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New Luxembourg Lion | Strade Bianche
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 22-01-2015 15:36
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Hope the exam went well today  |
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| Forever the Best |
Posted on 22-01-2015 16:06
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3803
Joined: 27-06-2014
PCM$: 400.00
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Wow ,great results
The user formerly known as 'The Schleck Fan'
Gracias Alberto.
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| HuDCC |
Posted on 22-01-2015 20:04
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Domestique
Posts: 515
Joined: 07-02-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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The Schleck Fan wrote:
Wow ,great results
Thank you! 
Thank you Andy for everything!
Thanks to the_hoyle for banner! |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 13:13
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| HuDCC |
Posted on 22-01-2015 20:05
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Domestique
Posts: 515
Joined: 07-02-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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After Il Lombardia I spent some good time at home enjoying that the season is over now. Finally I could switch off after the hard end of the season. It was hard both, physically and mentally.
With no races ahead I had a lot of time so I could a lot of things for that there is no time in the season. As I'm living in Italy for a long time I always like watching football so then I took a trip to Milan to watch club of my heart - AC Milano. My hearth is suffering to see AC so bad nowadays. Anyway there is always great atmosphere and it was great feeling to be here.
And he had more transfers info for me. He was talking with Schlecks and they are leaving Trek Factory Racing for next season, they signed with Cult Energy as well as Jakob Fuglsang and Ricardo Zoidl! On the other hand in Trek, Leopold König signed and also Thomas de Gendt.
However, the winter time is going so fast. I got an email that the first team meeting will be held after the New Year in Belgium. So the new season begins in a few days!
Thank you Andy for everything!
Thanks to the_hoyle for banner! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 22-01-2015 22:58
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Hope the break will be good and worthwhile |
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| HuDCC |
Posted on 23-01-2015 22:24
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Domestique
Posts: 515
Joined: 07-02-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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sutty68 wrote:
Hope the break will be good and worthwhile
Hopefully, Mario will continue in the similar way as the last season
Thank you Andy for everything!
Thanks to the_hoyle for banner! |
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| HuDCC |
Posted on 25-01-2015 14:09
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Domestique
Posts: 515
Joined: 07-02-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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A few days after the New Year we had a team meeting at Belgium and I was going here with big expectations, because I would get to know my race calendar for the season.
It took almost a whole day and I didn't expect it so exhausting. I had to get a lot of interviews on the first and then Patrick Lefevere with Zdenek Bakala showed the new team jersey!
But then, the most awaited point came. I was going to have a talk with the staff about my season program! As they said me earlier, they are putting a big trust to me and I will ride very good races this season.
Finally we got very exciting program for me, I will start the season at Marseillaise and from Portugal to Italy for the first peak of the season - Tirreno - Adriatico. Then I will start at Pais Vasco and after that I will help Michal Kwiatkowski at the Ardennes. After that, I will take a few days rest before the biggest race of my career so far - Giro d'Italia, where Rigo Uran will be the leader! Then I will be preparing for the end of the season and especially Il Lombardia!
Here is the full schedule:
| Date | Race | Country | | 2 Feb | GP la Marseillaise |  France | | 19-22 Feb | Volta ao Algarve |  Portugal | | 8 Mar | Strade Bianche |  Italy | | 12-18 Mar | Tirreno – Adriatico | Italy | | 7-12 Apr | Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco |  Spain | | 20 Apr | Amstel Gold Race |  the Netherlands | | 23 Apr | La Fleche Wallonne |  Belgium | | 27 Apr | Lutych – Bastogne – Lutych | Belgium | | 9 May-1 Jun | Giro d'Italia | Italy | | 14-22 Jun | Tour de Suisse |  Switzerland | | 30 Jun | NC Luxembourg |  Luxembourg | | 26-30 Jul | Tour de Wallonie | Belgium | | 2 Aug | Clásica San Sebastian | Spain | | 18-24 Aug | USA Pro Cycling Challange |  the USA | | 12 Sep | GP Quebec |  Canada | | 14 Sep | GP Montreal | Canada | | 1 Oct | Milano – Torino | Italy | | 5 Oct | Il Lombardia | Italy |
This year, I said that I don't want to participate in the World Championship, because it's held in Richmond, USA and there are some cobbles sections on the course, so there are no chances for me to make some good result as the last year.
