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Shy Vogel: Cobbles, Classics and a whole lotta History
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| fernando97 |
Posted on 27-10-2012 09:41
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It looks great already, keep it up!  |
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| baggieboys32 |
Posted on 27-10-2012 19:29
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Along with my Autobiography, It also seems right to give you all a look back at some key bits of the 2012 season. All the photo's come from my either my scrap book, or old newspapers but even so; It might be nice for us all to have a flick back through time!
They're aren't many photo's of my time at Exxon, it was limited to two part seasons, my only noteworthy result being 15th in the tour of Flanders, so I'll skip on to my first season with Garmin - Sharp, where I really began life as a pro cyclist!
The only photo I have from 2011, I guess it fits nicely with the prologue though, because it's of Juan Antonio Flecha taking his second consecutive Hell of the North Title.
We skip on to the 2012 season now, this is me in my first race on the cobbles for Garmin, in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. 8th place was enough to open some eyes, it showed my Tour of Flanders wasn't a Fluke!
I got to know Taylor during my time at Exxon, this is us chatting after Exxon folded, we initially went down different paths
The Tour of Flanders 2012, After we got on the road it became clear that Van Summeren and I were having polar-opposite days, he was feeling terrible which led to my promotion to leader on the road, 7th Place in that race is one of my proudest career moments!
A feat I later went on to emulate, Tom Boonen celebrates victory in Paris-Roubaix, to go 4 from 4 in the WT Cobbled Classics!
Garmin had a great all round year in 2012, Hesjedal won the Giro D'italia by over 2minutes!
As we got to June, I was still without a professional victory, Here's me with my all time mentor George Hincapie, trying to get me past the mental block that I could never finish off the job
Whatever he said to me that day worked, I took my first ever victory in the Pro-Peloton less than a week later, in the US RoadRace at the National Champs' Boy what a feeling that was!
After a long break from racing, I finally got to wear that jersey in the Eneco Tour. Me as the 2012 US National Champion
My season came to an end in the 2012 Paris-Tours, I was caught just a few hundred meters from the line after a late attack, leaving me finishing the 2012 season with just one win, not a great start then...
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 27-10-2012 23:58
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Tour de France Champion
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Really like the picture memories, nice work  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 28-10-2012 09:44
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Tour de France Champion
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Nice one |
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| baggieboys32 |
Posted on 30-10-2012 22:07
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Posts: 1981
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I was never a great fan of the TT bike, so you can imagine how happy I was to start the season on one! This is me at the Vuelta Andalucia, on my first day of the 2013 campaign.
My first picture of the cobbles that year comes from the Tour of Flanders. I had just one leaders role on cobbles that year, in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad where i claimed 3rd place. Here I'm ripping the peloton to shreds for Van Summeren towards the races end.
I finished that race in 12th place, after outsprinting last years dominator, Tom Boonen. This wasn't the first time he and I would be sprinting against each other in a cobbled classic!
My job throughout the 2013 Classics was to look after Van Summeren, I still grabbed a few decent placements and landed an improved contract for the following season however!
It was Cancellara who won both the RvV and the Paris Roubaix that year. I got 9th and 12th at just 22 Years of age. People were starting to predict big things for my future by now.
I gave it my all in the US NC's, but couldn't pull off my success of the previous season. I got 12th place, but hey, at least it was Taylor (Phinney) who nicked my title...
Finally! Most of the way through my second full season, and 4 season as a professional, I managed to raise my arms outside the National Champs'. Stage 7 of the Eneco Tour gave me that pleasure, I ended the race in a great 3rd place overall!
During my career, I was always in a battle for the title of greatest cyclist of our era. My opponent was Peter Sagan. He's just a year older than me, but he got off to a quicker start than i managed. Here winning the Clasica San Sébastien.
This year was also the season where i rode my first ever Grand Tour. It was mostly a quiet rce for me, working patiently for my leader Nicolas Roche, but I managed to grab a top10 after a breakaway on Stage 16.
Chris Froome was the star of that year, he won the Tour De France for a second consecutive year, before also taking the title in the Worlds TT.
My hill climbing capabilites developed a lot more later in my career, but I still managed to take 22nd in a very hilly WC route that year, outsprinting the great Philippe Gilbert!
