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Euskaltel - restoring basque honor
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| Halvor |
Posted on 20-06-2008 23:42
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Ok, then I understand... Thanks  |
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| Mads_0 |
Posted on 20-06-2008 23:42
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Domestique
Posts: 614
Joined: 14-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Stage 6 - Paris-Nice
Sprinterstage today. Koldo Fernandez will try to get a result today as he's not entirely happy with his performance so far. It doesn't start well for us though as Aitor Galdos crashes after 30km.
"Luckily" Halgand also crashes and 5 riders from CA come to bring him back. Galdos hitches a ride with the green machine
Euskaltel owns up to their responsibilities and keeps a good leash on the days breakaways.
With 23km to go most of the work is done and the teams with sprinters lend us a hand. Bertagnolli of Liquigas finishes the job and closes the final gap on the last escapee. Time for Koldo Fernandez to spring into action.
With 7km to go the main sprintertrain has formed on the left. Some of the puncheurs feel that they have a say in this and keep riding hard on the right.
At 2.9km Fernanandez is perfectly placed on the wheel of Wegmann and Bennati.
Bertagnolli and Addy Engels on the right are not gonna give it up easy though. They've got a small advantage at this point!
The sprinters are forced to react from out far as the duo on the right give it their all. Fernandez is somewhat marked by the small hill just before the finish though!
But Bennati displays his superiority yet again as Freire just manages to squeeze past Engels in the final metres. Engels 3rd and 4th for Fernandez.
1 Daniele Bennati Liquigas 4h19'14
2 Óscar Freire Rabobank s.t.
3 Addy Engels Quick·Step s.t.
4 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
5 Tom Boonen Quick·Step s.t.
6 Sébastien Chavanel Française des Jeux s.t.
7 Bernhard Eisel Team Columbia s.t.
8 Leonardo Bertagnolli Liquigas s.t.
9 Robbie McEwen Silence - Lotto s.t.
10 Fabian Wegmann Gerolsteiner s.t.
11 Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto s.t.
12 Benoit Salmon Agritubel s.t.
13 Heinrich Haussler Gerolsteiner s.t.
14 Andreas Klier Team Columbia s.t.
15 Filippo Pozzato Liquigas s.t.
16 Emilien-Benoît Bergès Agritubel s.t.
17 Johannes Fröhlinger Gerolsteiner s.t.
18 Roman Kreuziger Liquigas s.t.
19 Benoit Sinner Agritubel s.t.
20 Jimmy Casper Agritubel s.t. |
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| Mads_0 |
Posted on 20-06-2008 23:43
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Domestique
Posts: 614
Joined: 14-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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issoisso wrote:
yeah, that's just taking advantage of the name
Mont Ventoux (windy hill) is one side of the mountain, the steepest and longest one with strong winds that make it even harder. The Mont Serein is the much shorter, much less steep opposite side with no wind at all
Again: I wish it was the Ventoux
Hehe, me too I'll edit it in |
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| Halvor |
Posted on 20-06-2008 23:45
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Not bad! Congrats for the GC win |
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| Ak4 |
Posted on 21-06-2008 08:06
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Stagiare
Posts: 226
Joined: 15-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Not the best sprint  |
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| jakke77 |
Posted on 21-06-2008 08:40
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Amateur
Posts: 8
Joined: 03-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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It is incredible that you can play so fast and even write about it. It will take me a lot longer time to get to the Paris Nice and i simulate a lot more than you.
btw. Great blog i especially like your pictures |
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| Mads_0 |
Posted on 21-06-2008 08:49
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Domestique
Posts: 614
Joined: 14-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Stage 7 - Paris Nice
A tough stage today! Most our helpers aren't that good on the climbs and we'll have trouble controlling the events today if the other teams dont lend us a hand.
Luckily, at the halfway stage, when our riders are already beginning to look tired, Cuesta who is not that far behind is out front. The other teams are not happy about it and start to pitch in.
66km to go and it's Van vermaet alone out front. We're not forced to work anymore as Rabobank, Gerolsteiner and Liquigas are setting a nice pace.
Cobo and Halgand try their luck on the Col de Bourrigaille.
The combined efforts of the pack catches them again though. Cuesta is caught as the last escapee of the day as we come to the foot of the last climb.
Some of the favorites attack! Schleck and Dekker are first to go. A quick look at the Euskaltel team and there's no doubt, Astarloza has to go with them! His helpers are simply not capable of any more work.
He manages to join the attacking group and puts himself last in the group to try and restore a bit of energy.
At the 7km mark they're really riding! Astarloza is trying to hold the wheel of Halgand but Barredo and Gadret are doing their best to nudge him out of the train.
And they succeed at it! Much to our dismay Astarloza is left alone in the wind and at the 2,1km mark just has to countersprint whoever goes first.. but he does look very strong!
And he takes the stage! He powered ahead to surprise the puncheurs who had formed a train. Halgand, who was leading the train didn't have the power and the rest reacted much too late and Astarloza takes another stagewin for us. In the chasing pack, Bennati, Haussler and Kolde Fernandez duke it out amongst themselves.
1 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi 5h18'01
2 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step s.t.
