Bad luck! I hope you'll do good at the Tour! But I'm thinking, did Rolland evolve into the 80's in climbing? If yes, then I'll be looking foward to it, because I have a career with Europcar
whats a pity the 2nd fr stijn but about samuel i have to remember the 2008 olympics, what a sprint!!! one of the most i enjoy in my life... also considering that im from the same region as him anyway i think is being a good dauphine, hope the tour will be even better
Jesleyh - Indeed. However, this season he's already won Tirreno, so that's already great
JuanMotr - I'm sure he will And Willy will listen to him! Willy has developed into quite a beast when it comes to recuperation, so expect him in the final week
PCM rulezz - Hope so, too! Maybe Costa can get in the top 10!
rogvi97 - Rolland always evolves into 80s of climbing in my savegames, so good luck with that
locodoco - Losing of Sánchez ain't no shame, that's true. Especially after such a hilly finish. Hope to Tour will be exciting, too Really curious where Willy will end up.
Jakstar22 - Thanks. I agree, but that's cycling, I guess. Maybe he can get a break in the National Championships
Another tough mountain stage. The battle for the GC was still wide open and everyone was looking for one final test before the Tour!
Stijn Van Gent
I spend the entire day carrying water bottles up and down. Nothing special to report!
I finished inside the grupetto, seemingly ready for the National Championships!
Willy Wouters
Today was another short but intense mountain stage.
I threw all personal ambitions aside and dragged the peloton, especially Costa up the slopes of Col du Coq. I took the entire mountain for my account, dropping a large part of the peloton.
Because of the enthusiastic audience narrowing the roads, a small group broke loose from the peloton, I was part of it. Since my task of the day was protecting and serving Rui, so was he!
However, the next climb was one too much! I had to let go.
I got caught fairly soon by a fast-moving peloton.
The finish was amazingly close, with two world class climbers battling for the win. Froome or Schleck?
I finished 19th, which is actually pretty good after a hard day's work!
A funny thing Stijn told me after watching the final classification: "Actually, I've had a harder tour than you, since I spend an hour and a half longer on my bike than you."
Thomas De Gendt will stay at Vacansoleil.
Bradley Wiggins might be leaving Astana.
Willy Wouters
A new contract with Team Argos - Shimano!
The team approached me and told me it was very happy about my results, especially in Tirreno - Adriatico. They've offered me a €55.000 contract, with a leader's status, for at least 2 years. I didn't need to think about this twice and signed upon reading!
Stijn Van Gent
Like Willy, I got offered a 2-year-contract! They've promised me to attract a strong helper for the Classics. I'll be earning €50.000 a month, on a sprinter's contract. Yup, that's right. I'll be one of the sprinters next year, considering my results so far. I owe that to somewhat sad news that's coming next, though...
Marcel Kittel stops professional cycling
Marcel Kittel, one of the world's fastest man on a bike, stops cycling early in his career. Having a brilliant season in 2012, he has been unable to win in 2013 so far. After months of media-silence, the German sprinter finally offers an explanation. The world was shocked upon hearing that Kittel does not enjoy cycling anymore. He's lost his motivation and will be looking for a major career switch. His current team, the dutch team Argos - Shimano, reacted surprised and regrets his decision. Kittel is selected for the upcoming Tour de France. It's unknown up to this point when he'll retire and if he'll still ride in the Tour.
cunego59 - Sure is a nice raise, they'll be earning the tenfold of what they earn now But their points in the WT Ranking justify it! About Kittel, I try to keep the story interesting by putting in some unexpected things every now and then, hope it's appreciated
dienblad - It was a surprise for me, too! (it just came to me as I was typing it)
Ollfardh - Boasson Hagen is turning into a great all-round rider!
sutty68 - Things are still uncertain in that matter, so we'll see. The contracts are a relief. That's 2 years that they're secure in great team!
Finally it's time for the National Championships! We both have evolved a lot since last year and come to think of it, we didn't even get a chance to participate last year. So we're very excited!
The Time Trial route is 51 km long. Don't even think the best won't win today. The results won't lie.
Stijn Van Gent
I was chance-less and I knew it, so I just considered this Time Trial as one good final training for the Road Race!
Willy Wouters
This day was very important in many ways. If anyone was still looking for a ticket to the World Championships, this is the place to get them! I had a great race, starting quite slowly but getting better near the end.
I was 5th, 4th and 4th at the checkpoints. Crossing the finish line, I had done a great final punch and I finished a provisional first!
I couldn't believe my eyes. I stayed first for a very long time. I even outclassed the resigning Belgian TT Champion Monfort.
But then De Gendt put on an unbelievably strong show and took the win, deservedly.
But this is positive! I've definitely made my name as a time trialer a bit more, and I've got some great television time in Belgium, which as a stage racer isn't too easy to do. I sure hope I can come back and take the title one day!
