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Double Feature | THE END
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-03-2013 10:51
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Tour de France 2013 - Stage 11
Another obvious sprinting stage.
Things were looking up, I had good legs and was right behind the French Champion!
But Hutarovich totally boxed me in. I must admit I felt a bit frustrated right after the finish, but after half an hour I realized this is part of being a sprinter. You catch some breaks, you get some bad luck. I didn't pay enough attention and got myself boxed in.
Cavendish is finally back to his awesome self. He easily takes the win.
Another day to forget. Tomorrow I will pay extra attention not to get boxed in.
Result
| 1 | Mark Cavendish | Sky Pro Cycling | 4h27'57 | | | 2 | Arnaud Démare | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 3 | José Joaquin Rojas Gil | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 4 | Daniele Bennati | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 5 | Allan Davis | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | | 6 | Adrien Petit | Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne | s.t. | | | 7 | Tom Boonen | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 8 | André Greipel | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | | 9 | Davide Appollonio | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 10 | Mark Renshaw | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 11 | Greg Van Avermaet | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | | 12 | Yauheni Hutarovich | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | | 13 | Michael Matthews | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 14 | Stijn Van Gent | Team Argos-Shimano | s.t. | IanButler | | 15 | Jimmy Casper | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | |
Points
| 1 | Mark Cavendish | Sky Pro Cycling | 232 | | | 2 | Arnaud Démare | BMC Racing Team | 179 | | | 3 | Peter Sagan | Liquigas-Cannondale | 156 | | | 4 | José Joaquin Rojas Gil | Katusha Team | 134 | | | 5 | Tom Boonen | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | 111 | | | 6 | Allan Davis | Orica-GreenEDGE | 78 | | | 7 | Tyler Farrar | Team Garmin-Barracuda | 78 | | | 8 | Stijn Van Gent | Team Argos-Shimano | 77 | IanButler | | 9 | Daniele Bennati | Radioshack Nissan Trek | 73 | | | 10 | Alejandro Valverde | Astana Pro Team | 71 | |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 04-03-2013 10:54
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Shame on Yauheni Hutarovich, but i am sure you will get revenge on him soon  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-03-2013 12:11
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Thanks, Sutty
That's a good way about following Paris - Nice, too  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-03-2013 12:11
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Tour de France 2013 - Stage 12
One final flat day before the mountains. I was ready for more!
The breakaway consisted of 7 riders and was fairly easy to control. But look at that! That woman is changing into something easier and she forgot the peloton passed that point today! Jeez, caught on camera!
Rojas Gil took a nasty fall and wouldn't be mixing in the sprint today. He finished well inside the pack, though.
Today I really fought for a good place so I wouldn't be boxed in!
However, I made a minor mistake. I wanted to pass Cavendish on the left, but there was a corner nearby, so I had to stop the maneuver and go to the right, that cost me some energy!
I felt really, really good and got back to the front. I was battling Sagan for the second place!
But Cavendish took the win! Who wouldn't win with a girlfriend like that cheering at the finish line? But why is he looking the other way? Trouble in paradise?
Anyway, I finish 2nd right before Sagan! This is amazing! A second place, that's real close. Too bad it's a mountain stage tomorrow...
Until then,
Stijn & Willy
Edited by Ian Butler on 04-03-2013 12:23
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-03-2013 12:18
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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I just took a look at the old story: A Tale of Two, a little comparison. We're over half viewings and we're only 200 posts away from overtaking A Tale of Two!
A nice fact: It's around this page that Stijn died in A Tale of Two. As you see, he's more alive than ever in this story  |
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| TTspecialist |
Posted on 04-03-2013 12:22
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 796
Joined: 17-02-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Ian Butler wrote:
But Cavendish took the win! Who wouldn't win with a girlfriend like that cheering at the finish line?
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 04-03-2013 12:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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That was a Great effort from Stijn today 
Pity about that corner having to slow him down though  |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 04-03-2013 16:41
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Awesome photoshop skills again, you should consider a career change
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 04-03-2013 16:42
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15274
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Stijn is doing fantastic
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 10:54
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-03-2013 18:16
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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TTspecialist - Glad you like it
sutty68 - Yeah, I really wonder if he could've taken Cavendish without that slowing down! Maybe we'll know soon
Ollfardh - I'm seriously thinking about it thanks!
Jesleyh - He sure is. Let's hope he can take something home to remember it! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 04-03-2013 18:16
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Tour de France 2013 - Stage 13
Enter the mountains!
This looked bloody hard... and it was!
Well, this ain't my cup of tea. I went and got some water bottles in the first half. When we hit the mountains, I dropped out and tried to concentrate on the flat stage tomorrow.
This symbolizes the status in our team. Costa and me are equal leaders, at this moment. We've both been assigned a lieutenant. Seeldraeyers for me, Geniez for him!
Big difference between us, though. I've learned that today. Costa has experience, I'm inexperienced and impulsive! I dictated the pace 30 km from the finish.
When the attacks came, I reacted. I caught Rolland's wheel and went with them! I felt good!
However, Costa kept his cool and eventually his group joined up with ours.
As a result, he had a lot of energy left, I was quite tired!
Valverde just outsprinted him, so unfortunately!
