Russians love their roads and despite the popularity of Team Katusha, the roads are mostly for cars and not so much for cycling. While I enjoy the outmost space and freedom in the streets of the Tundra, where I live, I have always liked to ride as far as possible, to any given place at any expense. Sometimes the roads are too far though that even I can’t take them on.
I followed the invitation for a 3-days training ride ahead of the Flanders campaign by Marco Haller. He told me we should meet and get to know each other. Marco likes the sun more than the clouds. He chose the only place in Russia where there wasn’t any snow: Sochi.
We took a last trip through the nature, while the working sites have risen from the ground up, made everything grey. Many of the roads were tougher to ride than you might imagine, the air was painful to breathe in at times. We went through mud just to get shouted at, that we weren’t supposed here. We said we’re sorry but we really weren’t. When they tried to follow us and get our IDs, we were still faster as them and we crazed downhill. We stayed in a little hotel where the manager told us we should come here next year as well. He’d reserve a place for us. I answered that may be possible, maybe with the entire Katusha team. However, as Marco and I step on the balcony and gained slowly view over the testimonial to sheer determination and architectural lunacy, I was glad to escape this rural fatal Olympian dream of theirs and flee to Flanders for a few days...
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
I wanted to fall in love with the cobblestones – but first, I fell on my face. I participated in some training rides ahead of the Ronde van Vlaanderen. It’s more challenging than I thought it’d be.
The team included Kristoff, Kuschynski and Paolini. Of course, I got to know the guys and they all seem very nice. We have a good chemistry going on. I think we’ll do well in the upcoming race, but more importantly, I think I will be able to learn a lot from them. I feel this will boost my progress over the seasons to race on constant World Tour level though. I could have gone for lesser teams, but I decided to aim high: And now that I about to hit the cobbles of Koppenberg, my decision is definitely right.
Edited by Shonak on 12-02-2014 16:46
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
So I was smattered and utterly done after my ride in Flanders. Crazy me, I went full berserk. And maybe I even went full retard when I decided to take my chances after Vodkakov gave me the allowance to try my luck… Of course I had to attack, there was no other option for me. No choice. When you want to gain something you have to be smart and cunning. Other riders may sit back all race long and outsprint me, other guys drop me on the mountains and say goodbye on the downhill. But I’ll always be the first to attack…
I was alongside 6 other guys and we had a good rhythm going on. I didn’t know all of them, but I knew Romanian Lixandru from Cofidis. I spent some training time in Romania in the past and knew some sentences: Libertate frate poate facultate si viata de noapte… See? I even remember how to write that sentence. Well, we got some big time lead on the peloton and frankly I even speculated a bit with a possible stage win. A far, far away stage win but with the possibility none the less. I shouldn’t have wasted a single thought onto that though.
Later on Leukemans and Eisel joined and with some heavy rain hailing down upon us, the conditions and the race got much tougher. Leukemans and Eisel helped us a lot though and thus we managed to still keep the peloton at the distance, although our lead was decreasing. Lixandru, De Kort and I knew that we wouldn’t get far with Eisel and Leukemans at our wheel. Instead we tried to play it a bit tactical and made an alliance and attacked in the downhill. For a while, we managed to distance them but eventually they reeled us back in. As a revenge, Leukemans dropped us later on.
But not even Leukemans could withstand Van Avermaet. The Belgian from BMC was the first rider to really impress me here at Ronde. He was so damn fast when he rode past me. And then the whole peloton impressed me as well. Boonen, Cancellara, Vanmarcke… you know, all the big names. I was looking out for Paolini and Kristoff but neither of them managed to stay in the group. I didn’t have much radio noise and couldn’t talk much with my team manager. I was on the limit throughout the race and now that they caught me, my legs were getting heavy in an instance. No more false aspirations, forgone my hopes of winning… I wanted now to simply help my team. I wanted to have a purpose. I wanted to help Kristoff or Paolini, get them bottles. Do something. But all I could try was to hang on to the peloton, hang on to the riders passing me and see how each one of them dropped me eventually.
