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Team Milram Again!!!
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| kirosha |
Posted on 21-11-2008 13:03
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Domestique
Posts: 612
Joined: 30-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Great win by Zabel! |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 21-11-2008 18:08
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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Giro di Italia
Stage 6
Another flat stage, and the longest of the Giro, with a bit of a hilly finish that could again suit Zabel. 3 riders get away but fail to work together and are soon caught. This leaves the peleton to concentrate on the finish. Zabel finds the best wheel possible as he follows Oscar Freire in the final few k's.
Zabel knows he's in the best position and sticks to Freire like glue. Meanwhile Pozzatto, Boonen, Hushovd and McEwen have formed a formidable looking train on the opposite side of the road. Freire has pulled Zabel to the front with 3k to go.
As the sprint starts Freire acceleration is to much for everyone. However Zabel is able to hang on to his wheel and is pulled clear of the peleton.
He sticks to Freire's wheel until there is just 1.5k to go when he makes his move. He pulls level with Freire but can he pass him.
Yes!!! 2 wins in 2 days for Zabel. He has taken the Purple Jersey outright and has earned us another 8 pro-tour points. We've trebled our total in the first week of the Giro and move off the bottom of the standings.
Zabel has moved 10 points clear at the top the Sprinter classification. Tomorrows Mountain stage will allow Zabel to sit in the Peleton and enjoy his day in Purple.
Edited by ringo182 on 21-11-2008 18:09
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 21-11-2008 18:10
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Sprinter
Posts: 1779
Joined: 25-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Great wins with Zabel!
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
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Media Room
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 21-11-2008 19:07
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Team Leader
Posts: 6045
Joined: 20-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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keep going with the victories and good luck ensuring the purple jersey 
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| kirosha |
Posted on 21-11-2008 19:14
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Domestique
Posts: 612
Joined: 30-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Zabel the great! |
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| brann |
Posted on 22-11-2008 10:10
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Under 23
Posts: 59
Joined: 03-05-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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ringo the great! |
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| Oliuj |
Posted on 22-11-2008 13:33
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 28-09-2007
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Wow, Freire was a great leadout man for Zabel |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 23-11-2008 13:22
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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Giro di Italia
Stage 7
The first mountain stage of the Giro, however there's nothing too difficult so i expect there still to be a large peleton at the finish with the main favourites all finishing together. Zabel will be looking at conserving as much energy as possible while some of the others will be trying to loose time to give them a better chance in the breaks.
After yesterday's result Oscar Freire is now the overall leader taking the pink off his team mate Dekker.
5 riders get away from the peleton but Lopez Garcia decides to go it alone.
25k to go and Lopez Garcia is still out alone but the pack is closing down fast.
The favourites start to attack with about 20k to go. The first major name to go is Simoni who is followed by Piepolli.
Simoni drops Piepolli and is joined at the front by Leipheimer, Savoldelli and Sastre. They work together and manage to stay away and form a gap.
With just 2k to go the first group has been joined by Valverde, Cunego, Evans, Dekker and Pellizotti. Savoldelli decides that this is his chance to get away and attacks.
As they go under the 1k to go banner Savoldelli has been passed and Simoni and Cunego hit the front.
Cunego stands up and puts his foot down to accelerate away from the other leaders. Surely he's done enough to take the win?
However with just .2k to go Pellizotti has put in a strong sprint finish and is closing fast on Cunego. Can Cunego hang on?
Cunego does it. Pellizotti took it down to the line but Cunego hangs on to take the win and put Milram back on the bottom of the pro-tour rankings.
Meanwhile Zabel has taken it easy up the mountain and is lead home bu Jurco. He will hang on to his Purple Jersey for another day.
After todays stage the GC is finally looking as it should as the favourites have moved to the top. Dekker has taken back the Pink Jersey as we head towards some more flat stages.
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 24-11-2008 10:00
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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Giro di Italia
Stage 8
After yesterday mountain finish we head back down the other side today before a flat finish which could again suit Zabel. There is a chance that a break could make it today after yesterday mountain so i send Jurco into the break. I wanted to send Peter Velits but as he's only 5 mins down on GC i thought the peleton wouldn't let him escape. Jurco goes away with Ivanov...
...before they are joined by 6 others. Ivanov decodes to go it alone but Jurco decides to stick with the group.
Ivanov gives it a good go but he is caught with less then 15k to go.
So it's going to go down to another bunch sprint. Zabel picks his wheel and is pulled to the front.
