Oh, btw its spelled dynasty
Well i had introduced Mikel anyway, and Johan is Sky Development
Its also a great way to keep motivation. If i get bored with one aspect i can switch or add in a new one
Not a dynasty yet but they will be!
Hello, and a warm welcome to you all! I am Malcolm Elliot, Team Director of Node4 Rexona.
*applause*
It's great to see so many people turn out for this team presentation here in Stoke. I know we had a decent season in 2012, and are an exciting prospect for 2013, but this is a greater response than i could ever have hoped for.
Lets dive straight into it then, and deal with the important things. After all that is why you are all here.
First up we should properly present our sponsors and partners for the 2013 season.
Our main sponsor remains Node4
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Our new co-sponsor is Rexona
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We are also in partnership with: Subaru, Pinarello, Schwalbe, SiS, Rudy Project, Corima and Northwave
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*polite applause*
We of course have a brand new jersey to reveal for the 2013 season. We sourced out a new designer especially for the job. He put in the time, and has produced a top quality jersey we hope to show off a few times atop the podium
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Credit to bwiggins for a great jersey
*polite applause*
Our bikes for 2013 are again provided by Pinarello. They have pulled out all the stops with their 2013 models, and the new Dogma just looks amazing, and according the riders, handles like a dream as well.
Spoiler
*strained applause*
But enough with the stalling i hear you cry! I know you want to meet the riders and don't want all this nonsense. But to understand how we are going to win you have to know all this background. Plus, you know, obligations and contracts and all that stuff. Anyway, its time to meet the team!
Please give a huge welcome to.... Node4 Rexona!!!
*applause*
We have Team Leaders: Luke Rowe
Luke is 22 years old and is from Cardiff, Wales. Luke spent 2012 with Team Sky, and is an up and coming sprinter.
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Michal Kwiatkowski
Michal is also 22 years old and is from Dzialyn, Poland. Michal spent 2012 with OPQ, and is an established time trialist.
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and Matt Cronshaw
Matt is 24 years old and is from Carnforth. Matt spent 2012 here at Node4 picking up some decent results. He is an still developing sprinter.
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We have Protected Riders: Rico Dene Rogers
Rico is 34 years old and is from Palmerston North, New Zealand. Rico spent 2012 here at Node4 picking up some decent results. He is an established sprinter.
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Scott Thwaites
Scott is 22 years old and is from Burley, UK. Scott spent 2012 with Endura and is a hot prospect on most terrains.
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and Philip Lavery
Philip is 22 years old and is from Dublin, Ireland. Philip spent 2012 here at Node4 picking up some good results. He is an up and coming classics rider
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We have Free Role: Marcin Bialoblocki
Marcin is 29 years old and is from Poland. Marcin spent 2012 here at Node4 picking up some decent results. He is a true heart on the line fighter.
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and Peter Williams
Peter is 26 years old and is from Southport, UK. Pete spent 2012 here at Node4 and was out most successful rider. He is a proper breakaway merchant.
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We have the Team Mates: Karl Hammarling
Karl is 19 years old and is from Stockholm, Sweden. Karl spent 2012 here at Node4 picking up some decent results. Karl is future star, we are sure.
David Clarke
David is 33 years old and is from Swadlincote, UK. David spent 2012 here at Node4 riding well in support. David is a puncher.
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Yanto Barker
Yanto is 32 years old and is from Hereford, UK. Yanto spent 2012 at UK Youth, and is a classic team player
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James Sampson
James is 26 years old and is from Huddersfield, UK. James spent 2012 here at Node4 riding great support. James is a perfect team mate to have.
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Andrew Magnier
Andy is 24 years old and is from Leek, UK. Andy spent 2012 here at Node4 riding great support. Andy is a perfect developing team mate.
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Lee Davis
Lee is 42 years old and is from Stonehouse, UK. Lee spent 2012 here at Node4 riding great support. Lee is the Grandfather of the team.
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And there you have it, Node4 Rexona!!
*big applause*
Like last season we also have a small womens team, headlined by Junior World Champion Lucy Garner!
*wolf whistles*
Its time for me to mention the backroom staff who keep the team organized over the year.
