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Team Milram Again!!!
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 10-11-2008 15:45
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Classics Specialist
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well i've got Zabell and Petacchi both to come into form for the start of September because the tour of Germany is my sponsors main goal for the season. Petacchi won't race again till the tour de france and once Zabels done the Giro he won't race again till the end of August. They'll both be racing the tour of the Benelux as warm up and hopefully will both be riding the tour of Poland just after. Those 3 races will be key to whether or not we stay up. Zabel and Petacchi will need to get as many podiums as possible and we'll need to get someone high up on GC.
hopefully it'll be enough to stay up. Only prob is that Bouygues have had a good start and i can't really see who else is gonna go down if we don't? |
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| ember |
Posted on 10-11-2008 16:37
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Team Leader
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Francaise or C.A maybe? |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 10-11-2008 23:55
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Grand Tour Specialist
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I'm confident you'll stay up, ringo. |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 11-11-2008 14:27
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
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GP al Pais Vasco
Stage 6
The last stage of this 6 day race. Grivko has had an excellent week and i'm very happy with his performance. But as expected he drops a number of places today as Sanchez confirms his overall win. The stage went to Levi Leipheimer who won from Kloden and Dekker.
Grivko fell 12 places on GC and finishes 26th overall. Our lack of any decent testers is really going to hold us back this season.
Edited by ringo182 on 11-11-2008 14:27
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 11-11-2008 14:47
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
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Paris-Roubaix
Here it is. Historically the biggest of the cobbled classics will see another world class field. Zabel will be looking to improve on his 11th place last time out and to get us some much needed points.
Squad: Zabel, Eichler, Grabsch, Haueisen, Knees, Muller, Schroder, Terpstra
It was a horrible day today. A break went away but they weren't comitted and they were easily chased back down. As at the Gent-Wevelgem there were no attacks at the front. It was simply a case of who could stay at the front for the longest. With 100k to go the lead group consisted of 14 riders, including Zabel. The rest of my team had been dropped.
Zabel was really struggling with the pace and i was beginning to fear the worst. And the worst happened. As Zabel Dropped to the back of the group to get a drink the group split.
And that was the end of the race for Zabel.
In the front group O'Grady was feeling good and attacked with over 45k to go.
This forced the others in the lead group to speed up and only 6 could manage the pace. Boonen, Flecha, Hincapie, Hoste, Gusev and Nuyens worked together to chase down O'Grady.
Hoste and Flecha both punctured leaving just 4 men to chase down the brave Aussie.
Despite their best efforts the gap to O'Grady doesn't seem to be coming down.
With 15k to go Boonen decides that they aren't going to catch O'Grady and he sets off on his own. The other 3 have got no response and can only watch him dissapear up the road.
As Boonen enters the stadium he has O'Grady in his sights. Will he have the strength to catch him?
What a ride from O'Grady!! He attacked with 45k to go and stayed away till the end. A truely deserved win.
Zabel limped over the line in 22nd. Not a good day for us as only 2 of my riders finished the race.
Edited by ringo182 on 11-11-2008 14:49
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| ember |
Posted on 11-11-2008 15:01
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Team Leader
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It is going to be really though to survive, but hope you can do it! |
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| brann |
Posted on 11-11-2008 16:52
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Under 23
Posts: 59
Joined: 03-05-2008
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We are all chearing at you. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 11-11-2008 17:10
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World Champion
Posts: 13924
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 300.00
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It will be hard not to be relegated at the end of the season, but I trust your manager skill
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 13-11-2008 14:24
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
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Maastricht-Valkenburg
The first of the Ardennes Classics. Again i'm not really expecting too much from my team here. Anything around the top 20 mark would be a good result. Zabel, Ghisalberti and Velits will be going as joint leaders and we'll see who has the best form on the day before deciding who will be the overall leader.
Squad: Zabel, Barla, Eichler, Ghisalberti, Sabatini, Schroder, M. Velits, P. Velits
As expected a break went away but the Peleton didn't seem to care about them. The first event of any real interest came with about 85k to go when Contador, Soler, Astarloa and Caucchioli all attacked and formed a group up the road.
