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Modern Times, Old Roads | The End
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 15-04-2014 21:40
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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admirschleck - Like cunego said, one rider stories can go quite fast sometimes 
cunego59 - I thought I'd get a reaction from you with Nerz winning the RR  |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 15-04-2014 21:42
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8059
Joined: 22-06-2009
PCM$: 650.00
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Ian Butler wrote:
admirschleck - Like cunego said, one rider stories can go quite fast sometimes
Not this fast... this is a whole new level. Next week it's going to be 2018. 
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 15-04-2014 22:20
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Team Leader
Posts: 7297
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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This is really fast pace. 3 pages a night pretty much  But I love it. Always something for me to wake up to and read!
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 16-04-2014 00:13
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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So close with the Nationals, but great riding in Austria
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| welker3257 |
Posted on 16-04-2014 00:30
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2336
Joined: 29-05-2013
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So close in Belgium, but I'm sure that jersey won't elude Matty for long 
Gig 'em Aggies
Fast N' Loud Cycling Project - ICL
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 00:56
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 16-04-2014 08:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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MreSuperstar - That's a possibility 
Jakstar22 - Glad you like it! Thanks
the_hoyle - Austria was a confidence boost after the lost sprint at the RR. Now on to the rest of the season, without a jersey though 
welker3257 - Hope not! |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 16-04-2014 08:50
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 16-04-2014 09:58
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Hey, that's what happens sometimes |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 16-04-2014 09:58
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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 Tour de Pologne - Stage 1
We're at the Tour of Pologne (Poland). I wasn't supposed to start here, but with my recent results and Michael Matthews' injury, I came to the start here as the main sprinter for the team. Let's make the most of it!
Profile Flat, fast. I hope to sprint for the victory.
The race was extremely windy and that made it tough, which played into my hands. The peloton completely broke up, ruining the entire race for some riders who are here for the general classification.
I don't believe anyone was fresh in the sprint. We were all empty and just pushing our bodies towards the finish line.
Three of us were battling for the win: Hushovd, Trentin and myself.
I made it! Feels great to score another victory in the World Tour!
| 1 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | 3h46'47 | | 2 | Thor Hushovd | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 3 | Matteo Trentin | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 4 | José JoaquÃn Rojas | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 5 | Francesco Gavazzi | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 6 | Oscar Gatto | Cannondale | s.t. | | 7 | Barry Markus | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 8 | Maarten Wynants | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | Francisco José Ventoso | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 10 | Moreno Hofland | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. |
Tour de Pologne - Stage 2
It'd be an interesting race, in the leader's jersey. Every World Tour stage race I've started so far, I've come in possession of the leader's jersey. Which is kinda cool. (late night edit: I have forgotten about de Tour de Suisse, which wasn't the best experience)
Profile Today's stage is longer. I hope to defend my jersey here!
The guys were great again today. They worked all day to keep the break at only 3 minutes. We're taking no risks!
But for the sprint I was on my own. I latched on to the lead-out train set up by Belkin.
But I was just not good enough. My legs weren't as strong as yesterday and I was badly placed. You don't win sprints that way.
One day you win, the next day you lose and finish 11th. It's all part of the game here.
| 1 | Barry Markus | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 5h10'41 | | 2 | Kevin Reza | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 3 | Kris Boeckmans | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 4 | Francisco José Ventoso | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 5 | Moreno Hofland | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 6 | Francesco Gavazzi | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 7 | Lloyd Mondory | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 8 | Matteo Trentin | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | José JoaquÃn Rojas | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 10 | Kenny Dehaes | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 11 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 12 | Raymond Kreder | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 13 | Yauheni Hutarovich | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 14 | Thor Hushovd | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 15 | Bernhard Eisel | Team Sky | s.t. |
Tour de Pologne - Stage 3
I tried to forget stage 2 as soon as possible. I lost the leader's jersey but in the end that's not too bad for the team, gives them some more rest.
Profile I hope I can sprint at the front again today.
The peloton took it easier than the past two days today. It was a half rest day, which I didn't mind!
But for the sprint, the pace went up, obviously. The same trains as we've seen before. I latched on and hoped for the best.
