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aCross the road: Mud, Sweat & Gears
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 02-03-2014 17:53
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World Champion
Posts: 11971
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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sutty68 wrote:
SSJ2Luigi wrote:
I’m a saiyan and each time I’m on the floor I just grow stronger.
what
I think its some kind of warrior 
you have no idea how happy you made me with that post 
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| Shonak |
Posted on 03-03-2014 09:53
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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So, bandwith issues. Yay for that. I suspect the EPIC reports of Ronde and Paris-Roubaix just took too much in the end. Either I get a new account for the days or we're on a bit of a break until the weekend.
Good thing is that the story drives more on its text than the images. So anybody interested has the perfect week ahead of him to catch up now (well that is to say if they don't mind the who's popular image instead of the flashy cyclocross artworks  ).
Edited by Shonak on 03-03-2014 09:55
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Shonak |
Posted on 08-03-2014 08:17
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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World Championships
So much blue in Louisville
The world is a different when it comes to World Championships. More media exposure, fans more frenetic, everybody fights harder. You are more motivated. You do a lot for a simple jersey of rainbow colours. I didn’t do enough though.
The World Championship in Louisville saw a 3-men battle up until the last corner between the two Belgians Sven Nys and Kevin Pauwels and Czech Superstar Zdenek Stybar. Fittingly, all three riders were dressed in blue… just like the rest of the peloton it seemed to me. I myself riding in the jersey of Italy was part of a great selection of our very own Squadra Azzura.
The road around Louisville featured some steep climbs through the woods, accompanied by a great American audience, that wasn’t particularly what I came to expect. There was a big lake in the middle at the course and while passing it with a mud-scattered face I more often than not wished to jump in it and take a cool swim. Truthfully, it was warmer than I expected and much hotter than I was used to. At times I had trouble breathing, but I managed to focus.
I am not sure if it’s simply the things that we were riding the World Championships for the first time on US soil, but it seemed to me that the public was much different than the Belgian. Of course, you may think, they have different mentality. But it’s more than that. It’s a different approach to Cyclo Cross, a whole other development. A history all of its own.
Ever wondered how there are similar legends in cultures that had nothing to with each other in the beginning of mankind? Well. I felt like that when I talked about Cyclo-Cross with some people at the venue. Less people but more do it yourself style. People couldn’t wait to get on the bike and race the course after the juniors, women and men had finished. Everybody of the crowd seemed to lean on their bikes while cheering for us. Some guys were camping outside the venue and cheering from the outside in. Nobody seemed to mind.
Hardly anybody asked for interviews or autographs. I was wondering if some even knew our names. My Cannondale folks were considered big here, but really, they weren’t actually. But nonetheless, you could feel that Cyclo Cross was alive here and booming and popular. Just not for the same reasons as in Europe.
I liked it.
The race itself was classic Cyclo-Cross as you have come to expect. Full throttle from the get-go. No time to stop, not much time to think and don’t you even dare to give away a position without a fight. Not here. Not ever.
Stybar and Pauwels were definitely the strongest, while I managed to catch a good wheel up front with Nys. They built up a considerable gap. All the other nations, especially some of the US local boys, were already struggling here. There’s another level still, but it’s getting smaller. Meeusen, Walsleben, Van der Haar and Mourey were pushing for it too but they couldn’t quite hold up with Stybar and Pauwels. Nys and Albert meanwhile rode a race of their own so far, while getting a bit of time. I was with them for a large part of the race, but eventually had to drop the longer the race got.
Nys caught up to Stybar and Pauwels after passing Van der Haar, Mourey and Walsleben. The Belgian CX-star really delivered a performance worthy of a potential world champion as he rode without remorse through the mud of Louisville in hunt of Stybar and Pauwels, in hunt of the World Championship jersey.
There was a similar performance by Albert but he didn’t quite pull it off to reach the three up front. With him were for the longest time Van der Haar, Mourey and Walsleben, who all rather got pulled by him. He eventually dropped them.
