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[EPIC] Belkin Pro Cycling Team
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 03-09-2014 16:41
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World Champion
Posts: 11971
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Ollfardh wrote:
knockout wrote:
Is it really coincidence that Kelderman signs his new longterm contract in the same moment as Brouwer leaves?
It's my way of saying, don't bother to make any offers on Kelderman, I'm not trading him 
Jesleyh is going to be so dissapointed
Edited by SSJ2Luigi on 03-09-2014 16:46
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 05-09-2014 12:33
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Post-tour
While the Tour de France is still ongoing, though not very good for us, we can already look forward to the next races. Mollema will be riding a few criteriums in Boxmeer, Herentals and Heist, before going to Poland, where he will lead the squad in the next WT race. At the same time, Jorge Cristobal Riquelme and Luis Leon Sanchez will lead the team in the Clasica San Sebastian. A few days later there's the London - RideSurrey Classic, where we send a strong team in support of Willem Brouwer.
Regarding the Tour, the abandon of Laurens Ten Dam after a fall hurt the team a lot, but we still hope to get the top 10 we need with Bauke Mollema. The sprint train isn't doing much better, as Theo Bos and Mark Renshaw can't seem to get a train going. We gave up on the hopes of a stage win, everything for the general classification now!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 09-09-2014 09:16
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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2014 planning
We are starting to look forward to the transfer period and next season with some more contrat extensions. Young Belgian cobbler Sep Vanmarcke will stay with the team 3 more years. We hope Sep can repeat his big Paris-Roubaix win of tihs year, but we can settle for less as well.
Definitely staying:
Jorge Cristobal Riquelme
Wilco Kelderman
Sep Vanmarcke
Newcomers:
Mangere Kaha (neo-pro)
Most likely staying:
Moreno Hofland
Lars Boom
Robert Gesink
Bauke Mollema
Tom-Jelte Slagter
Can go for the right offer:
Jack Bobridge
Jetse Bol
Theo Bos
Stef Clement
Marc Goos
Steven Kruijswijk
Tom Leezer
Paul Martens
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Mark Renshaw
Luis León Sánchez
Bram Tankink
Laurens ten Dam
Maarten Tjallingii
Jos van Emden
Dennis van Winden
Robert Wagner
Maarten Wynants
Most likely leaving:
Graeme Brown
Juan Manuel Garate
David Tanner
Definitely leaving:
Willem Brouwer (Garmin)
Edited by Ollfardh on 09-09-2014 09:16
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 15-09-2014 15:19
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Tour and San Sebastian
As we said before, the Tour de France didn't go too well for us. On the last day, Tom-Jelte Slagter gave us a second place on the Champs Elysees, our best result of the race.
Team leader Bauke Mollema disappointed with a 13th place overall, and without any notable results. We do understand the abandon of Laurens Ten Dam did not help him, but still we expect better. Especialy because the top 10 was an important goal for our sponsors. We cannot be happy about our sprint train Renshaw/Bos either. Bad team work led to only 1 top 10 result for each of them, again way below our expectations.
From the Tour, we went to the Clasica San Sebastian, where things went better with our fresh riders. Jorge Cristobal Riquelme and Luis Leon Sanchez got us a 5th and a 6th place, after very attractive racing. We look forward to what they can do in the Vuelta!
Edited by Ollfardh on 15-09-2014 16:31
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 15-09-2014 16:22
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World Champion
Posts: 11971
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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I spy with my little eye some names in the right list 
Jesleyh's reaction
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 17-09-2014 10:18
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Team Leader
Posts: 5533
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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Androni is more than interested in a few of your riders so I expect we will have a few talks during the transfer season.
Spoiler My name may be one of the bigger ones
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 17-09-2014 10:33
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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I doubt Androni has a rider worthy to trade for LLS, well maybe your draft pick 
Edited by Ollfardh on 17-09-2014 10:34
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 17-09-2014 11:23
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Seems like Belkin needs to strengthen their Grand Tour squad, or maybe there were just unlucky in Giro & Tour. You'll always have Paris-Roubaix though. 
Interested in Nordhaug. Wasn't he considered to be fired anyway after that Giro?
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 17-09-2014 11:46
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Shonak wrote:
Seems like Belkin needs to strengthen their Grand Tour squad, or maybe there were just unlucky in Giro & Tour. You'll always have Paris-Roubaix though.