Firstly there is of course myself, Malcolm Elliot, as Team Director. But we also have:
Bill Nickson - Director Sportif
Mikel Hammarling - Director Sportif
and several Mechanics, Trainers, Scouts and Doctors to keep the team moving across the season.
We have also confirmed our Calendar for the season, and out Goals are about to be posted. So please have a look after this presentation.
Our final thing to cover here today. After i am finished speaking there will be a short musical performance, before the riders and staff head off to various rooms across the center. You are welcome to attend any sessions, and our staff and riders will happily answer any questions you have to ask.
Thank you for coming and listening to me waffle on. We hope to see many of you at various events throughout the season, so until then...
Adieu!
*rapturous applause*
This piece was selected by our youngest rider Karl Hammarling. He hopes you enjoy it, and appreciate the reference.
It’s such a joy that I get to write again! I know I said that I wouldn’t be doing this for 2013, but the 2012 blog was so popular and successful that Malcolm pretty much begged me to do it again. And how could I say no? I mean, hes the boss, if I said no he’d probably make me…. Do something not nice…
Moving away from that subject. Welcome back to my blog! It’s certainly been a while since I last wrote anything. I would say there’s a lot to catch you up on but not really. I did update you not long before the end of the year. So what can I say…
Christmas was fun. Spent it in Bristol with my parents and family. Had some snow, ate a lot, had arguments, the usual Christmas I guess. Dragged dad out on the bike on Boxing Day, he was not best pleased, mostly because it was so bloody cold, and partly because he was hung over. It was around Christmas that I introduced my parents to Lucy. Yep we are still dating, which is endless amusement to the rest of the team, and endless pain to Malcolm and the other staff.
Of course there was the Team Presentation on the 3rd. That was a long day. Hundreds of press and fans turned up, it was incredible. I had to spend a good two hours answering questions after the presentation, and I must say the British media really has no idea about cycling, for the most part. Someone even asked me if I was going to the Tour de France! I would have provided a witty answer, but by that point I was tired and frustrated. I don’t like the media, they get all up in your face and bombard you hoping for some sort of magical response. The response doesn’t have to be vocal, anything will do for them.
Oh yes! I’ve moved. As you might (but probably didn’t notice) my Residence has changed. I moved out of my parents house and have a flat in Stoke now. It’s a simple two bed flat that I’m sharing with Philip. Its small but its close to the HQ and cheap, so what more could I ask for. We’ve only been there are couple of weeks but Phil seems to be a good guy to live with. He’s fairly clean, and will always make sure I go out training with him. Should be good for my development.
We leave for a Training Camp in two days. We are going back to Lisbon, like we did last year. It’s more of a team bonding camp than actual training. Group exercises, challenges, days out, that sort of thing. Weather is supposed to be nice which helps. I’m looking forward to it. I havn’t seen most of the team since New Year/the Presentation.
I think that covers everything that’s been happening. My calendar is posted on my homepage, along with my goals and similar sort of Bio to last year. Always a good place to go to keep an eye on my progress.
As always I am more than happy to answer questions and respond to comments, so please don’t hold back. Its one of the main reasons I like writing these blogs.
Well then, until next time,
Time for a quick update on the first race of 2013. The New Zealand Cycle Classic is a 5 day race involving a short ITT and then 4 flat stages. It is Node4 Rexona's opening race of the season.
Stage 1: Won by Filipe Cardoso, while Kwiatkowski finished +7" in 5th place
Stage 2: Won by Samuel Caldiera, while Kwiatkowski finished 35th
Stage 3: Won by Cardoso again, while Kwiatkowski finished 15th
Stage 4: Won by Philip Mooney, while Kwiatkowski finished 25th
Stage 5: Won by Mooney again, while Rogers finised 39th.
Mooney won the GC thanks to two breakaway wins. Kwiatkowski finished 9th on GC.
This race was proceeded by the New Zealand Nationals. Rogers participated for Node4, finishing 9th in the TT, and 6th in the RR.
Technically this season is off to a better start than 2012 already.
Hi. My name is Mikel Hammarling, and i am the new DS at Node4 Rexona. For a bit better introduction to me, check out my information on the front page. You can find out more about me there, and how i came to be at Node4 Rexona. So i'm not going to dwell in who i am here, if you don't mind.