I rarely caught a glimpse of the top riders as we circled through the laps, but when I did, they sure looked all strong to me. I was mostly riding on my own pace, alone. I had time to let the atmosphere sink in as I had a big gap on the guys up front and the bigger lead on the guys behind me. With several laps to go, I still felt like the race was over for me at this point. It reduced itself to a better training ride by then.
Going into the final lap, Stybar was leading the way for Pauwels and Nys. He didn’t grant them a single meter. While Nys tried his luck, Pauwels had the toughest of times holding up and speculated on a possible sprint victory. When they hit the last corner for the long finish line ahead of them, Stybar put on his sprint immediately and left them without much a chance at first. While Pauwels came back on the last meters and might have caught the Czech would it have been 50 meters more, Nys showed once more that sprint finishes are maybe his only slight weakness. Stybar though was nonetheless the strongest in the finish and fully deserves his World Champion title. For the third time.
I myself finish in the Top 10 ranking. Goal achieved I suppose. I am not too tired though at the end of the race and I intend to take good use of this race today. After watching Stybar’s ceremony and putting on the World Champion jersey, I head down to some of the locals. I stay there for a while with my family and I end up talking with one of the local race organizers from New England, talking about a possible start next season at the NEPCX.
World Championships 2013, Results
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Zdenek Stybar | Czech | | | 2 | Kevin Pauwels | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 3 | Sven Nys | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 4 | Niels Albert | BKCP - Powerplus | + 32 | | 5 | Lars Van Der Haar | Rabobank Giant Offroad | + 2'11 | | 6 | Francis Mourey | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 7 | Tom Meeusen | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 8 | Philipp Walsleben | Germany | s.t. | | 9 | Raphael Visconti | Italia | + 3'54 | | 10 | Radomir Simunek | Czech | + 11'05 |
Spoiler | 11 | Mariusz Gil | Kwadro - Stannah | + 11'38 | | 12 | Vladimir Kyzivat | Czech | s.t. | | 13 | Bart Wellens | Telenet - Fidea | + 12'28 | | 14 | Lars Boom | Rabobank Giant Offroad | + 13'02 | | 15 | Gianni Vermeersch | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 16 | Bart Verschueren | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 17 | Martin Zlamalik | Czech | + 13'36 | | 18 | Filip Eberl | Czech | s.t. | | 19 | Sven Vanthourenhout | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 20 | Jose Antonio Hermida | Espagna | + 14'16 | | 21 | Aurélien Duval | UV Aube | s.t. | | 22 | Micki Van Empel | Crelan- Euphony | + 14'40 | | 23 | Eddy Van Ijzerdoorn | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 24 | Ian Field | Great Britain | + 15'23 | | 25 | Joeri Hofman | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 26 | Dieter Vanthourenhout | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 27 | Ole Quast | Germany | s.t. | | 28 | Rob Peeters | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 29 | Jaroslav Kulhavy | Czech | s.t. | | 30 | Steve Chainel | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 31 | Marcel Meisen | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 32 | Jim Aernouts | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 33 | Tim Johnson | Cannondale Cyclocross World | s.t. | | 34 | Niels Wubben | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 35 | Sandy Casar | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 36 | Mike Teunissen | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 37 | Zdenek Mlynar | Czech | s.t. | | 38 | Quinten Bertholet | Belgium | + 17'02 | | 39 | Vincent Baestaens | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 40 | Angelo De Clerq | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 41 | Jiri Polnicky | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 42 | Wilant Van Gils | Holland | s.t. | | 43 | Joeri Adams | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 44 | Thijs Al | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 45 | Gert-Jan Bosman | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 46 | Jemer Jubbega | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 47 | Cris Sheppard | Canada | s.t. | | 48 | Jasper Ockeloen | Holland | + 17'36 | | 49 | Klaas Vantornout | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | + 19'23 | | 50 | Patrick Van Leeuwen | Orange Babies | + 20'14 | | 51 | Gerben De Knegt | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 52 | Arnaud Grand | Telenet - Fidea | + 20'42 |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 10-03-2014 21:51
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Thanks everybody for the votes on New Story of the Month. I don't really know who voted for it since I am not sure who even follows this story, but alas... thanks.
