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Team Milram Again!!!
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Posted on 23-12-2024 19:18
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 02-12-2008 13:03
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Vuelta ciclista a Cataluna
Stage 4
The toughest stage of the race see's the riders go over a number of nasty climbs. Suprisingly Caruso has been labelled an outsider for the win so we'll see what happens. A massive break of 17 riders goes away, but as expected they are reeled back in.
As the peleton heads up to the second mountain sprint of the day there is no-one out in front as Caisse control the peleton.
Ghisalberti is keen to hold onto his mountain jersey and with 16 points up for grabs on the next 2 sprints he attacks.
His plan works as he reaches the sprint alone to claim the 16 points.
Before the next sprint he is joined by Barredo. Ghisalberti is happy to let Barredo take the win at the next sprint and as the Spaniard attacks, Ghisalberti roles over in second. Ghisalberti's day is over and he'll now just drift back into the peleton.
With 35k to go Barredo is the only rider out on his own. Astana are controlling the peleton.
A couple of smaller names attack to take the points on the last KOM sprint of the day but no-one takes any notice of them. Caruso moves himself up to the front ready for the last climb of the day.
The first attack of the last climb comes from Van den Broeck who is followed by Valjavec of AG2R. Caruso decides to stay in the bunch for now.
However when Contador goes Caruso decides to go with him. Menchov jumps onto Caruso's wheel.
A group of 7 riders (Contador, Menchov, Pereiro, Van den Broeck, Valjavec, Zubeldia and Caruso) forms ahead of the peleton.
Barredo is finally caught with just over 5k to go.
2.5k to go and the peleton is gaining on the 7 escapees.
Caruso doesn't have the energy to attack again but Contador and Menchov put in another attack to stay away from the bunch.
As they head under the 1k banner Contador, Menchov, Pereiro, Zubeldia and Van den Broeck are still out in front. Who will take the win?
Menchov just pips Contador to the win as both get a gap on everyone else.
Meanwhile Caruso roles home in 11th and moves up to 20th on GC.
More good news is that all my team made the cut so this is the first mountain stage of the season where someone hasn't been timed out
More good news see's Ghisalberti hold on to his Mountain Jersey. His goal now is to hold onto it for the remainder if the tour. Wit a TT, 1 flat stage and a hilly stage left he has every chance of doing just that.
Edited by ringo182 on 02-12-2008 13:06
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 04-12-2008 18:08
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Classics Specialist
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Giro di Italia
Stage 12
Pan flat stage that might be a bit too flat for Zabel. The power sprinters will take this one. As expected a break goes away containing a large number of riders. Lancaster tried to get into the break but was caught. The break failed to work together and there were numerous attacks.
The break was pulled back with plenty of time to spare so the peleton began to prepare for yet another sprint. No breaks have stayed away all Giro yet. Zabel got onto Boassen Hagen's wheel and was pulled to the front. However Freire had settled onto Zabels wheel.
As they headed into the last 3k Boessen Hagen started to go backwards so Zabel attempted to get onto the wheel of Zberg but the sprint started while he was getting up to his wheel.
Zabel went backwards in the sprint and has lost any real hope of claiming the points jersey.
The win went to McEwen with Hushovd taking second. Zabel clung onto claim 10th.
No change on GC while Boonen leap-frogs Zabel in the points comp.
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 04-12-2008 18:16
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Classics Specialist
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Vuelta ciclista a Cataluna
Stage 5
A mountain TT to really shake up the standings. Again Caruso has been listed as an outsider so he will be trying to get a top 10 at least. He puts in a great ride and is in provisional 1st at the finish. But with 19 quality riders going after him he was always likely to drop down a few places and finished 10th on the stage. Contador took an emphatic win to practically wrap up the overall victory. With 2 days left it's going to take a disaster or a mamoth ride to topple him.
In other news Ghisalberti maintains his 12 point lead at the top of the KOM standings. I'm undecided whether or not i'll give him an easy day tomorrow or try to get him to seal the comp. |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 04-12-2008 20:07
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Classics Specialist
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Giro di Italia
Stage 13
Another pan flat stage, and as the commentator says at the start, the last chance for the sprinters to take a stage. Again though i think it's gonna be too flat for Zabel. Another large break goes away and this time Jurco gets into the break and they all work together.
The break is looking good and with 80k to go they are over 8 mins ahead. But Rabobank are having none of it and the gap quickly comes down and the lead group is caught with about 20k to go. As the sprint starts to shape up Zabel Picks Mark Cavendish's wheel and sits in a elite looking train including Freire, McEwen and Hushovd.
