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An All-Rounder from the Land of the Long White Cloud
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-11-2008 11:25
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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thanks for the support. its what keeps a story going
if i ever slow down the reporting say something cause it may stop me from stopping the story
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-11-2008 11:45
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Back to shitty rainy Belgium and the Beverbeek Classic, a pancake flat slog around the town of Achel. I have'nt really talked to the team much but I've trained 3 times with Julian Dean and we had a good laugh.
My job was simple: Don't let the break have too big a lead so we can pull it back for Michael.
I sat near the front and when 5 riders went I stepped into the wind and pulled the group along. I was joined by Tom Southam and we worked like carthorses at the head of the peloton, pulling together for 60km. We talked long about cycling and what it's like on the continent and we kept encouraging each other.
We kept the lead down to 3 minutes before we pulled off and let the rest catch them. We stayed in the shelter of the middle of the bunch and kept up our conversation, joined by Morten Knudsen of Team Differdange. We were still nattering away with 40k to go when the pace kicked up and my new friends were dropped.
Into the final 10k and I was still feeling strong. With no jobs to do I decided to try and please the team manager by getting us an extra good placing in addition to the one he would logically expect Michael to get (based on his comments after Haut Var). Coming into the finish I was well placed, with Michael just ahead of me.
Michael sprinted well, after a day doing nothing else, and I stayed with him. It looked like I would be squeezed off the podium but I threw my bike well on the line and managed to edge out Jurgen Roelandts for 3rd, Michael taking 2nd.
I ran over to Michael to celebrate but he brushed me aside and embraced Rony Poelvoorde rather warmly.
I gave up on them liking me. I just hope they can respect me.
At least I got a good place for the team.
Rank Name Team Time
1 Iljo Keisse CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN 4h17'28
2 Michael Blanchy BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
3 Adam Hickey BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
4 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
5 Kevyn Ista PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
6 Sven Nys RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
7 Olivier Pardini STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
8 Frédéric Amorison LANDBOUWKREDIET - TÖNISSTEINER s.t.
9 Alain Van Katwijk VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
10 Jonas Van Genechten STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
11 Tom Veelers RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
12 Mindaugas Striska JARTAZI PROMO FASHION s.t.
13 Norbert Poels FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
14 Steven De Neef DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
15 Timothy Vangheel FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
16 Kristof De Zutter DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
17 Stefan Löffler TEAM SPARKASSE s.t.
18 Francis De Greef DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
19 Dimitri Claeys DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
20 Fabio Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
21 Maint Berkenbosch TEAM REGIOSTROM - SENGES s.t.
22 Reinier Honig FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
23 Kevin Neirynck LANDBOUWKREDIET - TÖNISSTEINER s.t.
24 Sébastien Delfosse PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
25 Glenn D'Hollander CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
26 Pieter Ghyllebert CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
27 Johan Coenen CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
28 Nicolas Baïolet STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
29 Jarno Van Mingeroet JARTAZI PROMO FASHION s.t.
30 Sven Van den Houte DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
40 Aron Huysmans BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER -
50 Bart Velghe BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
56 Peter Ronsse BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
Edited by wackojackohighcliffe on 23-11-2008 13:03
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 23-11-2008 11:50
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Team Leader
Posts: 5759
Joined: 18-05-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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nice result
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| schleck93 |
Posted on 23-11-2008 11:55
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3715
Joined: 04-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Great riding in Belgium, now show them how cycle
BenBarnes wrote:
Thor wears a live rattlesnake as a condom.
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 23-11-2008 12:27
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Team Leader
Posts: 6044
Joined: 20-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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great story
keep going like that and you'll be next armstrong 
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-11-2008 18:37
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Told off again!
What for this time?
Sprinting.
Apparently it's wasting energy for the next races.
But I got a 3rd!
So. |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-11-2008 19:03
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Cobbles Baby! I hit the real roads of Flanders in a race for the first time and I am relishing the prospect. The Vlaamse Pijl lacks any big ProTour teams but has some strong Continental squads present. We have no real leader today and, with the instruction to get in any move you can, I might just do that.
I had no role to play early on and, with no break, I sat in the front 3rd, with Chocolade Jacques setting a steady tempo. I rolled along with Ed Clancy and talked about his team pursuit chances in May at the World Championships and about when he beat me in the Individual Pursuit at the Junior Track World Cup in Australia a few years back.
Things hotted up on the cobbled sections and Chocolade Jacques crushed the pack. They ended up riding off the front and I attacked hard to stay with them. I had covered the move as instructed.
I managed to keep their wheels but did not come through for turns, saving my energy for later. That's when I was told to drop back.
I did as I was told. Straight back in the pack I was instructed to chase.
