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Susilo Reborn | The Big Reveal
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-12-2013 18:32
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Tour de France Champion
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F*ck me that is a powerful CT team... Susilo comfortably the best CT rider i can think of, and all .2 stage races are in range to win. And between Susilo and O'Malley every hilly .2 race should be won.
Would have been better in my opinion to start at PCT where Susilo and O'Malley would still be repeat winners but up against some real competition..
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 02-12-2013 18:35
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2730
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Hmm, well Mr Hobbit is in charge, no questioning him or he will send a hit squad to kill you, also, with such a small squad we'll be on 5 fitness half the time, well, maybe that's just my poor season planning, but hey, it'll be fun. We entered a lot of .1 and some .hc races to occupy the big names. |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 02-12-2013 18:43
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Team Leader
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Goof luck with running the team Mr Hobbit.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 09:14
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 03-12-2013 07:22
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2730
Joined: 18-08-2013
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New Zealand Championships
I didn't fly out to New Zealand as a coach. After all, I was still a little bit ill, and only Travis Burt was going. His fitness was awful, so we didn't expect too much.
As you can see Travis thought his best chance on this flat stage was the breakaway. He was right. The gap rose and rose the breakaway constantly going about twice as fast. He lapped the peleton, then lapped them again, and well, again...
Unfortunately he wasn't there alone. 3 decent punchers had made the group as well. He wouldn't win the sprint, so he'd have to launch an attack.
Unfortunately pre season training appears to have held few benefits for the kiwi, he was dropped at the foot of the climb.
Bissell took the win, in front of a building placed like the Argos team bus. (Might make my own version of the stage, the city was clearly built before road placement.)
A few minutes later Travis tootled along for 3rd and a decent podium. The rest of the peleton were only halfway through at this point, so they abandoned. |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 03-12-2013 07:30
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Team Leader
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That isnt too bad  A nice 3rd place for my boy, wasnt expecting much
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 03-12-2013 13:55
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Tour de France Champion
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Nice third place for Travis  |
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| atlanta |
Posted on 03-12-2013 14:04
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Protected Rider
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Like the look of this alot and indeed good result. |
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 08-12-2013 17:40
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Small Tour Specialist
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Tour of the Bongo
A hilly race with a few taxing stages, and a few flat stages to fill the gaps.
I didn't head over here either. We had a strong team, but couldn't hope for too much, there was world tour opposition, and our lads were in bad shape.
Tom O'Malley tried hard in his first pro race, he placed lots of attacks, but never got away fully.
Unfortunately, as the days got on he wilted slowly. A combination of his exuberance and poor recovery meant he slowly got weaker. However, he did manage two top tens, and a decent 12th overall.
The real bright spark of the race for us was Estonian puncher Erki Nool. His good shape meant we gave him a free role, and he repaid us, lighting up the race.
On one occasion his attack instigated the winning move. However, he is not yet strong enough to finish these opportunities, and was left behind.
Unfortunately neither Djaja nor Drago managed to do anything noteworthy on the flat stages.
Until next time... |
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 08-12-2013 17:50
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Small Tour Specialist
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New Zealand Cycle Classic, Stage 1
I did make the trip over here, so I'll be able to give you some decent reports. I am not riding, but I am coaching, and it's good to hang out with the guys again. Bruno and Ricardo are here, but so are some of the new guys, Drago and Toms. I hope to give them a bit of guidance and ultimately help out.
The race is one short prologue, before flat stages. It'll be won by a sprinter who has decent TTing, so we are placing our bets on Ricardo.
Our first man over the line in the TT was Drago di Silvestro. He set a strong time of 7:52, in the future he will excel at races like these.
Our next man was Bruno Ramires da Costa, unfortunately no picture. He was looking really good, and went way faster, 8:41, provisional fastest.
Next was Toms Ozolinsh. He too is a decent TTist, and is in better shape than Bruno. He was still 2 seconds slower though.
Last but not least, Ricardo sailed through. He pushed his heart out, and did very well, 8:44, only 1 second of Ozolinsh. In the end Bruno's time was beaten, but he was still second, and Toms was 8th. The next one was a flat stage, so Ricardo needed to rest up. |
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 09-12-2013 18:51
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Small Tour Specialist
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New Zealand Cycle Classic, Stage 2
Today was a flat stage, with a hilly bit, before descent and uhh, flat! Our best bet was Ricardo.