Interested in Nordhaug. Wasn't he considered to be fired anyway after that Giro?
11th Giro, 13th Tour (after a lot of weird stages). I call it bad luck and will get revenge next year!
Nordhaug, well he's most likely leaving. We decided a trade would benefit us more than firing him though
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 19-09-2014 10:53
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Tour de France review
While we had a great Giro, the 2013 Tour de France went really bad for us. We had GC ambitions with Mollema and a sponsor goal, while we were also counting on some sprint points with Bos and Renshaw. Neither of the was achieved and our best result can from a breakaway oin the last stage. Our ambitions in the rankings will have to be adjust, but let's start by reviewing the race.
Team rating
Theo Bos - 4
As our lead sprinter, Theo could only get 1 top 10 result, and we can't be happy with that.
Steven Kruijswijk - 6
Occasionaly in the breakaway, mostly protecting Mollema after Ten Dam abandoned. Made the most of it.
Bauke Mollema - 5
Our expectations were big, but despite some brafe attacks, it just wasn't good enough for Bauke. With Ten Dam, it might have been different.
Mark Renshaw - 5
As mentioned above, our sprint train failed hard, Mark got 1 top 10 result, not good enough.
Tom-Jelte Slagter - 8
Tom had a good race, going into the break when he could, and it payed off with a 2nd place on the Champs Elysees.
Bram Tankink - 5
Bram also had to move one place up as Ten Dam abandoned, but couldn't quite live up to the expectations.
David Tanner - 4
A completely anonymous race from David, not what we expect of a Belkin rider
Laurens Ten Dam - 5
While you can't really blame a guy for crashing, we can't give him a good score either. better luc in the Vuelta, Laurens!
Maarten Wynants - 6
Maarten got in the breakaway once, but couldn't score any points. Not bad, but not good either.
General rating
Best rider: Nairo Quintana
While Froome would've been the obvious answer, the way Quintana attacked gave the youngster the edge. No one likes Froome anyway.
Biggest surprise: Cameron Meyer
We heard he's been training in the mountains, but we never expected him to handle a 3 week race that well. A lot of people are doubting him, but since we have no "most obvious doper" category, we give him the biggest surprise award.
Greatest disappointment: Bauke Mollema
Slightly biased maybe, but after a strong training program we wanted that top 10 badly. It was close in the end, but we missed a goal, so the disappointement is definitely there.
Best team: Movistar
Despite losing the race on the penultimate day, they managed to outscore Sky with results, the mountain jersey and the youth jersey. It's one of the first times this has happened, and in the biggest race of all, well done Movistar.
Most surprising team: BMC
The team combined for some good results and an 8th place for Van Garderen, 3 places above their intended goal. Their manager should be happy for once.
Most disappointing team: FDJ
Euskaltel would've been the obvious answer with only 20 points scored, but FDJ missed 2 goals in one race, that should hurt them equaly hard. Furthermore, they used their 3 best riders for this race. If they wanted to stay in the World Tour, I think they wasted their last chance.
Edited by Ollfardh on 19-09-2014 11:41
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 11:07
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 19-09-2014 11:14
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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Missed three goals? I think you'll find Pinot won Stage 20, securing our Medium Goal
Also a few stage podiums, many Top5's on stages and consistent breakaway action.
Plus we only missed a second goal by 1 stage placing (Stage 1 where Kittel beat Demare to the White jersey)
Edited by TheManxMissile on 19-09-2014 11:21
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 19-09-2014 11:46
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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2 failed goals is still a lot
Besides, Euskaltel did a bad race, but can still stay in the World Tour, while it's looking really bad for FDJ (especialy because they're not sending in startlists ). As an interesting development, another team not sending in startlists is AG2R. I would've thought them to be safe after a good Giro, but punishments etc bring them down on the rankings. Which means Orica is approaching them quite fast. Argos not too far behind either. Still possible for Euskaltel. And who knowns, maybe even Champion System
Just realising I'm typing this general info in my HQ, but well, 6 more startlists went out, including Vuelta
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 19-09-2014 12:13
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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Ah but the difference with FDJ is that i want to relegate (because you won't allow me to change over to Novo Nordisk) so we are probably performing closest to our goals out of anyone
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| knockout |
Posted on 19-09-2014 22:04
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7735
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 400.00
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Best rider: Nairo Quintana
While Froome would've been the obvious answer, the way Quintana attacked gave the youngster the edge. No one likes Froome anyway.
