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Konica Minolta: "African cycling taking over the world."
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 13-09-2008 10:22
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Good luck in the next stage 
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 13-09-2008 22:51
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Paris-Nice UPT (11-18 March)
STAGE 7 (17 March)
With 9 climbs, although mostly short, and an uphill finish this a though stage and with 222 km it's also the longest stage of the race.
With a lot of KOM points early on in the stage we hoped Erik could get in the break. However that didn't happen. To his and our surprise the peleton let the first escapees go. Luckily Bassie was alert, was in the break together with Rémy Di Gregorio (PRL) and Kozontchuk (RAB).
As it turned out Di Gregorio had his mind set on the KOM jersey. He beat Bassie in the first two climbs and on the 3th 15 km long climb Di Gregorio left Kozontchuk and Bassie behind.
Erik had planned a little escape on the 3th climb to pick up some valuable points, but again he was caught of guard. Pauriol (AG2), Marzano (FDJ) and Solari (PAN) had already escaped the peleton. Erik did jump after them, but couldn't come closer then 20 seconds.
At the top of the first climb it was first Di Gregorio on his own then 40 seconds behind: Kozontchuk and Bassie. 1 and a half minute behind the two followed the group of 3 that were closing in fast.
The three caught up with Kozontchuk and Bassie before the first intermediate sprint and left them behind very soon.
With all the points Di Gregorio had picked up on the first 6 climbs he was now only 6 points behind Erik and closed the gap to 2 points on the 7th climb right before Pauriol, Marzano and Solari caught up with him.
The peleton was 10 minutes back, so all Di Gregorio needed to do was hang on until the penultimate hill 25 km before the finish and come over the top as 1st or 2nd.
Erik again had luck on his side, because Di Gregorio had put to much effort in the first part of the race and had to let the others go.
In fact everyone got dropped by Pauriol. He would come over the top 4 minutes in front of the pack and was heading for the stage win.
When Pauriol started the 5 km long climb to the finish he still had 1 and a half minute. The peleton had reeled in everyone else.
Pauriol could almost smell the victory, but he totally collapsed on the steep climb. When with 3km to go Valverde (AST) put on the turbo he easily blasted past the poor Pauriol.
Nibali countered Valverde, but there was no stopping the Spaniard. Valverde won the stage with Nibali 26 seconds behind.
Ab and Rafaâ put on a decent performance finishing 22th and 38th, but more important Erik, although not having a very good day today, had kept his jersey.
