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Virgin Media Pro Cycling Team
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 30-07-2007 15:15
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Team Leader
Posts: 6622
Joined: 04-02-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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Post races report :
What a win, our first one and thank you everyone for reading my story so far.
Interview : Alex Dowsett
Q : A win, you first win, the team first win, how does it feel?
A (Dowsett) : Its amazing i feel so happy and... well its undescribable. You cant put into words what a first pro win means! Its just off the scale somthing else. I worked hard for it and im gratefull that my team Manager gave me role of leader, I probably wouldnt have done that if i wasnt leader. Its just an enourmous amount joy to win the teams first race. Weve come along as the outsiders and now were like one of the favourites. Its just one of those unbelievable things!
Q : Now as second place overall are you dissapointed, and do you think the team can defend you second place?
Well of course i would have liked to get the lead but the win makes up for that and if i had finished second being in the race would have made up for that. Theres a chain of things that keep all of us happy and were just grateful to have a pro crontact!
Uhm... Im not worried about the team defend my second and im sure they will be able to set something up!
Q : Are you looking to get some bonus seconds?
A : I sure am I really now want to get the leaders jersey for the team! I have the u25 but having the lead would really shut the critics up and show them we are definatly a strong force?
Q : Are you going to Maylasia?
A : No im not, im going back to europe to race the Tour of Med... Whoops i dont think i should have said that! Oh well...
Q : Thanks for you time and well done on you win!
A : Thanks a lot.
Well there we have it, our first win of the season, do you think we will get any more? |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 30-07-2007 17:48
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World Champion
Posts: 10018
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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Of course Smoothie - you're already displaying your tactical genius 
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 30-07-2007 20:21
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Team Leader
Posts: 6622
Joined: 04-02-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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Stage 4
After the briliant stage win yesterday by Alex Dowsett the team went the the start town with there heads high. "We have proved ourselves and have showed were definatly a force!" said Alex Rasmussen. Bad news for Kennaugh though as he seems to be getting worse due to his nasty crash on stage 1. "His injuries are bad, and yesterday knocking his hip in the sprint (he didnt crash) didnt help" said Sulzberger. "He lost a bit of time yesterday but im confident he will finish the tour" said Matt Booth. It was another scorching hot day making it easy to get warmed up.
With only one intermediate sprint there would be only one chance for Dowsett to snatch the overall leader off the shoulders of Clerc.
After about 20km of riding a small break consiting of 2 riders and a further 1 a bit further back broke away.
The team chased hard to try a setup a move with Dowsett to snatch some points involving a time bonus!
He jumped off the front and the team switched off giving the peleton no pace!
He started his sprint and had the guy dead in his sight, but he was sprinting too. Can Dowsett still catch him?
Just about! That gave Dowsett a 1 second lead over Clerc, he would need to do the sprint of his life to get those seconds back!
The 2 riders hovered off the front of the bunch going over the small climb leading to the finish. Our guys kept the lead nice and thing so Dowsett was not being challenged in the GC.
The sprint unloaded with O'Grady giving a lead out to Cancellara.
He won the sprint with stage 2 winner Geslin coming 2nd, Hunter 3rd. A day where we didnt feature at the end but the early parts are what counted...
Our top guy was Rasmussen who got a Decent leadout by Edvald...
This is what we were most happy with though...
Hunter looks good to carry that to the end now, unless Cancellara can get over that last climb well tomorow...
A jersey we would have like to have done something with but we havent been so lucky with the break, Edvald said he would like to go tomorrow, but we'll have to see...
Always good.. and now this will be on the shoulders of Blythe...
We lost the team prize but only due to position...
Another decent day, this time we took the honours of race leader!
This is you chance to ask any of our riders from this tour questions just put there name and your question in your post and theyll be glad to answer it.
Adam Blythe
Alex Rasmussen
Wesley Sulzberger
Peter Kennaugh
Alex Dowsett
Niclas Brolin
Fredrick Ludvigsson
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Edited by Smoothie on 30-07-2007 20:25
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 30-07-2007 20:24
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
Joined: 08-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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To Dowsett:
Do you think you have a good chance of winning the tour now?