It was better, but I wasn't good enough to win. The Belgian Champion outsprints me again. I finish 3th.
| 1 | Kris Boeckmans | Lotto Belisol | 2h57'44 | | 2 | Barry Markus | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 3 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 4 | José JoaquÃn Rojas | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 5 | Francisco José Ventoso | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 6 | Matteo Trentin | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 7 | Oscar Gatto | Cannondale | s.t. | | 8 | Kenny Dehaes | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 9 | Moreno Hofland | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 10 | Gert Steegmans | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. |
Of course, I also have the General Classification of the Tour for you, in case you missed it! I also included the San Sébastian result.
 Tour de France | 1 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | 93h45'08 | | 2 | Rui Costa | Lampre - Merida | + 1'14 | | 3 | Chris Horner | Lampre - Merida | + 2'09 | | 4 | Alberto Contador | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 4'41 | | 5 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto Belisol | + 5'28 | | 6 | Richie Porte | Team Sky | + 9'01 | | 7 | Michał Kwiatkowski | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 11'36 | | 8 | Sergio Henao | Team Sky | + 12'19 | | 9 | Bradley Wiggins | Team Sky | + 14'13 | | 10 | Michael Rogers | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 23'00 |
 San Sébastian | 1 | Rui Costa | Lampre - Merida | 5h51'08 | | 2 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | + 49 | | 3 | Simon Gerrans | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 4 | Peter Sagan | Cannondale | + 1'18 | | 5 | Sergio Henao | Team Sky | s.t. | | 6 | Thomas Voeckler | Team Europcar | + 1'55 | | 7 | Simon Spilak | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 8 | Igor Antón | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 9 | Tejay Van Garderen | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 10 | Carlos Betancur | AG2R La Mondiale | + 2'41 |
There are four stages left in the Tour of Pologne. Two flat stages and two hilly stages. With the tough hilly stages, I can forget about the General Classification, but with the two flat stages, I decided to make my prime goal the Points Classification. The current standing:
| 1 | Barry Markus | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 53 | | 2 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | 48 | | 3 | Matteo Trentin | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | 46 | | 4 | Kris Boeckmans | Lotto Belisol | 46 | | 5 | José JoaquÃn Rojas | Movistar Team | 46 |
I also have some hot news for you!
Orica - GreenEdge presented its top signing for 2015:
(drum roll, please)
Ritchie Porte!
The Australian stage racer will be our absolute leader for the coming season in one of the grand tours. We can start dreaming of having an Australian team win a Grand Tour!
See you later!
Matt
Edited by Ian Butler on 16-04-2014 10:02
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| krisa |
Posted on 16-04-2014 10:02
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3962
Joined: 12-04-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice win in stage 1
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 16-04-2014 11:01
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Sprinter
Posts: 1765
Joined: 27-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Great results in Tour of Pologne, also very weird Tour GC... I mean, Horner and Costa in the top 3?? That's not possible in real life I think . Well, with Horner you never know... |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 16-04-2014 11:40
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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krisa - Thanks
TimoCycling - It was a very weird Tour GC indeed there was a cobbled stage which messed up some of the simulated gameplay, though
Don't underestimate the power of the old Horner, though |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 16-04-2014 11:40
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Tour de Pologne - Stage 4
Profile A profile where anything is possible. A mass sprint seems likely, but the finale invites attacks, too.
Things got real interesting when Stannard, Jungels and Uran disrupted the sprint preparation with a strong attack. Albasini was quick to follow and I put myself in his wheel.
We stayed ahead and worked well together. I pokered a bit and stayed at the tail, getting ready for a final jump!
Less than a kilometer from the finish, I made my move. By some miracle, I kept up my effort before the sprinting peloton, and I finished with a gap! What a great way to win!
| 1 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | 4h05'00 | | 2 | Moreno Hofland | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 13 | | 3 | Rigoberto Urán | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 4 | Arthur Vichot | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 5 | Barry Markus | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 6 | Francesco Gavazzi | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 7 | Thor Hushovd | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 8 | Francisco José Ventoso | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 9 | Kevin Reza | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 10 | Bob Jungels | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. |
This gets me back in the lead in the General Classification.
