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La Pomme Marseille
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| 547984 |
Posted on 16-11-2013 20:45
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5008
Joined: 29-01-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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A win is certainly possible against this field. 
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar! |
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| baia |
Posted on 17-11-2013 13:03
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5398
Joined: 04-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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This might be an easy win.. the team is doing good, good result from Kwiatkowski.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 17-11-2013 15:59
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Good Luck in Switzerland |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 17-11-2013 17:09
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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In my career, La Pomme sneaked into PCT and will be riding their first Tour de France
Do something similar, right?  |
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 17-11-2013 18:28
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8389
Joined: 08-09-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Strong performance in Spain; good luck for Lugano.  |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 17-11-2013 18:55
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World Champion
Posts: 10121
Joined: 01-05-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks!
IB - Wont be too hard, given that we're in the Worldtour!
---
 Grand Prix di Lugano
February 24th, 2014
In cooperation with OPQS and - for some strange reason, given that none of their riders look like a big victory candidate - Sky, we handle the task of keeping the breakaway at a safe distance throughout the day.
Pretty much everything goes according to plan, up to the point where we start trying to bring the gap down. Not intending to give up without a fight, the five men up front refuse to let their advantage drop below 1'30 inside the final 15 kilometers.
Entering the final 10 km, we realise the danger of the situation and send intended back-up options Koretzky and Martinez to the front.
Within a couple of kilometers, the break is caught with a bang!
Annoyingly, the catch is made right after starting to climb the narrow last hill; causing Kwiatkowski to get boxed in, with no chance to attack.
A gap eventually opens, and he immediately hits the gas!
The earlier problems may in fact have been a blessing in disguise. While Kwiatkowski bounces off the front, many of the other favourites and their domestiques are still stuck in poor positions further back.
OPQS and IAM finally get themselves organized when the width of the road increases to normal again after the end of the climb.
Sky on the other hand, opt to have Vasil Kiryienka attack off the front. Perhaps this is why they were pacing earlier?
Could be. The Belarussian does open a gap, and holds a few meters of advantage on the peloton when Martinez launches the sprint for Siskevicius in the last 3 km.
You might wonder why we'd help speed things up in the peloton when we have a rider up the road, but the reason is simple:
Kwiatkowski is a long way ahead and has the race won!
Boy Van Poppel prevents Siskevicius from making it a double by winning the mass sprint for 2nd after Kiryienka was caught again.
Needless to say, this was a race to remember!
| 1 | Michał Kwiatkowski | La Pomme Marseille | 4h20'59 | | 2 | Boy Van Poppel | Trek Factory Racing | + 48 | | 3 | Evaldas Siskevicius | La Pomme Marseille | s.t. | | 4 | Nikolas Maes | Omega Pharma - Quickstep Cycling Team | s.t. | | 5 | Maksym Averin | Atlas Personal - Jakroo | s.t. | | 6 | Fabio Felline | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 7 | Matteo Trentin | Omega Pharma - Quickstep Cycling Team | s.t. | | 8 | Yannick Martinez | La Pomme Marseille | s.t. | | 9 | Vasil Kiryienka | Sky Procycling | s.t. | | 10 | Martin Elmiger | IAM Cycling | s.t. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 19:14
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 17-11-2013 19:04
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8389
Joined: 08-09-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Very dominant there, well done |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 17-11-2013 19:19
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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IB - Wont be too hard, given that we're in the Worldtour!
Somehow I managed to miss this?  I'm ashamed
EDIT: I just remembered I missed this story when it got started, so that explains how I missed it. Read the first few posts now, sorry
Edited by Ian Butler on 17-11-2013 19:27
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 17-11-2013 21:10
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World Champion
Posts: 10121
Joined: 01-05-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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 Le Samyn: Preview
February 27th, 2014
More cobbles are next on the schedule. About as easy as it comes, though; and probably not even enough to stop the sprinters from being the main victory-contenders. The uphill sprint may be a problem for some, on the other hand.
In spite of the fact that both failed miserably in last week's Omloop, the bookmarkers have Geraint Thomas and Jens Keukeleire listed as the top favourites. Although admittedly able classics riders and decent sprinters, I can't say I'm too worried unless their form has improved drastically.
Nikolas Maes looks like a much bigger threat after finishing a strong 4th in Lugano. An also fit Tony Gallopin is another name to watch, having performed solidly in various French races and the Vuelta a Murcia.
Paiani should perhaps not be discounted either. He's one of the stronger classics specialists in the race, and will have full assistance from our squad in order to break the peloton to pieces and shed the sprinters!
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| 547984 |
Posted on 17-11-2013 21:44
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5008
Joined: 29-01-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Way too easy for the team.
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 18-11-2013 08:43
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Dominant performance from Michal in Lugano  |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 18-11-2013 17:16
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World Champion
Posts: 10121
Joined: 01-05-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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It was a dominant win, but the narrow roads were a big part of it, tbh.
I also want to inform you that I'm not sure if I'll be able to update this for a couple of days. With a physics exam coming up on Thursday, I wont have much time over for PCM!
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Le Samyn
February 27th, 2014
After many failed attacks from various riders - including Paiani and Smukulis - in the second half of the race, we abandon that plan with one lap to go; in favour of gambling on GarcÃa in what looks set for a sprint.
Some riders try to break clear again on the final cobbled section, but Lotto-Belisol are keeping them in a tight grip.
4 km to go: everyone except Keukeleire - who for some reason didn't feel confident in his sprint today - have been brought back by Lotto.
Moments later, the sprint is launched and chaos erupts. Kenny Dehaes and Gert Dockx ditch Lotto's team tactics and both start sprinting on their own, with Fabio Felline chasing after them.