Bpost Bank Trofee – Lille
Walsleben takes back glory
Cannondale: Visconti
Temperature: 8°
Philipp Walsleben took today’s victory in Lille after fighting off the advances of the favourites and his companion Vantornaut. Both riders obviously profited from the hard-fought out World Championships and had more reserves left in their tank. This allowed them to make for their push right at the start and held their pace for the remaining stage. Eventually Walsleben dropped his companion and rode to a sweet solo-victory in Lille. Surely a bit of satisfaction after the disappointing World Championships for the team.
For myself, I had to admit I may have stayed too long in the US. I was tired at the start and had the feel of skipping it. At times I felt like a hollow man riding alongside men who actually felt something. Therefor I spent quite some time on my own, just riding there. Luckily, my legs didn’t quit the job like my mind presumably did. So that’s how still I ended up with a decent result after all.
Impressions
Bpost Bank Trofee - Lille, Results
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Philipp Walsleben | BKCP - Powerplus | | | 2 | Klaas Vantornout | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | + 30 | | 3 | Tom Van Den Bosch | Hargroves | + 1'27 | | 4 | Sven Nys | Crelan- Euphony | + 2'01 | | 5 | Tom Meeusen | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 6 | Zdenek Stybar | Czech | s.t. | | 7 | Kevin Pauwels | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 8 | Mariusz Gil | Kwadro - Stannah | s.t. | | 9 | Francis Mourey | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 10 | Niels Albert | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. |
Spoiler | 11 | Raphael Visconti | Cannondale Cyclocross World | + 2'43 | | 12 | Bart Aernouts | AA Drink - Leontien.nl | s.t. | | 13 | Rafael Visinelli | Selle Italia - Guercotti | + 3'14 | | 14 | Steve Chainel | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 15 | Lars Boom | Rabobank Giant Offroad | + 4'23 | | 16 | Lars Van Der Haar | Rabobank Giant Offroad | + 8'46 | | 17 | Sven Vanthourenhout | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 18 | Martin Zlamalik | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 19 | Bart Verschueren | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 20 | Davy Commeyne | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 21 | Vincent Baestaens | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 22 | Bart Wellens | Telenet - Fidea | + 9'41 | | 23 | Wietse Bosmans | BKCP - Powerplus | + 12'32 | | 24 | David Van Der Poel | BKCP - Powerplus | + 12'49 | | 25 | Martin Bina | Cycklo Team Tabor | + 13'16 | | 26 | Ian Field | Hargroves | s.t. | | 27 | John Gadret | Ag2r - La Mondiale | + 13'28 | | 28 | Radomir Simunek | Kwadro - Stannah | s.t. | | 29 | Tijmen Eising | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 30 | Aurélien Duval | UV Aube | s.t. | | 31 | Julien Taramarcz | BMC Mountainbike Racing Team | + 14'43 | | 32 | Rob Peeters | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 33 | Eddy Van Ijzerdoorn | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 34 | Enrico Franzoi | Selle Italia - Guercotti | + 15'00 | | 35 | Thijs Van Amerongen | AA Drink - Leontien.nl | + 15'22 | | 36 | Gerben De Knegt | Orange Babies | + 16'57 | | 37 | Angelo De Clerq | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 38 | Marcel Meisen | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 39 | Arnaud Jouffroy | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 40 | Arnold Jeannesson | FDJ - BigMat | + 17'45 | | 41 | Micki Van Empel | Crelan- Euphony | + 18'19 | | 42 | Joeri Adams | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 43 | Dieter Vanthourenhout | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 44 | Xandro Meurisse | Baboco | s.t. | | 45 | Paul Voss | Stevens Racing Team | s.t. | | 46 | Thijs Al | Telenet - Fidea | + 18'46 | | 47 | Patrick