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| fernando97 |
Posted on 30-10-2012 22:09
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Great style, I really like these pictured reviews!  |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 30-10-2012 23:04
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Tour de France Champion
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These photo reviews are just Great |
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| baggieboys32 |
Posted on 30-10-2012 23:21
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A season in one post
I just thought it added another layer of depth along with the book itself, glad you guys like them
Also, next "Chapter" will be coming in i'd guess the next hour
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 10:59
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| Daggen |
Posted on 30-10-2012 23:31
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Man the story is good. The pictures are beautiful. This is actually something completely new and it's really really good |
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| baggieboys32 |
Posted on 30-10-2012 23:48
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@Daggen - Wow! Cheers  That means a lot, also glad you like the images
Chapter 1b - Youth Contracts
Next chapter is up
Here's a link to Wattpad, or the downloadable copy for those of you who prefer that way- Chapter 1b - Youth Contracts
As always, the link is also in the first post
Edited by baggieboys32 on 30-10-2012 23:49
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 31-10-2012 09:32
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Tour de France Champion
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Very refreshing way of telling a story, like it! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 31-10-2012 11:57
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Tour de France Champion
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Its always nice to see something new being introduced in to a story |
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| Daggen |
Posted on 31-10-2012 22:14
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Really amazing
Edited by Daggen on 31-10-2012 22:15
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| baggieboys32 |
Posted on 31-10-2012 22:21
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Sprinter
Posts: 1981
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@All Thanks for the amazing response, I wasn't sure how people would react to it, as I'm aware there's a lot of reading involved, so it's great to hear people are enjoying it
2014 Would prove to be a season of twists for Shy Vogel, make sure not to miss out!
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| Pinktay3 |
Posted on 31-10-2012 22:24
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Shame i can't download the new part on the school computers  Now i have to wait until i get home |
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| baggieboys32 |
Posted on 31-10-2012 22:28
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Sprinter
Posts: 1981
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@Pinktay3 You could always read the online version?
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| Pinktay3 |
Posted on 02-11-2012 09:51
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Blocked on the school computers |
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| baggieboys32 |
Posted on 02-11-2012 14:27
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Posts: 1981
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2014 saw a change of Sponsor, with Garmin leaving the ranks of the pro-peloton. The new sponsor was BNP Paribas, and Alex Howes got us off to the perfect start, winning stage 3 Down Under.
My own season didn't begin until the GP De Marseillaise. I didn't get up to much, spending the day working for Alex.
My year of cobbles began in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, I was disappointed not to get a leading role here, but still managed to hang in for 14th place after my work on the front for Van Summeren ripped up the peloton.
2014 was not a great season for me, I fell out with the management early after being refused a single leading role on the cobbles. The new French sponsor wanted to focus on the European portion of our side, so despite feeling I was the better rider, I was forced to act as a final helper to the older Belgian, Johan VanSummeren.
Not that that means we had a bad season. I gave my all for VanSummeren in the hope of gaining some interest in me, and my work was enough to help Johann win the Ronde Van Vlandaaren!
The cobbles were spread between riders this year, Ballan took the Paris-Roubaix in style, with a 70km solo ride! After seeing the powerful BNP train he knew he couldn't wait for us to control the pace, and managed to go it alone all the way to the finish line. In the background you can just see VanSummeren as he sprints to 3rd place.
The theme of domestic continued when I made my first trip to the ardennes. Alberto Contador took a powerful victory in the Amstel Gold Race, whilst I experienced the hilly classics for the first time in my career.
As a team, the 2014 season was incredible, Daniel Martin became the second Giro D'Italia winner from our squad in 3years, taking victory by over 3minutes ahead of ex-teammate Andrew Talansky.
My season began to rise slightly in June, The US NC's gave me my first win of the season, I broke away late on in the race after Alex Howes gave his all to set me up. Something I was very grateful for as I'd had a depressing season, and he was probably the favourite going into the race.
From their it was back to Labour duties, this time in my first Tour De France. The Tour was a fantastic experience for me, and once i'd got the bug I knew I'd have to keep coming back!
Stage 5, Le Tour De France. I'd pencilled this one in as a possibility and after a conversation with my DS, we agreed to let me give it a shot. He didn't regret it, as I claimed both mine, and BNP-Paribas' first ever Tour stage victory!
Not long after the Tour de France, I signed a contract to move away from BNP-Paribas. Myself and the new sponsors didn't see eye to eye, and it'd been clear from early on that my time was up. My new team was to be E.ON Cycling, who were taking over from BMC.
With contract dealings complete, I was able to relax and enjoy the remainder of my time at a team full of guys who'd been very kind to me. My absolute highlight from the 2014 season, was when me and Ryder took first and second in the GP de Québec, my final salute to Garmin-Cervélo.
Edited by baggieboys32 on 02-11-2012 14:32
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 02-11-2012 15:44
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Tour de France Champion
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Once again another Great review
And a nice pic of you and Ryder at Quebec |
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| baggieboys32 |
Posted on 05-11-2012 01:52
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Yup that's right folks, the next chapter is here, link is both here, and as always, in the first post
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