However like on stage 4 his wheel suddenly stops and he gets trapped behind him as the favourites leave him behind.
As they go under the 1k to go banner Freire is looking too fast for his nearest competition.
Freire takes the win and the purple Jersey away from Zabel. Zabel finishes adissapointing 14th.
So Zabel drops to 2nd in the points table and Freire has opened up a decent 12 point gap already.
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 24-11-2008 10:16
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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Giro di Italia
Stage 9
Last stage before the first rest day sees a pan flat stage. Alot of riders will be looking forward to the rest so i'm not really expecting anythin other then a bunch sprint today. As it is so flat it will favour other riders ahead of Zabel but he will be doing his best to try to close the gap to Freire. I don't bother trying to get anyone into the break as i don'y think it'll last.
With 100k to go the gap to the break is still 9 mins and no-one looks interested in chasing. I'm starting to get worried so i send Lancaster to the front to try to speed things up and the gap soon starts to fall. Astarloa and Jurco also help.
The break try in vain to stay away but they are finally caught with about 20k to go and the bunch starts to prepare yet another sprint.
Zabel doesn't want to get caught out again and jumps onto Freire wheel.
Freire pulls Zabel to the front again but he has Boonen and cavendish on his own wheel.
As the sprint starts Boonen quickly moves up past Freire left hand side. Zabel go's into top gear but is forced to take the long way aroud Lowik.
This slows Zabel down and Freire is able to pull ahead of him again. Cavendish is also gaining fast from behond.
Boonen takes the win with Freire in second.
Zabel paid dearly for going the long was and is passed by Cavendish in the final meters. He has to settle for 4th.
We were dissapointed with the result as Freire moves further ahead in the points competition. However it does show how well we've done in this first week to be dissapointed with a fourth place in a greand tour. Would have been nice to finish second and get a couple more pro-tour points though.
Zabel holds on to second place by 1 point. It's beginning to look like a 3 horse race at the top although it will all change when we head into the mountains. Freire is going to take some catching.
Edited by ringo182 on 24-11-2008 11:30
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-12-2024 19:15
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| Halvor |
Posted on 24-11-2008 11:19
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice stage wins! Tip: Always go on Freire's wheel, even if he's going behind, if you beat him then, yo chances to win the purple are bigger! Nice story, keep on |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 24-11-2008 11:32
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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cheers, i think i would have beaten Freire in the last stage but Zabel got Stuck behind Lewik It's gonna take some great riding from Zabel to win the Purple Jersy now. He's prob gonna have to get into a break. |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 24-11-2008 12:43
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Team Leader
Posts: 6716
Joined: 13-10-2007
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Breakaways on mountain stages where there's a sprint before a mountain are always useful. You can then drop Zabel back to the bunch to finish normally, and you'll be able to claw some points back.
[url=cleavercycling.co.uk]  [/url] |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 24-11-2008 12:55
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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yeah, i've been thinking about that. also on the transition stages between mountain stages. I think theres one thats not flat so won't go down to a sprint. I might send him into the break that day. |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 26-11-2008 18:37
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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Vuelta ciclista a Cataluna
Its a rest day at the Giro but there's no rest for Team Milram as another Pro-Tour race is just kicking off. The Vuelta ciclista a Cataluna is a 7 day race that has a bit of everything. Our aim will be to try to pick up a stage win or 2 with Petacchi on the flat or with Caruso or Ghisalberti on the hillier stages.
Squad: Caruso, Dyudya, Ghisalberti, Kux, Petacchi, Poitschke, Rigotto, Velo
Stage 1
Nothing really to report. A 16k TTT was won by Caisse D'Epargne by 12 seconds from Astana. Milram finish 1.20 down, but we don't really care that much.
Stage 2
A 170k hilly route kicks off this tour proper. There is a flat finish which might suit Petacchi if he can get over the hills in good enough shape. A couple of early breaks go away but are pulled back before Ghisalberti gets into the break of the day. Initially it consists of 9 riders...
...but it is whittled down to 4. Ghisalberti is looking good and takes 2 of the 3 mountain sprints to take the jersey.
As Ghisalberti crosses the line of the final mountain sprint in 2nd, his group is caught. The peleton decends together but as they hit the final run in the big names begin to flex their muscles.
First to attack is Pereiro who was followed by Contador, Gusev, Bettini, Menchov, Garate, Camano, Lovkvist and Zubeldia, a pretty elite looking group.
