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Operation Take Down
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 07:03
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 10-03-2014 07:07
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2730
Joined: 18-08-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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@YvesStevens and Sutty: let's just say there weren't many happy bunnies in the team bus after 
My Tour overview
Well, what a Tour this has been! I don't have to add on a racing front. So I'll give a decent overview of my week. As you know, I haven't exactly been an honest teammate since the start. My early work was simple, disruptions of lead out trains, and pushing where I should let up, and letting up where I should push. A few mistakes crept in, but then I took things a bit more seriously.
In the Team Time Trial I stepped things up a bit. I ruined Sky's chances and derailed them a good 2 minutes. Every second could count in the GC. In the mountains I did what I could, mostly organising behind Froome. Already the team morale was wavering, on half the stages I didn't do anything, yet neither did the team.
The really tough stages were hard, even for me. I did what I could, but sometimes I couldn't stop Froome and sometimes I could. I tried my best, and after a little effort. I think I succeeded in sabotaging his chances. My finale was the Champs Élysées, and I think it worked. I hope you enjoyed it, but there will be a few more updates till I'm finished with you!
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 10-03-2014 09:25
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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This sums up the Team morale perfectly 
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 10-03-2014 18:50
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2730
Joined: 18-08-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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@Sutty: Things are only downhill from here
Sky in Trouble
It seems my antics this year have put Sky in even more trouble than I could have realised. The team is in a finely balanced position, relying on strong results to stay afloat. I have disrupted that balance, and now Sky is in a whole lot of trouble
The sponsors were angry at the lack of results, and bad publicity, so they began to cut funding. Without funding or prize money, the debt began to mount. Many of the riders couldn't be paid, and a lot of people got rather angry.
Then, disaster. The media found out! I was laughing, and thanking the heavens for my other employer. Sky were in big trouble now. They became a laughing stock in the peleton. They had to pull out of races, and where they did show up it was an embarrassment. Sky has not renewed their sponsorship agreeement. Worse still, no one else will touch this shipwrecked giant. I am not sure how to feel about this. Obviously I'm happy that my mission has succeeded so utterly, but I have made some friends here, and they are just as stranded as the team, giving them little time for new jobs. Obviously I don't worry about the Froomes and Henaos, but the lesser riders and staff.
I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens at the end of the season.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 10-03-2014 19:06
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Wow. He sure did it now... |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 11-03-2014 01:32
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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I bet you feel really good that you succeeded but don't you feel a little bit of guilt that friends and fellow cyclists could be out of a job now  |
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 11-03-2014 06:55
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2730
Joined: 18-08-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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@Sutty and Ian: Exactly, that pretty much sums things up
Sky End of Season Review
What a season for Sky! But not in a good way  . They had some mediocre performances in early season, but that is all. Then, in Milan San Remo, they were, again, less than impressive. This form continued through the other small tours.
However, in the cobbled classics, things took a step up. I took to the stage. Originally I conformed only to my own plan. However, as things got closer for me, I gave it a good go. In the Ronde I came close, but froze, I still don't know why. In Roubaix I just waddled in behind the leaders, but still a strong result. Then, the hilly classics. Not exactly Sky's speciality, and true to type, Henao was disappointing.
Then, the Giro. Kyrienka was Sky's best rider, but that's not to say he didn't do a good job. He made a strong 5th place, admittedly in weak opposition. The Belarusian showed he can still be a strong GC rider, and might even challenge one day. Then Sky continued to improve. In the Dauphine and Suisse they got GC podiums. The Tour was meant to be the coda to this crescendo.
Unfortunately it wasn't. Froome showed glimmers at times, which we'll come back to. Most of the other riders were disappointing, particularly Boasson Hagen, who had a poor year. Froome was weak early on, but in the TT and on Venteaux he showed his true class. He looked like a contender again. Then, with the help/hindrance of temmates, he lost out on Alpe D'Huez. Froome was desperate, and opened up.
The next few stages, and those before, made one of the most memorable tours in living memory. The GC was almost sown up, but it was the challenges to that statement which changed everything. Stage 19 may not have looked like it had the makings of a classic, but it will surely go down in the history books as an absolute epic.
The Tour rounded down after that, but was still an amazing race. It also happened to be the end of Sky. Hey just weren't the same afterwards. Lopez tried to rally the troops in the Vuelta. He captained a weak team, but manipulated breakaways to a 4th place. In the end this was a last hurrah to a disappointing year.
None of Sky's riders did anything incredible, so none of them are particularly high on the rankings.
Sky finishes in a mid-table place. Their decent performances across the board are enough to keep them in WT, not that it matters, as this is their last year anyway.
Sky have had a terrible year, partly down to me, partly of their own making. They will regret this year for a long time, as it is the loss of their reputation, and the whole team. Thankfully, the team's riders have all found new teams, but most of them have gone to a lesser team. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the staff. A sorry year for a sorry team.
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 11-03-2014 07:00
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Team Leader
Posts: 5533
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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Nice work it must be said.
And is that it?
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 11-03-2014 09:06
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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At least the riders found new jobs  , but what next for this story  |
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 11-03-2014 10:13
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4478
Joined: 30-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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You've got a few e-mails
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 11-03-2014 10:13
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4478
Joined: 30-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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You've got a few e-mails
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 11-03-2014 10:13
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4478
Joined: 30-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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You've got a few e-mails
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 11-03-2014 13:55
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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He, didn't see that before, obviously a very popular person |
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| YvesStevens |
Posted on 11-03-2014 14:45
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1147
Joined: 29-07-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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I wonder who that rider from Bermude, Teikh Dyown, riding for sky is |
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 11-03-2014 14:54
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15274
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice spot Yves
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 11-03-2014 18:03
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2730
Joined: 18-08-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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@LLS: Thanks, and pretty much, it's it now
@Sutty: That at least is good, and you'll have to wait and see, but this will (sorta) be back.
@Cycleman and Sutty: Just a few My PCM goes a bit bugged so they don't count as read.
@YvesStevens and Jesleyh: I was wondering if anyone would spot that
My Season Summary
Well, what is their to add? My story has been intrinsically linked to that of the team. Every failure has been partially down to me, and, unfortunately, so have some of the successes. I have largerly fulfilled the contract I was given at the start of they year. Maybe if a similar offer was made again, I would not take it, who knows. It has certainly been an interesting year though, and hopefully I will see such incredible things in this sport again. Now, all there is to do is sit back, and wait for The Repercussions |
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| YvesStevens |
Posted on 11-03-2014 18:28
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1147
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PCM$: 300.00
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Will you by the way ever reveal who gave you the objective to take down Team Sky  ? |
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| welker3257 |
Posted on 15-03-2014 02:28
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2336
Joined: 29-05-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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I'm guessing that Mark Cavendish or Lance Armstrong is behind this
Gig 'em Aggies
Fast N' Loud Cycling Project - ICL
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| Shonak |
Posted on 16-03-2014 21:48
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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It's been a real entertaining Tour and the unique approach to it certainly is still there. Hope this continues.
The man behind the job must be Wiggins. He's still pissed off.
Also, "Froome lost, but he risked everything, and put his body on the line."... this sounds so not like Froome. Teikh Dyown must have really done a number on him.
Edited by Shonak on 16-03-2014 21:58
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 16-03-2014 22:37
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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With a name like that, he was destined for a job like this |
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 23-03-2014 18:30
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15274
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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This is still going on, isn't it?
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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