Tour de Pologne - Stage 5
So I'm back in the GC lead, but can I keep it today?
Profile It seems an impossible task to keep the lead today. This is a tough stage. Albasini is already far back on the GC so he will instead assist me and try to save the jersey.
Our team did its best to keep up a steady pace. But at the times it went uphill, I was counting on Albasini. We tried to counter attacks that were potentially dangerous. Albasini would react, I would drift along and so we'd neutralize the attack.
This allowed some of our team mates to return and make the pace again.
Our tactic was quite successful and we were heading towards the final climb with a thinned out peloton. Now I needed to survive the climb...
I was able to stay at the front quite well, actually. Better than expected!
But the attack by Uran was impossible to react to. He takes the victory and the jersey. I gave it my everything but I couldn't keep up. Still, I finish very high up and remain in a good position for the GC.
| 1 | Rigoberto Urán | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | 3h58'15 | | 2 | Ryder Hesjedal | Garmin Sharp | + 53 | | 3 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 4 | Michele Scarponi | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 5 | Tanel Kangert | Astana Pro Team | + 1'06 | | 6 | Sylwester Szmyd | Movistar Team | + 1'21 | | 7 | José Serpa | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 8 | Robert Gesink | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | Tony Gallopin | Lotto Belisol | + 1'31 | | 10 | Francesco Gavazzi | Astana Pro Team | s.t. |
So where does this result put me in the GC?
General Classification after stage 5 | 1 | Rigoberto Urán | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | 19h58'26 | | 2 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | + 26 | | 3 | Michele Scarponi | Astana Pro Team | + 1'07 | | 4 | José Serpa | Lampre - Merida | + 1'35 | | 5 | Robert Gesink | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 6 | Sylwester Szmyd | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 7 | Francesco Gavazzi | Astana Pro Team | + 1'45 | | 8 | Tony Gallopin | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 9 | Bob Jungels | Trek Factory Racing | + 2'12 | | 10 | Thor Hushovd | BMC Racing Team | + 2'19 |
26 seconds. With another hilly stage, that'll only grow. Too bad, I really wanted to fight for the overall victory in this race.
Tour de Pologne - Stage 6
Profile It seems less exhausting than yesterday's stage. I'm feeling super strong but this isn't my terrain. However, I will regret it if I don't try. So today I will try to take back the leader's jersey!
With Albasini on my side, I had the perfect comrad to attack the leader Uran!
We made him sweat, that's for sure. But at the moment we weren't getting away just yet. I was feeling stronger and stronger.
10 kilometers later we gave it another shot! Uran followed.
Still, this wasn't a bad situation. Uran worked with us, given that we could distance ourselves from the rest of the peloton this way. He didn't fear me so why not? I took shorter relays and let Albasini pick up most of the slack. I still had a plan.
Kristijan Durasek survived at the front and took the victory here. Too bad the boni seconds were gone!
On the final climb, I made my move. Uran was visibly tired from the work at the front. I just needed a gap from about 15 seconds, I could take back the rest in the sprint stage!
So how had I done?
| 1 | Kristijan Durasek | Lampre - Merida | 5h35'56 | | 2 | Alessandro Vanotti | Astana Pro Team | + 1'12 | | 3 | Stijn Devolder | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 4 | Anthony Geslin | FDJ.fr | + 1'30 | | 5 | Fabricio Ferrari | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | s.t. | | 6 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | + 3'10 | | 7 | Rigoberto Urán | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 3'15 | | 8 | Michael Albasini | Orica GreenEdge | + 3'25 | | 9 | Thomas Dekker | Garmin Sharp | + 6'09 | | 10 | Ryder Hesjedal | Garmin Sharp | + 6'22 |
Five seconds, that wasn't enough! On the GC, I was 21 seconds behind now.
Tour de Pologne - Stage 7
Time for the final stage. Can we still make a grab for yellow? 21 seconds is a lot, but not impossible.
Profile We had spend an entire hour last night making up a battle plan. In this final stage, we'd try to put Uran on a distance ánd go for the bonification seconds. A victory and a 11 second gap was enough for the overall victory. If we could do that! But that's a big 'if'...
