ursul wrote:
The game was make like that. We have to live whit that.
Well, lesson learned for next year anyway! I need to worry about the financial side I think. The cost of renewing rider's contracts early on is really prohibitive!
MTN Giro del Capo, stage 3 – the one with the mountain!
Favourites: Moreau, Medina and Rujano.
The duo of Medina and Rujano looks like trouble. Although I should not be in as deep trouble as I thought I should be. My top three guys are all 2-star-favourites, so I should have a chance to hang on fairly well. McCann will be the helper amongst them, and will probably protect Arvesen who I think will need to take a steady tempo. Deignan might be following. I am not sure which tactics would be most suitable.
An number of people is up the road. No climbers. I sit quiet, but have a couple of riders ready to join in controlling the race. Nybø and Backstedt starts taking their turns as the break has 4:30 with 90 KM to go. Rujano goes on the attack with 70 KM to go…
Just a test perhaps. He is soon wheeled in. We and Agritubel continues to work in front. Not much happends until the climb starts.
Voeckler attacks at the foot of the hill.
Deignan follows an attack from George (MTN) with 3 KM to go. Voeckler is dangerous, and the remaining distance is not far – so Arvesen and McCann joins. Rujano and Moreau is also off.
Voeckler wins – but did he get a time gap?
Results
1 Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Télécom 3h08'33
2 David George MTN Cycling s.t. 3 Philip Deignan Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
4 José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia s.t.
5 Christophe Moreau Agritubel s.t. 6 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
7 Miyataka Shimizu EQA - Meitan Hompo - Graphite Design s.t. 8 David McCann Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
9 Jussi Veikkanen Française des Jeux s.t.
10 Stéphane Goubert AG2R La Mondiale + 25
11 Niklas Axelsson Team Corratec + 44 89 Gabriel Rasch Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
94 Lars Petter Nordhaug Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
114 Havard Nybö Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
123 David Kopp Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
144 Magnus Bäckstedt Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
Deignan is 3rd, Arvesen 6th and McCann 8th – all with the same time - so only bonus seconds shake things up in the overall!
The lead now is:
1 Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Télécom 8h36'52
2 Christophe Moreau Agritubel + 4 3 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Statkraft Bianchi + 8
4 Philip Deignan Team Statkraft Bianchi + 20
5 Miyataka Shimizu EQA - Meitan Hompo - Graphite Design + 28
6 José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia s.t.
7 Jussi Veikkanen Française des Jeux s.t. 8 David McCann Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
9 Stéphane Goubert AG2R La Mondiale + 53
10 Niklas Axelsson Team Corratec + 1'12
Debriefing with the DS!
Strange results for a mountain stage this, with only 44s down to the main bunch. Rujano and Moreau didn't even go on the attack, apart from following the same move from David George as we did... But good for me then!
Looking at the TT abilities here. Moreau, Arvesen, McCann and Rujano is the best. It will be close. Bonus seconds on the next stage might be desive.
Meanwhile in the U25. Ladagnous is now 52s back. He has 70 in TT, but can Deigan lose all that in a mere 6 KM TT?
Favourites: Efimkin (AG2R), Moreau & Gonzalo (Agritubel)
Arvesen (2**), together with Voeckler, Roche etc.
Could be a nervous stage in the last part until the final uphill spring. It will maybe be necessary to keep cool and wait for the sprint – and not waste energy in attacks – or it might be necessary to just go on attack – who knows… If nothing extrordinary happends it will be Voecklar, Moreau and Arvesen that should fight it out for the overall.
Backstedt goes with the first move, a three-man move. Others eventually bridge up, including Kopp. Backstedt drops on the climb, and struggles to get back up. Roche attacks with 60 KM to go. We let him. Voeckler attacks with 20KM to go.
We go to the front now to get him back. But when Moreau also goes (17 km to go) I find it it most reasonable to follow - especially since our three leaders are all fresh and can join the attack. Now McCann will be our first card to play!
Now Arvesen can follow Moreau and Voeckler upwards. McCann fades and will be passed. But now Arvesen can open his sprint...
... and he wins!