With 55k to go Moreau atacked and was followed by Cobo Acebo as they tried to bridge the gap.
Moreau was looking strong and went straight past the group of 4 riders, who were swallowed up by the peleton, and raced ahead on his own. Back in the peleton Kolobnev, Wegmann, Schleck and Rebellin all attacked and attempted to get across to Moreau.
With 25k to go Zabel decided that now was the time to make his move.
By this time the lead group cvonsisted of Rebellin, Dekker, Rodriguez Oliver, Schleck, Vaugrenard, Albasini and Moreau with Cobo Acebo just behind them.
With 12k to go Franck Schleck made his move. Nobody else had the strength to go with him.
Meanwhile Zabel had settled into a group including Cadel Evans, Schumacher and Cunego.
With 5k to go Schleck had a massive lead and wasn't going to be caught.
And he rolled over the line alone for an impressive solo win.
Meanwhile Zabel crossed the line with Cadel Evens, so he must have done ok to still be with that caliber of rider at the end of the race.
Edited by ringo182 on 13-11-2008 14:48
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 13-11-2008 14:45
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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La Fleche Wallonne
Second of the Ardennes Classics and we'll be looking for a similar result as the last time. Once again we'll have 3 leaders to begin with before deciding on who will be our overall leader.
Squad: Zabel, Barla, Eichler, Ghisalberti, Sabatini, Schroder, M. Velits, P. Velits
As with the Maastricht-Valkenburg a group attacked early but the peleton didn't seem to care and let them get away knowing that they would never last the whole distance. The reall race started at just over 100k to go when a group consisting of Pineau, Gerrans, Bertagnolli and Monfort went away.
A little later on Contador and Piepoli tried to get accross but they were quickly swallowed by the peleton.
The early break had now been caught meaning that the Monfort group was now the lead group and they worked well together.
However it was only a matter of time before they were caught. When the gap was down to a minute they were joined by Chavenal, Popovych and Peter Velits. The 3 new members tried to inject new life into the group but they were still easily swallowed by the bunch.
As we reached the penultimate climb with 13k to go the peleton was back together. With a +5 daily rating Zabel was feeling good and when Cunego attacked Zabel went with him.
The attack worked well and soon a group of 10 consisting of Zabel, Cunego, Moreau, Bettini, Popovych, Nocentini, Dekker, Schleck, Kirchen and Sanchez had formed. It started to look even better for Zabel as this group was whittle down to just 6.
And then there were 3. 2k to go and Zabel was still in the lead group with Scleck and Kirchen!!!
However Zabel went up the last climb like a granny in a mobility scooter and was passed by just about everyone.
At the front Franck Schleck took his second win in the Ardennes Classics from Sanchez and Kirchen.
While Zabel was even passed by some of the peleton. Its going to be a real struggle to stay up on this evidence.
To make things even worse for us, as in the Maastricht-Valkenburg, Francaise des Jeux have picked up points and AG2R have also got someone in the top 10. We gonna be playing serious catch up for the rest of the season.
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 13-11-2008 14:50
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Team Leader
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bad luck, did he just blow? |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 13-11-2008 14:57
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
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nah, he's just crap on hills compared to the riders around him. he's got 73 for hills while the likes of Schleck, Bettini, Sanchez and Kirchen are all very high 70's or even 80's.
If it was a flat finish he would've been in the top 10 but he just couldn't sprint up that last hill.
Thats the problem with my team. I've got riders who are good at one thing, but no-one who's a good all-rounder. Zabels the closest thing i've got but he's just average at everything so he's still not gonna win anything
Do wins in the grand tours go towards you pro-tour ranking in this game?
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 13-11-2008 15:25
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Team Leader
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i think so, i can't imagine why they wouldn't
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 13-11-2008 16:02
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World Champion
Posts: 13924
Joined: 05-08-2008
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wow 2 of 2 for Frank. But Kirchen will win LBL 
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 13-11-2008 18:20
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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Liege-Bastogne-Liege
The last of the Ardennes Classics. My team will just be looking to get it out of the way so they can concentrate on the Giro in May. Again we will have 3 leaders.