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 30-07-2007 20:28
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Team Leader
Posts: 6622
Joined: 04-02-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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A (Dowsett) : Uhm... Maybe, its definatly tomorrow that decides the tour with a few sharp climbs. Youve got to be in the right place at the right time. I hope ive got the legs and am that good to get over those climbs well. If there was a time trial I would feel a bit better, but yes I think i can take overall. |
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| Addy291 |
Posted on 30-07-2007 21:52
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8915
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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do the question have to be about this tour, or can they be about anything
YORKSHIRE BORN, YORKSHIRE BRED... |
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 30-07-2007 21:54
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Team Leader
Posts: 6622
Joined: 04-02-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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It can be about anything, but you can only ask people in this story atm. |
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| Addy291 |
Posted on 30-07-2007 21:56
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8915
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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To Adam Blythe
Q: Are you aiming for the cobbled classics this year? If so how well are you expecting to do?
YORKSHIRE BORN, YORKSHIRE BRED... |
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 30-07-2007 22:02
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Team Leader
Posts: 6622
Joined: 04-02-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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A (Bylthe) : Im hoping to get in them and get stuck in see what its like. I really need to work on cobbles and I think its a big step up from what i was doing before. I think in a few years time though ill be saying "Oh yes cant wait to get stuck in!" |
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 31-07-2007 09:45
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Team Leader
Posts: 6622
Joined: 04-02-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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Stage 5
Its an easy stage right too the last 1/3 where that climb is bound to get people off the back.
Rolling up to the start line today with a yellow jersey, the whole team looked stronger and more motivated. They all said they would do their best to maintain the lead but "It will be a hard last climb and the guys who have done them before will know what they are doing" said Bylthe. "Dowsett is definatly no the best climber in the peleton and will have to give 100% on the last climb" claimed Matt Booth.
To the stage...
The guys would need to defend Dowsett today and stayed near the front out of trouble.
There was a 6 msn break up the road right after the start, they were no threat and all the teams did a bit of work here and there.
Our guys turned on the pace and the gap began to go down.
They were all realed in just before the foot of the main climb...
200m up the climb John Gadret made the leather attack an got a gap fast that you could say attack!
The guys chase with hunter on the wheel!
Cancellara nipped passed them and got a 20 second lead the began to grow.
Gadret crossed the summit with over a minute on Cancellara and anoth 45 seconds back to Dowsett.
He had plenty left grabing a biddon before dropping it on the road.
He crossed the finish line with Cancellara just behind!
Edvald and the rest came in over 2 mins back!
Dowsett hung his head but he has to remember his almost 10 years off Gadret!
Cancellara took the lead!
Hunter somehow managed to do really well over the climba nd managed to get a few points.
At least we won something!
Well not the best of days but at least weve performed like a protour team, winning a stage! There one more stage left that takes back to the start. A pan flat race where a bunch sprint is definatly on the cards!
1 John Gadret AG2R PREVOYANCE 3h31'45 
2 Fabian Cancellara TEAM CSC s.t. 
3 Igor Astarloa TEAM MILRAM + 2'00 
4 Xavier Florencio BOUYGUES TELECOM s.t.
5 Robert Hunter BARLOWORLD s.t. 
6 Edvald Boasson Hagen VIRGIN MEDIA s.t. 
7 Adam Blythe VIRGIN MEDIA s.t. 
8 Alex Dowsett VIRGIN MEDIA s.t.
9 Romain Feillu AGRITUBEL s.t.
10 Patrice Halgand CREDIT AGRICOLE s.t.
When I get back ill put a complete list of all people involved with my team, from then on you can ask any questions about anything (To do with the game)
Edited by Smoothie on 31-07-2007 09:48
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-07-2007 09:50
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World Champion
Posts: 10018
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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Well done, 3rd is still a great result 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 21-11-2024 23:29
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Bot Agent
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| Addy291 |
Posted on 31-07-2007 12:43
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8915
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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3rd is very good, but to lose all you're jerseys
that must've hurt
YORKSHIRE BORN, YORKSHIRE BRED... |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 31-07-2007 12:48
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
Joined: 08-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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2 Young brits getting 3rd and 5th in the TDU is really good stuff! Dowsett will probably lead the continental tour now.