RESULTS
1 Alejandro Valverde TEAM ASTANA 5h42'47
2 Vincenzo Nibali LIQUIGAS + 26
3 Kim Kirchen T-MOBILE TEAM + 1'00
4 Giovanni Visconti QUICKSTEP - INNERGETIC + 1'27
5 Juanjo Cobo SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR + 1'47
6 Davide Rebellin GEROLSTEINER + 1'58
7 Sébastien Joly RABOBANK + 2'14
8 Luis León Sánchez EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 2'21
9 Samuel Sánchez CRÉDIT AGRICOLE s.t.
10 Stijn Devolder DISCOVERY CHANNEL s.t.
11 George Hincapie TEAM WIESENHOF FELT + 2'30
12 Vladimir Gusev DISCOVERY CHANNEL + 2'50
13 Rinaldo Nocentini AG2R PRÉVOYANCE s.t.
14 Stefan Schumacher EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI s.t.
15 John Gadret AG2R PRÉVOYANCE s.t.
16 Fränk Schleck TEAM ASTANA s.t.
17 Björn Leukemans PREDICTOR - LOTTO s.t.
18 Chris Horner PREDICTOR - LOTTO s.t.
19 Óscar Pereiro CAISSE D'EPARGNE + 3'11
20 Matti Breschel TEAM CSC s.t.
22 Abdelkader Belmokhtar TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
38 Rafaâ Chtioui TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
70 Juan Van Heerden TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 5'45
75 Herman Fouché TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
86 Tiaan Kannemeyer TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
127 Erik Hoffmann TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 8'38
164 Abdelbasset Hannachi TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 15'27
166 Travis Allen TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 15'59
GC
1 Vincenzo Nibali LIQUIGAS 28h50'18
2 Alejandro Valverde TEAM ASTANA + 1'54
3 Luis León Sánchez EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 5'32
4 Juanjo Cobo SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR + 5'52
5 John Gadret AG2R PRÉVOYANCE + 6'26
6 Giovanni Visconti QUICKSTEP - INNERGETIC + 7'10
7 Stijn Devolder DISCOVERY CHANNEL + 7'33
8 Samuel Sánchez CRÉDIT AGRICOLE + 7'39
9 Sébastien Joly RABOBANK + 7'41
10 Vladimir Gusev DISCOVERY CHANNEL + 8'46
11 Kim Kirchen T-MOBILE TEAM + 8'57
12 Rinaldo Nocentini AG2R PRÉVOYANCE + 9'07
13 Fränk Schleck TEAM ASTANA + 9'08
14 Thomas Voeckler BOUYGUES TÉLÉCOM + 9'33
15 Franco Pellizotti LIQUIGAS + 9'39
16 Pieter Weening RABOBANK + 11'02
17 Leonardo Bertagnolli LIQUIGAS + 11'27
18 Thomas Lövkvist FRANÇAISE DES JEUX + 12'05
19 Sandy Casar FRANÇAISE DES JEUX + 12'12
20 Mathieu Sprick BOUYGUES TÉLÉCOM + 12'25
61 Tiaan Kannemeyer TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 25'37
KOM
1 Erik Hoffmann TEAM KONICA MINOLTA 37
2 Rémy Di Gregorio PREDICTOR - LOTTO 35
3 Joaquim Rodríguez CAISSE D'EPARGNE 30
4 Vincenzo Nibali LIQUIGAS 29
5 Alejandro Valverde TEAM ASTANA 22
Conclusion
Again a nail biter for Erik. However luck seems to be on our side the last two days. All Erik has to do now is to finish tomorrows TT and the jersey is his.
Tiaan also didn't have a very good day, but is still our best man in the GC at place 61th.
Ab and Rafaâ surprised us today with a good performance. Both finished in the peleton.
Edited by snoep_de_hond on 13-09-2008 23:25
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 13-09-2008 23:45
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Paris-Nice UPT (11-18 March)
STAGE 8 (18 March)
A 12 km long climb TT.
Not much to tell about the TT.
To no surprise Rafaâ road the best time of the team. Not being a very good climber he didn't came higher then place 74.
Tiaan road the 115th time, but kept the 61th place in the GC.
And Erik finish his lab of honour with the 91th time.
The top 3 of the stage consisted out of Cobo (SDV)
Valverde (AST)
and Nibali (LIQ)
This was also the top 3 of the final GC.
Nibali surprisingly dominated Paris-Nice winning 2 stages and the GC.
RESULTS
1 Vincenzo Nibali LIQUIGAS 19'51
2 Alejandro Valverde TEAM ASTANA + 13
3 Juanjo Cobo SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR + 16
4 Kim Kirchen T-MOBILE TEAM s.t.
5 Chris Horner PREDICTOR - LOTTO + 17
6 Sylvain Chavanel T-MOBILE TEAM s.t.
7 Stijn Devolder DISCOVERY CHANNEL + 24
8 Vladimir Gusev DISCOVERY CHANNEL + 25
9 Stefan Schumacher EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 29
10 Luis León Sánchez EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 36
11 Fränk Schleck TEAM ASTANA s.t.
12 Sandy Casar FRANÇAISE DES JEUX + 38
13 Samuel Sánchez CRÉDIT AGRICOLE + 39
14 Joost Posthuma RABOBANK + 41
15 Sébastien Joly RABOBANK + 42
16 Leonardo Piepoli SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR + 44
17 Óscar Pereiro CAISSE D'EPARGNE s.t.
