Christina Reports:
The management discussed the goals and intensions of the coming years:
First of all we want the team to be able to stay in the World Tour.
We also want to clearly state that this in a Danish Team, and do our best to attract the best Danish and Scandinavian riders, and continue to sign young Danish riders, to give them the opportunity to make it within professional cycling. The changes we have done to the team this year does not reflect that clearly, but we will do our best to improve on that.
This is a presentation in the 2016 Team:
Leaders:
Kenny Elissonde 24 year from Alsace, France (av.75)
Kenny is our top climber and our strongest hope for the Grand Tours, but we will have to use him wisely looking for the tour with the least time trail, as that is his weakness. He is improved slightly over the last year, but not his climb. His contract runs out in 2016.
Sonder Holst Enger 22 years from Vestfold, Norway (av.75)
Sonder is our top sprinter, he has improved significantly over the last year, not only his sprint but also his acceleration and flat. Sonder is also rather strong up-hill, giving him extra possibilities in many situations. His contract runs out in 2016.
NEWTony Gallopin 27 years from Parisian Region, France (av.76)
Tony is a very skilled all-rounder, puncheur and fighter, his specialty is the spring classics, very strong on the hills and at the same time able to ride on cobbles, but there is more to Tony than that, he can also be a strong helper in the mountains or a perfect lead-out for a sprinter.
His contract runs out in 2017.
Lieutenant / Co-captains:
Davide Malacarne 28 years from Veneto, Italy (av.73)
Davide is a climber with ability’s almost similar to Kenny, his time trail is slightly better, but with a slower recovery he might be weaker in the Grand Tours. His climbing has improved over the last year.
His contract runs out in 2016.
NEWLawson Craddock 23 years from Texas, USA (av.74)
Lawson is a very strong all-rounder, even though his climbing is not as good as our best, his time trail makes up for it and he is very strong on hilly stages, absolutely a rider able to fill a leader role in many races. His contract runs out in 2017.
NEWRiccardo Zoidl 27 years from Linz, Austria (av.74)
Riccardo is an all-rounder, able to do well in many types of races, with a fine time trail and climbing skills he can act as a race leader as well as a strong lieutenant.
His contract runs out in 2017.
NEWKristian Sbaragli 25 years from Toscana, Italy (av.74)
Kristian is one of our top sprinters. With a very good flat ability he can also provide a good lead-out for Sonder in the very important races.
His contract runs out in 2017.
Francisco José Pacheco 33 years from Castilla-La Mancha, Spain (av.73)
Francisco is one of our top sprinters, he has got fine hill ability and a very strong downhill making him extra strong on descend towards the finish. He has improved his downhill over the last year.
His contract runs out in 2016.
Helpers:
Yves Lampaert 24 years from Flanders, Belgium (av. 72)
Yves is our best on flat cobbles sections, but with an average uphill best in races without to many hill’s. Yves has improved his cobbles and several other skills over the last year.
NEWRasmus Quaade 25 years from Nordjylland, Danmark (av.72)
Rasmus is a time trail specialist, with a good flat making him also useful as a lead out.
His contract runs out in 2017.
Stefan Schumacher 34 years from Baden-Württemberg, Germany (av.72)
Stefan is a puncheur, with a fine time trail, formerly one of our top riders but Stefan’s skills are slowly starting to decline.
His contract runs out in 2017.
NEWMike Teunissen 23 years from Limburg, Netherlands (av.72)
Mike is a cobbles rider with a very good flat and with ok hill ability, making him good from the classics as well as a lead-out for a sprint.
His contract runs out in 2017.
Patrick Clausen 25 years from Copenhagen, Denmark (av.72)
Patrick is a sprinter, his sprint has not improved, but he has improved his hill and other skills over the last year. His contract runs out in 2016.
NEWLars Ytting Bak 35 years from Midtjylland, Denmark (av.72)
Lars is a strong fighter, able to do well on flat, cobbles and time trails. Lars is a well-known rider in Denmark attracting some media attention. We have signed a one year contract.