McEwen decides he doesn't want to be on Freire wheel and takes the train accross the road.
As the sprint starts Freire accelerates with his usual speed and hits the front. Zabels train also goes forward pulling the German with them.
McEwen and Hushovd pull level with the Spaniard and it's going to be a 3 horse race for the win.
Hushovd takes the win ahead of McEwen and Freire while Zabel takes a very respectable 5th.
No change on GC but Zabel has moved back up to 2nd in the points comp.
We now head into the mountains for the final week of the Giro which means my teams numbers will be drastically reduced in the next few days.
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 04-12-2008 20:21
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Classics Specialist
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Vuelta ciclista a Cataluna
Stage 6
The second flat stage of the tour, but it's lumpy enough to allow a break to get away. Petacchi has been made the favourite should it go down to a bunch sprint. Ghisalberti decides that he wants to sew up the KOM jersey today and so goes into the break again.
There are 16 and 10 points up for grabs on the climbs today and Ghisalberti is determined to get them all. On the first climb he hits the front and sets the pace. One by one his group are dropped until he is alone to take the points and make his jersey his to keep.
In the valley between the two hills the break reforms.
But Ghisalberti uses similar tactics to take the points again. His race is now over and he takes it easy for the rest of the stage.
While i have been helping Ghisalberti claim the KOM comp the peleton has allowed the break to build up such a big lead that it now looks like they will stay away.
The break does stay away and they sprint it out for the win. Ruiz Sanchez takes the win with Stamsnijder taking second. Petacchi gets held back in the bunch and finishes a dissapointing 14th.
Ghisalberti is now garanteed the KOM comp after todays stage. I would have liked the stage win with Petacchi but i lost concentration and the break was allowed to get away. Attention now turns to the last day when Caruso will be trying to make up the 30 seconds to get into the top 10 on the final GC.
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| ember |
Posted on 04-12-2008 20:45
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I am looking forward for the last week of the Giro, and Caruso's top10 chances.
And it's great reporting |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 04-12-2008 21:31
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ember wrote:
I am looking forward for the last week of the Giro
i'm not  i can seriously see us finishing the Giro with about 3 riders. There's no real chances for Zabel to get any more stage wins in sprints. I'm going to try to get someone in the break on the couple of transition stages in a coupls of days.
Caruso's got to make up 31 seconds to get into the top 10. The last stage finishes with longish climb so the plan is to protect him up till there and then try and stay with the big boys.
thanks for the support. Back to uni for the next few days so not to sure when i'll get to update again. maybe sunday. |
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| ember |
Posted on 04-12-2008 21:43
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I meant that I was looking forward to your well-written reporting |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 05-12-2008 00:45
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Ringo, there are at least two flat stages between the real high mountains in the last week of the Giro.
So, there's still time.
And nice story. |
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| Halvor |
Posted on 05-12-2008 07:02
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Nice story, don't give up! You've at least got some wins |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 05-12-2008 08:43
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Classics Specialist
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cheers guys. i'm not going to give up. when you take on a team like Milram you've got to except that in the mountains it's just a case of trying to get everyone over them in one piece and in the time limit. The likes of Terpstra, M. Velits and Barla are really going to suffer for the next few days.
I think there's one flat stage and a hilly stage left in between the two sets of mountain stages. As i said i'll try to get someone into the break and see what happens. No breaks have stayed away yet but maybe it'll be a different story after 3 hard days in the mountain.
Zabel is still going for the points comp. If he can take a couple of sprints in the mountain stages and then get in the break on the hilly stage he might just be able to make up some points. Thats if freire lets him get away that is.
I'm also delighted that Ghisalberti has won the KOM comp in Cataluna. It's just a shame we don't get any pro-tour points for it.
thanks for reading, i'll try not to keep you waiting too long for the next update.
Edited by ringo182 on 05-12-2008 08:44
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 05-12-2008 13:02
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nice to see your perseverance is intact 
you're doing a great job with Ghisalberti
hoping for new reports 
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 05-12-2008 19:41
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Grand Tour Champion
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still loving this
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 07-12-2008 20:24
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
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Giro di Italia
Stage 14
We're heading into the mountains today. My goal will be to get as many of my riders through the day within the time limit. And to try to keep Zabel feeling as freash as possible. A number of breaks try to get away but they fall back into the peleton on the early slopes. A group of six finally goes clear and Lopez Garcia decides to go it alone.
The first big name to attack is Piepoli who decides to go with 55k left on the stage.
He flies up the hill and passes the break like they were going backwards.
