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The Last of the Real | #11 Tour de l'Avenir VI
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| Wild Dog |
Posted on 22-09-2014 20:09
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Domestique
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The wait was over. It was time for me to really show my talent. I knew I stood a good chance in the GC in this race, but the first short time trial wasn’t my strongest discipline. I felt good though, and while my brother stood a chance to win the stage, I hoped for a top 10 finish. The crowd in the streets of Gap cheered on me as I rolled down the starting ramp.
The 7 kilometers were plain flat through beautiful surroundings. I didn’t have much time to look around though as I crossed the finish line just within the 10-minute mark as the provisional leader. I knew it was going to be beaten, but by how many? The first who went quicker were my own teammate Freddy Maertens, but he weren’t the only one. As everybody had made their way across the finish line I was 7th, 13 seconds short of my brother who had won the stage ahead of Francesco Moser and Maertens in third. Reason enough to be satisfied.
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The second stage was fairly easy with only one categorized climb. Everything pointed towards a bunch sprint and the speed was high all day. The breakaway didn’t really get away as the Netherlands and France pulled hard at the front. I also noticed one of the young Italians riding very well. He looks thin and sharp so I bet he will be good in the mountains later on.
When we arrived to the final kilometer everything was set up perfect. Maertens took the wheel of Mathijs while I was third in the row – though I wasn’t meant to be the actual sprinter of the team, it was just to stay out of trouble. Mathijs turned out to be the strongest on a day we ended up dominating as we went across the line as first, second and third in front of French sprinter Jacques Esclassan who seemed pretty surprised with our strength. |
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| Wild Dog |
Posted on 27-09-2014 17:35
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Domestique
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The third stage would provide us with the first real challenge as 6 categorized climbs waited in the final. As soon as the morning breakaway was caught some of the favourites decided to attack. Giovanni Battaglin and Hennie Kuiper along some others played their chances on the fourth climb. I thought it was too early to attack so I stayed calm behind my teammate Michel Pollentier.
At the top of the last climb I had catched up with some of the riders who got dropped when Francesco Moser joined the front group, and thanks to my team the gap wasn’t that big. Mathijs and Pollentier were right behind me, while Maertens couldn’t really follow us.
No one could beat Moser today though as he beat Battaglin on the line with Régis Ovion and Kuiper third and fourth. The counter had started as I made my way into the final kilometer.
57, 58, 59 seconds. 1 minute. I had lost 1 minute, but I was the best Belgian on the stage in sixth place. I had lost a bit on the final descent and the gap was bigger than I had hoped for at the top. It was no disaster however, and Mathijs got the same time as me, so we’re still both in with a shot.
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A flat stage waited as the fourth and it went on to be another Belgian win as Freddy Maertens were unstoppable in the sprint as he beat Bruce Biddle of New Zealand and Sid Barras of Great Britain. I ended in the middle of the pack. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 03-12-2024 19:17
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| Selwink |
Posted on 28-09-2014 09:10
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Grand Tour Champion
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Some excellent screens with a few nice reports!
Some nice results as well, but hopefully Dries can actually win a stage later on.
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 30-09-2014 13:22
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Grand Tour Champion
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Just discovered the story and I love it. Different from everything else and really good read so far. I will follow
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 01-10-2014 16:57
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Tour de France Champion
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Wild Dog - Looking good  |
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| Wild Dog |
Posted on 02-10-2014 19:29
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Domestique
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@All - Thanks guys. Much appreciated.
Click for bigger...
Edited by Wild Dog on 02-10-2014 19:30
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 03-10-2014 15:18
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Tour de France Champion
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Sounds like its going to be an exciting Final kilometre |
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| Wild Dog |
Posted on 03-10-2014 19:38
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Domestique
Posts: 425
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@Sutty - Thanks. Let's hope so! The update about the final kilometer will be up later tonight.