Lixandru, De Kort and I stayed throughout the rest of the race together. We have spent over 200 kilometers together, the least we could do was to sprint together for a ridiculous finish place. I got beaten by both and took a 35th place. Remarkably I was the best placed rider of Katusha, but this just shows that our team truly had a wasted day. I hope that Paris – Roubaix will be better. But for what it’s worth: Ronde van Vlaanderen was amazing and I’d like to thank my team for making it my first official race. It’s something I’ll never forget and always treasure. It will be the anchor that reminds me how my career began…
Richard
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Paris – Roubaix was up and days before I already knew that this was the biggest race I’d race all season. It’s exciting and new. After the Ronde appearance, I already got some Russian journalists interviewing me. Maybe if I’d be able to perform I could set my sights even higher.
When Vodkakov told me at the start of the race that I am allowed to try my luck again, I was really happy. And I was looking forward a bit more towards the 250 kilometers of pain and suffering ahead of me. Denisov and I played a bit of heads and tails, who would attack first. I won, I attacked. It was the lucky one right from the start. With the bunch of guys we set out for the adventure. Notable riders were Kroon (TST), Ghyselinck (COF), Debusschere (LTB), Bagdonas (ALM), De Backer (ARG) or Koren (CAN). Quite some tough competition but more so they were great companions for the long ride. We had a good pace going on, although not everybody worked in equal parts. That’s okay. I don’t putting in an extra-shift here and there.
When he hit Troisvilles a Inchy, the race really began for us. No more funny times. I felt every kickback of the cobbles. My whole concentration just went into staying on the bike. Cobblestones are all nice and fair until you get to Paris – Roubaix. Here they are malicious S.O.Bs, just waiting to stab you from behind, so you have to whisper: Et tu, Brute? Yeah. If you think some roads are your friends at times, you will only find enemies on the road to Roubaix.
Later on Leukemans joined and he really helped us maintain our lead. That maybe was one of the most important facts. That and our decent work together. I felt like we were a well-oiled machine by now. Leukemans did some major work but I chipped in here and there. The rain and wind made racing tough. Even when he didn’t ride on cobblestones, the pace of the race was at times just too much. I kept riding and the wish to give up never crossed my mind... But heck, even I thought of taking it easy at times. To rest a bit. Just a tiny little bit for the time being.
Eventually our harmony didn’t stay. Erviti attacked from Team Movistar, Van Emden (Belkin) was one his wheel. Well, I thought that was it. Work all day and someone else takes the reaps of your hard work. Van Emden didn’t do anything all day long, he just sat back and now he attacked. Erviti, I could live with him… but Van Emden. Jeez. Thankfully the other guys must have felt equally pissed off by Van Emden as we all agreed upon getting him back at least. You don’t make friends with an attitude like that in the world of pro cycling. Let that be a lesson, Van Emden.
All good things had to come to an end. While some of the guys upfront still believed in their luck, like Koren or Ghysenick, I was already too exhausted to even continue sitting straight on my bike. I’d want to spend my remaining energy and help Kristoff and Paolini as much as possible. I got them some bottles, I rode for them in the wind… I had nearly nothing left in my tank. But I pushed on. That’s my nature. I am after all a fighter.
The low-point but came later on: When I said I hardly could ride in a good line anymore, I wasn’t lying. I was zick-zacking through the route more than anybody else in the leading peloton. But I was still up there with all the big names. Cancellara, Boonen, Sagan, Vanmarcke… well, not Vanmarcke, he was already gone by then, riding for his impressive solo victory. Well, I wasn’t up there anymore. I was there physically, but then with my mind. The effort I had to bring up made me forget much of it. And then eventually, I had a puncture. The road betrayed me. Or it set me free. I had an excuse. They gave it to me. I could rest my legs. I could ride to the finish line. I was feeling numb and hollow. I froze. I froze so much. They all rode past me, while I had to fix my bike. Our team car had to ride faster to keep up with Paolini and Kristoff. I understood that and wished them luck. A spectator helped me changing my tire. I thanked him by giving him my second Katusha bottle. I sat out on the road alone and was quickly passed by many other riders. I did my part. I thought it was time to enjoy the last kilometers of my first Paris – Roubaix.
