Thanks guys, Andy really did well and we hope he can keep this form throught whole season. That's surely going to be hard, but we'll see what we can do!
Welcome to longest 2.HC race in the calendar, the almighty Tour de Langkawi, which traditionally takes place in Malaysia. This race finishes "2.HC Tour" which was made by Tour of Qatar, Oman and finally Langkawi. It should bring us alot of fun and i think that's the right reason why you should keep following Trek Factory Racing's blog!
Tour de Langkawi [2.HC]
21st February - 2nd March, 2014
The route is pretty flat with "only" 2 mountainous stages. However, these 2 stages, alongside another 8 should bring us alot of fun, since there will be some great action in these rainy terrains of Malaysia.
Not so strong starlist here, although the race and terrain should be really interesting. No names from top of World's Cycling, but there surely are some great guys, such as our Kiserlovski, Moser, Lancaster, van Poppel, Boeckemans, Clement etc. This should really open the win doors for our team.
Now, when we're talking about our team and its strenghtness here, the team is really good here. Robert Kiserlovski took this race as his first in the season and good preparation for Giro. By stage 1, each rider from Trek Factory Racing has raced at least 1 day this season.
On another side we have Julian Arredondo, last years winner. We still didn't decide who'll lead our team here, so he may even defend his title. Beside these guys, we also have Zoidl, Alafaci, van Poppel and Didier here. Should be really competetive team on the road, so we aims high and hopes for some good result.
See ya soon on the report, DS of Trek FR - admirschleck.
Not really a fan of Tour de Langkawi since it takes so long, but I'm sure Van Poppel, Kiserlovski or Arredondo can make something happen. Personally I'd love to see some Zoidl-Action along the way.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Well, you probably didn't notice that but i never raced Langkawi in any of my previous stories, so i decided to try it out this time and we'll see how it is going to pan out.
"Zoidl-Action" depends on form of the guys. Kiserlovski is surely first guy for us here, but if he has a bad day or something like that, Arredondo and Zoidl will lead the team immediately. We'll see, everything can happen.
The opening stage of TdL's 2014 edition is pan flat, as you can see so we can't expect much action from our climbers. Van Poppel will surely be the main sprinter for us, as we don't have any other option here.
Tour de Langkawi [Stage 1]
21st February - 2nd March, 2014
Just as the stage started, not surprising at all move was made. 3 guys created breakaway of the day and they're now enjoying the nature of beautiful Malaysia. Their names are: Van der Lijke, Jabrayilov and Tulik. Not saying that they have big chances, but everything can happen there.
Our photographer was fascinated with the nature aswell, so he decided to take couple more pictures of guys in breakaway. These photos looks great, you have to agree!
Anyway, the time for end of enjoying in nature and start some serious racing has come. Van der Lijke made move 10km to go. Peloton still have a minute of gap, but no one is worried. They now see him and that should be easy job for them. Still, everything can happen.
Just as we predicted, peloton caught him quickly and easily. 5 kilometers to go and it's time for trains to be created. It was tough decision for our guys, since we don't have too strong squad for serious train, but it's surely better than following others wheel. Zoidl - Alafaci - van Poppel are there for us.
Brett Lancaster, guy who won Tour of Qatar few weeks ago started the sprint first. Alafaci is still in front of van Poppel, somewhere on 5th-6th position at the moment. It looks good for our guys, but there's Boeckemans for Lotto aswell. It's going to be nice fight!
As expected, after early sprint Lancaster dropped soon. Top favourites started sprinting and van Poppel is there aswell.
With perfect leadout and timing that Boeckemans had, it was pretty easy for him to get the stage win there. Our guys gone a bit late, which was enough for this Belgian to take win on first stage of Tour de Langkawi.
Van Poppel started accelerating late, but he managed to get 2nd position easily. He could get the win easily, if only he started few meters before.
Thanks alot everyone, especially cunego59. It's always nice to hear such words from a guy with one of the best stories ever on this site.
Van Poppel really did great job grabbing that 2nd position and he'll surely attack win in some of the following stages. Alot to come, still. And yes, Robert is surely top favourite for winning this race and i hope he can justify the name and the jersey he's got!
2nd stage is nothing but stage that's going to finish in sprint. Van Poppel is surely the guy with the worst climbing abilities amongst the sprinters.
Tour de Langkawi [Stage 2]
21st February - 2nd March, 2014
Unluckily, it seems like i forgot to turn on my screenshot program, or just kept pressing the wrong button, but i really don't have any images that are connected with the stage. Real shame, since i really "captured" one great image that is, i can easily say, one of the best i ever took, but...
Anyways, at the end, after normal - Breakaway attacks - They get caught and Sprint starts procedure Gatto managed to get win in front of his team mate , Marco Marcato.
4 riders were basically in-line and after tens of repeats, jury decided that Oscar were a bit quicker than any other and that he gets the deserved win. Van Poppel finished half of meter behind, as 6th.
Well, PCM13 is so realistic that it has photofinish photos, after some close sprints, as you can see.
Good and constant results for Boy, hope he can turn one of the coming stages into the win.
One of two decisive stage about GC is in front of us. Kiserlovski/Zoidl and Arredondo are ready and they're waiting for their chance. Big pressure on our guys, since we're clearly the favourites. Let's justify the expectations!
Tour de Langkawi [Stage 3]
21st February - 2nd March, 2014
Brammeier, Domagalski and Marin, as the guys that have absolutely no chance when it comes to climbing and these mountainous stages, decided to make a move and try something from break.
As the stage was long "only" 140 kilometers, the terrain gone uphill quickly and it's climbers time now. Just as the climb started, few outsiders (Zilioli, Konovalovas and Zakarin) decided to make a move and try something from a long way out.
They gained some time quickly, but of course we couldn't and we didn't want to let them go that easy. Our 4 musketeers, Didier-Kiserlovski-Arredondo-Zoidl started their journey, as they set high pace and some weaker riders came into big problem. Alot of guys are now struggling to keep the pace of our guys.
They quickly got advantage over the peloton and caught the group that previously attacked. 7 guys in that group currently and 4 of our guys there. Looks great for us so far.
The steepest section was in front of us and that clearly meant - Kiserlovski time. Croatian quickly accelerated from his seat. Domagalski is trying to catch up. Can he manage to do that?
After the previous BOTD dropped, it was time for some real climbers to show their abilities. Kiserlovski is still on top, having over one minute of advantage in front of the 2nd, Riccardo Zoidl. Looks great for us, but there is one threat called Caruso. He's really showing some great downhill skills as he gains time on our guys quickly.
Zoidl is a bit tired and he might even wait for Caruso and then try to wheelsuck. Who knows... Anyways, Kiserlovski was still going like a rocket. He looks great today!
And just as we predicted, 5 kilometers to go, on the last climb, Caruso somehow managed to catch Zoidl. They're now going together, but Riccardo is looking really exhausted. Hmm...
Robert were just closer and closer to finish line and on 3 kilometers to go he had a minute of advantage. That should be enough for one easy win.
And after a long day, brave fight and an early attack, Croatian somehow manages to get the win here. Absolutely deserved!
A minute behind, Caruso comes in 2nd. Zoidl is struggling, but he somehow managed to get the same time as Italian did. This is really good result for Trek, since we have 2 guys on podium now!
Really successful, exhausting and interesting stage for our time , i'd say.