Pereiro is caught by the group and next to make his move is Menchov with just 7.5k to go. No one has the strength to go with him initially but Zubeldia and Lovkvist slowly get accross.
With less then 4k to go Lovkvist makes a short attack to get a small advantage over Menchov and Zubeldia. Will he have the strength to go all the way?
2k to go. Menchav has brought Zubeldia back up to Lovkvist's wheel as they begin the sprint.
It's Zubeldia whose the strongest on the day as he takes the win from Lovkvist and Menchov respectively.
Meanwhile Petacchi takes the bunch sprint for 10th place. Looking at the sprinters in this race i think Rigotto is going to be Petacchi's main rival so hopefully if Petacchi is in the right place he should get a couple of top 3 placings at least on the flat stages.
Meanwhile Ghisalberti was delighted with his Mountain Jersey. Realistically he's not going to hold on to it all week but he can enjoy a couple of days at least.
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| Halvor |
Posted on 26-11-2008 19:08
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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yeah, nice with the mountains jersey
going for the points jersey? How are Peter Velits developments? Have he been any better since the start of the season? Have you been thinking about signing any climbers or puncheurs till the next season?
Good story  |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 26-11-2008 19:59
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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thanks, it's only the first stage so Ghisalberti won't be getting carried away yet. Not sure about the points jersey, Petacchi will just try to win the flat stages and see what happens.
Can't really say if Velits has improved too much because i can't really tell what are developments and what are the results of training camps. as for transfers it depends on what money (if any) i get. Schumacher, Gerdermann and Wegmann are all out of contract in the winter so they'll be my main targets. But it depends on the funds really. |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 27-11-2008 20:19
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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Giro di Italia
Stage 10
A tough looking 36k TT with a nasty looking kick up at the end. My team have got not chance of getting anything from the stage so today will be about conserving energy. My riders all take it easy around the course and preperations begin for the next day.
The stage is won by Dekker who is having a storming opening week to the Giro. Has he peaked too soon? Or can he keep it going for the next 11 stages? Bad news for us is that Clement od Bouygues takes second place and picks up another 4 points for the French team which means we have more ground to make up.
Dekker has opened up over a 2 min lead at the top of the GC that he will take into the mountains. Will he hold on?
In the points comp Dekker has leap-frogged Zabel into second. Hopefully Zabel will be able to close the gap on Freire in the next few stages.
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 27-11-2008 20:29
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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Vuelta ciclista a Cataluna
Stage 3
A flat stage that will see Petacchi going for the win. With Bouygues picking up points at the Giro we need to close the gap back down again. A group of 4 riders go away and build up a decent looking gap.
As they near the second of the KOM sprints they are close enough to the peleton for a few riders, including Ghisalberti, to get accross to them.
Ghisalberti is third across the line to pick up more valuable KOM points to hold onto his jersey.
However, the break is caught and the peleton begin to prepare for the sprint. Petacchi moves to the front and gets onto Paulo Bettini's wheel.
As the sprint starts Bettini pulls Petacchi away from the bunch. Its going to be a two man sprint.
But Bettini is just too stong for Petacchi at this stage of his training. He could stay with him but couldn't get around it. It's still a good 2nd and 2 more points for us though.
Marco Velo is just beaten to 3rd by a wheel. Overall a very satisfactory day for Team Milram.
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 27-11-2008 21:48
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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Giro di Italia
Stage 11
A tough looking hilly stage with a nasty climb in the middle. Peter Velits will be trying to get into the break today. And he succeeds.
Despite the steep climb, the peleton is not going to let the break get too far in front and limit the lead to 5 mins. As the gap starts to fall Velits makes a last ditch break with 50k to go. Probably not the smartest of moves.
With 15k to go the break is caught by the much reduced peleton...
...which leads to a number of attacks at the front of the group. A small group of 6 get away including Jurco. Chavanel has the grit between his teeth and attacks the break.
As the break is reeled in Chavanel builds a large gap with just 5k to go.
Simoni attacks out of the peleton and races across to the Frenchman. Can he catch him?
No, Chavanel holds on for the win.
Only Jurco manages to finish with the peleton today. Zabel rides in on his own having been dropped from his group in the final few k's. Hope he's not suffering from his work in the first week. There's no change on GC (Except Chavanel moving up 1 place to 4th) or in the points comp. The next 2 stages are flat so the points comp will be resumed. They will probably decide the points comp.
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