I came in 70th. 11 Minutes and 8 seconds behind winnner Vanmarcke. I didn’t care about it. I was at the finish line. I made it. Odds were that with such a race-development I could have fallen to the ground mid-way through. But I made it. Smiling I looked out for my guys.
My second race as a Pro. My second race was Paris – Roubaix. I came into the breakaway at Ronde and was happy. And now I made it again. Say one time is luck, but two times? I made it 2 out of 2. I had the best of weeks considering I was the guy who got beaten all day long but was still happy. Call it masochism, but I was born for this. I feel ready for all the tasks at hand now.
But more than anything, I really enjoyed the massage afterwards. Vodkakov told me he was really proud of me. I did everything he wanted me to do. Get in the breakaway, keep on riding, taking pressure off from Team Katusha, helping Paolini and Kristoff in the finale… Unfortunately, we didn’t fulfill our sponsor goal. Kristoff just came in 23rd. A bit disappointing for such a great rider. I saw what he was capable of in our training rides ahead of Ronde and Paris – Roubaix. He is way better than the result suggests. And I think I way much more worth than the result suggest as well.
I think my next ride will be Fleche Wallone.
See you there.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
The second part of the season started of with the two biggest Cobbled classics of the season. The Ronde Van Vlaanderen made the start. The racing started very good with our new Austrian signing Richard Löwenherz making it into the break.
Löwenherz didn't disappoint and exactly did what we signed him for. In the end he even could hang on to the group with the likes of Thor Hushovd, Edvald Boasson Hagen and John Degenkolb. He came last of this group though.
As happy the management was about Richard's performance as disppointed it was about Kristoff's racing. Alexander Kristoff was our captain and it was a good racing expected from him preferably a Top 10! In the end he even finished behind an exhausted Löwenherz, due to bad positioning he only came 37th.
The next race on the calendar for our classic squad was Paris-Roubaix a big sponsor goal. Top 3 is maybe a little bit expected too much but Alexander's skills justify a hope of a top 10. This time he wanted to make everything better than in the disastrous Ronde. Again the Norwegian disappointed the hopes of the team by making the same mistakes as last time. He improved a little bit compared to the Ronde and came 23rd.
Again surprising us positive was Richard Löwenherz again being a part of the break. The sponsors are really having their fun with the young Austrian on the squad!
Vuelta a Pais Vasco
The first stages of the Vuelta a Pais Vasco were a way better for the team. Right on the first stage Daniel Moreno already delivered and was just beaten on the line by Michal Kwiatkowski.
At the second stage Moreno lost for that day his second spot in the overall classement to Michael Albasini. On stage three a small goup got away before the finish and Daniel finished 10th taking the spot of the best of the rest in the classification.
Stage four is the queen stage and was the best for the team so far. In the end a group of five favourites reached the finish together, among them two Katusha boys. Daniel Moreno and Simon Spilak supporting him. In the end it wasn't enough for a stage win so Moreno took third and Spilak fifth.
In the overall classification those five, also Contador, Porte and Kiserlovski who took a suprising stage win, also take the first five spots on the same time.
Due to the stage results Moreno took the leader jersey for the moment!
He hopes to defend his leader jersey in the next stage that is hilly. After that there will be a time trial where Spilak has the better cards but it will be hard against the likes of Contador and Porte.
Thanks Mr. Vodkakov for the praise. It did hurt and I really had to fight with myself. But then I remembered. It's quite simple. I have to ask myself:
W.W.J.V.D?
What would Jens Voigt do?