Van Leeuwen | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 48 | Arnaud Grand | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 49 | Jiri Polnicky | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 50 | Gianni Vermeersch | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 51 | Mike Teunissen | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 52 | Niels Wubben | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 53 | Vladimir Kyzivat | Czech | s.t. | | 54 | Stijn Huys | Orange Babies | + 19'17 | | 55 | Lubomir Petrus | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 56 | Marco Aurelio Fontana | Selle Italia - Guercotti | s.t. | | 57 | Gert-Jan Bosman | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 58 | Roy Van Heeswijk | Orange Babies | + 19'39 |
Bpost Bank Trofee General Classification, One Race Remaining
| Rank | Name | Relative Time Gap | | 1 | Sven Nys | 00:05:21 | | 2 | Niels Albert | 00:07:37 | | 3 | Zdenek Stybar | 00:10:04 | | 4 | Kevin Pauwels | 00:11:01 | | 5 | Tom Meeusen | 00:13:04 | | 6 | Philipp Walsleben | 00:14:01 | | 7 | Raphael Visconti | 00:16:44 | | 8 | Lars Van Der Haar | 00:17:17 | | 9 | Francis Mourey | 00:17:58 | | 10 | Rob Peeters | 00:18:55 |
Spoiler | 11 | Mike Teunissen | 00:19:01 | | 12 | Bart Aernouts | 00:19:36 | | 13 | Julien Taramarcz | 00:19:55 | | 14 | Bart Wellens | 00:20:00 | | 15 | Roy Van Heeswijk | 00:20:00 | | 16 | Radomir Simunek | 00:21:54 | | 17 | Martin Bina | 00:21:58 | | 18 | Thijs Al | 00:22:03 | | 19 | Radek Polnicky | 00:22:03 | | 20 | Sven Vanthourenhout | 00:22:16 |
Edited by Shonak on 10-03-2014 21:55
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 10-03-2014 21:53
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World Champion
Posts: 11971
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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WALSLEBEN 
and it's a good sign that when the head has a bad day, the legs can still get a decent result
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 11-03-2014 01:28
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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A Great 9th place for Raphael at the Worlds |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 02:19
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| Shonak |
Posted on 11-03-2014 11:46
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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@SSJ2luigi: Sure was a sweet victory for him after all the work he did for Albert on previous races.
@sutty68: Definitely a great result and the goal of a Top 10 achieved. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Shonak |
Posted on 11-03-2014 12:02
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Superprestige Hoogstraten
Albert wins solo & becomes favourite to win Superprestige
Cannondale: Visconti
Temperature: 4°
After winning the World Cup in Rome, Niels Albert made today huge advances towards winning the Superprestige Classification of 2012/13 as well. He set himself early apart with Francis Mourey, and eventually came out on top in the race’s final. While the french couldn’t maintain his performance throughout the race, Albert could celebrate a clear-cut victory for himself. His form is definitely right for the season finale despite his underwhelming performance at the World Championships. His toughest opponent Sven Nys came in 2nd.
I myself was once more looking out for my form early on and had some struggles to begin with. Bike issues, stuck in the mud… you know the drill. But eventually I managed to get into a good position and hold up with various riders. Unfortunately, the finale was a bit too fast for me and rode the final lap alone. Once more. A decent 9th result confirms my Superprestige performances of the past and ahead of the season finale in Middelkerke I maintain a good Top 10 place on 6th, but have hardly any chances to advance into Top 5 unfortunately.
