Trofeu RDP Algarve
To Portugal, and a report from my assistant in this flat Portugese race (you wouldn’t have guessed it, 10 out of the 12 teams are Portugese). Here is his race report:
We sent Riccardo Ricco off in the early break, but the pack saw him as too big a rival, and his group was chased down immediately. 5 riders then escaped (Jager, Leal, Silva, Moniz and Diegmuller), and they were never seen again by most of the peloton. The pack didn’t seem that interested, so I sent Riccardo on the attack to up the pace with 40 kilometres left, but then the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen happened. On the downhill, the pack just sort of disintegrated. It was inexplicable. Our riders were working flat out, weren’t suffering, but just seemed to fall of backward. Eventually, a lead group of about 30 formed, but the break was too far away, and even though three remained, they took the win, with Diegmuller first, Jager second and Monix third. Yonny David Leal held on for fourth, and our best finish was Alfredo Balloni in the midst of some decent sprinters in ninth
Tour de Langkawi Stage 5
How quickly fortunes can change. Two days ago, I was taunting my arch nemesis Jef De Bilde, and today I was on the end of the same treatment. The early break was 4 minutes up the road as we entered the Genting Highlands, so I decided to send veteran Spaniard Elias after them. What I wasn’t expecting was for Jose Rujano to follow with Duarte, so Popov and Moyano were slow to react and couldn’t keep with him. Unstuck by my own tactics, all I could do was watch as my team tried to salvage the situation, but Jose just kept on pulling away. His lead was too great with one climb left, so I told Aritz on focusing on pulling back Duarte, who was only just ahead. He did me proud, as he finished just 46 seconds after the LPR rider. Not enough to stop him falling to third, but enough so that he has a chance to pull back the 23 seconds in the ITT. Jose leads by 3’14. more than enough, whilst Popov came fifth today, which is where he is in the GC, 7’25 down. And Aritz Moyano has also lost his climber’s jersey, but the two point deficit is enough that he can get it back tomorrow with a very short, early climb
How many people want me to continue this. I'm going to start a PPDB 07 DB career at the end of the season (still featuring the illustrious Allan Smile), but nobody seems to be replying, so I'm thinking of starting a new PPDB 07 career now without Allan Smile. Basically, as SN always likes to point out, without any kind of response now, I'm not going to continue this. So who wants me to continue?
Sorry about the rant, but the only reason I do this story is for your enjoyment, and how do I know if you like this if you don't reply?
i'm very sorry Crommy, i did really enjoy your story but after a while i got lazy and didn't read your long posts (even though they were the reason i liked it in the first place)
i will try to be more un-lazy (don't know the word) from now on, seen as my exams have finished until next year
I lvoe the story line you have for it and I know how you feel with stories. Why do you think I give up so many and that Im now putting much less detail into stuff.
One thing though - will the Cycling24 jersey I made ever be used?
This post is dedicated to SportingNonsence - thanks for the shirt Stage 6
Well, with only one goal in mind (capture those early KOM points), we had to work hard to keep numerous breaks in check. Aritz went earlier than he wished with a break, but managed to just hold on to catch four points and the climber’s jersey. We then settled in, and focused on letting Aritz recover as he was exhausted! Evgeny pulled off a decent result in the sprint, coming in seventh, with Anthony Ravard taking the stage win for Bouyges Telecom
I’ve discovered the change my friend warned me about. Some news was leaked to the press today which the board have been working towards for quite a while. They have bought the Cycling24 channel, and now have changed the team’s name to Cycling24. How do I feel. Well, quite frankly, I don’t give a damn. I’m here to do a job, and the I don’t care two hoots about the team’s name, although the new jerseys are simply magnificent, provided for by a little know designer called Sporting Nonsense. Anyway, the board bought Cycling24, and its popularity is already beginning to increase after its being broadcast to Scandinavia, and soon, most of the Europe. The great interest in me from the media has really boosted viewing figures already.
Here is Riccardo Ricco modelling the new strip:
Am I changed by it though. That was the warning. I suppose I am more resolved if anything. More resolved to humiliate and beat my nemesis Jef De Bilde. Is this a change for the good? Or is any change that which worries my unknown friend? Would he consider all change bad? I just don’t know, maybe I can squeeze an answer out of him next time we cross paths.
