Take your time, watch the classics and get motivated to get that P-R win for me! I understand you, because I'm in a motivational crisis right now... Maybe you cand like me, try other games?
Thanks for the support, everyone
I'm pretty sure I will return here with Stijn, but just need that break. Don't know how long, though, maybe a week or something.
rogvi97 - At the moment, I'm not playing PCM, but I'm playing GTA IV.
This year's Tour of the Basque Country saw an excellent Rui Costa, taking two of the first three stages. In the fourth stage, Jelle Vanendert seized the leader's jersey, after an off-day from Rui. Andy Schleck moved up to a second place, Rui was third. In the final time trial, Rui finished well in time to recapture the second place. Jelle Vanendert was the final winner.
Young Rider: Moreno Moser Best Team: Astana Pro Team
Tour de la Sarthe 2014
A minor French stage race, but another victory for the team. On the first stage, which was at the same date of Rui Costa's first victory in the Basque Country, Kenny Van Hummel sprinted to a victory and the first leader's jersey. He lost it in the time trial, but ended 3th nevertheless.
Young Rider: Adrien Petit Best Team: Bretagne-Schuller
Paris - Roubaix 2014
Tomorrow a peloton of more than 200 riders will challenge the infamous roads of Northern France. From the glamorous streets of Paris to the prestigious Velodrome. It's everyone's dream to enter this touch of history alone and raise his arms in disbelief. Only one thing matters: taking home your own personal cobbled stone.
I start with his expectations. At the moment, Cancellara seems real strong and nearly unbeatable, but I will try everything I can to be smarter, if not stronger. Martijn Maaskant, Jan Ghyselinck and Tom Veelers will be there for me along the way.
I'm going to get some rest now, I believe I'll need it. I've already started twice here, but I've never been this nervous. See you tomorrow,
Stijn Van Gent
Jesleyh - Well, it was just some quick-simming, so I can just race Paris - Roubaix when I feel like it
Maybe I'll race it tomorrow, though. Like you said, I can't keep away from my story but either way, still taking it easy now, not playing much PCM!
rogvi97 - Still haven't found a bazooka yet, but the subway in GTA IV is simply amazing and hitting people with baseball bats is just as much fun as ever
sutty68 - Thanks. Roubaix coming up!
Have found time and motivation to do Roubaix! I'll try to build up the story again, slowly. That's all for today!
A big day today. Will I fight for the win here? I certainly hope so!
Though I'm afraid I might've started my season too hard too early. I already gave full gas down under, and I'm in desperate need for a break!
Last year, Tom Boonen made a brilliant move that got him his fourth win here. This year, all eyes are on Cancellara and myself.
The Race
My legs weren't fantastic today and I realized I would need tactics if I wanted to win here. I felt I only had one good acceleration in my legs today. I wasn't as much at the front as I'd like.
Cancellara and Vanbilsen made their move pretty early in the race and caught me off guard!
I felt this might last to the finish. It was still 70 km left to go, but I had a gut feeling. I went chasing after them. It hurt like hell!
I passed the breakaway and a minute later I joined the two leaders. It was now the three of us against the rest!
Unfortunately, we regrouped, and I knew my race was over.
The expected attacks came eventually and I had no answer. Seeing Offredo go off probably hurt even more than my legs.
When I turned on the Velodrome, I was on Ladagnous' wheel for the sprint. There were 8 riders in front of us, so we'd be sprinting for the 9th place.
Offredo gave the audience something to cheer about! What a brilliant win. This will give his career a boost for sure!
A meager consolidation, but I won the sprint for the 9th place. I was right, I need a break desperately.
I'm taking a break now. And I need it. To be honest, I overestimated myself a little. I thought I could keep up a great form from January to now. Turns out it doesn't work this way. Maybe I'm too young to keep it up like that. I'll learn from this for next year, you can be sure of that!
All in all, I'm very happy, though. I won two Classics, so I have no reason to complain! I showed everyone I'm strong enough to win, now I just need the extra endurance to win the races with +250 km!
See you soon,
Stijn
Edited by Ian Butler on 03-04-2013 11:57
I think this shows Stijn will need one or two more teammates that can handle the cobbles. He's always on his own way too soon. When you had the transfer period, I remember saying Argos would be great for Willy, but not so good for Stijn. Maybe he'll have to look at his options for next year?
Aside from the race, glad to see you're updating, even if it's at a slower pace. You're probably still faster then 95% of the other stories though
Btu yeah, take your time and the updates will come when they wanna come
Wow, Offredo. Didn't expect that.
A shame about Stijn, but a 9th place isn't bad for his age
And winning 2 classics means that his classics season was pretty good
Ollfardh - He surprised me just as much as he surprised you
Stijn's contract finished in October 2015 and to be honest I think he won't stay with Argos. Argos is now a real big hilly/GC team, but Stijn doesn't have too much support. The few sprinters that are left are usually 100% dedicated to Jon Degenkolb.