Superprestige Hoogstraten, Results
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Niels Albert | BKCP - Powerplus | 2h57'50 | | 2 | Sven Nys | Crelan- Euphony | + 55 | | 3 | Zdenek Stybar | Czech | + 2'09 | | 4 | Kevin Pauwels | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 5 | Lars Van Der Haar | Rabobank Giant Offroad | + 2'54 | | 6 | Francis Mourey | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 7 | Bart Wellens | Telenet - Fidea | + 3'35 | | 8 | Klaas Vantornout | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | + 5'08 | | 9 | Raphael Visconti | Cannondale Cyclocross World | + 5'30 | | 10 | Radomir Simunek | Kwadro - Stannah | + 7'23 |
Spoiler | 11 | Lars Boom | Rabobank Giant Offroad | + 8'55 | | 12 | Xandro Meurisse | Baboco | s.t. | | 13 | Paul Voss | Stevens Racing Team | s.t. | | 14 | Arnaud Jouffroy | Telenet - Fidea | + 12'09 | | 15 | Arnold Jeannesson | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 16 | Jiri Polnicky | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 17 | Tom Meeusen | Telenet - Fidea | + 13'45 | | 18 | Marcel Meisen | BKCP - Powerplus | + 14'44 | | 19 | Martin Zlamalik | Crelan- Euphony | + 15'12 | | 20 | Wietse Bosmans | BKCP - Powerplus | + 15'43 | | 21 | Davy Commeyne | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 22 | Mike Teunissen | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 23 | Bart Aernouts | AA Drink - Leontien.nl | + 16'27 | | 24 | Tijmen Eising | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | + 17'08 | | 25 | Sven Vanthourenhout | Crelan- Euphony | + 17'41 | | 26 | Mariusz Gil | Kwadro - Stannah | s.t. | | 27 | Bart Verschueren | Crelan- Euphony | + 19'38 | | 28 | Rob Peeters | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 29 | Gerben De Knegt | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 30 | Vladimir Kyzivat | Czech | s.t. | | 31 | Martin Bina | Cycklo Team Tabor | s.t. | | 32 | Aurélien Duval | UV Aube | s.t. | | 33 | Vincent Baestaens | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 34 | Joeri Adams | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. |
Top 25 Superprestige Classification, One Race Remaining
| GC Rank | GC Rider | GC Points | | 1 | Albert | 77 | | 2 | Nys | 67 | | 3 | Pauwels | 59 | | 4 | Stybar | 59 | | 5 | Mourey | 55 | | 6 | Visconti | 45 | | 7 | Meeusen | 42 | | 8 | Van der Haar | 40 | | 9 | Aernouts | 32 | | 10 | Simunek | 32 |
Spoiler | 11 | Braet | 28 | | 12 | Wellens | 20 | | 13 | Taramarcz | 19 | | 14 | Kyzivat | 16 | | 15 | Vantornout | 16 | | 16 | Van Leeuwen | 15 | | 17 | Huys | 14 | | 18 | Van Empel | 14 | | 19 | Polnicky | 14 | | 20 | Jeannesson | 14 | | 21 | Boom | 14 | | 22 | Bina | 13 | | 23 | Vermeersch | 13 | | 24 | Mlynar | 12 | | 25 | Gadret | 12 |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 11-03-2014 12:03
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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I haven't really read anything of this until now.
Amazing story.
No offence to anyone out there, but you are definitely the story writer of the moment, congratulations |
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 11-03-2014 12:06
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Team Leader
Posts: 6690
Joined: 11-10-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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I am just jealous how good this sounds and looks. Great, just great.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 11-03-2014 12:10
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Wow, Ian. Thank you.  I don't really think that's the case but any way, I'm sure either you or Mre or Atlantius or any other writer will soon take over this "spot" though
If you want to check out the story in a quick way: All Cyclo-Cross races are listed in the second post of the thread, and if you want to catch up, I'd recommend to start with he bold ones since those are my favourite reports.
@admirschleck: Hahaha... thanks, but no way mate. Your Trek story is fantastic so be proud of that.