Results 1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Statkraft Bianchi 3h00'28
2 Christophe Moreau Agritubel s.t.
3 Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t. 4 David McCann Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
5 Alexander Efimkin AG2R La Mondiale + 21
6 Stéphane Goubert AG2R La Mondiale s.t. 7 Philip Deignan Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
8 Miyataka Shimizu EQA - Meitan Hompo - Graphite Design s.t.
9 David George MTN Cycling s.t.
10 Jussi Veikkanen Française des Jeux + 44
Overall 1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Statkraft Bianchi 11h37'08
2 Christophe Moreau Agritubel + 4
3 Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t. 4 David McCann Team Statkraft Bianchi + 40
5 Philip Deignan Team Statkraft Bianchi + 53
6 Miyataka Shimizu EQA - Meitan Hompo - Graphite Design + 1'01
7 Jussi Veikkanen Française des Jeux + 1'24
8 José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia s.t.
9 Stéphane Goubert AG2R La Mondiale + 1'26
10 Alexander Efimkin AG2R La Mondiale + 1'45
The top four solidified their position overall with a time gap of 21s back (McCann switched with Deignan for 4th). Due to bonus seconds Arvesen now is in the lead 4s in front of Moreau and Voeckler. McCann is 4th, 40s back. Deignan lost some seconds – but gained time on Ladagnous for the U25 jersey. Good work!
IN THE NEWS: (VG.no)
Kurt Asle Arvesen took his second victory in the South-African race Giro del Capo today, beating Christophe Moreau and Thomas Voeckler in the sprint. Arvesen now leads the race overall. On the phone with VG Arvesen was pleased with the victory. “- The team took the necessary control in the finish, so I could just follow Voeckler ‘s [who led the race] wheels as he had to chase down David [McCann, Arvesen’s teammate]. We worked great as a team”.
Arvesen still couldn’t hid the disappointment with being in South-Africa while he had hoped to be participate in the opening of the classical season in the Belgian race Omloop Het Niuewsblad. “- That race is an important part of the spring calendar, and a good place to show ourselves with the aim of getting invited into even larger races later in the spring. “We have a strong enough classics team to be a part of those races, but the organizer just haven’t thought things through it seems.”
Giro del Capo ends with a short time trial tomorrow. Arvesen now has a lead of 4s back to Moreau and Voeckler. “It will be a matter of seconds”, Arvesen confirmed.
PS! Edvald Boasson Hagen was the sole Norwegian participant in that Omloop Het Niewusblad, finishing some way down. The race was won by Frenchman Guillame Blot.
Backstedt, Moreau and Arvesen are the hot tips of the day among the bookies. We’ll see! The short parcours is actually fairly steep in the last KM, with slopes of 5-6%... Not at all like the race information we got.
Unfortunately Backstedt is our lowest ranked rider, so he will be sort of a guinea pig, which can make his ride less effective. He really has an off-day too (-4). Still. He takes the lead with 7:18 (13s in front of the current runner up.
Nybø is next up. He is virtually flying!
1 second in front of Backstedt!
Nordhaug is off. No ambitions… Rasch: No ambitions either.
Kevin Ista from Agritubel comes in to 2nd place.
Kopp: No ambition
Rujano might enjoy the short climb to the hill behind!
And now Deignan sets off. He only need to limit his losses sensibly! McCann will go all out!
Deignan finishes 16 seconds behind Nybø. Mission accomplished! Rujano just ahead of him could not take Nybø's time!!
David McCann takes the lead! 7:15!!
Voeckler finishes on 7:17!
Moreau looks determined. He is storming in at 7:10… Oh no - can we match that!
Arvesen hits the finish . it is 7:11 – that should be enough!
