights and other things. I even cooked for the team at some point a typical basque meal.
First I made them some pintxos…
… and then one of them vomited. I think it was Albasini. Maybe if he hadn’t eaten that, he would have performed better? Sorry manager!
Anyway, I came in 105th, so I just missed out on the Top 100. I would have loved to be in Top 100 since that would have meant I am one of the hundred best riders in the world… what, it doesn’t work like that? Pssst.
So you see, I had a fun but also challenging time in my homecountry and that’s what this work is all about: Challenges, struggle and fun on your bike.
Basque Race Series: DanCake Classic - I usually run away from cobblestones!
Speaking of fun on your bike: I can tell you though that I had no sort of fun on my bike when I participated at the second race of the Basque Race Series, the DanCake Classic.
We flew to Southern Jutland, wherever the heck that may be, and the Danish people must have been confused when a whole lot of basque riders showed up on their doorstep. Gora Euskadi some of them shouted and I think, they really like us here and in return, hey – I like them too. What I didn’t like where the cobblestones and vicious hills. It was a really tough race and if there are actually basque riders that can ride such things, I am not one of those.
Now I know I had no chance today so in a sheer brilliant tactical move I sent up my only helper into the break of the day in order to… well, confuse my opponents, and myself as well.
Ruiz did a nice job in the breakaway and showed of the team colours of Orica GreenEdge to the people of Southern Jutland. Meanwhile, I was getting dropped as one of the first riders and finished the race far off on 60th place . French basque Delage from FDJ won the race. Good for him.
Gora Gorka!
P.S.: I would love to hear which other races I attend during this mid-season. I can't wait to get into the mix of things again.
Edited by Shonak on 25-03-2014 10:04
Michael Albasini
Sam Bewley
Mathieu Favre
Leigh Howard
Christian Meier
Cameron Meyer
Travis Meyer
Svein Tuft
The boys are back after a long break from racing for the final preparation race before the Giro d'Italia. Our leader in Italy is here in Switzerland - Alba - as well as some more climbing prowess with Mathieu and Cameron. With Sam and Svein here as well we have a very strong squad for the TTT and also the individual time-trials which will occur here, as well as Leigh being here for any possible bunch sprints. Hopefully Alba can show us after Pais Vasco that he can also perform in bigger mountains, and give us hope going into the Giro.
While we were of course willing to let the bigger teams do most of the work, we also contributed to the chase.
Closer to the finish we formed a train for Goss. Things were looking really good, but could we keep it up the whole way?
While our sprint train was still up front, our main overall guys also came to the front to stay out of trouble.
As the break was caught we kind of fell behind, but Gerro brought us forward.
Gossy launched an early sprint. He surely wouldn't hold on, but still he was getting noticed.
But he did it! Matty continues his great season with the first stage win and Maglia Rosa of the Giro!
Stage 2
The TTT, traditionally our team's favourite discipline. Gossy was keen to help, but our shape was bad. Despite this, we were 2 seconds down at the checkpoint.
But the woeful shape and lack of time-trialists besides Durbridge ended up counting, and we finished equal 5th with Garmin, 19 seconds down on Sky, and losing the leader's jersey.
Stage 3
The first potential GC stage. How much time would we lose or gain?
After waiting patiently during the attacks (possibly so much so) Alba launched a strong attack.
He was joined by Quintana, as we started to hope.
However the Colombian would have to do all the work, as our man was puffed.
And they were caught on the downhill. However the Rocking Oger would not die, and Gerro made a move.
And he actually made a nice gap. Could this be the winning move?
With just a few kilometres left, the Australian and Aufrazian Champion was still ahead. Come on Simon!!!
But with just under a kilometre to go, it was over. He was caught.
But our boy held on for an impressive 6th, with Albasini 11th and Michael Matthews in 21st. Unfortunately Gossy got dropped though. But, he still has 4th in the points classification.
The Orica-GreenEDGE management are interested to know if you would like us to target any particular French or Basque riders for next year. Although it is a fair while away, there is no harm in starting to scout riders for the transfer season, and since you are currently the only riders on the team of your respective nationalities, and that you are this team's future, we would like to make you feel at home and have some compatriots with you.
