Hi, its December and time to start running through the transfers and anticipation of the new year. Here i will go through each UWT teams main transfers, show you there squads, and give you my opinion on them. This will take some time so will done in parts. Then you will get a run down of the new race routes, followed by my new year blog.
Free Riders
Valverde, Menchov, Kreuziger, Kern, C.Meyer
Valverde had a contract with Movistar, but there relegation means he remains without a team. Menchov and Kreuziger should have teams, but are pricing themselves out.
AG2R la Mondiale
Out - Ravard, Kadri, Bonnafond, Dupont, Roche, Minard
In - Vande Velde, Lequarte, Guesdon, Charteau
Comment - The transfers almost balance out. Surprised by surviving and will be aiming to do so again.
Rating - 2
ProTeam Astana
Out - Zeits, Kreuziger, Renev, Iglinsky
In - Galimzyanov, Astarloza
Comment - The transfers weaken the team, but not heavily. Galimzyanov gives them a new option. There strength in depth will always make them a threat.
Rating - 4
BMC
Out - Frank, Quinziato
In - Finetto, Dekker, Bosisio
Comment - Strong team that will be in contention over all terrains. The transfers strengthen the team well.
Rating - 4
Cofidis
Out - El Fares, Duque, Mate, Edet, Taaramae
In - Le Mevel, Calzati, Ladagounas, Casper, Galland, Rojas
Comment - Perhaps the best team for transfers, Cofidis could be a real force. Promotion was great and survival should be possible.
Euskatel - Euskadi
Out - Fernandez, Nieve, Urtasun, Perez
In - Freire, Galdos, Velasco
Comment - The Basque team can contend GC and now sprints. Should be strong, especially in Spain.
Rating - 4
Out - Le Mevel, C.Meyer, Vande Velde, Haussler, Maaskant, Stetina, Vanmarcke, T.Meyer
In - Dupont, Geslin, Pellizoti, Kirchen
Comment - Hurt by transfers due to a loss of depth. Kirchen and Pellizoti retuern will give them GT options. Still strong all round, and should be one of the very top teams.
Rating - 4
HTC-Highroad
Out - Rasmussen, Grabsch, Roulston, Gretsch, Cavendish
In - Docker
Comment - The squad has been picked apart. Losing the main sprinter, and 3 to 4 main lead-out men puts them in a tough position. Should still survive, as long as Goss steps to up a level.
Rating - 3
Katusha
Out - Kuschynski, Pliuschin, Galimzyanov, Gusev, Isaychev
In - Efimkin, Botcharov
Comment - Focusing on the hills and mountains will pay off for them. Kept the core of the squad the same which will benifit the team.
Rating - 3.5
Lampre-ISD
Out - Perez Arrieta, Krivtsov, Magazzini, Bole, Bono, Marzano, Kondrut
In - Cattaneo, Caucchiolo, Grillo
Comment - Only real loss is Bole, but Grillo equals that. Cattaneo is very promising. One of the best results from transfers will see them right up there throughout the season.
Rating - 4
Landbouwkredit
Out - Dockx, Planckaert
In - Hulsmans, Wallays, Neirynckx
Comment - Did well with transfers. Surprised by acheiving promotion, but will only get relagated for sure.
Rating - 1
Leopard-Trek
Out - Bennati, Klemme, Nizzolo, Voigt, Mortensen, Wagner, Stamsnijder, Clarke
In - De Gendt, Kessler
Comment - Again real loosers in the transfer market. Still a very strong team, and strengthened their support for the Schlecks. Will again be in contention for best team.
Rating - 5
Liquigas-Cannondale
Out - Marangoni, Wurf, Guarnieri, Bodnar, de Dalto, Finetto, Duggan
In - Gentili, Giunti
Comment - Lost some depth but are intact in the important areas of the squad. Should impress in the GT's and Italian races.
Rating - 3
OmegaPharma-Lotto
Out - de Clerq, Bakelants, Kaisen, Lang, Reynes
In - De la Fuente, van Hecke
Comment - Again mostly the same. Fuente will be good support for VdB. Griepel looses some lead-out but overall a very good squad.