He'd attack. Always attack. Tell his legs to shut up. Keep going. I consider my mentality my biggest strength and I hope I can keep going on in such a way in the upcoming races in order to help the team and make our sponsor proud.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
I just quickly wanted to congratulate Daniel Moreno on a fantastic showing in Vuelta Ciclista a País Vasco. I thoroughly enjoy his riding and I wish him all the best for the upcoming final time trial in hopes that he may win the race for good. I can't wait to work for him at Fleche Wallone!
I was lately on a real high with my two successful breakaway attempts. The manager was satisfied with my attitude of racing, I had the legs to allow me such risky maneuvers and if I didn’t want to risk anything, I should have stayed at home anyway. With that attitude I started my third classic of the year, my third race.
I was eager to start with Purito, who recently won Amstel Gold Race, however to my surprise I wasn’t supporting him. Instead Daniel Moreno got a shot at impressing the cycling enthusiasts. He recently really showed his great form at País Vasco so I was confident that he could make an impact once more.
And once again, I felt like a true opportunist when I went with a large chunk of riders. We formed a strong breakaway and got some serious time onto the peloton. There were guys like Cattaneo, Murayev, Tiernan-Locke and Sutherland. Also, there was fellow Austrian Thomas Rohregger from Radioshack. We shared a few good talks throughout the race. Generally, everybody knew that we didn’t stand much chance but we wanted to race for a good result, and we could only achieve that by providing harmony and everybody working for the group. I took my turn after turn like I learned and was supposed to.
The plan was clear: Vodkakov must realize my strengths and therefor send me upfront to support Moreno later on. You never know how a race pans out. In any way, with me upfront Katusha is also freed from working for the peloton, thus they can reserve their energy completely. Anyway, I enjoy a day in the break far more than I could ever sitting on the back of the peloton. It’s the best thing there is. Well, maybe winning is better…
The Mur de Huy sure is one of hell of a climb though. Riding it three times, well – that’s just brutal. I had to really fight my way up there. When the cameras weren’t looking I was zig-zagging, realizing that the climb may just be too steep for me, while also looking to save some much needed power. Meanwhile further back, the peloton is gearing up. Cattaneo attacks at some point and opens up the rivalry. I intend to save some strength in later support for Moreno, though when the favourites pass me with ease I can’t spot Moreno. He must have been a bit further back and once more I grinded my teeth and looked to grant him some protection, at least for a few kilometers…
Don’t ask me how we managed it, but when the race went into the finale time climbing the Mur de Huy, Moreno was right up there with the favourites again and stood a real chance, after having missed at first the important split. However, due to all the hard work we had to invest, he couldn’t make much of an impact in the finale.
For reasons beyond my comprehension, I managed to keep close to the same group with Moreno though. I was really just battering my way up there, zig-zagging all around the place. When I crossed the line I was at first relieved that the climb had ended, and then I was puzzled when I looked at the race ranking: I came in 22nd! “Woah”, I shouted. “Twenty-freaking second! Fuck yeah!”
This was just really un-freaking-believeable for me. The breakaway had paid off in a bit. Getting my first Top 25 pro result in such a classic. It’s just a real delight. A wonderful day. I was in the break, I helped my captain in the moments of the race and I achieved even a nice Top 25 result. I couldn't have asked for more in that moment. Being such a a young rider, you have to fight to prove your worth, but those are the moments where you just pull it off. Shame I couldn’t collect any points for the team though, but oh well – I’m sure my next breakaway will come rather soon.
But first, I deserve a bit of a break. My next races will be Tour of Norway and the Bayern Rundfahrt.
See you there!
P.S.: Oh yeah, I nearly forgot: the race was won by Peter Sagan for Cannondale. He's a real one-man army. Let's get to that point too some day, shall we?
Edited by Shonak on 17-03-2014 09:40
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
So honestly, moving to Russia might not have been the best of all ideas I ever had.