18 Thomas Lövkvist FRANÇAISE DES JEUX + 45
19 Ángel Vicioso GEROLSTEINER s.t.
20 Leonardo Bertagnolli LIQUIGAS + 46
74 Rafaâ Chtioui TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'24
77 Abdelbasset Hannachi TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'27
87 Erik Hoffmann TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'34
107 Juan Van Heerden TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'45
115 Tiaan Kannemeyer TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'50
127 Abdelkader Belmokhtar TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'58
142 Travis Allen TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 2'03
143 Herman Fouché TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
GC
1 Vincenzo Nibali LIQUIGAS 29h10'09
2 Alejandro Valverde TEAM ASTANA + 2'07
3 Juanjo Cobo SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR + 6'08
4 Luis León Sánchez EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI s.t.
5 John Gadret AG2R PRÉVOYANCE + 7'18
6 Stijn Devolder DISCOVERY CHANNEL + 7'57
7 Giovanni Visconti QUICKSTEP - INNERGETIC + 8'10
8 Samuel Sánchez CRÉDIT AGRICOLE + 8'18
9 Sébastien Joly RABOBANK + 8'23
10 Vladimir Gusev DISCOVERY CHANNEL + 9'11
11 Kim Kirchen T-MOBILE TEAM + 9'13
12 Fränk Schleck TEAM ASTANA + 9'44
13 Rinaldo Nocentini AG2R PRÉVOYANCE + 10'23
14 Franco Pellizotti LIQUIGAS + 10'25
15 Thomas Voeckler BOUYGUES TÉLÉCOM + 10'29
16 Pieter Weening RABOBANK + 12'12
17 Leonardo Bertagnolli LIQUIGAS + 12'13
18 Sandy Casar FRANÇAISE DES JEUX + 12'50
19 Thomas Lövkvist FRANÇAISE DES JEUX s.t.
20 Stefan Schumacher EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 13'08
61 Tiaan Kannemeyer TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 27'27
91 Erik Hoffmann TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 41'37
95 Abdelkader Belmokhtar TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 42'37
119 Juan Van Heerden TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 56'30
121 Abdelbasset Hannachi TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 57'06
128 Rafaâ Chtioui TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1h07'30
137 Herman Fouché TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1h16'25
171 Travis Allen TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 2h03'32
KOM
1 Erik Hoffmann TEAM KONICA MINOLTA 37
2 Rémy Di Gregorio PREDICTOR - LOTTO 35
3 Joaquim Rodríguez CAISSE D'EPARGNE 30
4 Vincenzo Nibali LIQUIGAS 29
5 Alejandro Valverde TEAM ASTANA 22
Conclusion
First and foremost this is a great experience for our team. However these 8 days have learned us that all of our riders aren't there jet. We only managed 1 top 10 place and often couldn't keep up with with first group.
On the other side we were present in almost every breakaway and Erik put our team a little bit in the spotlight by winning the KOM jersey.
All and all I think this was a great week and I hope we can get our hands on another wild card to a ProTour race.
Now its on to Nokere-Koerse 1.1 (21 March). Juan is ready and we're sure he can get that goal and finish top 5.
Edited by snoep_de_hond on 14-09-2008 02:23
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| untal |
Posted on 14-09-2008 00:02
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Sprinter
Posts: 1727
Joined: 02-05-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Well done in France B) |
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| Spronx |
Posted on 14-09-2008 01:15
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Under 23
Posts: 81
Joined: 07-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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snoep_de_hond i just want to say ur story is really good! im loving it!
as a south african! its awsome to see a full lenth story with an RSA team! hope u do another season! or at least make a few signings! u cant go wrong with augustyn!! iv always done well with him!
but iv added a whole bunch of local riders that are not in the database! love it!
anyway keep it up!!! its awsome! well done on ur results so far! i just wish some of the databases had more RSA riders with with realistic stats!
any database makers, if u need a a local guy with local knowledge im here!
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 14-09-2008 11:12
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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KOM jerseys might help you stay up this year
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 15-09-2008 13:28
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks everybody for positive reactions and the shown interest in my story. I appreciate it.