I had dropped back to chase the break I had just been in!
I rode in fury at the front, venting my anger and frustration through the pedals. I lined out the peloton in pain behind me.
I managed to reduce the gap from 3 minutes to 1'20 single-handedly and with 3 kilometres left I had yet more work to do. I had to get Erwin Thijs to the front of the group and release him at the sprint. I pulled him along and let rip with 500m to go.
He sat in my wheel and I pulled to one side with 159m left to let him come through. But he didn't.
On the line I was still ahead of him and he just couldn't come past.
I knew I was in for it. Screamed at again for doing so much work after my own chances had been ruined. I counted to 10 and had a cold shower. They can all go to hell!
Omloop took the win:
Rank Name Team Time
1 Geert Omloop JARTAZI PROMO FASHION 4h11'01
2 Nico Eeckhout CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
3 Janek Tombak JARTAZI PROMO FASHION s.t.
4 Dimitri De Fauw CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
5 Maarten Neyens DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
6 Kenny De Ketele CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
7 Kurt Hovelynck CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
8 Bart Vanheule CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
9 Kenny De Haes CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
10 Mario Ickx JARTAZI PROMO FASHION s.t.
11 Adam Hickey BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS + 1'14
12 Steven Thijs BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
13 Pieter Ghyllebert CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
14 Fabio Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
15 Kevyn Ista PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
16 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
17 Thomas Brochard PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
18 Michaël Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
19 Boy Van Poppel RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
20 Jonas Van Genechten STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
21 Lars Croket DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
22 Alain Van Katwijk VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
23 Kristof Goddaert DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
24 Jérôme Baugnies DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
25 Marvin Van der Pluijm UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
26 Tom Leezer RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
27 Konstantin Schubert TEAM REGIOSTROM - SENGES s.t.
28 Klaas Sys DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
29 Arne Hassink UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
30 Evgeni Popov RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
49 Wouter Declercq BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER -
64 Martijn Simons BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
66 Ken Devaere BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
70 Alex Coutts BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
79 Joop De Gans BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t. |
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| Wiggo |
Posted on 23-11-2008 19:09
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3212
Joined: 07-06-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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I bet you can't wait to leave Babes Only. |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 24-11-2008 17:47
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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I snapped afterwards: I ran into the team house, threw over the dinner table, smashed a glass of champagne in Erwin Thijs' hand and screamed at them. 'What am I doing wrong?'
'You're just not good enough'
'Oh really. Is this because my uncles the owner? At least give me a chance to prove myself?'
'You're clearly not of the standard of this team. Stop being so paranoid.'
'You're right. I'm not the standard of this team. I'm so much better.'
They scoffed at me.
'Oh yeah? I'll prove it to you. Just watch me.' |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-12-2024 17:46
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Bot Agent
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Joined: 23.11.09
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 24-11-2008 17:50
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Sprinter
Posts: 1779
Joined: 25-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I want more, I want more!
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
[url=(color=#0000ff] Team Info[/url]
Media Room
You'll Never Walk Alone |
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| schleck93 |
Posted on 24-11-2008 17:52
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3715
Joined: 04-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Great riding, adn get the anger out, just tell how the world actually works
BenBarnes wrote:
Thor wears a live rattlesnake as a condom.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 24-11-2008 18:06
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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That move cost me a month or so on the sidelines. And two weeks wages.
But when two races coincided and the team needed another rider I was chosen to ride just to make up the numbers. I was still deliberately shunned: I wasn't given any instructions, I had to buy my own dinner and I stayed in my own hotel. Despite being almost lynched by the rest of the team, kind mechanic Welter stuck by me: he made sure I had a working bike and gave me a massage when the other soigneurs wouldn't do it. He's a real nice guy.
The race was a modern classic - the Tro Bro Leon. A long, harsh race full of dirt, cobbles and steep son-of-a-bitch climbs. And it was raining. But whatever - today was my day.
A break clipped of the front early, full of average frenchman trying to make a name for themselves and get some publicity for their teams. Apart from one guy; classy Swiss classics rider Martin Elmiger from Ag2r was riding well and organizing the break. All this was news from a mate in the bunch; Aussie Dave Harrigan was keeping me up to date as the team hadn't given me an earpiece.
The breaks lead ballooned out and I could do nothing about it. I felt helpless as I saw any chance of victory slipping away. I moved to the front of the bunch as the pace kicked up. With 40km to go the lead was still 10 minutes and Martin Elmiger had gone solo. I decided something needed to be done.
I ripped across the cobbles and away from the bunch. My legs felt strong but my heart rate monitor was telling a different story, reading 180bpm. I split the bunch and a group of 8 others joined up with me and we set about trying to catch them. I was a little alone in this quest and ended up doing most of the work. The others had given up hope.