In 2012 Malcolm had the newest recruit, Karl, write a blog about his season. Well following his success and continuation Malcolm has ok'd me to write a blog as well for 2013. I will endeavor to tell you how a team like this operates behind the scenes. So i'll be popping up with blogs around certain times to tell what is going on with management. Expect things about training, racing, transfers, sponsors and all sorts of other parts that go into running a team. This is my first time as a DS, or even working for a professional team, so it will be a journey of discovery we can all share together.
Intros and reasons covered, lets move onto Pre-Season. It's hard to call it pre-season when the teams already raced, but anyway... For the first week of February the team was over in Lisbon as part of a Team Bonding Camp. 7 days of team exercises, sight seeing, and just general relaxing and well... bonding. It's really good for us as staff to see how the riders behave as a group, and how they act when they are relaxing. It's noticeable that even in a small team like this riders tend to form cliques. Not impenetrable ones, but certain riders tend to spend more time together than other. For example Yanto, Lee, Rico and David seem to group as the OAP's. Karl, Phil and Scott seem to spend a lot of time together, and then also with the girls. Marcin and Michal have a great friendship growing. But i must say that no-one has any problems with anyone else, which is always great to see.
We were lucky enough with the weather, mid-teens and clear skies, so everyone was always happy to pitch in. We have another actual Training Camp planned for the last two weeks of February. We will be back in Portugal but his time down in Faro in the Algarve. It will be two weeks of training, tests and meetings so that everyone is ready for the forth coming season. I am looking forward to it immensely, as it will be first time actually working with the rider. All the better when my nephew is amongst them.
A but more about my season. My Calendar is posted on the main information page. I only have 5 races this season, as i am sort of the back-up DS. It does mean i might get more races if either Bill or Malcolm are unavailable. There is only one race where i will be working with Karl, and that is the Himmerland Rundt. It is most definitely a learning year for me, but i think that will make this blog all the more interesting.
If at any point you readers have any questions or comments, please leave them, and will respond to all of them.
Thanks for reading and i hope you keep coming back.
Signing off,
Well its race time! The season is now well under way. The WT is in full flow, the PCT is flying and the CT is rumbling along. Time for Node4 to really mix it up now that i am in action. The race is Dorpenomloop Rucphen. Its a dutch race, and as a result almost entirely flat. Its a long one as well at 189km. We didn't come last year so we have no idea of the field to expect. Its 1.2 so hopefully the field is not that strong, and that we grab some sort of result.
But first i'll catch you up on the teams other actions. Davis, Sampson, Bialoblocki, Thwaites, Cronshaw and Clarke were all in action in France at the GP Ville de Lillers-Souvenir Bruno Comini. As a first race it was just a form builder. Stephane Poulhies took the win, with Cronshaw highest in 25th.
We have also, before that, been down in the Algarve on a training camp. Frankly not much to say about it. Weather was nice, atmosphere friendly. We spent 10 days out on rides and 4 days resting, but not all at once obviously. No-one struggled but equally no-one excelled. The management did make it known that we are all perfectly on target to hit form at the right time, which is aimed at the beginning of April and the Premier Calendar.
More about tomorrow. The squad is myself, Rowe, Thwaites, Cronshaw, Davis, Bialoblocki and Sampson. I would like to think a win is possible, or at least a Top5. I guess we will be sending several people on the attack to take any pressure off. Should be a great day, as i can't wait to get back into racing!
Wish me luck.
Team Plan: Rowe comes in as leader, and as race favorite. He will be lead-out by Cronshaw and Thwaites. Bialoblocki and Hammarling will pilot them in. Davis and Sampson will make sure the break is caught. As a result of being favorites there will be no break for the team today.
189km to go - Found this picture from just before the start. It's me showing off the new kit
187km - I hear over the radio that three riders have gained a gap.
180km - The whole team moves forward to prevent anyone else getting away. We can handle three riders easliy.
90km - The break gains a maximum of 6'30. The trio are Rotyakov(TIK), Henrichsen(TRS) and Van Empel(RB3). Its OFM how begin the chase, as second favorites they are willing to help.