I still having fun with the story myself and already looking forward to playing next season. However I've a very busy period coming up the next two months, so I don't know how fast the story will progress during that time.
I'll do my best to post Nokere-Koerse today or tomorrow.
Spronx wrote:
snoep_de_hond i just want to say ur story is really good! im loving it!
as a south african! its awsome to see a full lenth story with an RSA team! hope u do another season! or at least make a few signings! u cant go wrong with augustyn!! iv always done well with him!
Thanks Spronx, as I mentioned above I also looking forward to the next season.
I'll definitely make a few signings. I'm really hoping I can snatch Hunter and Augustyn away from Barloworld. They are both end of contract now, so I hope Barloworld won't resign them before I get a chance. I will need them next season if the team promotes to the ProTour.
Edited by snoep_de_hond on 23-02-2009 12:35
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 15-09-2008 21:14
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Nokere-Koerse 1.1 (21 March)
Nokere-Koerse is a European semi classic single day cycle race held in the Belgian region of Flanders.
The race consist out of 5 laps of 40 km. The course flat besides the 1 km long cobbled uphill part to the finish.
This race is a test to see if we can perform in a cobbled race. This is by far not the toughest there is but we've got the start somewhere.
Team leader:
Juan Van Heerden (Juan specially prepared for this race. Paris-Nice was his last test. We believe he is in top shape and we expect a lot from Juan.)
Protected:
Herman Fouché (Herman also road Paris-Nice. Apart from Juan, Herman is our best cobble rider. He'll be spared until the final. We expect Herman to assist Juan in the final.
Luxury team mate
Pieter Seyffert (Pieter is not the best cobbled rider, but he is fast in the sprint. So depending on his form and how the race unfolds, he must either work for the team or spare himself for the final.
Team mates:
Rafaâ Chtioui
Abdelkader Belmokhtar
Abdelbasset Hannachi
Christoff Van Heerden
Travis Allen (The rest is here to work for the team; Protect riders, get in the break our relay to chase down the break)
Tactics
We hope it comes down to a sprint. If it's needed we'll try to control the race. However with teams like Quickstep, Lotto and Rabobank we'll mostly need to anticipate on there actions.
The race
The first time we past the finish a 4 men breakaway group had formed. No big names and no ProTour riders in the break. It's an ideal situations for us. Quickstep and Lotto are controlling the race. We send Ab to help them and relay.
When we start the last lap the break still has a small lead, but they're almost caught. Juan is still looking good and hasn't spilled any unnecessary energy.
25 km to go and Quickstep and Lotto are pushing hard. A lot of riders are suffering now and the peleton is stretched out. It looks like it's going to be a mass sprint.
Less then 3km. everything is turning out perfectly. Herman does his job keeps Juan in the front.
300 meter to go. Juan is side by side with Wim de Vocht (PRL). He can win this!
And he does! A deserved win, he was definitely the strongest today.
And the team is very pleased that their work gets paid.