Best team: Movistar
Despite losing the race on the penultimate day, they managed to outscore Sky with results, the mountain jersey and the youth jersey. It's one of the first times this has happened, and in the biggest race of all, well done Movistar.
Spot on. And great choices you did there. (Definitly not biased )
Also the ranking development will be very interesting to follow during the Vuelta and the last classics!
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 20-09-2014 09:45
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Yeah, Sky looks pretty sure of the first place though. Behind Sky, it might be interesting
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| The Rider |
Posted on 20-09-2014 10:08
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Some generous ratings there for the team after the TDF, you could have give some 1s and 2s by the sound of it! |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 22-09-2014 09:39
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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August races and Vuelta
In the next few weeks, Belkin will be riding a few very important races. First of all, the Eneco Tour, a very important race for us as it is in Holland. We set a goal there to get a stage win, but the competition is very hard. Still, we hope Brouwer can surprise in a sprint, or maybe Sep Vanmarcke or Lars Boom on the cobbles.
At the same time we ride in the Vuelta a Burogs in Spain, Ten Dam will be there in preparation of the Vuelta, while Bauke Mollema seeks redemption after le Tour de France. Moreno Hofland gets his first race as main sprinter, we'll see if he can survive the lighter stage.
Next up is two classics, one in Holland again, the Dutch Food Valley Classic. Another big goal for us, with Willem Brouwer as the team leader. We hope Wimpie can get another win for us before he leaves the team, and this would be the perfect place to do this.
The same day we have the Tre Valli Varesine in Italy. A slightly hilly course, so we rely on Jorge Cristobal Riquelme. The rest of the team has to make the race hard enough to dorp most sprinters, and then we hope Jorge can finish it.
And then we have the Vuelta. Another goal to win a stage there, and we actually hope to do it on day 1 with the Team Time Trial. We have a strong squad for this, so let's see where we end up. We also have Jorge Cristobal Riquelme for a hilly sprint and Mark renshaw on the flat, Luis Leon Sanchez for a attack, or maybe even Laurens Ten Dam in the mountains if he's not going for the GC. Here's the full team:
 Jack Bobridge
 Lars Boom
Stef Clement
 Jorge Cristobal Riquelme
 Juan Manuel Gárate
Marc Goos
Mark Renshaw
Luis Leon Sanchez
Laurens Ten Dam
Edited by Ollfardh on 22-09-2014 09:40
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 25-09-2014 09:26
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Cerca, perro no cigarro
A good start from the boys in The Vuelta, we got a 2nd place in the opening team time trial. It was very closed, but in the end we lost 8 seconds to a very strong Garmin. Anold team, but they had solid time trialers to beat us. The stage win goal was very close, but we hope we can still pull it off later on.
We also want to show you this picture of a perfect line. Teams like BMC or Lotto can learn a bit from this.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 25-09-2014 10:35
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World Champion
Posts: 11971
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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We also want to show you this picture of a perfect line. Teams like BMC or Lotto can learn a bit from this.
to be fair, BMC and Lotto's were taken at the start of a small bump while Belkin's was way before said bump
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 29-09-2014 14:11
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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No, Eneco is not an important race for us
It was not our race this year, despite high expectations and a very strong team. Stage 1 ended with Brouwer finishing a disappointing 9th (back right).
He did better on stage 2, but unfortunately the break stayed away. Stage 3 was bad again, with Willem coming in 10th. But he real misery happened on stage 4, with Lars Boom taking a nap and missing the split. His GC ambitions are already over before the harder stages. In the sprint, Willem could once again not take advantage of a great Sep Vanmarcke leadout.
The time trial was great for Lars Boom, finishing 5th. Unfortunately, being 10 minutes down in the GC, it didn't really matter. Our hope the next few days would be Sep Vanmarcke.
And Sep did manage to survive the hilly stage, meaning he needed a good last stage on the cobbles for a decent GC.
Unfortunately there was some miscommunication and Sep thought we were working for Willem. No points on the stage and no points for the GC. But then again, Eneco Tour isn't an important race for us. Not at all.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