Back in the peleton Soler attacks with 45k to go. Again he isn't a threat on GC so he is allowed to go.
At the top of the penultimate climb Piepoli is still alone and looking good.
Behind him the hill has taken its toll on the peleton and the big names have riden away. Sastre, Evans, Valverde and Cunego have got an advantage as Dekker bravely tries to hang onto his jersey by getting into a group consisting of Clement, Gerdermann, Lopez Garcia (originally in the break), Carrara, Dessel, Liepheimer and Cobo Acebo.
On the decent A group of 6 forms of Cunego, Evans, Sastre, Valverde, Liephiemer and Cob Acebo. Cunego decides to make his move.
7k to go Pieploli is now garanteed the win. He has shown his climbing class today.
Further down the hill Valverde has chased down Cunego and the two close in on Soler.
Piepoli takes the win and is so confident that he starts to celebrate a mile before the finish.
Sastre has also caught the front 3 on the final few k's. As the sprint starts Valverde looks cooked. Can Soler hang on?
Yes, a great ride from the Columbian to take 2nd.
It was a bad day for Milram as our rubbishness in the mountains showed. M. Velits, Astarloa, Lancaster and Terpstra were all timed out along with about 20 others. Milram now has only 4 riders remaining for the rest of the Giro
On GC Sastre has taken over the pink jersey with a 13 second lead over Cunego. Evans is looking well placed in 3rd.
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| ember |
Posted on 07-12-2008 20:38
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Why didn't you try to take those 2 intermediate sprints? Or wasn't Zabel simply strong enough to be in the peloton over the first mountain? |
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 07-12-2008 20:57
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there was only one...
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 07-12-2008 21:06
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Classics Specialist
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there was only 1. There was a break of 6 riders so he wouldn't have got any points. i didn't want to waste energy cause he only just made it in the time limit by about 6 or 7 mins. if i tired him out by sprinting then he might get timed out.
with only 4 riders left i think i might have to forget about going for the points jersey. it's all about making it to the end now. Theres still another 4 mountain stages. I can seriously see me loosing my whole team. |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 11-12-2008 17:32
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hey guys, sorry it's been a while since the last update. had a lot on with uni lately. i have turned the game on a couple of times with the intent to do a quick stage, but the next one up is a monster mountain Giro stage and after the dissaster on the last stage i think i'm gonna have to take my time so i don't loose my whole squadjust handed in my last essay of the semester. got a test tomorrow then i'm off for christmas so i'll have more time to carry on with the story. |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 18-12-2008 15:48
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
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Giro di Italia
Stage 15
The hardest stage of this years Giro. I've been putting of playing it till i finished uni but i can't put it off any more. The sole goal for today is to get Zabel through the stage in the time limit. Jurco will be his main aid while Barla will try to stay with Velits and help him.
It didn't take long for the peleton to split and Zabel, Jurco and Barla settled into a large group behind the main peleton. They would sit there all day, well almost.
At the front Savoldelli has decided to go for a long one. He stays out in front nearly all day.
I'll fast forward to 2.5k to go. The favourites have all stayed together despite numerous attacks and they arrive all together. The line includes Simoni, Evans, Piepoli, Sastre, Cunego, Leipheimer, Valverde, Pellizotti, Soler, Savoldelli and Anton. Another larger group is just behind the lead group but they can't bridge the gap to the leaders.
Piepoli is the first rider to make his move.
He doesn't get a gap however as everyone jumps on his wheel. Sastre looks the strongest and rides past Pieploi with just 1.5k to go.
Sastre leads the lead group under the 1k to go banner but then Cunego decides to make his move.
He gets a decent gap and has split the lead group into 2 smaller groups. Has he done enough?
With just 100 meters to go Pellizotti, Sastre, Evans, Valverde and Piepoli have bridged the gap. Can Cunego hang on?
Yes! Great win for the Italian as he takes the stage and the overall lead.
Jurco and Zabel lead the large group on strugglers over the line. Unfortunately Barla got dropped and will have to see if he is also to be eliminated.
So Cunego takes the win ahead of Sastre and Pellizotti.
So Cunego takes the Pink Jersey from Sastre by just 4 seconds. Tomorrows mountain tt will now be even more decisive.
Meanwhile Dekker has moved back into the top 3 in the points comp. It's beginning to look like it will be won by one of the GC contenders. Cunego is now just 35 points off Freire.
Like yesterday a number of riders were timed out today. Good news is a large number of sprinters are going home. Bad news is all the main contenders for the points jersey made it through and Barla got timed out. We now have just 3 riders left!
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 18-12-2008 16:16
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Now thats realism for ya!
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