Now we are leaving Belgium, because we are going to Calpe, Spain to have a quite long training camp.
Spoiler Thanks to tpinot, that he made the Etixx-Quick Step jersey so I can use it in that career! 
Edited by HuDCC on 25-01-2015 14:12
Thank you Andy for everything!
Thanks to the_hoyle for banner! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 25-01-2015 17:04
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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A very nice looking schedule with a Grand Tour too |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 25-01-2015 17:46
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World Champion
Posts: 11392
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1020.00
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A very exciting schedule for Mario.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| HuDCC |
Posted on 25-01-2015 19:08
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Domestique
Posts: 515
Joined: 07-02-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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@sutty & jandal: thanks guys, we will see how Mario will go this season
Thank you Andy for everything!
Thanks to the_hoyle for banner! |
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| HuDCC |
Posted on 25-01-2015 19:20
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Domestique
Posts: 515
Joined: 07-02-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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From the rainy Belgium we moved to quite sunny Calpe for our training camp.
It was very nice to see good weather after a while and we had a lot of very funny but also useful training rides with the guys. I can have a new view on the professional cycling now. In Etixx it's more than professional. There are a lot of people to take care about us and we have everything we need. First, I was a bit shy, but as the time goes I handle it.
At the start we have some team rides, and it was more fun than job, especially if you have Cav in your group, we were still chating.
But there was a big place for hard work, too. We went to the mountains with Rigo Uran, and trained some kms together here. He is very good and friendly guy and we can't wait for Giro.
As the time goes here, there is less and less riders as they start their season andiIt's almost time to pack my luggage and go to Marseille for my first race of this season!
Thank you Andy for everything!
Thanks to the_hoyle for banner! |
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| HuDCC |
Posted on 25-01-2015 21:55
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Domestique
Posts: 515
Joined: 07-02-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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GP la Marseillaise Finally, the first race in the new jersey is here. We came to France in a great mood and with very strong squad with Bakelants, Meersman or me. We were ready for every kind of the finale here.
From the start the pace wasn't really hard, it was obvious that a lot of riders didn't race yet. But the light pace was used only by 3 riders to make a break.
We got them about 6' advantage, but then a lot f teams sent their men into the front to start it pushing down a bit. Especially, Ag2r were very active, but we were near to the front, too.
With 25 kms to go, there was about 1' gap between the peleton and the break and we started pushing hard and it was making a lot of damage and with 10 kms left, Alaphillipe had Meersman hanging on his wheel and they made a small gap.
But, Vuillermoz (Ag2r) realised that quickly and went from the peleton, too. Soon he catched Meersman as Alaphillipe was exhausted and slowly coming back to the main group.
Going to the last km Vuillermoz had a small advantage on Meersman as he wasn't able to go down from the last hill so fast. But Gianni launched great sprint and he was cutting metre after metre between them and he almost catched Vuillermoz on the line...
| 1 | Alexis Vuillermoz | Ag2r - La Mondiale | 3h21'22 | | 2 | Gianni Meersman | Etixx - Quick·Step | s.t. | | 3 | Moreno Moser | Movistar Team | + 23 | | 4 | Chad Haga | Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 5 | Thierry Hupond | Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 6 | Cédric Pineau | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 7 | Julian Arredondo | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 8 | Garikoitz Bravo | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 9 | Bob Jungels | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 10 | Anthony Roux | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | ... | | 38 | Mario Rizzi | Etixx - Quick·Step | s.t. |
I think we started the season quite good here. Gianni on the 2nd and I came in the main group with good job done today. Now I'm going home to Lombardy for a few days, but also I'm already looking forward to Portugal for the next race!
Edited by HuDCC on 25-01-2015 22:02
Thank you Andy for everything!
Thanks to the_hoyle for banner! |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 25-01-2015 22:01
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World Champion
Posts: 11392
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1020.00
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Nice work supporting Gianni, Mario's time will come .