RESULTS
1 Juan Van Heerden TEAM KONICA MINOLTA 4h51'12
2 Roy Sentjens PREDICTOR - LOTTO s.t.
3 Wim De Vocht PREDICTOR - LOTTO s.t.
4 Yuri Trofimov QUICKSTEP - INNERGETIC s.t.
5 Geert Omloop JARTAZI PROMO FASHION s.t.
6 Herman Fouché TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
7 Jonas Van Genechten STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
8 Preben Van Hecke PREDICTOR - LOTTO s.t.
9 Kevin Hulsmans QUICKSTEP - INNERGETIC s.t.
10 Jonathan Godfroid STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
11 Andy Cappelle LANDBOUWKREDIET - TÖNISSTEINER s.t.
12 Nico Sijmens LANDBOUWKREDIET - TÖNISSTEINER s.t.
13 Fred Rodriguez PREDICTOR - LOTTO s.t.
14 Kevin Neirynck LANDBOUWKREDIET - TÖNISSTEINER s.t.
15 Wilfried Cretskens QUICKSTEP - INNERGETIC s.t.
16 Zdenek Stybar TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
17 Tom Steels JARTAZI PROMO FASHION s.t.
18 Jan Kuyckx LANDBOUWKREDIET - TÖNISSTEINER s.t.
19 Geert Verheyen QUICKSTEP - INNERGETIC s.t.
20 Pedro Horrillo RABOBANK s.t.
36 Rafaâ Chtioui TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
39 Travis Allen TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
45 Pieter Seyffert TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
138 Abdelkader Belmokhtar TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 5'27
139 Abdelbasset Hannachi TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 5'54
148 Christoff Van Heerden TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
Conclusion
Goal succeeded! Juan was brilliant today. We know their are no Boonen or Cancellara here, but Juan shows he has the potential to be a more then decent cobbled rider and that is good to know in case we become a ProTour team. |
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 16-09-2008 18:15
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Sprinter
Posts: 1779
Joined: 25-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Brilliant victoy by Juan!
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
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Media Room
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 16-02-2009 18:32
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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April 2008
After Juan's win in Belgium the team had two weeks without races. It's time to pick it up again. Our goals this month are a top 10 at the Tour du Finistere 1.1 (21 April) and to wear the climber's jersey at the Vuelta Ciclista a Asturias 2.1 (3-7 May).
First up now is U.S. Open Cycling 1.1 (7 April)
This race is a 177 long hilly one day race.
Team
David George
Hassen Ben Nasser
Abdelkader Belmokhtar
Benhadj Zahouania
Bab Kuider
Antar Buadis
Rodney Green
Salvatore Hadrioui
Goals
Hassen and Ab starts their preparation here for the Tour du Finistere 1.1 (21 April) and David's upcoming goal is the Tour de Georgia 2.HC (16-22 April).
With this team and only 2 ProTour teams here (CSC and TMO) a top 10 spot should be possible here.
Tactics
Hassen and George and also Ab are our best riders here. The team will protect them and we'll see how the race will unfold.
Race
Benhadj Zahouania joined a breakaway of 9 riders. They never got a big lead, however 30 km before the finish they still had more then a minutes lead.
That is when Sylvain Chavanel (TMO) decided it was time to give it a go. Ab tried to follow him, but found out very quick that it wasn't his day.
Chavanel quickly caught up with the breakaway and left them behind at the next uphill section with 22 km to go.
With just over 10 km to go and only Chavanel in front with less than a minutes lead Bobby Julich (CSC) attacked. Michael Lange (TSL), David and Hassen countered.
However none of them managed to catch up with Chavanel, who won the race.
Julich came in second and David lost the sprint for 3th place to Lange. Hassen came in 5th just in front of the peleton.
Results
1 Sylvain Chavanel T-MOBILE TEAM 4h17'12
2 Bobby Julich TEAM CSC + 50
3 Michael Lange TEAM SLIPSTREAM + 1'52
4 David George TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
5 Hassen Ben Nasser TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 2'09
6 Alexandr Kolobnev TEAM CSC + 2'27
7 Taylor Tolleson TEAM SLIPSTREAM s.t.
8 Kurt-Asle Arvesen TEAM CSC s.t.
9 Marco Pinotti T-MOBILE TEAM s.t.
10 Alexander Efimkin T-MOBILE TEAM s.t.
45 Abdelkader Belmokhtar TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
92 Benhadj Zahouania TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
93 Bab Kuider TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 6'53
94 Antar Buadis TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
99 Rodney Green TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 8'45
100 Salvatore Hadrioui TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 9'09
Conclusion
We picked up a bunch of points for the continental rankings with two top 10 finshes and both David and Hassen already show to be in good shape. |
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| Wiggo |
Posted on 16-02-2009 18:44
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3212
Joined: 07-06-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Great to see this back! |
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 16-02-2009 19:12
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Sprinter
Posts: 1779
Joined: 25-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Yeah, nice that it's back!