Our impressive 5 man lead out train was keeping up with the best of them, determined to put Ricardo in a winning position.
However, when Toms Ozolinsh hit the front, we weren't just keeping up, we were well on top. A monster effort from the Latvian put us firmly in control.
As a cobbler, Bruno Ramires da Costa had a decent turn of pace and had good power output. A bit of driving and a bit of sprinting later, we were still well on top.
However, some bad turnovers from Bruno to Drago, and Drago to Ricardo meant Mr Acosta was only just inside the top ten when he started sprinting.
The Argentine turned on the afterburners, but it was too little too late, and his ridiculous turn of pace was only good enough for 2nd.
Stage 3 was not one for great joy either.
Another strong lead out came, but there was another disaster, a flying Jelly Belly lead out scythed straight through our train, causing Ricardo to back off or risk being injured. He got back on, and was passing Fred Rodriguez in the last few metres when the American slang across and blocked him off! He slowed again, and fell from the podium to 5th. Let the battle be resumed in stage 4 |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 09-12-2013 18:53
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World Champion
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Tom doesn't like stage races that much of course, but it's a good learning school for him
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Selwink |
Posted on 09-12-2013 18:57
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8856
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Nice result in stage 2
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| Dippofix |
Posted on 09-12-2013 18:58
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Classics Specialist
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Solid, but could have been better. Still got a few stages to get that win.
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 11-12-2013 07:37
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Small Tour Specialist
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New Zealand Cycle Classic, Stage 4+5
These next two stages were a bit flatter, so we almost certainly will get a sprint finish.
On stage 4 Ricardo had a good lead out, and won dominantly. More importantly the yellow jersey was only 4th so he gained a lot of time.
The second stage was different. The lead out was strong, but once launched Ricardo took a while to accelerate. He hit top speed at 500m to go and overtook 3 competitors, but was just about edged out on the line by JJ Haedo. Still time gained on the yellow jersey. In the end there weren't enough metres, or even stages, for Ricardo to win, though he still took home, 2nd in the GC, 2nd in the points, and the young rider's jersey. A good race, but not quite good enough.
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| Dippofix |
Posted on 11-12-2013 07:47
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Classics Specialist
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Yessss, he got that win! 
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 11-12-2013 08:00
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Team Leader
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Still a good result in New Zealand.
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 11-12-2013 16:45
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Small Tour Specialist
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@Dippofix: Yes, great win for the team, the first one of course. Shame we couldn't get more!
@Luis Leon Sanchez: Yes, it seems our best successes so far have all been in New Zealand |
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 12-12-2013 07:07
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Small Tour Specialist
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Early February
The first two races we entered in February were the Tour of Qatar and Vuelta a Mallorca. Qatar was my first pro race last year, but I won't be returning, I hope to do well in the Mallorca GC. Ricardo will be our leader in Qatar instead.
This is the startlist for Mallorca. As you can see we brought a top quality team, everyone is getting into shape for a very busy February, where they will have more leading roles. My form has given me leader role, but Travis or Firmansyah might take over depending on how goes stage 3. Tom is here to place a few attacks, and maybe make something of stage 4.
The first few stages were pretty boring from our perspective. On stage 1 there was a mass sprint, which Tom even figured in, but was still only 12th. Stage 2 the break won by 1 minute, the World tour teams unwilling to chase. None of these lads were climbers though, so it shouldn't affect things.
Meanwhile in Qatar things were going equally well. As about the only rider who had a warm up race for the event, Ricardo was in great form. He took a podium on stage 1, after grabbing Greipels wheel, only to release and beat the German soundly later. Unfortunately our team disappointed (as should be expected for a conti outfit) in the TTT, so Ricardo is exactly 1 minute off, we don't expect miracles, but our sponsors are still asking for a stage win. |
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| Selwink |
Posted on 12-12-2013 07:22
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Grand Tour Champion
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Very surprising podium in Qatar
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 12-12-2013 07:39
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2730
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Indeed, I don't think it will be repeated though, and he won't figure in GC, at least not this year. |
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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)