Jesleyh - 9th is not bad indeed Thanks!
sutty68 - Thanks!
Jakstar22 - That's all he can do
Well, stats are progressing, fastly! A warning to all followers, Between this and another year, Stijn will probably become a world star, looking at the stats he's he's developing. But I must say it's not unrealistic. Next year he'll be 25 (good year for sprinter) and look at Sagan
I have so much to tell you today I don't know where to begin. There is so much good news. I'll just start with the classics review, move on to the media, straight to race results and finish with some excellent, excellent news!
Classics Review
Nothing like a nice piece of tradition. Like every year, here's the overview of my classic year.
Omloop
K-B-K
M - SR
E3
GW
RvV
PR
2012
21th
28th
DNE
17th
19th
15th
19th
2013
2nd
5th
6th
9th
4th
7th
5th
2014
2nd
3rd
14th
1st
1st
3rd
9th
I guess those two bold figures say it all. After a good yet disappointing start and a mediocre San Remo, I finally reeled in my first Classic victory, followed by my second two days later. The early season was a bit too long for me, though. All in all, these last few months were the best of my life. Winning E3 felt better than winning that Tour-stage last year, to be honest!
De Gentenaar - Edition Van Gent
Because of my great season, De Gentenaar, Vlaanderen's finest sports-paper, had a lengthy interview with me and they dedicated their entire Monday-paper to me, partly because my name allows it. It's called De Gentenaar - Edition Van Gent. It features a small biography of me, my interview, my biggest moments in my career and much more. But there is also an interesting opinion piece, written by Tom Steels, a former sprinting champion. First he talks a bit about my capacities as a classics rider and a sprinter, and then he forms a list of the World's fastest/best sprinters of the moment. That was a big surprise, here:
It's only one man's list but still, I never expected to be this high up in the list. It motivates me to work even harder on my sprint! However, Van Avermaet is obviously my biggest competitor for the national jersey in June!
Ardennes Classics
The Ardennes Classics were a disaster. There's nothing to be said, really. Gilbert won the Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne, Kiryienka won Liège. Our team was nowhere near the front. Rodriguez hasn't performed very well since joining us. We hope he'll do better in the Giro.
Tour de Romandie
Rui Costa's plan for this year, if you remember it, is paying off. He decided to concentrate on one week stage races. After a second place in the Basque Country, he takes a stage win and the final classification in the Tour de Romandie!
General Classification
1
Rui Costa
Team Argos-Shimano
18h04'48
IanButler
2
Mathieu Ladagnous
FDJ-BigMat
+ 2
3
Andy Schleck
Radioshack Nissan Trek
+ 12
4
Robert Gesink
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 39
5
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas-Cannondale
+ 1'50
6
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team
+ 1'52
7
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo Bank
+ 2'06
8
Wout Poels
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'12
9
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Astana Pro Team
+ 2'31
10
Tiago Machado
Radioshack Nissan Trek
+ 3'48
SPECIAL NEWS
And last but not least... I'll let you read the article yourself!
Belgium's Wouters to return!
Willy Wouters, Belgium's next talent, is returning to the road. After a prestigious victory in Tirreno - Adriatico, the time trialist decided to quit road racing and went into the triathlon milieu. After a few months of absence, the peloton can welcome Wouters back. It is expected he will start in the upcoming Californian Road.
Willy Wouters, aged 23, was Belgium's next stage race contender. With two victories in Tirreno - Adriatico and a tenth place in his debut Tour de France, the young climber/time trialist is considered to be one of the finest upcoming talents. Wouters, also well known for his unjust suspension in 2012, was well on his way to become Belgium's first Tour de France winner after Lucien Van Impe.
But then, only a few months ago, he parted ways and left road racing. He's had some mediocre success in triathlon, most noticeably his biking skills, of course. Now, Willy Wouters has decided to return to the peloton, to return home: "Road racing is where my heart is. This is something I had to try, but it doesn't feel right. I belong on the road, and right now I can't even see why I left in the first place. I hope the team will still have me, so I can build a most beautiful career."
Directeur Sportif from Team Argos - Shimano has already let Wouters know that he's more than welcome to return and even offered him a well coveted spot at the Tour de France: "Willy has always been one of our biggest talents. We always tried to support him best we can, even when he decided to try triathlon. We're glad he's seen his way and we even demand he rides the Tour. We know he can do better than last year. He and Stijn Van Gent will be our two absolute leaders. They're both young, so it's kind of a risk, but both already have a Tour de France victory behind their names so we have absolute confidence in both of them!
You here that? The next blog will return as: DOUBLE FEATURE! I, for one, am thrilled!
jk, hope you find your motivation soon to continue, and reach a hundred pages! 
and hitting people with baseball bats is just as much fun as ever 