We kept our noses clean during the entire race. Everyone was saving for our final move. Then it was time. I was ready!
Our plan was working. The peloton was cracking and splitting up. We had no idea where Uran was, though. We were hoping he was far enough behind.
At one point, our train even broke loose from the entire pack. I sprinted harder than ever and didn't stop until I had crossed the line, I was fighting for every second. Would this get a gap?
| 1 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | 3h38'07 | | 2 | Kris Boeckmans | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 3 | Thor Hushovd | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 4 | Jens Keukeleire | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 5 | Raymond Kreder | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 6 | Barry Markus | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 7 | Kevin Reza | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 8 | Matteo Trentin | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | Michael Albasini | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 10 | José JoaquÃn Rojas | Movistar Team | s.t. |
No, no gap! That means I finish 2nd in the General Classification. So close!
| 1 | Rigoberto Urán | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | 29h15'44 | | 2 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | + 11 | | 3 | Kristijan Durasek | Lampre - Merida | + 2'44 | | 4 | Stijn Devolder | Trek Factory Racing | + 4'04 | | 5 | Michele Scarponi | Astana Pro Team | + 4'19 | | 6 | Robert Gesink | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 4'47 | | 7 | José Serpa | Lampre - Merida | + 5'00 | | 8 | Sylwester Szmyd | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 9 | Anthony Geslin | FDJ.fr | + 5'05 | | 10 | Bob Jungels | Trek Factory Racing | + 5'37 |
| 1 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | 121 | | 2 | Barry Markus | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 84 | | 3 | Thor Hushovd | BMC Racing Team | 77 | | 4 | Francesco Gavazzi | Astana Pro Team | 74 | | 5 | José JoaquÃn Rojas | Movistar Team | 71 |
And that's the end of a very interesting, exciting and tough week. Wow. I'm a bit let down that I just missed out on the overall victory, but I can't be disappointed when I look at what I did. In the end, I took three victories and the points jersey. And a result like this gives me great hope for the future, maybe I can come and win this one day.
I just want to share something the DS said about me in the press conference. I'm very proud of it:
Matt's performance was a surprise to us, I admit. The boy has got talent, that we knew, but I don't think anyone knows his full potential, not even himself. The way he fought for the victory on hillslopes, it makes us wonder just what he's capable of. We'll do everything we can to keep him in our team.
I'm very happy at the moment! Next is the Eneco Tour, so I'll be glad to be returning to Belgium to race!
See you there,
Matthias |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 16-04-2014 11:59
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Team Leader
Posts: 7297
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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2nd is a fantastic position! Amazing race. Good Luck in the Eneco Tour as well
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 16-04-2014 12:00
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2730
Joined: 18-08-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Oh wow, some great wins, and some incredible hills performances.
Glad to see you dominate the points, and the GC is amazing. |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 16-04-2014 12:05
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8059
Joined: 22-06-2009
PCM$: 650.00
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That's clearly a gap!  Amazing 2nd though and the couple of stage wins.
Especially impressive for a race that he wasn't scheduled to be in.
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| welker3257 |
Posted on 16-04-2014 12:57
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2336
Joined: 29-05-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Matt is clearly better on hills than I thought
Gig 'em Aggies
Fast N' Loud Cycling Project - ICL
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 16-04-2014 13:13
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Matthias certainly enjoyed his time in Poland
And Porte to GreenEdge |
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 16-04-2014 13:23
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Sprinter
Posts: 1765
Joined: 27-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Suddenly Matt learned to be a hilly rider! Great work! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 16-04-2014 17:03
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Jakstar22 - Thanks! Eneco should be interesting
The Hobbit - The points were quite exciting until the hilly stages and Matt took quite a lead Thanks!
Mresuperstar - Yeah, I thought that was a gap, too. They screwed me out of a win! Yeah, I definitely don't regret going there
welker3257 - He might surprise you even further along the way
sutty68 - Poland was a nice time, yeah. Signing Porte was a long and hard process but we managed to get him!
TimoCycling - He still has lots to learn, though Thanks!
Cheers, guys. I'm not at home this evening but I still have about 2 - 3 hours so I might get in another update. Not sure yet, though |
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