GarcÃa on the other hand, is already struggling to respond due to his very average sprint and acceleration.
The other three are pushing away from the rest inside the final kilometer, with Bernhard Eisel looking like the only potential challenger.
Huge failure from Lotto in the end as Felline takes the win ahead of Eisel. Dockx and Dehaes finish 3rd and 4th; both aware that they could've won this with better tactics in the finale.
As for us, I don't even want to talk about it. GarcÃa ran out of steam completely and fell back to an extremely poor 39th. That's what we get for deciding not to send a proper sprinter, I guess!
| 1 | Fabio Felline | Trek Factory Racing | 4h30'43 | | 2 | Bernhard Eisel | Sky Procycling | s.t. | | 3 | Gert Dockx | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | | 4 | Kenny Dehaes | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | | 5 | Gert Steegmans | Omega Pharma - Quickstep Cycling Team | s.t. | | 6 | Maurits Lammertink | Orica - GreenEdge | s.t. | | 7 | Matteo Tosatto | Team Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 8 | Nikolas Maes | Omega Pharma - Quickstep Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | Marco Bandiera | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 10 | Johan Vansummeren | Garmin - Sharp | s.t. | | ... | | 39 | Egoitz GarcÃa | La Pomme Marseille | s.t. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 18-11-2013 17:18
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Good Luck with your Physics exam, hope it goes well |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 18-11-2013 17:28
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Kwiatek win and Siske's 3rd definetelly overshadow this poor performance in Belgium. |
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| 547984 |
Posted on 18-11-2013 20:44
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5008
Joined: 29-01-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Cobbles 
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar! |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 18-11-2013 21:13
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World Champion
Posts: 10121
Joined: 01-05-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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The cobbles weren't the problem, really. Us not bringing a proper sprinter was. I'm sure things will get better in the tougher classics!
---
 Gran Premio di Camaiore: Preview
February 28th, 2014
What better way is there to prepare for Tirreno-Adriatico than to travel to Italy and tackle some shorter hills? After a couple of hours of circling around near the beach in Forte dei Marmi, the riders will turn inland to ascend the 3.3 km Monte Pitoro a total of six times. Its average gradient of 7% should provide some exciting and aggressive racing!
Bib #1 for Kwiatkowski is definitely justified after the show in Lugano. In addition to him, Kangert could be an outsider if he manages to sneak away at a good time. Super-domestique duty is more likely, however.
Oman runner-up Spilak should alone give us more competition than the whole field did in Lugano, provided his form is still good. Diego Ulissi would normally also be very good in a race like this, but after an invisible performance in Switzerland (I literally just noticed he was there!), I'm not sure.
Yesterday's winner Fabio Felline should absolutely not be ruled out either. He might not be able to follow the best on the climbs, but he'll be incredibly hard to beat if he stays with the front group over the final hill.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 18-11-2013 21:16
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Win #2 for Kwiatek coming. |
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| 547984 |
Posted on 18-11-2013 21:43
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5008
Joined: 29-01-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Yup, no doubt a win.
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 18-11-2013 23:18
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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A Good looking field in Italy |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 19-11-2013 16:33
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World Champion
Posts: 10121
Joined: 01-05-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Gran Premio di Camaiore
February 28th, 2014
Both the early flat section and the two first ascents of Monte Pitoro pass without any noteworthy events. Katusha and Lampre pace the peloton; possibly indicating that Spilak and Ulissi really will be the riders to beat today.
From the bottom of the third climb and onwards, we start pushing up the pace a bit. Chevrier and Siskevicius initially do the work, but after failing to split the peloton much, they leave the task to Taaramae on the final lap.
After a few hundred meters of very intense effort from him, Kwiatkowski hits the front himself with a big acceleration. Apparently not bothered by the move, Tony Gallopin immediately counter-attacks.
The Lotto-rider could only keep up his speed for a very brief moment however, so Kwiatkowski tries to attack himself under the 10 km-banner!
Gallopin tries to cling on, as do Spilak and Cataldo.
He doesn't open much of a gap before the summit, but the final attack eliminated everyone but seven riders from the chasing group: Spilak, Cataldo, Gallopin, Ulissi, Kangert, Nocentini and Bongiorno.
Ulissi brings Kwiatkowski back once the descent begins; only to have Spilak counter. Kangert is quick to mark this time.
Spilak still gets to start the sprint with a slight advantage on the others after Gallopin was unable to follow when he accelerated at 3 km to go.
The move is premature, however. He runs out of steam already before entering the final km and gets passed by a chasing group led by an accelerating Ulissi.
Far more fresh than the rest, Ulissi sprints clear to win the race - miles ahead of Cataldo in 2nd place.
Gallopin beats Kangert and Kwiatkowski into 4th and 5th. In hindsight, it might've been a better choice to be less aggressive on the final climb, but we'd probably also have had a bigger group at the finish then!
Finetto and Felline lead the bigger group to the finish, 54 seconds back.
| 1 | Diego Ulissi | Lampre - Merida | 4h22'37 | | 2 | Dario Cataldo | Sky Procycling | s.t. | | 3 | Tony Gallopin | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | | 4 | Tanel Kangert | La Pomme Marseille | s.t. | | 5 | Michał Kwiatkowski | La Pomme Marseille | s.t. | | 6 | Francesco Bongiorno | Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox | s.t. | | 7 | Simon Spilak | Katusha Team | s.t. | | 8 | Rinaldo Nocentini | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 9 | Mauro Finetto | Vini Fantini - Selle Italia | + 54 | | 10 | Fabio Felline | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. |
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