Rating - 4
QuickStep
Out - Stybar, de Maar, Seeldraeyers, de Weert, Vermote, Pineau, Keisse
In - Bole, Voigt, Bakelants, Ricco
Comment - Ins ballance the Outs, and make a stong squad in depth. Ricco raises some eyebrows but if he stays clean could be a steal.
Rating - 3.5
Rabobank Cycling Team
Out - Freire, Clement, Brown, Vermelfoort
In - Boasson-Hagen, Wielinga
Comment - A very strong squad that can always challenge. Edvald is not even the star of the squad. Can Gesink get a GT success and secure Rabobank as one of the best.
Rating - 4.5
Saxobank-Sungard
Out - Gustov, Tosatto
In - de Weert, Rasmussen
Comment - A low key 2011, but the signing of Rasmussen gives them a new option. almost the same team and Contador should carry them well
Rating - 4
Vacansoleil-DCM
Out - Mol, De Gendt, Pidgornyy, Selvaggi, Gardeyn, Bozic
In - Maaskant, Eeckhout
Comment - A lot of pressure on a small squad. Did very well to survive but things dont look good to do so again, Mosquera and Leukemans have to do very well.
Rating - 2
Out - Henderson, Possoni, Boasson-Hagen, Barry, Zandio
In - Roche, Haussler, Cavendish
Comment - The best aquisitions in the peloton. Sky almost have too many options. Will be aiming for the best team of the year.
Rating - 5
Mark Cavendish - 2 TDF wins were a worrying sign, but he came good at the Worlds. Its a massive boost to have the World Champion RR in the squad. Will be targeting MSR early on, then the Green Jersey at the TDF.
Bradley Wiggins - 4 TDF wins, and the KoM, and the GC win were amazing, then he won the World ITT. Followed by the Velo d'Or. Will be aiming to keep his Yellow Jersey, and his World champions Jersey.
Juan Flecha - A dissapointing classics campaing, but 2 stage wins and a stint in yellow at the TDF turned his year around. Will targeting the Classics and Tour again.
Rigoberto Uran - Wiggins Lieutenant in the TDF in 2011, and will do so again in 2012. Will have a go in the Ardennes, but has more focus on the Worlds in Valkenburg.
Heinrich Haussler - Flechas main man early on, whilst also having a go for MSR. Will be missing the TDF in favour of the Vuelta, where he can win the Points Jersey.
Nicholas Roche - Went well at the Giro, and will aim to go even better this year. Will have a free role in the Ardennes, and may surprise at the Worlds.
Peter Kennaugh - Had an amazing 2011, but what about 2012. I can climb well, and my TT is getting better, but im still off contention for the overalls. I will go for the Giro KoM again, and maybe also ride the Vuelta.
TDU
2 Hilly stages and a finish at the top of Willunga Hill favour Sky. Gerrans, Rogers or Haussler could win stages and the overall.
Paris - Nice
A finish up to Mende will be exciting, but a relativly rolling route without mountains will be a good start to the season proper.
Tirreno - Adriatico
No mountains and no TT make a boring looking route, as do no summit finishes.
Tour of the Basque
The usual rolling route. A summit finish on the penultimate day will set up a fascinating TT.
Tour Romandie
No summit finishes but not a simple route will make for a close race and a good Giro warm up
Giro d'Italia
A tough opening 2 days with hills then a MtTT were you cant win the race, but it could be lost. Mountains appear again on stage 4, as sprints seem few and far between. Stage 7 finishes atop the Rifugio after a hard day. Stage 9 finishes in San Giacomo after a long climb. A TT on stage 10 doesnt allow any rest. Stage 15 finishes atop the Monte Cimone, another hard finish. 2 summit finishes for 16 and 17 mean its all about the last week again. 18 and 19 are still tough. Stage 20 is the Queen stage, finishing atop the Stelvio pass. Of coure stage 21 is a TT in Milan.