Also while you're here, please tell us how you are settling in. Mathieu, how have things progressed so far? And Gorka, how are you liking the atmosphere and change of scenery?
Note: No Screenshots due to inevitable problem in reporting:
Stage 4
Gerro and Alba jumped up with the favourites, and did a lot of the work in that group. They were caught and tried again, without success. Then, when the winning move came, we were not a part of it. Gerro 30th and Alba 34th, as they maintain their decent GC positions without losing time.
Stage 5
With a sprint finish, we were doing the work. Goss was in a very good position for the sprint, but the GC men were a little bit ahead.
Amazing work by Gerro to bring Matt and the other sprinters into contention. What a pull! However Matthews launches too late, and the GC men aren't caught. Simon our best rider in 9th, while Goss and Matthews finish 14th and 16th respectively.
Stage 6
Now the first real flat stage. Everything for the sprinters. Hopefully we'll see Matt on the podium. We of course did work in the peloton.
A lot of crashes, and our own Wesley Sulzberger is involved. With Quintana crashing before, our man's crash kept him back, and possibly ruined his GC chances
Matt was going head to head with the other main sprinter. Our 8 remaining riders in the peloton were all in the Top 16 heading into the sprint. Looking good!
Gerrans and Matthews were today's leadout, once again, and were - until the last 5km - the only real train. Michael with a great leadout, but Cavendish is in a world of his own. As soon as he accelerates we stop dreaming about the win.
However, we get an amazing 2nd and 3rd! Michael came in ahead of Matt though. Good for him, but not ideal in terms of the points competition. But that will probably go to a climber, so congrats boys!
Stage 7
With 55km to go, the favourites attack on the first categorised climb. Simon is there as ever.
Then when things slow down he goes again! Great racing.
He is eventually joined by Betancur, Hesjedal and Quintana. Can these big 4 make it to the finish?
Great work by the latter two means that they have 2 minutes with 35km left. Anything is possible, but Simon doesn't seem too eager to work.
And some nice - although rather bitchy - race tactics give Simon the bonus seconds at the Intermediate Sprint. The peloton gets ever closer, and it looks futile for the escapees.
But Hesjedal and Quintana are back in working mood, and with more favourites attacking behind. We could just make it.
Nibali joins the group and things are looking great. The group lasts to the sprint! Simon is definitely the favourite on paper, but how much have the hills taken out of him. Betancur is his only likely threat.
And he gets the stage win! The Colombian was fresher, but Simon hangs on for a beautiful 2nd! Lovely performance which will not go unnoticed. This also moves him to 7th in the GC! Great first week for the boys from Down Under.
Stage 8
We were hoping for a good result from Turbo Durbo, but the course was too steep for him, and he could only manage 19th. Our goal chances slipping away too.
Stage 11
A crash from Simon gave us all heart attacks, but he seems to have survived a particularly nasty one. Alba also put in an attack today, although futile. The goal isn't looking likely now
Stage 12
Finally another sprint stage. Good chance for the guys to impress. We need some of that
The train came up late, but it was in a good position. The boys all did some work in the peloton which is also good.
Bardiani are looking good to deliver Brookes to the line. And although we would be happy for him, being an Aussie and coming out of an agency closely associated with us, we would prefer a win ourselves.
Jens Keukeleire has been rather invisible so far but came in with a monster pull to put our big boys back in contention. We decided to give Gerrans a break today after his crash.
The breakaway still led with 2.2km to go, albeit a very small gap. Matthews was rivalling the other leadout men, as well as some sprinters who had gone incredibly early.
So cruely denied! Matt Goss wins the peloton sprint but Rathe gets a win for Garmin. Good for him, but we are quite disappointed with that. However, great work by all the boys again. We can't express in words how proud we are of our sprint train this Giro!
Stage 13
Albasini follows an attack from Gesink over the KoM sprint. A possible repeat of Stage 7?
Unfortunately, but predictably not. After the big guns go on their way, Alba attacks with Nordhaug. We seem to be 'repaying' Belkin after Brouwer wheel-sucked Goss a few times.
But our man is ditched by his companion, and we don't see any more of him in the stage. Goss gets 365th, after the peloton held to the finish, but he was too tired to fight for remaining Top 15 spots.
Stage 14
Ambiguity in the high mountains.