I learned two lessons today:
1. I'm in a great shape and I might even start dreaming of that top 15 - top 10 place!
2. I'm impulsive and need to be more careful about wasting energy!
Result
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde | Astana Pro Team | 7h31'53 | | | 2 | Rui Costa | Team Argos-Shimano | s.t. | IanButler | | 3 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | s.t. | | | 4 | Igor Anton | Euskaltel Euskadi | s.t. | | | 5 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | | 6 | Willy Wouters | Team Argos-Shimano | s.t. | IanButler | | 7 | Christophe Le Mével | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | | 8 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 9 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 10 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | |
General Classification
| 1 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | 57h53'54 | | | 2 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 46 | | | 3 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | + 1'56 | | | 4 | Rui Costa | Team Argos-Shimano | + 1'59 | IanButler | | 5 | Willy Wouters | Team Argos-Shimano | + 2'00 | IanButler | | 6 | Alejandro Valverde | Astana Pro Team | + 2'15 | | | 7 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 2'42 | | | 8 | Jelle Vanendert | Lotto Belisol | + 2'47 | | | 9 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto Belisol | + 3'08 | | | 10 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 3'34 | | | 11 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | + 4'19 | | | 12 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 4'33 | | | 13 | Igor Anton | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 7'12 | | | 14 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 7'31 | | | 15 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 9'04 | | | 16 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | + 16'12 | | | 17 | Christophe Le Mével | Team Garmin-Barracuda | + 20'05 | | | 18 | Beñat Intxausti | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 20'29 | | | 19 | Denis Menchov | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 21'14 | | | 20 | Wout Poels | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 24'06 | |
We're leading in the Team Classification at the moment!
Tomorrow is one more flat stage, and then it's 5 mountain stages!
Until then,
Stijn & Willy |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 04-03-2013 18:19
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Great ride from Willy today in what was a beast of a day in the mountains |
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 04-03-2013 18:20
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World Champion
Posts: 11971
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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still 4 belguims in the top 10 and where are the other countries from the former BeNeLux. 12th, 14th, 15th and 20th
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 04-03-2013 19:26
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3507
Joined: 06-10-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Ouch that profile...
Willy doing good if he finishes 6th after wasting energy
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| JuanMotr |
Posted on 04-03-2013 20:48
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Domestique
Posts: 701
Joined: 29-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Great photosop skills and nice to know that Willy is in great shape. Also I wanted to ask what kind of stages are left? Any TTs? |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 04-03-2013 21:17
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Team Leader
Posts: 7297
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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They are bohe doing great. Keep it up
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 05-03-2013 07:17
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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sutty68 - Thanks! Indeed, the profile scared me there a little bit
SSJ2Luigi - BeNeLux doing good indeed
Stromeon - Well, he had some good legs. Let's hope the final week isn't too much for him, though!
JuanMotr - I'm not sure but I think: flat, 5x mountain, flat, ITT (about 30km) and flat (Paris).
Jakstar22 - Thanks!
Today is just such a beautiful day, I couldn't work for school (I'm so lazy ). So instead I'll try a stage before noon, go riding, watch Paris - Nice and do another stage |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 05-03-2013 08:24
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Tour de France 2013 - Stage 14
One more flat stage and then we're in for four mountain stages!
It's for the sprinters, but the road to the finish is tough and fatigue will play an important role! The wind is up high and right on your nose in the final sprint, so we'll have to take that into account!
Like most stages, I spent quite some time with Costa. We're really getting to know each other in this Tour. He's helping me with invaluable tips and hints. Let's hope I learn from them for the coming stages!
Geniez took a nasty fall and lost 3 minutes today! Luckily we're still leading the Team Classification, by one minute.
By some miracle, I finished 7th. How, you ask? The sprint was strange and many sprinters were held up by a near-fall. So many GC favorites reached the finish line in top 10, top 20. The terrain was lightly uphill, so that helped, too! Only 3-4 sprinters could compete for the win. You think Stijn was one of them?
I didn't let myself get pushed away today and I managed to snatch Sagan's wheel from Démare.
Most sprinters were held behind by a small incident, but I was focusing on the finish! I was thinking how I could possibly beat Sagan and Cavendish. Acting on an animal instinct, I suddenly launched forward, from far out! I tried surprising them in the sprint by going far! The wind was like a brick wall but I gave it 110%!
The surprise worked and I had reacted quickly enough so they didn't have the time to use my slipstream! They would have to face the wind themselves to catch up with me now!
It lasted so long and the wind was killing me! Sagen and Cavendish were unleashed and were nearing, but I wouldn't give up without a fight!
And then the finish line was just there! A quick look over my shoulder, I'm there!
Amazing! My plan worked! By a tactical number I managed to outsprint Cavendish and Sagan! To win a Tour de France stage with those two on the finishing photo, in this jersey, it's unbelievable!
This is beyond my wildest dreams. My Tour is a success! Hell, my season is a success already! I guess it's safe to say this is my breakthrough year! I can call myself a sprinter now, as well as a classics rider!
Result
| 1 | Stijn Van Gent | Team Argos-Shimano | 5h30'52 | IanButler | | 2 | Peter Sagan | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 3 | Mark Cavendish | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 4 | Thor Hushovd | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 5 | Alejandro Valverde | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | | 6 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 7 | Willy Wouters | Team Argos-Shimano | s.t. | IanButler | | 8 | Yauheni Hutarovich | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | | 9 | Rui Costa | Team Argos-Shimano | s.t. | IanButler | | 10 | Daniele Bennati | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | |
Tomorrow we climb!
Stijn & Willy
Edited by Ian Butler on 05-03-2013 08:32
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 05-03-2013 09:58
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Great victory for Stijn, showing the Big guns how to do it
And also nice to see Willy make the top ten as well |
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| Roozeken |
Posted on 05-03-2013 10:12
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Under 23
Posts: 53
Joined: 14-03-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Great results with Stijn and Willy, hoping for top 10 for willy and winning green jersey, would be hard against sagan and cav, but got a feeling u still got some aces up your sleeve. Nice personal touch with Cav's gf btw xD |
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