Criterium du Dauphine
Stage 4 ends on top of the Ventoux to mark the set-piece in a challenging route.
Tour de Suisse
2 hard days for stages 6, 7 and 8 mark the race as tougher than usual.
Tour de France
Another hilly opening to the race sets the tone. A TT on stage 4 keeps the GC interesting amongst the sprints. Stages 6 and 7 enter the Massif Central. Stages 9, 10 and 11 enter the Pyrenees, with stage 10 crossing the Tourmalet before finishing on the Hautacam. Stage 15 crosses the Agnel into Italy. The race returns to France on stage 16. Stage 17 is the Queen stage, crossing the Galibier, then the Coix de Fer, beofre finishing on the Alpe d'Huez. A 52km TT on stage 20 will settle the race before finishing on the Champs on stage 21.
Tour de Pologne
3 summit finishes make this interesting for Puncher.
Vuelta a Espana
Opening with a TT in stage 1. The first summit finish is on stage 6. A tough TT in stage 9 will shuffle the GC. Stage 10 enters Andorra to the Arcalis. Stage 11 is another hilly summit. Stage 14 and 15 both have mountain finishes. Stages 17, 18 and 19 keep the race going to the wire. A TT on stage 20 will decide the results. A sprint round Madrid ends the race.
World Championships ITT
A short 23 KM course will provide an explosive contest.
World Championships RR
265km round Valkenburg, over the Cauberg will be a tough race for sure.
Hey i'm back for the weekend.
As usuall theres good and bad news.
Good news; i got up to the start of the Giro, and theres some great results
Bad news; i left all my records and pre-written reports at school so can't actually update.... sorry
your gonna have to wait another 3 weeks for any action, but that will probably include the Grio.
January 4th 2012 and its been raining for 4 days straight. Lets start with the teams New Year party. Swifty was up to no good as usual, and got Brad involved with some dirty dancing. I spent most of the evening with the newbies, Jakob and Arnaud. Their good guys and dominated the U23 between them, riding with them will be great.
Our team was presented yesterday. It is the best team i have ever known. Brad, Rigo, Nico, Lofkvist, Rogers and me could all win a GT, G., Haus and Juan could all win a classic and Cavs will win any sprint.
2 world champions has spurred me on to train harder. In mid-december Brad, Nico and me all met up in the Alps to test ourselves. We chose the Alpe d'Huez, which was still clear of snow, if very cold. Brad went first and set 43:50, Nico did a 44:12. I rode a 43:04... Brad then decided we had to do a 30km TT race, which he won by 1:00 over me.
Of course the Aussies are off there nationals, and the TDU squad is following them. Mark is not going with them.
My first race isn't for another few months. I'm following mostly the same calendar as last year begining with Tirreno-Adriatico.
You'll get another blog from me just before then.
Keep reading.
The lumpy route really suits the team with Hausler and Gerrans considered 2 of the 3 favorites.
Chris joined the early attacks, and break formed on lap 2. 6 men were there including Chris. His biggest threats were Lloyd and Brown if it got to a sprint.
The rest of the team was happy to sit back and let it go, and go it did, building an 11'00 lead by halfway.
BMC decided to try and pull it back for Cadel but it was too far.
With 30km to go the break had 5'00 and Chris attacked. Only Lloyd could go with him.
They worked together until the final climb when Chris pulled clear. He powered hard to the finish in a devastating show of force.
Chris won by 1'12. Lloyd second and Brown 3rd.
Time Trial
Rogers was our only man here.
He put in a strong performance but could only manage second, 57" down on Cadel how took it for a second year running.
Great start for Sky with one NC already. Chris was lucky the break went so far, but that final lap was the fastest lap of the whole race! If we keep this form going....
p.s. i (me not pete) tend to better as the season goes on....
I'm back!!!! with horrible news!!!!