Close – but it is a cigar for Moreau overall - and for Arvesen on the stage! Strong performance from the team, although Magnus is disappointed with his 7th (ant not least that he was beaten by three Statkraft-Bianchi riders! Too much of a climb for his taste…
Stage result
1 Christophe Moreau Agritubel 7'10 2 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Statkraft Bianchi + 1
3 David McCann Team Statkraft Bianchi + 5
4 Havard Nybö Team Statkraft Bianchi + 7
5 José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia s.t.
6 Kevyn Ista Agritubel s.t.
7 Magnus Bäckstedt Team Statkraft Bianchi + 8
8 Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
9 Jussi Veikkanen Française des Jeux + 11 14 David Kopp Team Statkraft Bianchi + 19
19 Philip Deignan Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
32 Gabriel Rasch Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
36 Lars Petter Nordhaug Team Statkraft Bianchi + 32
Overall results 1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Statkraft Bianchi 11h44'19
2 Christophe Moreau Agritubel + 3
3 Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 11 4 David McCann Team Statkraft Bianchi + 44
5 Philip Deignan Team Statkraft Bianchi + 1'15
6 Miyataka Shimizu EQA - Meitan Hompo - Graphite Design + 1'16
7 José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia + 1'30
8 Jussi Veikkanen Française des Jeux + 1'34
9 Stéphane Goubert AG2R La Mondiale + 1'46
10 Alexander Efimkin AG2R La Mondiale + 2'12 17 David Kopp Team Statkraft Bianchi + 3'39
25 Gabriel Rasch Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
28 Lars Petter Nordhaug Team Statkraft Bianchi + 3'52
128 Havard Nybö Team Statkraft Bianchi + 7'48
151 Magnus Bäckstedt Team Statkraft Bianchi + 14'52
Points jersey
1 Christophe Moreau Agritubel 97 2 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Statkraft Bianchi 92
3 Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Télécom 65 4 David McCann Team Statkraft Bianchi 45
5 José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia 39
Climber's jersey
1 Christophe Moreau Agritubel 97 2 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Statkraft Bianchi 92
3 Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Télécom 65 4 David McCann Team Statkraft Bianchi 45
5 José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia 39
And Deignan won the U25. But there is no results for that in the export file. His TT-result surprised med though.
And we were obviously winning the team ranking!
IN THE PRESS: Cyclingnews.com
With 4 seconds between the top three riders, things were set for å dramatic finale in Giro del Camp, a 6 km short time trial up the Signal Hill in Cape Town. It was going to be between Norwegian Kurt Asle Arvesen from the Statkraft-Bianchi team, against French duo Christophe Moreau (Agritubel) and Thomas Voeckler (BBox), both 4 seconds back.
Voeckler, not a specialist in the discipline, finished a couple of seconds behind the current leader David McCann (Statkraft-Bianchi). Christope Moreau on the other hand stormed in to a new best time, taking 4 seconds on McCann and 6 seconds on Voeckler. Arvesen kept within the margins. Though not being able to beat Moreau’s time, he arrived only one second back – and claimed the overall victory by mere three seconds.
New Norwegian team Statkraft-Bianchi has had a good start of the season, already claiming 8 victories. “It’s been important for the team to show good results early on,” confirmed veteran Kurt Asle Arvesen. “We came to Giro del Capo to do well and win. It’s been a hard fight and small margins, so we are all very happy to claim to victory.”
Local hope and multiple winner of this stage, David George, finished a disappointing 25th, 28 seconds behind Moreau. He finished 11th overall.
ursul wrote:
Great result! All your team go great! Nice win whit Arversen.
As they should. That was my "gamble"! I suspect I have an fitness advantage until the other riders are getting into top shape in the last part of March. At that point my first part of the season will be more or less over, hopefully with the possibility to prolong good form over the cobbled classic - if I am allowed. Then all my leaders will need e good long rest!
I will practically be without my leaders between mid-april and mid-june, where others will have to step up!
Edited by Gonchar on 25-05-2009 07:38
Giro del Capo got us some pluses with the sponsor, who has a very good confidence right now:
5* = Arvesen overall
4* = McCann (4th) and Deignan (5th) overall
3* = Arvesen’s two stage wins
1* = Arvesens 2nd place in the TT’
1* = Arvesen in the leader’s jersey for two days.
As of march 2nd we have brought back 8 victories. Only beaten by Katusha and Columbia!
The CQranking is lead by Rabobank, we are 12th. Arvesen is 11th on the individual ranking. Our focus on a good start has paid off! He is also 5th in the continental tour, where Blanco (Palmeiras) is leading. But we are leading the time ranking at the moment (in front of LPR!)