Squad: Zabel, Barla, Eichler, Ghisalberti, Sabatini, Schroder, M. Velits, P. Velits
Initially a huge group of 18 riders went away but obviously the peleton thought that this was way too many so they were chased down. A smaller group of 9 riders attacked and got away.
with about 85k to go the break had stabalised at a gap of about 2 mins. The gap wasn't coming down and i sent Peter Velits to try to bridge the gap.
Velits got across to the break and they worked together to make it as hard as possible for the Peleton to chase them down. They were caught with just over 50k to go.
With 35k to go the front of the peleton fragments. Kirchen and Valverde go clear with a small group consisting of Fothen, Schumacher, Kohl, Wegmann and Gilbert following them.
The group of 5 is swallowed up but Kirchen and Valverde continue to work together and go clear. Their gap grows.
With 20k to go Bettini makes his move.
A number of other riders attack and Zabel and Ghisalberti both go with them.
Some of these riders catch the two leader but Rebellin carries on his attack and opens up a considerable lead.
Behind him Schleck and Bettini have caught Kirchen and Valverde. The rest are all strung out behind them.
10k to go. The elite have formed into 1 large group, but Rebellin is still out on his own.
6k to go. Bettini attacks again out of the main group. A number of riders try to go with him.
However it's only Cunego who has the legs to do so.
Schumacher leads the peleton along the last few ks as they chase down the 3 leaders.
Dissaster for Cunego who crashes just 2k from the finish. Rebellin still has a considerable lead.
Rebellin crosses the line on his own, a great ride from the Italian.
Meanwhile Zabel crossed the line in 19th place. His best performance in the Ardennes series.
Edited by ringo182 on 13-11-2008 18:20
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 13-11-2008 18:26
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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April Review: It's been a frustrating month for Milram knowing that we weren't going to pick up many pro-tour points. Our only success came with Grivko's stage win at the GP al Pais Vasco. Meanwhile Francaise de Jeux and AG2R have picked up points in the Ardennes Classics leaving us with a lot of work to do. As a result of this months results we now sit second bottom in the standings, However i'd expect Saunier Duval to start picking up points in May at the Giro.
Bougues, C.A, AG2R and Francaise de Jeux are all well ahead of us now. It's gonna be a long hard season. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 13-11-2008 18:30
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World Champion
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Saunier and Lampre sure will get much points so your battle is with the france teams specialy with Bouygues and CA
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 13-11-2008 19:58
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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GP de Romandie
The traditional warm up race for the Giro. We will be treating it as exactly that as my riders try to get some race fitness for the Giro and the Vuelta ciclista a Cataluna in May.
Squad: Caruso, Astarloa, Ghisalberti, Kux, Lancaster, Rigotto, Terpstra, P. Velits
Stage 1
Stage 1 is an 8k prologue tt. There are 2 tt's in this 6 day race so we aren't expecting to get anyone into the top 10 on GC. Our hopes will rest on a break staying away. As expected after this stage we are already out of contention in the GC with Caruso loosing 55 seconds.
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 13-11-2008 20:15
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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GP de Romandie
Stage 2
A hilly stage to start off the race proper. Ghisalberti has been listed as not to be underestimated so he will lead. However this plan goes pear shaped when he crashes and breaks a rib. He will now be out until the end of May. A break goes away and builds up a large lead.
With 25k to go the break is still out in front and the peleton is still all together. However on the last major climb of the day the attacks start coming thick and fast.
Out of all the attackers its Di Luca who seems the most comitted and he builds up a decent lead.
He quickly blows past the breakaway...
...and is joined at the front by Dekker and Ricco.
7.5k to go. The attackers and a few of the stronger breakaway riders have joined up and made 1 large group out in front.
4k to go and Tschopp and Bruseghin make a break for the line.
With about 2k to go Ricco, Di Luca, Bruseghin and Dekker have all got away from the group and are sprinting it out for the win. Less then 1k to go and it's a sprint out between Dekker and Ricco.
And Ricco takes the win! As a result we are now officially the worst team in the pro-tour
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 13-11-2008 20:23
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
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can i point out that its actually milram
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