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 25-01-2015 22:59
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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A Good result for the team with Meersman grabbing second place and Mario did well to finish safely in 38th place too |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 26-01-2015 18:35
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice schedule and good result in France helping out Meersman
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| HuDCC |
Posted on 26-01-2015 20:22
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Domestique
Posts: 515
Joined: 07-02-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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@all: thank you for your reactions! Mario will surely get a race to ride on his own during the season
Thank you Andy for everything!
Thanks to the_hoyle for banner! |
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| HuDCC |
Posted on 26-01-2015 20:53
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Domestique
Posts: 515
Joined: 07-02-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Volta ao Algarve Once again we brought very strong team to Portugal. Kwiatko was our leader here, but also Rigo was ready to play his part. Our main goal was to make good result on the stage 3, which was the only one classified as hilly and then stage 4, which was time-trial so Kwiatko and Rigo could have decent chances to grap good result.
Stage 3
Stage 4
From the start it was very nervous, because a lot of riders wanted to be involved in a break. Anyway, finally 6 riders formed the day's break and the pace in peleton went down. As we didn't have any sprinter here in Portugal, we didn't want to waste our energy to chase the break.
But it looked like nobody want to do that so with 50 kms to go they had 15' advantage... César Fonte (LA Aluminios) was the strongest from the break and took everything. We came with the gap 12'19''.
The next day we had only one goal - save as much as energy as possible... Because the overall victory we wanted to get tomorrow's stage win. In this stage the sprinters' team were working harder and the break had no chances today, so we came together and Bettiol (Liquigas, former Cannondale) took the victory. Kwiatko tested his form and came on very solid 4th place.
Kwiatko was sitting on 11th place in general clas. before the stage, but there was a big gap to first.
Petr Vakoč was involved in the break with 5 other riders.
In the peleton a lot of teams were pushing so with 30 kms to go we were just a 1' behind the break and I was in the first chasing group with Rigo and Kwiatko. About 10 kms before the finish the first attacks came and there were only fer riders ready to chase these attempts.
So with 6km still to go there were a group of the best riders in the front.
They were going together and under a flame rouge Kiserlovski was the first to go closely following by Kwiatko.
but they weren't able to keep the pace high so the others went around them and Leopold König took the victory here, Kwiatko crossed the lin on the 5th place.
Going to the last stage in Portugal I wanted to test my legs during time-trial, so I tried to push really hard today.
On the check in the middle of the course I was 9th 41'' behind Chris Froome.
But he was going better than me all the time, so in the finish it was almost 2 minutes and I was in very good 12th place when I crossed the line.
Kwiatko had a bad full during his time-trial and Rigo took a bit easy so suddenly I was the best of the team in this stage!
| 1 | Simon Yates | Orica - GreenEDGE | 14h49'31 | | 2 | Alexis Gougeard | Ag2r - La Mondiale | + 57 | | 3 | Nils Politt | Team Stölting | + 2'43 | | 4 | Leopold König | Trek Factory Racing | + 9'29 | | 5 | César Fonte | LA Aluminios - Antarte | + 9'51 | | 6 | Sergio Henao | Sky Procycling | + 10'29 | | 7 | Nicolas Roche | Sky Procycling | + 10'36 | | 8 | Tim Wellens | Lotto - Belisol | + 10'50 | | 9 | Michal Kwiatkowski | Etixx - Quick·Step | + 11'06 | | 10 | Vincenzo Nibali | Astana Pro Team | + 11'13 | | ... | | 64 | Mario Rizzi | Etixx - Quick·Step | + 20'51 |
Thank you Andy for everything!
Thanks to the_hoyle for banner! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 26-01-2015 22:47
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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12th place in the time trial against far superior opposition was a great result for Mario |
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 27-01-2015 11:02
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 9099
Joined: 13-03-2013
PCM$: 2100.00
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Good start to build up some form and have the first big experiences with Etixx
Damn Mario would be someone for Leopard 
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| HuDCC |
Posted on 27-01-2015 19:31
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Domestique
Posts: 515
Joined: 07-02-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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@sutty: yeah, it was very good performance by Mario
@Croatia: you are right man, he would be good addition
Thank you Andy for everything!
Thanks to the_hoyle for banner! |
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