If one thing is to be taken out of these first two weeks, it is that we need a climber. Ideas already circle in my mind, as we still wait for word from our youngsters.
However, the effort of Gerro and Alba in the mountains does not go unnoticed, and neither does the outstanding work of out sprinters, which surely deserves an award.
Host: Welcome everybody to Episode 2 of Orica revealed! The fans have spoken and we've managed to grab Daniel Teklehaimanot and Daryl Impey!
Daryl: Glad to be here.
Dan: Let's do this!
Host: So Dan, you've I guess come out of your shell this year, with pretty good performances. That would obviously include your 28th place in the Amstel Gold Race. How do you feel about that?
Dan: Well yeah I decided to attack, and then when the favourites went up, I managed to hang on at the front of the peloton. It really feels amazing to have gotten that result. I mean, I grew up in Eritrea, which isn't exactly Cycling-mad, so I've had to work really hard to get where I am and you can expect a lot more from me.
Host: We look forward to that. Daryl we haven't seen much of you yet this season. What do you think is to come from you?
Daryl: Yeah well I hope to get out of those helper roles at least a few times. This season I've been doing a lot as a helper, like in Qatar, the Ardennes and also the Aufrazian Championships. Hopefully in Season Part 3 I can get a chance to race for myself, and when I do, hopefully I can impress everyone.
Host: Great stuff. Who do you guys think is the funniest guy on the team, and who's the best to be around?
Daryl: Well Cam and Fumy are really funny, but everyone on the team is really nice. We have a great culture here, we're not just teammates, but a team of mates. The European guys are especially nice but it's great to have banter with some of the Aussies, so everyone's nice.
Dan: Yeah I agree with all of that. The new young guys from this season are just great, and not only is everyone a good rider but a good guy.
Host: Dan you're eligible for the upcoming Domestique race series. Do you think you'll get in the team? And if so, how do you think you'll go?
Dan: Well I don't want to be too bad for a weak riders' race, so hopefully I'll get in there. If I do, hopefully I can help the leader on the day, and we might even get a win at some point.
Host: For each of you, what would be your biggest career dream?
Daryl: I think winning a stage or wearing the Yellow Jersey at the Tour de France - being the first African to do so. Apparently a lot of people have dreamt it, so hopefully I can make it a reality. I'd also love to be the South African Champion, and maybe if there's a more favourable course then Aufrazian Champion.
Dan: Yeah I think Daryl's the best African rider right now. Maybe there can be some Continental Championships for Africa only. For me, I would say to wear a jersey at a World Tour race, and win a lot of races from a breakaway. I'd say I'm a fighter, and I've always loved races which end that way.
Host: Final question, if you could bring anyone to the team - realistically of course - who would it be?
Daryl: I think the boys last time said Dennis and Ulissi, who I'd love to come to the team, but we really need a top climber, badly. Maybe Van den Broeck, but I don't think Lotto would let him go. Euskaltel have a few really good climbers, so I'll say Anton. Maybe also Nieve or Inxtausti.
Dan: Yeah Inxtausti's great, especially for Stage Races. I think all those guys are great, but I'll say Pierre Rolland. Great guy, great rider. He'd fit in well. I think also Rafal Majka is a great rider too. It's up to the manager to decide though.
Host: And that's our show! Thanks for tuning in, and make sure to check out OGETV, live at the Giro!
Introducing the Orica - Drapac Race Series, where we will go head to head with fellow Aussies Drapac Cycling Team in a series of races. Unfair? Well, our less amazing riders will be racing, while Drapac will send their best team. First up, the Santos Tour Down Under Route! See you all there!
Here's our team for the 'Tour Down Under'
Mitch Docker Christian Meier Fumy Beppu Wes Sulzberger Daniel Teklehaimanot Jens Mouris
Spoiler
Note: I will be using PCM12, where Bikes and Helmets don't show up.
Thomas Vaitkus did well to get into the breakaway and take points.
But he got dropped by Amador and got sucked up by the peloton towards the finish. Unfortunately, the Costa Rican won.
Stage 4
After some anonymity in the previous stages, we had a chance to redeem ourselves in an individual time trial. Bewley, Meyer and Mouris held the top 3 intermediate places on the road at the same time while Brett Lancaster[pictured above] took the lead by 15 seconds after passing 2 other riders on the course.
