Hi all, this is your appointment with my comment. Today there was the second stage of TDU, the route was pretty hilly. The expectation of my team were for Degenkolb; my leader today. The start for my team was very good with De Kort in the breakaway alone and winning the intermediate sprint.
With 50 km to go i start feeling tired (for the race of yesterday where i've made a big work to catch the breakaway) and when Degenkolb has lost the main group i must helped him. So i start again to catch the main group and Degenkolb and i rejoined to the group. Unfortunately in the next hill i was exauhsted and i can't stay in the group; with me also other 70 rider including Degenkolb and Domoulin. Naturally i can't rejoin again to the group and all my ambitions finished with it. A very bad day where i've unfortunately lost too much time I'm really unhappy, but congratulation to De Kort for his solo and for the Argos Kudos. Now i hope in one of the next stage. Surely i and my mates want to give at our team manager the satisfaction of a victory.
See you soon,
Stefano
Stage 3 and 4 were pretty boring for us. Marcel Kittel seems out of shape, as he keeps failing to stay in the peloton, we are seriously considering to send him home. Big props to the rest of the squad though, as they try to make the best out of it.
Tour Down Under, 4th stage
Ste's comment: Kittel continue to loose the main group
Hi,
I've finished to ride the 4th stage of TDU and today i've worked again for my leader Marcel Kittel. Today was another bad day for my team; in fact at the start i and De Kort where in the front of the peloton to control the breakaway doing an excelent job like in the previous stage. But like usually happen in this start of season in the last hill 15 km to go Marcel failed to stay in the main group, so all the team start to rejoin to the group but we were very tired for the stage before and with few km to go and the team of the group at maximum for the sprint we didn't catch them. This TDU doesn't seem a luck race for us but never say never maybe one of the next stage could be the right one for a team victory, at least this is my hope.
See you tomorrow for another stage with me,
Stefano
Tour Down Under, 5th stage
Ste's comment: Helping Kittel
Hi,
Today i think that there isn't a lot to comment, in fact like everystage of the TDU my objectif was to help Kittel to don't loose too much time and i've done it. At the end of the stage we loose 12 minutes and Kittel isn't disqualified fortunately, probably now the only possibility to win a stage for the team is in a sprint or breakaway...Finger crossed in a better future
Bye,
Stefano
Tour Down Under, 6th stage
Ste's comment: Finally a podium
Hi all,
It's me again with the story of the last stage of this Tour Down Under. I'm very happy, today my team reach a podium with Marcel in this amazing sprint.
I'm happy for him too because in this TDU he was the leader, but unfortunately he had lots of problem staying in the main group and the result weren't so good after this stage. But in the final one like a real champion he gives all and reach the 2nd place. I'm happy that today all the team and me in particular helps him catching the breakaway and staying in the front of the peloton.
That's all for now.
Bye and finger crossed for Tirreno,
Stefano
Edited by ste_18 on 06-11-2012 18:30
I trained very hard the last few weeks, and I'm ready for my first race, Paris is Nice. Is a funny name, but I like it. Doctor Fu thinks it will be riding circles around Eiffel Tower. I look at map and Paris has no mountains, only hills. This is really good for me. I am ready to leave tomorrow to join the rest of the team. Doctor Fu won't be coming, but he did give me a lots of vitamine capsules, so I ride very strong.
I heard Tour in Australia was not so good for the team, so I must try to do very good in Paris, we could use victory. I do not know who is team mates there, but I hope they will be strong. I am a bit nervous for first race in Europe, but when we start I just ride hard and bye-bye nervous!
I trained very hard the last few weeks, and I'm ready for my first race, Paris is Nice. Is a funny name, but I like it. Doctor Fu thinks it will be riding circles around Eiffel Tower. I look at map and Paris has no mountains, only hills. This is really good for me. I am ready to leave tomorrow to join the rest of the team. Doctor FU won't be comming, but he did give me a lots of vitamine capsules, so I ride very strong.
I heard Tour in Australia was not so good for the team, so I must try to do very good in Paris, we could use victory. I do not know who is team mates there, but I hope they will be strong. I am a bit nervous for first race in Europe, but when we start I just ride hard and bye-bye nervous!
I trained very hard the last few weeks, and I'm ready for my first race, Paris is Nice. Is a funny name, but I like it. Doctor Fu thinks it will be riding circles around Eiffel Tower. I look at map and Paris has no mountains, only hills. This is really good for me. I am ready to leave tomorrow to join the rest of the team. Doctor Fu won't be coming, but he did give me a lots of vitamine capsules, so I ride very strong.
I heard Tour in Australia was not so good for the team, so I must try to do very good in Paris, we could use victory. I do not know who is team mates there, but I hope they will be strong. I am a bit nervous for first race in Europe, but when we start I just ride hard and bye-bye nervous!
My first professional race, but I have to say, it was not very professional. So I make ready for the start, but there is no start canon. In Korea, we have start cannon. Of course, for safety reason, we don't use cannonball, we use dissident. But Paris have no start cannon, just some guy speaking gibberish. Finaly he said depart, so I ask where is departy? He look at me confused. Next is team manager shouting I should start racing, he was very angry, I think at the french person.
So I start riding, was going very fast. But was very short race, suddenly there was finish line. I heard I win 3rd place! Very happy now, this is a great day for Korea! The first cycling points ever for our glorius nation!
Also, weird thing happen after race. Mister ASO tells me congratulations with podium, so I go to podium. There they sent me away, I was not invited to this party either. Then why tell me I win podium?
But still, I'm very happy with my result. I already sent telegram to out great leader, but is sleepy time in Korea now. I hope he will be very happy when he wakes up!
My first professional race, but I have to say, it was not very professional. So I make ready for the start, but there is no start canon. In Korea, we have start cannon. Of course, for safety reason, we don't use cannonball, we use dissident. But Paris have no start cannon, just some guy speaking gibberish. Finaly he said depart, so I ask where is departy? He look at me confused. Next is team manager shouting I should start racing, he was very angry, I think at the french person.
So I start riding, was going very fast. But was very short race, suddenly there was finish line. I heard I win 3rd place! Very happy now, this is a great day for Korea! The first cycling points ever for our glorius nation!
Also, weird thing happen after race. Mister ASO tells me congratulations with podium, so I go to podium. There they sent me away, I was not invited to this party either. Then why tell me I win podium?
But still, I'm very happy with my result. I already sent telegram to out great leader, but is sleepy time in Korea now. I hope he will be very happy when he wakes up!
~ Po-ding
Congratulations with your 3th place Kim!
Don't worry, the race of tomorrow will be longer
Kim Po-Ding has had a great start in Paris-Nice, he finished third in the prologue! We are statisfied, an hope he can pull off a win soon! Alvin van Asselt finished 68th.
I'm really unhappy, but congratulation to De Kort for his solo and for the Argos Kudos. Now i hope in one of the next stage. Surely i and my mates want to give at our team manager the satisfaction of a victory. 
and best of luck in Paris