Lasse Bøchman 32 years from Nordjylland, Denmark (av.72)
Lasse is an all-rounder, a strong helper in the stage races with a fine time trail. Lasse has improved his time trail and restitution over the last year. His contract runs out in 2017.
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay 23 years from Canberra, Australia (av.71)
Mitchell is a puncheur, able to do well in a breakaway on hilly terrain or as a strong helper. Mitchell has developed significantly in many areas over the last year.
His contract runs out in 2017
NEWBjörn Thurau 27 years old from Bayern, Germany (av.71)
Björn is a cobbles/fighter type rider with a very good flat, making him good for the classics as well as a lead-out for a sprint. He is very weak in the mountains.
His contract runs out in 2017.
Mads Würtz Schmidt 21 years old from Copenhagen, Denmark (av. 71)
Mads is a good cobbles rider with a fine flat, making him good from the classics as well as a lead-out for a sprint.
His contract runs out in 2017.
Martin Pedersen 32 years from Copenhagen, Danmark (av.70)
Martin is a puncheur and fine breakaway riders or helper. He has improved his flat over the last year. His contract runs out in 2016.
Morten Høberg 27 years from Copenhagen, Denmark. (av.70)
Morten is an ok sprinter and he has improved his sprint and flat over the last year. He is ok as a lead-out sprinter in the smaller races. His contract runs out in 2018.
Water Carries:
Philip Nielsen 28 years from Nordjylland, Danmark (av.69)
Philip is a fine sprinter, but he struggles if the terrain is just a little uphill. He has improved a little over the last year, but nothing very useful.
His contract runs out in 2016.
Anders Bjerregård 23 years from Nordjylland, Denmark (av.68)
Anders is a sprinter, his sprint and flat abilitys have improved fine over the last year, but he is very weak up hill. His contract runs out in 2016.
Lasse Christiansen 22 years from Nordjylland, Denmark (av.65)
Lasse is a sprinter, he has improved on a broad spectrum this year, but he has a long way to go to become a competitive rider on a top level. His contract runs out in 2016.
Anton Grøn 22 years from Midtjylland, Denmark. (av.61)
Anton has proven to not improve fast compared to his age, we have no plans for him.
His contract runs out in 2016.
NEWJens Juul 20 years from Nordjylland, Denmark. (av.59)
Jens is a fighter, we have no idea what to expect from him. His contract runs out in 2018.
Edited by Tamijo on 07-05-2016 12:34
Kiserlovski01/sutty68: Clearly a stronger team compared to last season, but hard to say how much they can achieve with the much harder competition we will face on the world tour. Time will tell.
Rasmussen reports: Before we actually start the season, I am here in Ballarat, Australia to support Mitchell Lovelock-Fay in the Australian Championship. Later the squad for Tour Down Under will join us, but Mitchell will not take part in the race.
Mitchell came 3rd. last year from a breakaway, he will most likely try something like that again.
Profile:
It is 28°C and cloudy with little wind, the morning break is Mark Renshaw (Orica) Daniel Braunsteins (Joker)
As it starts to rain there is some crashes, but the raining is soon over. David Jai Crawford (Orica) is the first to hit the tarmac.
Orica is in control of the peloton, and with a rider out in front, they won’t let anyone get away. With about 50 km to the line Mitchell Lovelock-Fay decides to but pressure on the peloton, trying to split the Orica domination. Eventually it ends with a group if 6 riders pursuing the break.
The breakaway is long gone, Mark Renshaw wins the Australian Championship, but at least Mitchell secured at top 10.
Preview:
Tour Down Under have been held since 1999 in Adelaide area, South Australia. First winner was legendary local favorite Stuart O'Grady riding for Crédit Agricole.
The only major challenge, besides the fact that it is likely to be extreme hot this time a year, is the stage to Old Willunga Hill 26/1, passing over the hill twice finally as an uphill finich, 3 km with an average of 7.6%, that will most likely hand over the GC possibility from the Sprinter to the Puncheur. A successful breakaway might change everything.