Eurosport dropped by and filmed me on one of my training rides. That's how I usual ride. Fully packed in. The wind is horrible, the temperature low, all car drivers are pricks and I constantly fear for my life. So I train under some tough conditions - excatly the stuff that will make me stronger and better. You'll see the results soon enough.
Call me Ninja Richie.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Great to see that the press cares for Löwenherz after some great performances and also nice that you keep this thread alive while I am busy with other stuff.
Voigt: "If I'm the king,
Löwenherz might be the Archduke of Breakaways!"
Some high praise came right from the olymp of cycling, as I read today in the newspaper that Jens Voigt was fairly impressed by my three breakaway attempts (Ronde, Paris-Roubaix and Fleche Wallone) in my first three races as a Pro. In a recent interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, he described me as one of his few hopes to keep the classic speciality of the "fighter", a discpline so much formed by guys like Jacky Durand and Voigt himself, alive. A type of rider that animates any race, no matter how stale it'll get. I see myself in that.
Some lines from the interview I want to share with you. He said, "It's great to see the young guns getting a chance. I wouldn't have thought it's possible that a rider can make such an impression already in his first few races on a World Elite level, but Katusha and Löwenherz - that just seems to fit. They give him the room to breath, and he works for them and tries it when his allowed. I don't think there's any second guessing with him. He's still young, hungry. He will have to learn and adapt but it's nice to see such fighting spirit. It reminds me of course of myself."
He then further stated: "If you guys call me the King of Breakaways, then he might be the Archduke". Obviously that's a hint towards the former monarchy of Austria and a combination with my style of riding, but I don't care much for those old, oppressive historic politics. For all I cared, he could call me the ugly duckling of flat tires. After all, I did have a flat tire in Roubaix, and I fear there will lots more to come.
Anyway, my cycling campaign continues and I head to Bavaria, Germany. Jens Voigt won't be at the startline of the Bayern Rundfahrt, but there'll be other big german names. Basically, there will be the big german. Andre Greipel wants to show his country that he is the number one and not that other guy, with the cool hair. There's also another really big name coming. Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins skips the Giro and instead heads to Germany. I suppose this might be a bit of a marketing campaign to advertise Sky here in Germany? At least, maybe that's how they will get some media coverage.
Katusha
11. A.Kristoff
12. P.Brutt
13. A.Denisov
14. V.Isaychev
15. R.Loewenherz
16. R.Selig
17. A.Tsatevitch
18. Á.Vicioso
I'll be riding alongside Alexander Kristoff and hope to support him throughout the race well enough so he can land some much desired victories for the team. The goal is a stage win and I want to see us completing it. And who knows, maybe I'll have the legs, time and freedom to go into a breakaway once or twice. The profile certainly looks like it could fit me for a chance or two.
See you there,
Ninja Richie
P.S.: What do you guys prefer as unofficial title: Archduke of Breakaways or Ugly Duckling Of Flat Tires?
Edited by Shonak on 11-04-2014 20:14
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Again I was noticed, only not for my brave breakaway attempts this time around. Instead I was called Löwenherz: King of Domestiques for my tirelessly relay work at the front of the peloton for my captain Kristoff at the Bayern-Rundfahrt. At least they noticed me...
Being heralded as the Archduke of Breakaways puts a little bit of pressure on your shoulders to try something. Well for a young guy like me at least. However, my orders were clear at the Bayern - Rundfahrt and I spent the race riding for my captain Kristoff, who got Katusha the wanted stage win. With my team having often times control over the peloton, I therefor spent much of time in the wind.
It was eventually worth it, since Alexander won the second stage of the Bayern - Rundfahrt and achieved numerous podium places, however all that effort and energy spent, ultimately didn't allow me to search for my own luck in a breakaway attempt. My directeur sportif gave me the allowance but either you miss the break or your legs don't feel good enough. You may know the feeling. You decide it's easier to hide in the peloton, but I ended up working anyway against the wind. I don't mind, it's something I live for and something I'm good at and after all, they hired me to do this kind of work. I may have gotten a bit carried away but I am still a domestique first and foremost and it's likely that will never change.