Vincenzo Nibali - Rui Costa - Nairo Quintana - Alberto Contador - Peter Sagan
WDshirts
The Last of the Real
- Story about Dries Deckers - racing against Merckx, de Vlaeminck etc. |
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| Wild Dog |
Posted on 03-10-2014 21:33
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Domestique
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Click for bigger... |
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| Clyn123 |
Posted on 03-10-2014 21:38
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What? |
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| Neillster |
Posted on 03-10-2014 21:59
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Never mind
Edited by Neillster on 03-10-2014 22:02
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 03-10-2014 23:38
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Tour de France Champion
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Great win  |
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| Wild Dog |
Posted on 04-10-2014 07:54
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Domestique
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@Clyn & Neillster - ???
@Sutty - Hopefully it's a sign of what to come!
Vincenzo Nibali - Rui Costa - Nairo Quintana - Alberto Contador - Peter Sagan
WDshirts
The Last of the Real
- Story about Dries Deckers - racing against Merckx, de Vlaeminck etc. |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 04-10-2014 18:34
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Grand Tour Champion
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Great win
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| Selwink |
Posted on 05-10-2014 12:48
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Grand Tour Champion
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Hopefully this is a final step towards a pro contract, great win!
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| Wild Dog |
Posted on 05-08-2015 20:30
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Domestique
Posts: 425
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After a long long time I have decided to try to revive this story. Firstly to see if there's any interest in it, secondly to see if I have time to continue it. Anyway, I still have a few updates from 'back then' which I can post before I start playing on the save again.
Finally the day has come. It is the day of the first real mountains and I’m as excited as ever. For the first time the sun isn’t out in France. The temperature has dropped a few degrees too, but that isn’t going to hurt my chances. I’m from Belgium after all. Nothing exciting to report about for most of the stage, but the final climb proved to be a great place for separation. Our team is not strong enough to beat Italy in the mountains, but the guys did an amazing job nonetheless. Freddy and Mathijs did the preparation on the second climb, while Michel brought me almost to the top of the final.
Towards the end he had to let go along with many others. Neither Hennie Kuiper nor Régis Ovion could manage to keep up with Moser, Battaglin and me. I was just like a blind passenger as Battaglin carried Moser towards the finish line.
In the sprint I couldn’t even pass Battaglin so I had to settle for third, while Moser was unbeatable. I was satisfied though, as I had jumped from sixth to third in the GC, just five seconds behind Raymond Martin in second place. Just 11 seconds covered second to fifth however so nothing was safe yet. I was still targeting a podium finish in Grenoble though.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 05-08-2015 23:49
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Tour de France Champion
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A third place in the mountains is surely not to be sniffed at  |
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| Wild Dog |
Posted on 06-08-2015 19:43
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Domestique
Posts: 425
Joined: 17-07-2011
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Thanks sutty! Definitely not when only beaten by such talented riders as Moser and Battaglin.
Vincenzo Nibali - Rui Costa - Nairo Quintana - Alberto Contador - Peter Sagan
WDshirts
The Last of the Real
- Story about Dries Deckers - racing against Merckx, de Vlaeminck etc. |
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| Wild Dog |
Posted on 07-08-2015 19:11
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Domestique
Posts: 425
Joined: 17-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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The sun was still hiding, but that weren’t the case for any of the riders in the peloton. It was impossible to hide as the final mountain stage of the race was on schedule. Télégraphe, Galibier and Granon waited on the menu, but that wasn’t enough to frighten me. What was more panicking was the fact that Moser seemed to be superhuman. I decided that I would change that. Today. So by the time we reached Col du Granon and we were only four riders left at the front, I attacked.
The boys had once again done a great job in setting it all up, as Mathijs and Michel had ridden a hard tempo dropping a few of the big guys. Only Kuiper, Battaglin and, of course, Moser were with me when we reached the final three kilometres. None of them could follow my attack and so I rode away on my own, towards the sky – or the mountain top, at least – winning what was my biggest career win so far. Surely Molteni would be interested in me now, as they have already signed my brother.
The win also meant that I looked pretty sure on second place behind Moser, while Kuiper and Battaglin were equal in third place. Raymond Martin is also pretty comfortable in fifth before the time trial. Oh, and I noticed one of his countrymen doing well today too. The only 17 year old Bernard Hinault finished 12th today. |
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