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
[url=(color=#0000ff] Team Info[/url]
Media Room
You'll Never Walk Alone |
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 16-02-2009 20:51
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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We received some great news.
The Amstel Gold Race UPT (22 April) is the day after the Tour du Finistere 1.1 (21 April), so we'll be able the show up at the start with some fit riders. |
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| olabj |
Posted on 16-02-2009 22:27
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1105
Joined: 17-09-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Just read through the story and this is a real good one. Hope that it will continue for a long time  |
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 16-02-2009 22:39
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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First we'll sent teams to two smaller stage races. The Volta ao Alentejo 2.1 (10-15 April)and first up
Circuit Cycliste de la Sarthe 2.1 (9-13 April)
This is a race for the sprinters. The 4 flat stages are most likely going to end up mass sprints and a 11km long ITT will determine the winner.
Team
Rodney Green
Antar Buadis
Dennis Van Niekerk
Christoff Van Heerden
Salvatore Hadrioui
Bab Kuider
Goals
Rodney and Antar are our sprinters here, but we don't expect a win from them. Top 10 might prove to be difficult enough. Antar is still very unexperienced and Rodney is here for picking up some race fitness for the Tour de Georgia 2.HC (16-22 April).
Tactics
the team will protect Antar and especially Rodney and try to drop them off at the front before the sprint as fresh as possible.
Race
STAGE 1 (9 April)
This stage had a small uphill section less then 15 km before the finish. As a result both our sprinters were to far back when the sprint started.
STAGE 1
1 Romain Feillu AGRITUBEL 4h12'35
2 Julian Dean CRÉDIT AGRICOLE s.t.
3 Henk Vogels LIQUIGAS s.t.
4 Lucas Haedo AUBER 93 s.t.
5 Max Richeze CERAMICA PANARIA - NAVIGARE s.t.
19 Rodney Green TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
29 Dennis Van Niekerk TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
31 Christoff Van Heerden TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
38 Antar Buadis TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
81 Salvatore Hadrioui TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 4'16
82 Bab Kuider TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 5'28
STAGE 2 (10 April)
96 km long and it can't get much flatter then this, so a better result this time. This is more Rodney's terrain.
STAGE 2
1 Julian Dean CRÉDIT AGRICOLE 2h08'05
2 Steven Tronet ROUBAIX LILLE MÉTROPOLE s.t.
3 Jérôme Pineau BOUYGUES TÉLÉCOM s.t.
4 Rodney Green TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
5 Kenny Van Hummel SKIL - SHIMANO s.t.
36 Antar Buadis TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
46 Christoff Van Heerden TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
59 Dennis Van Niekerk TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
76 Bab Kuider TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
80 Salvatore Hadrioui TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
STAGE 3 (11 April)
Bradley Wiggins (COF) wins the ITT and takes over the lead. He probably will win this race.
Dennis is the best of our team today and ends up 32th and is now 24th in the GC.
STAGE 3
1 Bradley Wiggins COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE 10'47
2 Dimitri Champion BOUYGUES TÉLÉCOM + 5
3 Michiel Elijzen COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE + 12
4 Koen De Kort TEAM ASTANA + 16
5 Mikaël Chérel FRANÇAISE DES JEUX + 19
32 Dennis Van Niekerk TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 48
33 Bab Kuider TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 49
36 Salvatore Hadrioui TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 53
48 Christoff Van Heerden TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'01
83 Antar Buadis TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'24
90 Rodney Green TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'33
STAGE 4 (12 April)
Again very flat and thanks to good work from the team, both our sprinters are in the top 10.
STAGE 4
1 Julian Dean CRÉDIT AGRICOLE 4h09'25
2 Gregory Baugé CRÉDIT AGRICOLE s.t.
3 Noël Ramé ROUBAIX LILLE MÉTROPOLE s.t.
4 Kenny Van Hummel SKIL - SHIMANO s.t.
5 Romain Feillu AGRITUBEL s.t.
7 Rodney Green TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
10 Antar Buadis TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
38 Christoff Van Heerden TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
62 Dennis Van Niekerk TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
82 Salvatore Hadrioui TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 8'49
83 Bab Kuider TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
STAGE 5 (13 April)
Last stage in this pretty boring race. Again it's a little hill in the last 15 km that ruins our sprinters chances.