Edited by Crommy on 24-06-2007 21:10
GP Internacional Costa Azul
With no real chance of making a difference in Malaysia, I left Kasper in charge and joined the team in Portugal for this four day tour. Two hilly stages will be ripefor the picking for team leaders Riccardo Ricco and Andrea Masciarelli, although Andrea isn’t in great form, and the 10 Portugese teams here will all be looking to upset the favourites, including Van Huffel of Davitamon. Alfredo also rides to try and win the flat stages.
Stage 1
With a number of small hills at the end, we allowed the early break to go, which it did, with great aplomb, gaining a maximum of 8 minutes. However, when a dangerous four man break attempted to bridge the gap (which they also did with great aplomb), we went up front and brought them back in, also with great aplomb.
Up the main hill, and I sen Riccardo on the attack with Andrea, and they take the one-two over the top, securing the climber’s jersey. They were joined by Danza, and then Mate, as they drifted into the finish with the pack hot on their heels. Mate was the best sprinter though, and whilst Riccardo tried, Mate took the stage win, with Riccardo second. The peloton however, did enough to give Ricardo no gap, so only bonus time gives Mate the lead.
Chasing Hard in the new jersey
News from Kasper about stage 7 in Malaysia: Cavendish took the stage win, but no GC or mountain classification change
Stage 2
A flat stage today, so Alfredo was designated team leader, although the intermediate sprint next to the finish will make it interesting.
The early attack gets a maximum of 10’34, but the three struggle to keep this as Comunidad Valenciana manage to chase it down with just two riders working!
With the sprint at 9.5 km to go, I take a bold decision, and tell Alfredo to go for it, and hope he can then hold the rest off or stay near the front, recover behind someone and work his way to the win. The first part went great, as he took maximum points, but then he wasted energy as people took his wheel. He stayed up front, but got overtaken as the sprint began by Tom Veelers of Barbot, and then in a controversial finish, he was hooked back by the elbow of Paul Sneeboer, and reduced to third. Strenuous claims came to no avail, but he does now hold the points jersey, whilst Riccardo still has the climber’s jersey, and we are leading the team comp. In the GC, Riccardo moves down to third, whilst Mate just holds onto his lead
How Dare you!!!
GC
1. Luis Angel Mate COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA 8h11’20
2. Tom Veelers BARBOT-HALCON + 6
3. Riccardo Ricco CYCLING24 – 2012 + 10
4. Alfredo Balloni CYCLING24 – 2012 +12
5. Paul Sneeboer DUJA-TAVIRA +14
9. Andrea Masciarelli CYCLING24 – 2012 + 24
Stage 8 news from Malaysia, and another boring stage as Jean-Patrick Nazon takes the victory. Kasper is starting to complain, he wants some nice mountains!
Wait, this just in from Kasper. Stage 9 was the ITT, and we did well, but not well enough. Laszlo Bodrogi of Credit Agricole won, Joost Posthuma second, and unfortunately, Fabio Duarte was third, so no second place for Artiz Moyano. Evgeny Popov rode well for ninth, but misses out on fourth spot, by 1 second. I’ve told Kasper that tomorrow is all about those bonus seconds. He knows what he is doing, he should get those points
Stage 3
The second flat stage before tomorrow’s finale saw a number of early breaks all chased down by Barbot and Comunidad Valenciana. Eventually, 12 riders managed to get clear, but they were eventually caught with 13 km left. The trains began to form up, but Alfredo got stuck behind a couple of Barbot riders, protecting Tom Veelers. More dirty tactics against our team by the Portuguese teams! Despicable! Alfredo fought hard though, and winded up behind Barbot’s Tom Veelers, who took back to back stage wins. So, two podium spots from Alfredo. Good, but not good enough. Veelers bonus time gives him the overall GC, and Alfredo has second, 14 seconds today. Barbot will be looking to bring everything down to a sprint finish in the next two stages, but our Ricardo Ricco has other ideas, he wants a win.
Stage 4
Another flat stage today, and Tom Veelers took another stage win away from Alfredo in a closely fought sprint. Three wins in a row – impressive. Tomorrow’s hilly stage will decide everything – if Barbot can control the race, Tom Veelers should win.