Meanwhile, Fillippo Pozzato is the rider of the month after impressing in Vuelta a Mallorca and Vuelta a Andalucia. Jeroen Janssen is this month’s youngster, after winning the youth ranking of Etoile de Besseges.
Resullts
Tour of Qatar: A surprising win by Bernard Van Ulden from Jelly Belly, with teammate Brad Huff finishing 2nd. Rabobank had 7 of the first 13 – but none on the podium which was completed by Silence Lotto’s Michiel Elijzen. The opening TTT had much to say, which Rabobank won. Van Ulden picked bonus seconds to win the race.
Etoile de Besseges: Victory for Christophe Kern (Cofidis), with Laurent Mangel (Besson) and Chris Horner (Astana) completing the top three. Those three, with 4 others, won the 3rd stage with 55seconds to the peloton. Bonus seconds decided the rest it seems.
GP Costa degli Etruschi: Victory for Daniele Bennati in his encouther with fellow Italian top sprinter Ale-Jet Petacchi. JJ Haedo finished third. Brits can be happy with seting Robert Hayles finishing 5th.
Vuelta a Mallorca: Noone could threathen Pozzato who win with 17s to Jose Ivan Gutierrez and 1:12 to Stijn Devolder, taking two mass spring victories along the way – and by controlling the more challenging stages. Samuel Sanchez, Jose Ivan Gutierrez and Laszlo Bodrogi took the remaining stages. Danish Matti Breschel finished 8th overall.
Tour MEditerraneen: Victory for dope-head Alejandro Valverde. Joaquin Rodriguez and Markus Fothen alongside him on the final podium. Valverde finished alone on the mountainous 3rd stage. Gasparotto (Lampre) took home two stages.
Giro delle Provincia de Grosseto: Danilo di Luca killed all opponents here, crushing them all in the hard 2nd stage (which for some reason is only categorized as a hilly stage). Petacchi had no problem – what so ever – to take the two sprint stges. Laurent Lefevre (BBox) and Gabriele Bosisio (LPR Brakes) took the other two spots on the podium.
Tour of California: Kim Kirchen (Columbia) and Ivan Basso (Liquigas) fought it off for the overall victory in California. The prologue was won unsurprisingly by Cancellara (Saxo Bank) in front of US Favourite Dave Z. (Garmin). Then Bennati (Liquigas) brought home two sprint victories. Kim Kirchen entered the leader’s jersey with a smart move on the tricky 4th stage, gaining time on everybody but Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) and stage winner Mickael Buffaz (Cofidis). Basso struck back on the following day, but Kirchen limited his losses and kept an 48s advantage. The two kept close on the 28 km time trial, won again by Cancellara. Mark Cavendish then won stage 7. The last stage with a difficult circuit in Pasadene evolved into a final showoff for the lead. Kim Kirchen won the sprint in a small group with Basso, Ivanov (Katusha) and Monfort (Columbia). Columnia played their advantage in numbers there it seemed.
Vuelta a Andalucia: Pozzato continued to show good form, bring home the victory from this 5-day stage race in spain. He won with good margins back to Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) and Tom Boonen (Quick Step). Pozzato again won two stages, before controlling the race for the remainder of the race. David de la Fuente (Fuji), Boonen and Kenny de Haes (Katusha) took the other stages.
Volta ao Algarve: Quick Step rider Carlos Barredo took a rare victory by bringing home the overall ranking in Volta ao Algarve. He came to prominence by winning a solo victory on stage three, and limiting his losses on the following time trial. Oscar Freire (Rabobank) took two stages.
1: Carlos Barredo Quick Step
2: David Blanco Palmeiras Resort +11
3: Paul Martens Rabobank +22
Trofeo Laigueglia: Fuji-Servetto rider Boris Shpilevski took an impressing win, beating Danilo di Luca to the finish line. Bram Tanking (Rabobank) completed the podium.
Our schedule was intended to focus on Belgium semi-classics. That plan did not work out too well, as we were refused to race many preferred races. I am also sorry to be excluded from Criterium International – which is a race I really like. It has a tight format that I find very exciting!