3 Thomas Dekker Rabobank s.t.
4 John Gadret AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
5 Stefan Schumacher Gerolsteiner s.t.
6 Patrice Halgand Crédit Agricole s.t.
7 Davide Rebellin Gerolsteiner s.t.
8 Fabian Wegmann Gerolsteiner s.t.
9 Heinrich Haussler Gerolsteiner s.t.
10 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
11 Daniele Bennati Liquigas s.t.
12 Filippo Pozzato Liquigas s.t.
13 Bradley McGee Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
14 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
15 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
16 Rinaldo Nocentini AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
17 Pierrick Fédrigo Bouygues Télécom s.t.
18 Andrea Tonti Quick·Step s.t.
19 David Moncoutié Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
20 Jérôme Pineau Bouygues Télécom s.t. |
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| Ak4 |
Posted on 21-06-2008 09:00
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Stagiare
Posts: 226
Joined: 15-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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You are doing awesome |
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| Martjeu |
Posted on 21-06-2008 09:03
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Junior Rider
Posts: 32
Joined: 21-06-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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What level r u playing? |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-12-2024 06:09
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| Mads_0 |
Posted on 21-06-2008 09:07
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Domestique
Posts: 614
Joined: 14-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Martjeu wrote:
What level r u playing?
It was normal for the TDU, halfway through the Vuelta a Mallorca i switched to hard. (Don't be fooled though, Astarloza is in great shape, he's been set at a level 4 peak for the Paris Nice, with racedays he's well into the 90's. I doubt the other favorites have trained that hard)
Edited by Mads_0 on 21-06-2008 09:10
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| Mads_0 |
Posted on 21-06-2008 10:11
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Domestique
Posts: 614
Joined: 14-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Stage 8 - paris Nice
Slow day at the office. A few small breaks get away but they're not going that fast and at 60km to go we've got it all under control.
At the foot of the last climb Moncoutie, Cuesta and Noe remind us that it's not over yet. 4.5km to the top of the climb. Astarloza is keeping a steady pace and some seem like they find it too exhausting to follow him.
With 1.5km to the top none of the favorites are really reacting to Astarlozas pace and he attacks! Not the most defensive move. But he had a gut feeling that noone could follow!
Sure enough, he gets a gap to the other favorites. Schleck and Dekker were paying enough attention today and are caught in the 3rd group! Gutierrez is there in the 2nd group. They're catching up on the downhill!
But they wont catch him. Gutierrez can only watch as Astarloza takes his 3rd stagewin in this years Paris-Nice!
Schleck, Dekker, Moncoutie and Casar. Either they didn't have it in them today or they were too late to realize their mistake.
1 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi 3h29'51
2 Chechu Rubiera Astana Cycling Team s.t.
3 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
4 John Gadret AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
5 Linus Gerdemann Team Columbia s.t.
6 Mario Aerts Silence - Lotto s.t.
7 Andrea Noè Liquigas s.t.
8 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux + 41
9 Thomas Dekker Rabobank s.t.
10 David Moncoutié Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
11 Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
12 Patrice Halgand Crédit Agricole + 1'12
13 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step s.t.
14 Thomas Voeckler Bouygues Télécom s.t.
15 Simon Spilak Lampre + 1'50
16 Juanjo Cobo Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.
17 Bradley McGee Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 2'29
18 Paolo Bettini Quick·Step s.t.
19 Josep Jufré Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.
20 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank s.t.
Final GC
Final Mountain
Final Points
Managers thoughts
What a race for us! Mikel Astarloza has been absolutely fantastic. We realize the competition might have been sub-par to what we'll be facing in the GT's but this really gives me high hopes for Mikel in the Giro. He showed us this week that he is capable of fantastic displays of power when it's needed. And he's a clever rider, Mikel. A few seconds here and there, and it all adds up. We missed out on jerseys in our first races, marginally everytime. But now we've won all 3 in the first major race of the season. Thanks to the team and thanks to Mikel for a great performance.
Next up on our schedule is the Milano - San Remo |
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| Mads_0 |
Posted on 21-06-2008 10:23
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Domestique
Posts: 614
Joined: 14-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Results(Simmed)
Tirreno Adriatico - Final GC
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| gundir |
Posted on 21-06-2008 10:23
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Free Agent
Posts: 136
Joined: 17-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Very nice story, keep it up! |
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| heda |
Posted on 21-06-2008 10:24
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Amateur
Posts: 12
Joined: 31-05-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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great win
Astarloza looks very strong before Giro |
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| carrick |
Posted on 21-06-2008 10:31
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Amateur
Posts: 1
Joined: 02-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I think this story is quiet good! Great results and writing
Keep on! |
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| Ak4 |
Posted on 21-06-2008 10:32
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Stagiare
Posts: 226
Joined: 15-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Euskaltel owning this season
Edited by Ak4 on 21-06-2008 10:32
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 21-06-2008 10:39
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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great riding
try and crop the screenshots before uploading them
apart from that its awesome
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| SotD |
Posted on 21-06-2008 10:46
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World Champion
Posts: 12202
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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looking forward to the Giro |
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| Biathlon |
Posted on 21-06-2008 10:53
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Sprinter
Posts: 1813
Joined: 15-06-2008
PCM$: 300.00
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Great storyB)
Words to live by
"What would Lance do?"
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| Karl_rab |
Posted on 21-06-2008 11:02
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Sprinter
Posts: 1888
Joined: 09-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Great story, some tips though:
If you have paint then crop the cyclists menu off the screen shots i have done an example for you.....
Another thing is to keep doing what your doing because its great!! Also please keep it all spanish riders, i know its not fun, but it cant be a true euskaltel story if you have different nationalities!!
Also can i have a screenshot of the best free agents 
and how do you feel about the fitness system, from what im seeing it works well with astorloza
P.s one more thing, if there was an u-23 paris-nice, check the overall GC and get the best spanish rider or atleast just post a screenie for me, great story btw B)
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