However, nobody really managed to post a good time until the end apart from Cam, who finished 7th.
I got injured pretty badly. Luckily, there was a lot of rest scheduled anyway. May wasn't a pleasant month, though. At least I could watch the Giro in my hospital bed. Seeing Goss winning definitely cheered me up.
At least I managed to finish.
Next up was the French ITT championships, and that actually went quite ok.
I felt better now, after 2 extra weeks of rest.
I never was a favourite, with guys like Chavanel and Peraud here, but still, I managed to get 7th, only 41 seconds off the time of Peraud. I was pretty happy with that, given that it means that my form finally is good again.
The Road Race was quite flat, so I was never a favourite, but I was going to try to attack.
I missed the right attack though. Rolland, Sicard and Moinard attacked.
Of course, as only Orica Frenchie, I was not supposed to chase. Yet, AG2R and FDJ, who were supposed to chase, didn't either.
Which means that the gap got bigger and bigger, and at some point, everybody lost any faith in getting them back. So yeah, it's a DNF for everyone.
Except the 3 leaders, obviously. Sicard took a shocking win there
At least I got some extra training kms, though the pace was really slow.
Beside training, I'll spend the next days praying I can go to the TdF.
I know I was a letdown, but as a Frenchie, I would really, really like to ride my first Grand Tour, the Tour de France. I'd hope to get a free role, but at this point, I just want to make the squad.
I let you know that I have decided to spend some extra time in the mountains and try to avoid sunny Australian beaches in the future. Girls are mesmerizing my head too much. They love my basque moustache.
As a result, I think I have improved considerably in my climbing and also rolling around. But I'm far from good enough to compete in le Tour or la Vuelta so far. Instead I'd prefer it if I could ride some small continental races in the third season part?
I know that there was an issue with the sending of mails in the last season part, but I hope this won't occur again.
If I had to choose, I'd love to race Vuelta a Burgos or another mountaineous race, maybe Tour of Austria? These are places where I hope to prove my talent by getting in a breakaway or so.
Whatever happens, in any case, I'm ready to give it all for the team! I also feel though that elite World Tour level comes too soon for me now and that those races are often times wasted race days for me.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
I have endeavoured to give you the most race days possible in Spain. I will try to add the Tour of Austria to my wildcard list as well for you. My initial plan was to have you in the Vuelta as a breakaway rider, and it wasn't necessary for you to finish the race, but if you feel you are not up to it, then that is ok.
Bad news first. The team was poor in the Australian Championships, where we expected a win, but continental champion Simon Gerrans was unable to deliver.
There was also good news, as young gun Dan Teklehaimanot took out the Eritrean road race against a team of MTN riders. Daryl Impey was also brilliant in becoming the dual national champion of South Africa, also solo against teams of riders.
Canadian Svein Tuft managed to destroy the competition in the Canadian TT, while Michael Albasini took an impressive win in the Swiss Road Race.
The season may bit a bit on hold for now after the National Championships, but we basques never stop the racing. Thanks to the big OGER in the office, I was allowed to travel to France to take part in the mythical mountain race of the Basque Racing Series, where we took on twice Alpe d'Huez.
Quite a feat I can confirm you that. I have been riding throughout most of the time in the bunch, but dropped at around 10 to 15 kilometers to go. I was on my own at that point, several riders ahead of him still. But I learned to pace myself well in Australia and therefor I was riding a good pace. So good, that I picked up Gorka Izagirre and Castroviejo, who both took gladly my backwheel and followed me atop.
On the top of Alpe d'Huez, I've come 15th. Castroviejo and Gorka Izagirre both gladly let me take 15th place (I couldn't have outsprinted them, way over my limit at that point), and I earned my first 6 points in the Basque Racing Series. That's really a fantastic result for me, and I hope that I can continue to shine in the Basque Racing Series in future months and the coming years. Also, a big congratulations to the organization: The race around Alpe d'Huez was really unique and fantastic. I can't wait to see the Tour edition this year!
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Paris-Roubaix 
Vuelta a Pais Vasco 
The Ardennes 
Tour de Romandie 
Giro d'Italia 
Mitch Docker
Christian Meier
Fumy Beppu
Daniel Teklehaimanot
Jens Mouris