MY PCM has stopped working!!!!
didnt start the giro but will update all races up till then.
i have a thread in tech issues if anyonw wants to help.
i have acopy of the save game so thats ok.
this may be the end of the story, but i hope not....Edited by Wiley on 30-03-2012 20:58
Team; Haussler would lead the team in sprints and try for the GC. Sutton would be key lead-out in sprints and of course look good in the NC jersey. Rogers and Gerrans would go for the GC. Hayman, Downing and Stannard would support.
Stage 1; BOTD King(Dual Temp)
It took a long time for King to get away, but it still came down to a comfortable sprint. Sky we lacking in practice as Hushovd powered to victory with Rojas 2nd and Pettachi 3rd. Haussler was 7th.
Stage 2; BOTD Bellemakers(Land) Sulzberger(FDJ) Elmiger(AG2R) Rojas Galdos
Hills to Stirling and Van Avermaet was strong, but the race was close with Galdos 2nd and Rojas 3rd. Simon was 20th 40" down.
Stage 3; BOTD Maaskant Bates Gasparotto Ovechkin Dumoulin Casar
Another close fought sprint with Haussler improving to 6th as Pettachi won from Hushovd and Greipel.
Stage 4; BOTD Tanner DeGendt Verheyen Casar
A surprise in the tough finish saw Martens win with Simon 2nd and Hushovd 3rd 26" back. This brought Simon within 18" of the GC
Stage 5; BOTD Cooke Eisel Mondory Acosta
Willunga hill was the set piece. A 3km climb that would sort the GC. The break built a large 10'00 lead by half way but BMC tried hard to pull it back. Cooke held on to win, with Simon pipping Eisel to 2nd. Alas simon only moved to 3rd overall.
Stage 6; BOTD was no one special
Despite the weak break it was large. The peloton struggled to catch it, and did so on the line, however Lorenzetto won the day.
Final GC;
Van Avermaet
Hushovd @8"
Gerrans@12"
Solid start to the year. Dissapointed without a stage win, but 3rd overall is an improvement on 2011. A good platform to build on
Just in case anyone is still reading....
My save corrupted and crashed the game (i've had to reset PCM totally), so i'm afraid to say this is the end...
I will update the remaining races up to the Giro, before signing off in the next few days...
Wiley wrote:
Just in case anyone is still reading....
My save corrupted and crashed the game (i've had to reset PCM totally), so i'm afraid to say this is the end...
I will update the remaining races up to the Giro, before signing off in the next few days...
Bad to hear...
But I see you are already going to start a new story, that's the spirit!
Team; Uran, Flecha, Roche, Rogers, Froome, Sutton, Downing and Augustyn. Uran and Roche will lead for a good GC. We aim to top10 overall, and get a stage win.
Stage 1; Van Garderen Boom Vansumeran 4th Flecha
Stage 2; BOTD Gene Sabatini Peraud VanEmden Delage Hoogerland
The break made it all the way today, with VanEmden wining 1'11 ahead of the peloton, and outsprinting the rest of the break.
Stage 3; BOTD Ivanov Lemarchand
The peloton wanted a sprint and it got one. Rojas took the win ahead of Renshaw and Boonen
Stage 4; BOTD Ponzi Cherel Serra Vaitkus.
Another sprint, and again Rojas won in good form. Galopin was 2nd ahead of Renshaw. Roche fell in the finale and broke his arm, counting him out, and passing leadership duties to Uran.
Stage 5; BOTD Ivanov Moncutie Bakelants
The finish up to Mende is the first real stage for the GC. Uran stormed to victory supported by Flecha in 2nd!!! Astarloza come in 3rd.
Flech inherited the yellow jersey.
Stage 6; BOTD Ponzi Gutierez LeMevel Maaskant Izagirre Cherel.
Frank Schleck won the stage, with Boonen 2nd and Geslin 3rd.
Stage 7; BOTD Moncutie DiGregorio
Frank made it 2 in a row, with Gilbert 2nd and Andy 3rd.
Stage 8; BOTD Vaitkus Weening Soler
Gilbert got his stage win, and Vanendert 2nd and Barredo 3rd.