Edited by Shonak on 11-03-2014 12:12
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Kritzo |
Posted on 11-03-2014 12:45
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Domestique
Posts: 624
Joined: 12-10-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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This is so far one of the best storys I have ever read. I like the angle, the writing style and I like the fact that it is a Mountain Bike story. Keep it up, mate!
Proud Member of the Leeds United Army!
RAFAL MAJKA |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 11-03-2014 12:50
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Kritzo wrote:
This is so far one of the best storys I have ever read. I like the angle, the writing style and I like the fact that it is a Mountain Bike story. Keep it up, mate!
Couldn't agree more.
Though Cross is not on mountain bikes, rather on racing bikes with different tubes |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 11-03-2014 13:52
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Raphael adds another top ten to his collection, if anything he is consistent |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 11-03-2014 19:10
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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@Kritzo: Thanks a lot. Cyclo Cross is a lot of fun (in real as well as in the game). I definitely enjoy it and I hope people see it. There'll also be lots of road racing the future though.
@sutty68: He is indeed very consistent for his young age. Still hoping for some "outsider-ish" performance peaks though.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Shonak |
Posted on 11-03-2014 22:54
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Superprestige Middelkerke
... If only for 100 meters
Cannondale: Driscoll, Johnson, Visconti
Temperature: 10°
At a bright, remarkable sunny day, I can’t figure out how I feel after crossing the finish line. It’ll get clearer in time. Once I’ll remember what was, and not what could have been here in Middelkerke. I’ll remember how I defended a podium rank rather than lost my first victory on the finish line, on the last hundred meters. Give or take. I was exhausted, heavily breathing. The podium had a bitter-sweet taste to it.
I didn’t think too much at the start, in the second row I was starting at. Without too much hassle, I passed various guys and shielded myself from others. I kept up the pace to keep always myself in the first positions.
The crowd was once more fantastic. I was reminded of a rollercoaster ride, of a theme park. In many ways, Cyclo Cross is Belgium’s very own resort of theme park-ish entertainment. The claps and shouts sounded wonderful when I dared my move and attacked. But I kept striking the pedals, I didn’t get far though. I tried again though. And again. Rollercoaster... yeah.
I was having the best days, the best legs… the best motivation I could have asked for. I was close before in this season, so clsoe to the win. In Hasselt I was particularly damn close before I crashed. In Hamme-Zoggen I would have needed just a few more meters and it could have been me. Today I was just thinking, that it was a perfect opportunity, a perfect day as I was dragging through the easy trails.
At no point I felt like I overdid myself. I was striving alongside the sides of the infamous red limit, but never crossing it. I wondered if I had achieved a perfect combination of effort and struggle. I asked myself maybe too early if I could make it. But the favourites, they chased me down and they came closer again. And again. Through my attacks I made the race hard and painful for everyone involved. A testimony of my resilience is the fact that eventually only 27 riders finished. By far one of the lowest values in recent years.
But I’m a fighter. And just when they thought they had me, I sneaked back out again. Trying for another push. Truly. Ididn’t care about overdoing myself or crossing the red limit then... now. I wanted to win. That’s why I’m here in the first place. It turned out to be the third place.
It was in the final lap. I had merely a few corners left. I saw the finish line. My legs were heavy. They are always heavy and I never want to tell them to shut up. But I did. I looked back far too often. I kept looking back and hoping that they would just disappear, my chasers. That they would disappear in thin air. But they prevailed, and I remained at the front but the distance grew smaller by step.
It just wasn’t enough to win. When I was outsprinted by Albert I barely could react. I was outsprinted merely meters from the finish. When Stybar passed, I felt like I had to anything. When I saw Meeusen coming from behind, I got a second wind. I wasn’t eager to pedal. But I feared not to pedal. I was afraid of what would happen if I didn't ride faster. If I didn't came up with something here and now. Thus I stroke and took from somewhere deep down my last reserves, just barely came around. Barely crossed the finish ahead of Meeusen. I felt done for good though. I wanted to win and once more it was forsaken me.