The program will be:
Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen 2.1 (6-8 march)
Erioca: 1.1 (7 march)
Paris-Nice Pro Tour (11-17 march)
My first Pro Tour race! It collides with the West-Vlaanderen, so that will stretch the team. Backstedt will lead the team in West-Vlaanderen, the race is flat and might come down to the time trial. All my leaders will be in good shape (5 of 6 in the training fitness schedule). Arvesen and Deignan will go to Paris-Nice. I am unsure about Kopp. He will probably go to Vlaanderen to try to repeat successes with lead-out man Backstedt. Paris-Nice does not look like many sprint opportunities anyway. The Paris-Nice team will come straight from Eroica where we are hoping Arvesen can produce something useful.
Nokere-Koerse 1.1 (18 march)
Milan – San Remo Pro Tour (pending – 21 march)
Cholet – Pays Loire 1.1 (22 march)
Dwars door Vlaanderen 1.1 (25 march)
De Brabantse Pijl 1.1 (29 march)
Driedaagse de Panne 2.HC (31-march – 3 april)
Milan – San Remo would be fun to do, although we will struggle to make any impact. Arvesen have been up there previously, but will neither be amongst the best climbers nor is he among the best sprinters.. Our classc team will try to show this month why we deserved to be in more races (like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and E3) - and hopefully we will be invited to the classics. I am confident that we can be a factor in most races this month.
The Race:
A neat little race this one, often showing to be a battle against the winds blowing from the Channel. Supposedly know for dangers like cross wind, and parked cars on the side of the road (!) – it is still a fairly flat race, as shown by it’s list of winners that includes sprinters Jimmy Casper and Jaan Kirsipuu. Last year it was won by Bobbie Traksel, in fronf of former winner Niko Eeckhout. It ends with a short TT this year, which is a new twist. It might be decisive, as it is 16 KM long which should make some time gaps.
The roster:
Our team by sprinter David Kopp and strong man Magnus Backstedt. Magnus is strong against the clock, and can be a possibility for a good overall position if things are going well on the first two stages. Togheter with Håvard Nybø he will try to lead out Kopp. The rest of the team is LP Nordhaug , Gabriel Rasch, Roy Hegreberg and britishman Ian Stannard who makes his debut for the season.
We might want to go in breakaways. Stannard would be a natural choice there, but Rasch and Nordhaug is in better shape, though. Kopp and Backstedt is on good form now. Kopp is working to a peak in Driedaagse de Panne (originally planned for E3), while Backstedt will easy down a bit after this race, and build himself up for GP Herning in early may. Hegreberg is not in shape, and is here as water carrier and to fill up the roster to get at least 7 riders…
Opposition:
Four Pro Tour-teams present. Rabobank can do a lot in the race, having both the Pro Tour team and their continental team present!
For the time trial and overall I think Staf Clement should be the big favourite with his strong TT-skills. Lars Bak and Jason McCartney from Saxo Bank is another candidates. Others include Benoit Joachim( Differdange), Elijzen (Silence-Lotto), Joly (Francaise des Jeux), Veelers (Skil-shimano) . Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) can also produce both good sprints, good attacks and decent TTs – so we’ll need to watch out.
In the sprints I will have to watch out for (sprint ability): Summer and Radochla (Elk House, 75 both), Leezer (Rabobank, 74), Traksel & Marcato (Vacansoileil, 76/75), Murn and Kumo (Adria Mobil, 75 both), Gardeyn (Silende Lotto, 75), Hutarovich (Francaise des Jeux, 7
We should be the dominant team, according to the bookes. Can’t help but agreeing. With the result Kopp has provides against more prominent opposition earlier in the season – we should be a hot favourite for the sprint. But have our fitness-advantage not been leveled out? Strong winds are present too, so I’ll try to look out!
How it unfolded
Attacks starts at once. I let 7 men go. I have good help in managing the pace in the bunch. The first split of the bunch due to winds is here. I have everybody except the water man up front. They get back together though. At the moment it is up to me to set the pace.
A new attacks goes, I send Stannard along.
Now lots of folks are moving. I don’t like the break set up, so Stannard just sits on wheels, while Rasch and Hegreberg works in the back to reel them in. Many good riders are on the move now, so I am a bit nervous, although the gap is low and the distance long. Most teams are represented up front, with people like Flens (Rabobank), Hulsmans (Quick Step), Høj (Saxo Bank), De Vocht (Vacansoleil), De Kort (Skil-Shimano) and Knaven (Milram). They must not get away, and I will probably not get much help.