Stage 5
The final stage contained a steep hill towards the middle, which could decide on a new winner. I gave instructions for Ricardo to really go for the overall win, but the team would also be helping Alfredo if it came down to a sprint.
An early break of 8 had nearly 8 minutes as they hit the slopes of the hill, and they maintained and increased this lead. Barbot reacted too late, and with 5 km left, two riders were out front (De Vocht and Renier), with enough time for the stage win. Floris Goessinen was the only other rider left of the initial break, and was just holding off the pack.
Wim De Vocht won the sprint to take the overall victory as well, whilst Franck Renier came in second to take that position in the final GC as well. Floris Goessinen was caught on the line by the pack, but still managed to hold on for third, and in an impressive pack sprint, Alfredo came out up front for fourth, beating Tom Veelers. Alfredo came fourth overall, not great, we really need to start putting in some wins. Final GC:
1. Wim De Vocht DAVITAMON-LOTTO 16h39’18
2. Franck Renier BOUYGES TELECOM + 12
3. Tom Veelers BARBOT-HALCON + 44
4. Alfredo Balloni CYCLING24-2012 + 58
5. Luis Angel Mate COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA s.t.
7. Ricardo Ricco CYCLING24 – 2012 + 1’08 Climber’s Jersey:
1. Ricardo Ricco 11
2. Andrea Masciarelli 7
News From Malaysia is that there was no change to the overall, so Rujano wins (damn damn and double damn), Duarte was second, Aritz Moyano did great in his first ever pro race for third (and climber’s jersey) and Evgeny Ppov came fifth, 1 second behind fourth
Yeah sorry about not posting. It was your story that led me to this site. So CT should be thanking you. The thing was that i really liked the old Cycling24 team, with all the fave's like O'bee, i just didnt like the new team as much. But i liked the tour of portugal. You should get that Tom Veelers he looks like a good rider.
You can actually tune in to Cycling24 TV over at my story, theyve hired a crazy madman to commentate in Thailand, and Im 'showing' coverage of it. Hope you dont mind Crommy (I even threw in an Allan Smile mention)
After an easy ride to look at the course for the Classic Haribo, I made my way back to the team’s hotel. I checked in at reception and oddly received a note. All it contained was the initials DJ. Puzzled, I had a dinner in the restaurant, and talked with Kasper about the race tomorrow. He seemed confident, but then I revealed the peculiar message I had received.
“Maybe you have a secret admire?” he ventured. That was all he said, but he seemed a bit evasive. Did he know something, what wasn’t he telling me? And who on earth is DJ? Some overzealous fan maybe, or some ploy by Jef De Bilde even? I haven’t got a clue.
Can you guess who it is? Answer coming very shortlyEdited by Crommy on 26-06-2007 21:46
I picked up my room key, and was greeted blankly by the receptionist. I asked her about the message, but she said it had been sent for me over a year ago. Now how did someone know I was coming here, I was at my old team last year! Still feeling a little perplexed, and now a little nervous, I took the lift up to my room. When the doors opened, the hallway was darker than normal, and I could see the door to my room was slightly ajar. In I went, and trembling now, I peered inside to find none other than the masked stranger. Not so friendly as normal though, he immediately punched me in the stomach, knocking the wind out of me and drove me to the floor with a follow up blow.
“I warned you Mr Smile, I warned you!!!” he bellowed. I tried to reply but it came out as a whimper
“What?” I whispered. He gave me another clout around the head.
“I told you not to change. I tested you in Malaysia, and you failed!” He followed with a kick full in the chest, hurling me across the room. With surprising agility, he pinned me on the floor, and began raining punches on me.
“We risked everything for you, and yet you still fail to listen, you still tainted your arch-rival. I offered you salvation Mr Smile, and you have lost the last chance you will ever have.” Then, all of a sudden he said. “I need to calm down, and Mr Smile, I am sick of the sight of you – you have left me with no choice.”
Out of nowhere, a needle shot into my arm, and I faded into the darkness – all I could think of was how true the stranger had been, and my last thought was just how well I knew this stranger.
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