Our sprinter favorite is a split between Pacheco and Sbaragli, they will be up against Cavendish, Viviani ect; Our GC favorite is Gallopin, he will face Ulissi, Kreuziger, Gilbert ect.
Young Jens Juul with have his professional debut in this important WT race, what a start!
Roster:
Francisco José Pacheco
Kristian Sbaragli
Tony Gallopin
Mike Teunissen
Martin Pedersen
Jens Juul
Lars Ytting Bak
Rasmussen report: We are here on Prospect Road, in the center of Adelaide, for the start of stage one. Originally populated by The Kaurna people, South Australia became a British colony in 1836.
The City is named after Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, Queen of the United Kingdom and Hanover.
Prospect Estate Park, Prospect Road:
We expect the stage to end in a mass sprint finish. The train setup will be decided when we know who has the best legs today.
It is unbelievable hot today, 33°C in burning sun, with very little wind. The morning break is 3 riders.
Jos Van Emden (Argos) wins the KoM sprint, securing the jersey overnight.
Lampre drives the peloton forward, with no obviously sprint favorite seemingly to protect Diego Ulissi GC possibilitys. The break is over and under the 5 km mark, our train is set, well places for the sprint, today Francisco José Pacheco has the legs, he is last in out train.
The stage is won in a close sprint, by Alexander Kristoff over Matthew Goss (FDJ.fr), Francisco José Pacheco takes 5th.
Rasmussen: Very fine start in South Australia, with two in top 10. Also like to mention Jens Juul showing enough determination to provide water to everybody all day, without losing time.
Stage:
1
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
3h11'36
2
Matthew Goss
FDJ.fr
s.t.
3
Mark Cavendish
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Elia Viviani
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
5
Francisco José Pacheco
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
6
Arnaud Demare
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
7
Kristian Sbaragli
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
8
Jonathan Hivert
FDJ.fr
s.t.
9
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
10
Matteo Pelucchi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
GC:
1
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
3h11'26
2
Michael Hepburn
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 3
3
Matthew Goss
FDJ.fr
+ 4
4
Jos Van Emden
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
5
Tyler Magner
BMC Racing Team
+ 5
6
Mark Cavendish
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 6
7
Elia Viviani
Garmin - Sharp
+ 10
8
Francisco José Pacheco
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
9
Arnaud Demare
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
10
Kristian Sbaragli
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
Points:
1
Michael Hepburn
Orica - GreenEdge
14
2
Jos Van Emden
Team Argos - Shimano
12
3
Tyler Magner
BMC Racing Team
10
Mountain:
1
Jos Van Emden
Team Argos - Shimano
10
2
Tyler Magner
BMC Racing Team
6
3
Michael Hepburn
Orica - GreenEdge
4
Team: Katusha Team
Young: Michael Hepburn (Orica - GreenEdge)
Edited by Tamijo on 08-05-2016 11:39
Rasmussen report: We are in Mount Barker a town of about 15.000 people. The town is named after the nearby peak, again named after officer and explorer Collet Barker killed by Aborigines in 1831. The town started settling from 1844 onwards based around a steam flour mill.
Mount Barker:
The stage is classified as hilly, due to the Cat.1 Corkscrew Climb just 10 km before the finish. In a perfect world we get Pacheco over the top in the first group, with his great downhill sprint, but it is more likely that Gallopin will be fighting it out against the other hill specialists.
The temperature has fallen to a more reasonable 28°C, there are some breakaway from the start of the race, but they don’t get more than 3 min. It is Katusha pulling very hard to protect Kristoff’s Ochre jersey. This results in young Jens Juul having a much harder stage today, having to hand the water responsibility over to Lars Bak.
A much more serious attack happens, on the two small hills with about 35 km to the line. Three strong riders get a gap of more than a minute. It is Sonny Colbrelli (Cannondale), Wout Poels (Argos) and Samuel Sánchez (Banco Santander)
Just before the Corkscrew Climb, Roman Kreuziger (Saxo) crash, he will lose a devastating 2’18 today. Over the top only Sonny Colbrelli is left in front, he got about 45 sec.