But I can tell you, despite the day and the race… it’s wonderful to stay on the podium of such a race for once.
Niels Albert eventually came onto it alone again, he enjoyed his moments in the sun. In the real sun. And in the sun of Superprestige as he won the General Classification as well. What a season for him once more with the classification wins of the World Cup and Superprestige. Will he able to take Bpost Bank Trofee from Sven Nys too in the last race of the season?
Impressions of my solo ride
Superprestige Middelkerke
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Niels Albert | BKCP - Powerplus | 3h09'02 | | 2 | Zdenek Stybar | Czech | s.t. | | 3 | Raphael Visconti | Cannondale Cyclocross World | s.t. | | 4 | Tom Meeusen | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 5 | Kevin Pauwels | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 6 | Niels Wubben | Rabobank Giant Offroad | + 1'08 | | 7 | Francis Mourey | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 8 | Paul Voss | Stevens Racing Team | s.t. | | 9 | Xandro Meurisse | Baboco | s.t. | | 10 | Sven Nys | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. |
Spoiler | 11 | Philipp Walsleben | BKCP - Powerplus | + 8'03 | | 12 | Klaas Vantornout | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 13 | Lars Van Der Haar | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 14 | Wietse Bosmans | BKCP - Powerplus | + 8'36 | | 15 | Gianni Vermeersch | BKCP - Powerplus | + 9'37 | | 16 | Zdenek Mlynar | Czech | + 11'24 | | 17 | Davy Commeyne | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 18 | Thijs Al | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 19 | Jiri Polnicky | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 20 | Tomas Paprstka | Czech | + 11'51 | | 21 | Marcel Meisen | BKCP - Powerplus | + 12'28 | | 22 | Martin Zlamalik | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 23 | Vladimir Kyzivat | Czech | s.t. | | 24 | Dieter Vanthourenhout | BKCP - Powerplus | + 13'29 | | 25 | Joeri Adams | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 26 | Bart Wellens | Telenet - Fidea | + 15'58 | | 27 | Sven Vanthourenhout | Crelan- Euphony | + 17'25 |
Superprestige Final Classification
| GC Rank | GC Rider | GC Points | | 1 | Albert | 92 | | 2 | Nys | 73 | | 3 | Stybar | 73 | | 4 | Pauwels | 70 | | 5 | Mourey | 64 | | 6 | Visconti | 58 | | 7 | Meeusen | 54 | | 8 | Van der Haar | 43 | | 9 | Aernouts | 32 | | 10 | Simunek | 32 |
Spoiler | 11 | Braet | 28 | | 12 | Wellens | 20 | | 13 | Taramarcz | 19 | | 14 | Kyzivat | 16 | | 15 | Van Leeuwen | 15 | | 16 | Huys | 14 | | 17 | Van Empel | 14 | | 18 | Polnicky | 14 | | 19 | Jeannesson | 14 | | 20 | Walsleben | 14 | | 21 | Bina | 13 | | 22 | Vermeersch | 13 | | 23 | Mlynar | 12 | | 24 | Gadret | 12 | | 25 | Vanthourenhout | 11 |
Edited by Shonak on 11-03-2014 22:56
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 11-03-2014 22:55
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Team Leader
Posts: 6690
Joined: 11-10-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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And there it is, Raphael gets a podium! To be honest i am more happy that i was right (about his podium soon) than because of the podium, but... 
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 11-03-2014 22:58
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World Champion
Posts: 11971
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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you didn't win brons, you lost gold 
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| Shonak |
Posted on 11-03-2014 23:19
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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@SSJ2Luigi: So true.
@admirschleck: Yeah, you were most definitely right. It was time to make once more for this season a push for a possible win and at least this time he got a bit more lucky than the other times.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 12-03-2014 03:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Brilliant result it could've been more but hey, that's no sucker that beat you to the punch.
In just a few years, I sense Alberrt is on his way out, and Visconti is coming in |
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