Belgian National Championships: Road Race
The Belgian Championship Road Race has arrived! Current Belgium and World Champion is Tom Boonen. Is he beatable in the sprint, or isn't he?
Another flat race, like most Belgian Championships. Het Nieuwsblad (an important sports-paper in Flanders) published this as their list of favorites:
5. Michael Van Staeyen
4. Stijn Van Gent
3. Jürgen Roelandts
2. Greg Van Avermaet
1. Tom Boonen
Willy Wouters
Today there was not a chance for me, so I didn't take any risks with the Tour nearby, especially with the rain! The breakaway was a five-man group today.
Stijn Van Gent
Omega Pharma - Quickstep controlled the race from the start to the finish. Serry also made an effort in the chase.
And then the expected moment came, the sprint! Boonen didn't have too many riders left so our team set up a lead-out, with fast Meersman leading me out as final rider!
And then the most beautiful thing ever happened: a clash between Tom Boonen and Stijn Van Gent, me! I was battling the World Champion for the win.
We had both gone from far out, but the other ones never came close, it looked like we were a cut above the rest today!
Neither of us wanted to give up, but then in the final 20 meters, Boonen finally cracked!!!
I can't believe it! I just won the National Championships! I'll wear the beautiful Belgian Jersey for an entire year! This is amazing, by far my greatest win ever!
Four National Champions in the team, that's quite impressive. Too bad we don't have a Dutch Champion. Clement came in second in the time trial and seventh in the road race, though.
Shoemake is the big surprise here. An unknown rider, currently riding for a small time British team. A real fighter with probably his greatest win in his career. He might get signed by a World Tour team for next season, though!
Interview with the new Champion of Belgium
Here's the article in Het Nieuwsblad the day after!
Stijn Van Gent: Champion of the Belgians
Stijn Van Gent won the national championship by finishing in front of Boonen and Goddaert in a mass sprint. "Stijn who?" is the question on many's lips. Not particularly known to the masses, Van Gent is becoming a household name in the (Belgian) cycling milieu.
Who is Stijn Van Gent?
Stijn Van Gent was born on the 22nd of February, 1990, in Oudenaarde. Being born in the heart of the Flemish Ardennes, he turned out as a real Flandrien. In 2012, he joined Lotto - Belisol and made his name by winning the Druivenkoers and a stage in the Eneco Tour. In 2013, he joined Team Argos - Shimano. This season he's finished 2nd in the Omloop, 7th in De Ronde and won Strade Bianchi. On his 23 years of age, he outsprinted Tom Boonen for his first, and possibly not last, Belgian National Jersey.
National Road Race
The National Road Races are always an important event in the year. All over the world, people battle for prestigious jerseys. In Belgium, Geel will be organizing the most Championships, after making a deal with the UCI and the Belgian Bond. With fairly cold temperatures for this time of the year and rain, Flandriens Boonen and Van Gent felt at home. Omega Pharma - Quickstep controlled the race and it came to an expected mass sprint. Van Gent started his sprint far out and Boonen was on his wheel. Boonen cracked in the final 25 meters.
Reactions Stijn Van Gent: This is just amazing. I've never felt happier than today. All sorts of things crossed my mind when I rolled over that finish line first. Winning a championship is very different from winning a stage. I will wear this jersey with pride for an entire year. I hope I can do it justice in the cobbled season. I'll be starting in de Tour in a couple of days, and I certainly would like to show it off as soon as possible. I think I'll enjoy every single race in this shirt! Thanks to the team for the fantastic lead-out! Tom Boonen: The race was long and it was a nervous one. The team did great controlling the race. Luckily nobody fell (Jurgen VDB did fall at the start, red.), because the rain made the roads slippery at times. I saw Van Gent launching his sprint quite early, but I couldn't wait and had to react. I think he got me on my age. He still has the energy of a 23 year old, I'm almost ten years older. I'm happy for him and I think we'll see a lot from him in the future! Kristof Goddaert: I didn't think I'd end up on the podium today, so I'm very happy! Many will say this result is a surprise, but Van Gent is a renown rider in the peloton. How is his reputation? He's an old school Flandrien, who likes it hard, tough and who doesn't give up easily.
Congratulations with this amazing victory and the second place in the ITT
And a win for Kittel, that's a long time ago Edited by PCM rulezz on 27-02-2013 15:00
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
Wow, that was good.
Willy second at the ITT, and Stijn won the Road Race! wow!
A shock about Kittel though... How's Degenkolb doing btw? You wrote something about that he wanted to leave or something earlier, while Kittel was still riding
And quite a shock. The Netherlands lost their best stage-racer and one of their best cobblers to France.
At least they've got a very talented sprinter in return
Edit: Wait a sec. Who the heck is Shoemaker, who won the GB Road Race... Is it another secret talent, like you've put in the last story(A Dutch guy, forgot his name) or is it just PCM logic? Edited by Jesleyh on 27-02-2013 16:02
anyway i think is being a good dauphine, hope the tour will be even better