Sonny Colbrelli win the stage to Rostrevor with 30 seconds to the next group, taking over the Ochre leader jersey.
Kristian Sbaragli has pretty good legs today, and manages to hold on to the 2nd group of 20 riders passing over the top. Getting close to the line he has a good feeling and starts a long sprint 1,7 km out. He takes 2nd position in front Philippe Gilbert (Coca Cola).
Rasmussen: Sbaragli with a podium finish on his 2nd stage for our team, and 2 riders in top 5 of the GC. That is just a perfect result.
Jens Juul felt the step from amateur to World Tour, he lost 10'22.
European Settlement started in Unley around the 1830’s, one of the first settlers was Dr. Charles D. Everard from Gloucestershire, he farmed the land from 1838 until he died in 1876. “Everard Park” Unley suburb is named after him. He built his estate Ashford House in 1838:
The stage is classified as hilly, this time with small hilly climbs all day. Again it is hard to say if we can get our sprinter to the line, or it will be up to Tony to fight is out against the other favorites.
With temperatures around 31°C and just a very light breeze, it is going to be another very hot stage. The morning break is four riders they get a gap of a little more than 5 minutes.
The pace is not very high today, looks like the peloton is willing to accept a breakaway win, as long as it does not affect the GC. It is mainly Vodafone and Liberty Seguros pulling the peloton forward. Ochre jersey holding Cannondale is taking it surprisingly easy.
The breakaway has 1’07 at the beginning of the last small hill, 5 km to the finish. In the Peloton Tony Gallopin attacks, Peter Kennaugh (Vodafone) counters.
The stage was won by Bert-Jan Lindeman (Belkin) over Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Astana) both from the break, with 42 sec. to the next group.
Gallopin and Kennaugh did not get away. It is Zdenek Stybar (Argos), winning the peloton sprint for 3rd.
Rasmussen: Again a fine result, a top 10 and no time lost.
Thanks ! - Might be Tony Gallopin most likely to compete in the GC, I expect the hills on stage 5 will be to much for Kristian, even though he has proven to be stronger than expected. He is in relative good form this early.
Rasmussen Reports: Today we start in Modbury, a northern suburb of Adelaide under City of Tea Tree Gully local government. Modbury was founded in 1857 by Robert Symonds Kelly who contributed significant land for the establishment of the town.
Formed in 1862, the Modbury Football Club is the oldest football club in South Australia.
The route is flat and we will stay in the peloton expecting a mass sprint finish, we don't think a break will hold.
The temperature has dropped to 27°C, with more wind than the previous stages on some sections up to a strong breeze, we place our leaders close to the front as the peloton might break over. The morning break is 4 riders they get close to 5 minutes, Nathan Brown (Coca Cola) takes the only KoM sprint.
The peloton is getting closer and with about 25 km to the line Maarten Wynants (Omega Pharma) decides to attacks from the break, no reaction from the others, looks like they are done.
We set up a train with Mike Teunissen in front, he places the team perfect for the start of the sprint.
Maarten Wynants is gone, he takes a solo win in Tanuada, although he gets the same time as the peloton.
Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) wins the bunch sprint in front of Kristian Sbaragli.
Rasmussen: Another very good result in Australia, we are very pleased.
Kenny Elissonde 24 year from Alsace, France (av.75)
Sonder Holst Enger 22 years from Vestfold, Norway (av.75)
Davide Malacarne 28 years from Veneto, Italy (av.73)
Lawson Craddock 23 years from Texas, USA (av.74)
Riccardo Zoidl 27 years from Linz, Austria (av.74)
Francisco José Pacheco 33 years from Castilla-La Mancha, Spain (av.73)
Yves Lampaert 24 years from Flanders, Belgium (av. 72)
Rasmus Quaade 25 years from Nordjylland, Danmark (av.72)
Stefan Schumacher 34 years from Baden-Württemberg, Germany (av.72)
Mike Teunissen 23 years from Limburg, Netherlands (av.72)
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay 23 years from Canberra, Australia (av.71)