With 90 to go – I have 2:40 to take back. Of course Stannard is still up there enjoying the local rain showers. I am still losing, and Silence Lotto is not helping out, even though they are not represented at all up there. It still grows, albeit slowly. 3 minuts now with 70 KM to go. My helpers are tired, and Silence finally puts in some effort. The front group is also tired. Nordhaug, Nybø and Rasch – left behind with 55 KM to go. A hapless trio…
With 50 Km to go the gap is 2:29. 35 km to go – gap 1:40. With 32 KM to go – attacks withing the breakaway group. Stannard is out of “yellow”… Water supply is off… Stannard is dropped…
Last escapees wheeled in with 19 KM to go. Kopp is now out of helpers, as Backstedt also loses out his yellow goodies as he helps Kopp to the front of the peloton. And then...
Backstedt falls!!! (And is out of the competition for the overall – as was the main plan…) Backstedt lost a lot of time
Kopp survived but looses the wheel of the people moving forward – pure disaster. He is way back as the sprints start.
He just can’t grab any wheels of riders passing by!!! Is he even getting in top 10?? Nope – 11th. No time gaps fortunately. Tom Leezer wins.
Results
1 Tom Leezer Rabobank 5h14'29
2 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team s.t.
3 Gorik Gardeyn Silence - Lotto s.t.
4 Matteo Tosatto Quick·Step s.t.
5 Yauheni Hutarovich Française des Jeux s.t.
6 Tom Veelers Skil - Shimano s.t.
7 Robert Retschke Differdange s.t.
8 Bobbie Traksel Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team s.t.
9 Michel Van Staeyen Rabobank CT s.t.
10 Jos Van Emden Rabobank s.t. 11 David Kopp Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
98 Magnus Bäckstedt Team Statkraft Bianchi + 4'52
115 Ian Stannard Team Statkraft Bianchi + 8'36
119 Roy Hegreberg Team Statkraft Bianchi + 11'20
136 Gabriel Rasch Team Statkraft Bianchi + 25'41
137 Havard Nybö Team Statkraft Bianchi + 26'22
138 Lars Petter Nordhaug Team Statkraft Bianchi s.t.
Debriefing with the DS!
What a shitty day… The team was not strong enough for this long hard rainy crappy day in West-Vlaanderen… Everything just f**ked up today…
A ) Wrong guy entered the breakaway
B ) Too many people were let go – lots of chasing – only Silence helped out at all.
C ) My riders just haden’t got the energy to work – they blew out, without even managing to keep the distance to the escapees
D ) Kopp and Backstedt isolated
E ) Backstedt crashed with 8 km to go – is out of the overall – finishing 5 minutes back
F ) Kopp could not grab a wheel to the guys moving to the front. It is hard to squeeze into the line of riders, when you miss your lead-out like that.
More pleasant news:I am accepted into Milan – San Remo. Not sure what to do there, though. I have asked for wildcard to the northern classics, but no Tour of the Basque Country or the Giro.
Edited by Gonchar on 26-05-2009 13:34
That evening thunderous rainstorms and whipping winds set the mood of another lackluster march-evening in Belgium. In a worn-down hostel in the outskirts of Kortrijk a group of 9 men in peculiar bluish training wear have come together in a room, the riders’s mood and tone reflecting the discouraging setting they find themselves in. From the corner a man says: “- If Magnus hadden’t gone down, he could probably have helped David to a better finish and we would still be involved in the overall. In that case we wouldn’t be here now complaining about tactics and unreasonable work efforts”. The man is quickly cut off.
The man finds himself in the waiting area of Kortrijk railway station. He is waiting for the train to Brussels. There he will find a flight heading for Italy. “Just as well”, he grumbles to himself “Fuck it”, he whispers to everybody nearby, not being able to help himself after a long long day of continuous cursing. “Better with sterratis of Toscana than the bloody wind and rain in West-Vlanderen”.
Edited by Gonchar on 26-05-2009 15:57