Its a shame you couldnt win overall but Im sure it won't be long.
Tip for Langkawi/Malaysia: Get one of your strongest climbers in the breakaway on the first mountain stage. In PCM06 the break is given lots of time and if you have a faily good climber in there you have a good chance of winning the stage. No idea if this works for PCM07 though.
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| samtheman |
Posted on 31-07-2007 14:47
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Domestique
Posts: 610
Joined: 07-05-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Good results!
(and nice story!)
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 31-07-2007 18:37
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Team Leader
Posts: 6622
Joined: 04-02-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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Stage 6
Today is the final stage, and today would definatly not decide anything, or would it...
With yesterdays stage behind them all the team went into today feeling good.
"Yesterday was a really good experience, it tought me a lot, and i have found out my weaknesses. This has definatly has strengthend me." said Dowsett
Off the top of all the jerseys the only thing we had was a passed down young riders jersey from leader cancellara, to Dowsett. Dowsett rushed to the line in the morning and looked strong but today the sprinter teams like Barloworld and CSC would definatly not let him get away.
Dowsett couldnt help but attack showing his inexperience, a quick shout from DS made him sit up and get back in the bunch.
Edvald then tried a move and held it for a while but was not in a good place, no mans land in between the Bunch and the main break.
With 15 km to go the break had been caught and goingg around a nasty corner this happen...!
Gadret yesterdays winner and second overall had decked it with 2 other people one his teammate!
As he waited for the new wheel he lost more time
Nearly the whole team dropped back to get him back up there but it was bad timing!
The Virgin guys real made the sprint go at full pace to get as much time out of Gadret, of course Dowsett was over the moon he might be in 2nd at the end of the day!
Hunter got the best of the rest putting Brackets on the tour winning the first and last stage!
Our best guy was Rasmussen 4th not bad...
Gadret and the team lost a bag of time and it looked like he was out of secong place and even a podium!
As the stage got confimed the GC was still being worked out...
The next presentation was ready strangly it ws the green!
Gadret stepped out with no plasters yet but a fresh kit to get the KOM prize...
Then the u25 that was taken by Cancellara he would also take the overall but it was the podium that couldnt be worked out!
Finally they came out with a small delay and 2 guys from Virgin were on the podium!! Great news after a day of drama were Gadret slipped out of the Top 10!
Then the team rankings!
What a stage a good stage but a bad one too!
What do you think and remember you can still ask any question to any riders or me!
Just a quick update of the season stats...
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| Addy291 |
Posted on 31-07-2007 18:40
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8915
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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great stuff
and awesome pic of Gadret waiting for a new wheel
YORKSHIRE BORN, YORKSHIRE BRED... |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-07-2007 18:40
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World Champion
Posts: 10018
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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Foul play suspected
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| niconico |
Posted on 31-07-2007 19:04
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Great story. Cool to see Alex Rasmussen finally in road racing
Keep up the great work  |
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 31-07-2007 19:16
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Team Leader
Posts: 6622
Joined: 04-02-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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Alex Rasmussen : Im very happy to be racing as a pro and im very grateful to th manager. Im not sure though if i want to renew my contract with the team for 2008 but ill make a decision in march. |
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 31-07-2007 19:56
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Team Leader
Posts: 6622
Joined: 04-02-2007
PCM$: 300.00
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Virgin Media: Full Team List
Peter Kennaugh -
Alex Rasmussen  -
Adam Blythe -
Alex Dowsett -
Andy Tennant -
Ben Swift -
Andrey Klyuev  -
Wesley Sulzberger  -
Fredrick Ludvigsson  -
Niclas Brolin -
Vincent Peron -
Christophe Premont  -
Sergio Pardilla -
Christoph Mai  -
Edvald Boasson Hagen -
Beñat Intxausti -
Aleksandr Pluchkin  -
[b]Valerio Agnoli  -
Frederik Nolf -
This post will be updated with their best results.
[Remember you can ask any of these riders a question whenever you want, they'll do their best to get back to you]
Edited by Smoothie on 31-07-2007 21:18
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