STAGE 5
1 Kenny Van Hummel SKIL - SHIMANO 4h38'07
2 Alexandre Pichot BOUYGUES TÉLÉCOM s.t.
3 Romain Feillu AGRITUBEL s.t.
4 Grégory Rast TEAM ASTANA s.t.
5 Julian Dean CRÉDIT AGRICOLE s.t.
13 Rodney Green TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
20 Antar Buadis TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
60 Christoff Van Heerden TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
74 Dennis Van Niekerk TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
79 Bab Kuider TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 4'26
80 Salvatore Hadrioui TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 7'50
GC
1 Bradley Wiggins COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE 15h18'59
2 Dimitri Champion BOUYGUES TÉLÉCOM + 5
3 Michiel Elijzen COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE + 12
4 Koen De Kort TEAM ASTANA + 16
5 Mikaël Chérel FRANÇAISE DES JEUX + 19
24 Dennis Van Niekerk TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
34 Christoff Van Heerden TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
45 Antar Buadis TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'24
52 Rodney Green TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'33
79 Bab Kuider TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
85 Salvatore Hadrioui TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 25'57
Conclusion
No great results, but we came here without any expectations to pick up some race fitness and experience.
Edited by snoep_de_hond on 23-02-2009 12:36
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 17-02-2009 00:08
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Volta ao Alentejo 2.1 (10-15 April)
With 3 flat, 2 hilly and a 11km mountain ITT this Portuguese stage race is a bit more diverse then Circuit Cycliste de la Sarthe. However the hilly stages aren't very tough, so it can be expected that the ITT will again determine the winner.
Team
Hassen Ben Nasser
Jay Thompson
Abdelkader Belmokhtar
Ahmed Bara
Benhadj Zahouania
Mario Ganuchi
Kacem Frenda
Taufik Ben Ali
Goals
Like the French stage race our main goal here is to gain race fitness and experience. However with Hassen on board I expect we'll be able to compete for a stage win in the 2 hilly stages.
Tactics
So Hassen will be our sprinter here. He will not have much of a chance in the flat stages, so we want him to focus on the hilly stages were he might be able the finish stronger then the better sprinters.
Jay will get the chance to focus on the GC, but his TT skills will probably be insufficient to be a real contender.
Ab and Bara are free to try and get in the breakaway.
Race
STAGE 1 (10 April)
Immediately a chance for Hassen. The last 20 km of Stage 1 are slightly uphill.
Bara joined the break.
But everything is reeled back in, so it will end in a mass sprint. Ab pulls Hassen to the front.
Hassen comes in 4th. Not bad, but as it turns out this stage proved to be less selective then it looked on paper.
STAGE 1
1 Jeremy Hunt BARBOT - HALCÓN 3h48'29
2 Samuel Caldeira DUJA - TAVIRA s.t.
3 David Herrero KARPIN GALICIA s.t.
4 Hassen Ben Nasser TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
5 Ricardo Serrano TINKOFF CREDIT SYSTEMS s.t.
25 Abdelkader Belmokhtar TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
66 Benhadj Zahouania TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
76 Mario Ganuchi TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
79 Jay Thompson TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
126 Kacem Frenda TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 3'26
131 Taufik Ben Ali TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 4'54
137 Ahmed Bara TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 7'53
Edited by snoep_de_hond on 23-02-2009 12:37
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 17-02-2009 00:30
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Volta ao Alentejo 2.1 (10-15 April)
STAGE 2 (11 April)
A short flat stage, so a mass sprint was inevitable. Unfortunately our man for the sprint Hassen got a flat tire at a crucial moment. The team tried to bring him back, but the pace in front was to fast.
Giosuè Bonomi (BAR) easily won the sprint and took over the leaders jersey from yesterday's winner Jeremy Hunt (BHL).