It was a nice stage-race for me, my first in the career. I did a decent time-trial, which was won by Po-Ding Kim (just like the Rundfahrt itself). I came in 56th, or so I believe. I don't even bother. It was a nice trip to Bayern, and I think my next race will be even higher in the north: Tour of Norway is waiting for me and maybe I can take good use of my winter training in Mother Russia. You may also see me again in my Ninja clothing.
See you there,
Ninja Richie
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Tour of Norway, Criterium du Dauphiné &
National Championships
I have been real busy and actually, I was writing part of this message on my phone, riding the Criterium du Dauphiné. Typing and sitting on my bike, at the end of the bunch – that’s not too much of a difficult task but then I threw my phone at a stupid spectator who kept harassing me… and then the guy ran away with my brand-new, deluxe Nokia 3310. I was initially surprised that the guy survived it.
I missed the break again but the weather was enjoyable. Not happy with my recent personal performances and I hoped I’d take more use of my enormous amount of time here in France, whilst Purito was totally smashing the Tour de Suisse a few hundred kilometers from here.
Tour of Norway was a blast. I was glad to helped Kristoff again to some stage wins, this time in his home country. Some solid domestique work on my side I’d say. I wanted to go in the breakaways once or twice but alas, working for my leaders was one of the reasons why Mr. Vodkakov signed me and I’m proud that I do exactly that.
Dauphiné isn’t my favourite terrain for risky breakaway moves though. I spent an anonymous week there in France and couldn’t help my team one bit. Sorry to the team for that, maybe Switzerland would have been more successful but I don’t mind.
I wanted to surprise my team later with a good performance at the national championships, but - to my fair surprise - Eisel outsmarted Haller and me. Experience beats youth sometimes, and this was one of those days. I’ll be sure to get my payback in the coming years.
I wish I could tell you more, but it’s been rather quiet weeks for me personally after the three ferocious starting days in the classics.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
my first season half is now officially over. I got awarded plenty of fame and points that motivate me further for next season. Thanks to the UCI by the way!
I'm enjoying right now a bit of a training camp in Tibet, where I'm meeting monks and many other interesting people. It's great for the lungs too, I think. The roads themselves ain't so good but hey, I won't complain about some soild training for the cobblestones on top of some mountain prep.
Mr. Vodkakov said I should take some time off after the Criterium du Dauphine where I hurt a spectactor. Too much aggression. So I sit around here in a temple, meditate most of the time and think of the races I want to do soon.
I can only come up with Eneco Tour with sorta a goal for me. Maybe a breakaway. I'd also like to ride some flatt-ish, pseudo-hilly stage races, maybe like the Canadian Classics and later the Italian races? And while a Grand Tour would be sweet, I'd prefer it if I wasn't meant to race one this year. I don't think I'm ready for such a challenge just yet. If this is possible Mr. Vodkakov manager, I'd be most pleased.
Well, I'm off to eat some rice now... with more rice...
See you there, wherever Vodkakov sends me next
Edited by Shonak on 09-07-2014 12:34
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Just after getting to know the full race calendar the management of Team Katusha announced their main targets for the third part of the season. These are the following:
Easy - Top 10 Clasica San Sebastian Medium - Top 10 Tour de France Hard - Top 3 Vuelta a Espana
The sponsors will meet up and will in the following days also announce their three major goals.
Just after getting to know the full race calendar the management of Team Katusha announced their main targets for the third part of the season. These are the following:
Easy - Top 10 Clasica San Sebastian Medium - Top 10 Tour de France Hard - Top 3 Vuelta a Espana
The sponsors will meet up and will in the following days also announce their three major goals.
Countered goals:
Easy goal: Stage Win Hainan
Medium goal: Top 5 GC Beijing
Hard goal: Win Japan Cup