20km - The gap has shrunk to just 1'05 thanks to OFM and Sampson
13km - With the break just out of reach, Van Vooren(SKT) and Wippert(MMM) attack!
6km - Davis puts in an amazing stint to pull the whole race together for a sprint.
5km - Davis pulls off, and i take over on the front
3km - I swing away releasing Bialoblocki, who pulls himself inside out for 500m.
1km - Thwaites kept the other ahead. Cronshaw now moves to the side unleashing Rowe
Comment
What an amazing way to start the season! We have never had to handle the pressure of being favorites before, and it felt good. The whole team put in a perfect performance which Rowe capped off in style. I was very happy with my performance, even if my legs are now dead. Now all we have to do is keep it up, which is not going to be easy.
Please forgive me for quick-simming this. Its is a 100% form builder and a small non-important race to Node4 and Karl.
Karl Hammarling
Volta ao Alentejo
Team: Hammarling, Williams, Clarke, Barker, Sampson and Thwaites
Stage 1: Coen Vermeltfoort wins from a break, while Thwaites finishes 24th
Stage 2: Filipe Cardoso wins the sprint, while Thwaites finishes 29th
Stage 3: Eeckhout wins the sprint, while Thwaites finishes 40th. Williams gets in the break.
Stage 4: Cardoso wins again, while Thwaites finishes 22nd.
Final GC: Vermeltfoort wins, Thwaites is 32nd, Hammarling 44th
TheManxMissile wrote:
Please forgive me for quick-simming this. Its is a 100% form builder and a small non-important race to Node4 and Karl.
Karl Hammarling
Volta ao Alentejo
Team: Hammarling, Williams, Clarke, Barker, Sampson and Thwaites
Stage 1: Coen Vermeltfoort wins from a break, while Thwaites finishes 24th
Stage 2: Filipe Cardoso wins the sprint, while Thwaites finishes 29th
Stage 3: Eeckhout wins the sprint, while Thwaites finishes 40th. Williams gets in the break.
Stage 4: Cardoso wins again, while Thwaites finishes 22nd.
Final GC: Vermeltfoort wins, Thwaites is 32nd, Hammarling 44th
what is this simulating a race you speak of, I thought this ways a blog?
"Anything you can suck at should make you nervous"
Hi, i'm back. Its been over a month since i last wrote, and i apologize for that. The end of February was busy with the Training Camp in Faro and this month i've been working hard with the scout system so they can work well this season.
The camp went surprisingly well. We booked out a 3* hotel in Faro as a base. The roads in Portugal are nice, no holes, little resistance and there are a lot of them. Plenty of hills down in the Algarve, perfect for torturing legs. We took the teams out on almost all the days for various types of rides. Some fast, some hard, some long, we covered everything. The signs were encouraging as they all looked as though the winter had been kind.
More recently i've been organizing the scout network. We only have one full-time scout as a paid team member, but we have "free lance" scouts around Europe and the UK. Some of these are club managers, some school and university staff, and some are just enthusiastic fans. Our full time scout will have two tasks. First he will be traveling all over the UK, visiting various NE level events and championships. Second he will follow the U23 series as it moves around Europe. I have also set up periodic meetings with various "free lance" scouts. I will have one meeting a month to try and gather as many potential targets as possible. Plus anything we see at our own races. It's been really interesting to set up, and hopefully it will deliver some results.
But my main reason for writing is that i have my first race in a couple of days. Le Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux is a 3 day-4 stage race in Belgium. Its a very low key 1.2 race which will be a perfect way to start as a DS. And even better i have been given a team with some real ability to grab good results. Kwiatkowski, Rowe, Cronshaw, Clarke, Magnier and Williams will all star i am sure. Which means currently i am writing sitting on the train to Paris, then changing up towards Tournai. The team is also traveling up by train, with our equipment being shipped out separately. I am extremely excited to get going.
I will update you more on the race days themselves, so keep an eye out. Now if you'll excuse me i have to stop Michal from getting into an argument with the Conductor...
Signing off
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
Luke Rowe
Michal Kwiatkowski
Rico Dene Rogers
Philip Lavery
Dorpenomloop Rucphen
Volta ao Alentejo