STAGE 2
1 Giosuè Bonomi BARLOWORLD 3h41'47
2 Joaquín Sobrino MADEINOX - BRIC - LOULÉ s.t.
3 Nuno Marta RIBERALVES - BOAVISTA s.t.
4 Marvin Van der Pluijm FUERTEVENTURA - CANARIAS TEAM s.t.
5 Samuel Caldeira DUJA - TAVIRA s.t.
55 Benhadj Zahouania TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
58 Abdelkader Belmokhtar TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
60 Jay Thompson TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
118 Hassen Ben Nasser TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 3'10
123 Mario Ganuchi TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 6'25
125 Ahmed Bara TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 7'13
128 Kacem Frenda TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 7'37
129 Taufik Ben Ali TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
Edited by snoep_de_hond on 17-02-2009 00:46
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 17-02-2009 00:55
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Volta ao Alentejo 2.1 (10-15 April)
STAGE 3 (12 April)
Bara managed to get in the break again in another mainly flat stage. The 9 men strong breakaway looked to have a chance. However after yesterdays performance by Bonomi (BAR) Barloworld was determined to make it another mass sprint and reeled them back in.
This time Hassen was in front when the sprint started and to our surprise he ended up 3th.
STAGE 3
1 Samuel Caldeira DUJA - TAVIRA 4h14'39
2 Giosuè Bonomi BARLOWORLD s.t.
3 Hassen Ben Nasser TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
4 David Herrero KARPIN GALICIA s.t.
5 Jeremy Hunt BARBOT - HALCÓN s.t.
60 Benhadj Zahouania TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
61 Abdelkader Belmokhtar TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
68 Jay Thompson TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
101 Mario Ganuchi TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
132 Kacem Frenda TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 6'47
135 Taufik Ben Ali TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 9'11
139 Ahmed Bara TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 16'39
Edited by snoep_de_hond on 23-02-2009 12:36
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 17-02-2009 01:42
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Volta ao Alentejo 2.1 (10-15 April)
STAGE 4 (13 April)
This 11 km long mountain ITT will be decisive for the GC. It results in a Columbian 1-2.
Winner is José Serpa (CGE)
and 2nd, 20 seconds behind Serpa, is Mauricio Soler (BAR)
Jay rides a decent TT and ends up 17th.
STAGE 4
1 José Serpa CAISSE D'EPARGNE 19'20
2 Mauricio Soler BARLOWORLD + 20
3 Joaquim Rodríguez CAISSE D'EPARGNE + 26
4 Jan Hruska RELAX - GAM + 28
5 Joao Cabreira BARLOWORLD + 31
17 Jay Thompson TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 53
33 Taufik Ben Ali TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'03
58 Benhadj Zahouania TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'11
61 Mario Ganuchi TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'12
62 Kacem Frenda TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
66 Ahmed Bara TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'13
94 Hassen Ben Nasser TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 1'18
139 Abdelkader Belmokhtar TEAM KONICA MINOLTA + 2'25
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| snoep_de_hond |
Posted on 17-02-2009 02:00
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 310
Joined: 10-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Volta ao Alentejo 2.1 (10-15 April)
STAGE 5 (14 April)
Not much to tell about this stage. It ends up in a mass sprint again and this time Ab can't drop Hassen off in a good position. Marvin Van der Pluijm (FTV) wins and Hassen ends up 16th.
STAGE 5
1 Marvin Van der Pluijm FUERTEVENTURA - CANARIAS TEAM 4h25'44
2 Giosuè Bonomi BARLOWORLD s.t.
3 Ricardo Serrano TINKOFF CREDIT SYSTEMS s.t.
4 Joaquín Sobrino MADEINOX - BRIC - LOULÉ s.t.
5 José Martins VITÓRIA - ASC s.t.
16 Hassen Ben Nasser TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
22 Abdelkader Belmokhtar TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t.
74 Jay Thompson TEAM KONICA MINOLTA s.t. |
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