20km were left and I was worried - even if we did catch Elmiger there were some good sprinters in the group that I wanted to get rid of. So I went again. And when that came back I went again.
I shelled 4 of my companions out the back but Geert Omloop, Xavier Florencio, Christophe Mengin and Andy Flickinger clung on. F**k! Both Florencio and Omloop were better finishers and had done less work than me. And Flickinger was no mean sprinter either.
I sat with them, thinking. Planning.
But there was no point. I had nothing left. I held on to Mengin's wheel for grim death but when he was gapped in the sprint I couldn't close the gap to the others.
I sat up and accepted 6th.
Rank Name Team Time
1 Martin Elmiger AG2R PRÉVOYANCE 5h51'00
2 Geert Omloop JARTAZI PROMO FASHION + 4'49
3 Xavier Florencio BOUYGUES TÉLÉCOM s.t.
4 Christophe Mengin FRANÇAISE DES JEUX s.t.
5 Andy Flickinger BOUYGUES TÉLÉCOM s.t.
6 Adam Hickey BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
7 Lloyd Mondory AG2R PRÉVOYANCE s.t.
8 Ludovic Auger FRANÇAISE DES JEUX s.t.
9 Anthony Colin ROUBAIX LILLE MÉTROPOLE s.t.
10 Laurent Mangel AG2R PRÉVOYANCE + 6'15
11 Frédéric Finot ROUBAIX LILLE MÉTROPOLE + 7'11
12 Renaud Dion AG2R PRÉVOYANCE s.t.
13 Ludovic Capelle ROUBAIX LILLE MÉTROPOLE s.t.
14 Michael Blanchy BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
15 Jean-Paul Simon BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
16 Nicolas Jalabert AGRITUBEL + 8'23
17 Stéphane Augé COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE s.t.
18 Tristan Valentin COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE s.t.
19 Staf Scheirlinckx COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE s.t.
20 Mathieu Criquiélion JARTAZI PROMO FASHION + 9'11
21 Steven Tronet ROUBAIX LILLE MÉTROPOLE s.t.
22 Stèphane Poulhiès AG2R PRÉVOYANCE s.t.
23 David Derepas ROUBAIX LILLE MÉTROPOLE s.t.
24 Arnaud Gérard FRANÇAISE DES JEUX s.t.
25 Mario Ickx JARTAZI PROMO FASHION s.t.
26 Anthony Geslin BOUYGUES TÉLÉCOM + 10'15
27 Alexandre Usov AG2R PRÉVOYANCE + 10'47
28 Linas Balciunas AGRITUBEL s.t.
29 William Frischkorn TEAM SLIPSTREAM s.t.
30 Cyrille Monnerais FRANÇAISE DES JEUX s.t.
56 Ronny Poelvoorde BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t.
66 Bart Velghe BABES ONLY - VILLAPARK LINGEMEER - FLANDERS s.t. |
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| Halvor |
Posted on 24-11-2008 18:10
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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ohhff... Go to another "bad" team next season, and be a great leader there, then go to CSC and be their leader |
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 24-11-2008 18:13
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Sprinter
Posts: 1779
Joined: 25-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Great 6th! Hopefully the team will accept you, or try to change team as fast as possible!
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
[url=(color=#0000ff] Team Info[/url]
Media Room
You'll Never Walk Alone |
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| Romme1 |
Posted on 24-11-2008 18:23
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 382
Joined: 30-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice story..!
Dessel wrote:
ohhff... Go to another "bad" team next season, and be a great leader there, then go to CSC and be their leader
I agree |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 24-11-2008 18:26
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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I walked onto the team bus after I'd been on the podium (I won the most aggressive rider competition and the young rider one). I walked up to the team manager, who was already formulating the insults and chastisements in his head. As he was about to speak I put my finger to his lips. I handed him a letter and whispered gently in his ear.
'Dont worry. Save your breath. I quit.'
My letter of resignation fell from his hand to the floor.
I turned on my heel and walked out. |
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| schleck93 |
Posted on 24-11-2008 18:28
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3715
Joined: 04-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Great writing and riding just to bad the team won't give you a chance
EDIT: Great deciciun my young fellow. Now train hard untill next season and get a proper team
Edited by schleck93 on 24-11-2008 18:30
BenBarnes wrote:
Thor wears a live rattlesnake as a condom.
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| Halvor |
Posted on 24-11-2008 18:29
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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ooo Burn, Team Manager!! What do you do now? Sim to the next season and hopefully get into a team then? |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 24-11-2008 18:30
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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We'll have to wait and see dessel
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| Halvor |
Posted on 24-11-2008 18:43
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Looking forward! aah, love this story |
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