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LPR Brakes: Pro Tour or Bust (March 2009)
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| Juan |
Posted on 24-03-2009 17:42
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Protected Rider
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Well done with Petacchi  |
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| Biathlon |
Posted on 24-03-2009 18:04
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Sprinter
Posts: 1813
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PCM$: 300.00
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Nice wins with Pettachi
Words to live by
"What would Lance do?"
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-12-2024 11:03
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Bot Agent
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| chrica04 |
Posted on 24-03-2009 18:07
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 853
Joined: 23-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Great Job! |
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| kirosha |
Posted on 24-03-2009 18:27
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Domestique
Posts: 612
Joined: 30-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Great race by great rider! |
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| yoejo |
Posted on 24-03-2009 18:35
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 276
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ye, great race m8. what´s next? |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 25-03-2009 09:13
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Classics Specialist
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Giro della Provincia di Grosseto:
Di Luca has been invited to the Trofeo Laiguaglia so he will be riding this race in practice. It's only 3 stages with 2 flat and 1 hilly, though it's more like a mountain stage in reality. It takes place at the same time as the Tour of the Med. Pietropolli will be going along as our sprinter.
Squad Di Luca, Ermeti, Legana, Marinangeli, Pietropolli, Spezialetti
Stage 1
A flat stage. Pietropolli is our sprinter however his lack of fitness shows and he can only manage 12th.
Di Luca takes it easy in his first race of the season
Stage 2
A very tough hilly stage. Di Luca is the favourite however his lack of racing shows and he is just pipped on the line. A very promising performance from our leader.
Di Luca pipped to the line by Pineau
Stage 3
Final stage would see Pietropolli going for the win in the sprint. He faired much better today and after being led out by Di Luca he finished 3rd for a nice podium place.
Di Luca leads out Pirtropolli in the last few k's
Di Luca drops 1 place in the GC but we're still happy with his performance.
Pietropolli finished 14th overall.
Again another pleasing performance by the team. No stage victories this time but Di Luca has got on the overall podium and looked strong in the hills in his first race of the season.
Up next Di Luca will head the team at the Trofeo Laiguaglia.
Edited by ringo182 on 25-03-2009 09:16
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 26-03-2009 14:26
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
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Trofeo Laiguaglia:
Di Luca was invited to the race so he will lead. Bernucci and Bossisio get their first races of the season. It will be Di Luca's last race until April when he starts his preparation for the Giro.
Squad: Di Luca, Bossisio, Bernucci, Cattaneo, Golcer, Negri, Spezialetti
I wanted to get someone into the break so the team could relax for most of the stage in the peleton. Golcer went away with a large group. The peleton chased them down but Golcer and a few others stayed away. On the first climb Golcer was too strong for the others and rode away. He would spend most of the stage alone.
After that the peleton stayed together until the last climb. Scarponi and Chavanel were the first riders to make a move. Di Luca stayed with his team but when Sanchez went Di Luca followed.
G1: Scarponi, Chavanel. G2: Di Luca, Noe, Nardello, Sanchez, Pineau, Bellotti, Caucchioli
Scraponi and Chavanel had a good gap on the descent. Di Luca tried to bridge it alone.
However it didn't work and Di Luca was re-joined by his group. Pineau was next to try to bridge the gap alone.
Going into the last 5 k's Di Luca accepts he won't catch the front 3. Pineau can't quite make it accross but he has done enough to get 3rd.
Scarponi takes the sprint and the win...
....and Di Luca takes 6th. A decent performance by a man with only 3 days racing in his legs.
Another good performance form the team. Di Luca now takes a well earned rest before he starts his preparation for the Giro.
Edited by ringo182 on 26-03-2009 14:27
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 26-03-2009 14:32
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
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February Review:
A very satisfactory month for us. We've performed well in the 4 races we have been involved in and as a result are now 2nd in the continental rankings. Cervelo are running away with it but as long as we can hold onto 2nd i will be very happy.
Rider of the month for our team has to be Petacchi for his 2 wins, 2 seconds, points jersey and 4th overall at the Tour of the Med. I get a feeling he might win it quite alot |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 26-03-2009 14:40
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
PCM$: 1348.00
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March Preview:
March is a very important month for us. The sponsors have listed the Eroica as a key race and they want a top 3 finish at the MSR. Bernucci will lead at the Eroica while Petacchi is the only real option for us at the MSR. I have entered the Tirreno Adriatico and the Nokere Koerse to give the MSR squad some fitness.
Here is our full calender. We're still waiting on a wild card for the MSR. Would be a disaster if we didn't get in.
If there's anything else you want to know then please ask |
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| Goldberger |
Posted on 26-03-2009 14:43
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Domestique
Posts: 504
Joined: 14-02-2008
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Will Di Luca race Tirreno and will he go for the GC? |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 26-03-2009 14:49
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Classics Specialist
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no, he won't race at all in march. his prep for the Giro starts at the Settimano Lombardia. I only entered the TA to get my MSR squad fit. Petacchi will go for sprints and we'll try to get into breaks but GC doesn't interest us. After all, we won't get any continental points for it. |
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| beagle |
Posted on 26-03-2009 15:36
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4200
Joined: 06-10-2007
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will be your reports from important races more detailed? |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 26-03-2009 15:46
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Classics Specialist
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yeah. races i see as big or important will get more detail. i've found if you report every race you do with 10 pics and full write up you quickly get fed up. This month i've got the Eroica and MSR which are sponsor goals and the TA which i will report in greater detail.
it also helps to get through a story quicker. I got through feb pretty fast because i didn't report every single stage. it helps keep the story flowing so people can read it easier. sometimes i read stories which are 2 weeks away from the TdF, the the writer reports every stage of a meaningless stage race a few days before. i'm always thinking "just get to the tour" |
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| beagle |
Posted on 26-03-2009 15:54
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4200
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you are definitely right, i think about reduction some of my reports of not-so-important-races 
however, I´m looking forward good reading, I like your story(-es) |
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 26-03-2009 18:15
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Sprinter
Posts: 1779
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Wow, Cervelo is just to good  But I think that you can take 2nd
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
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Media Room
You'll Never Walk Alone |
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| Juan |
Posted on 26-03-2009 18:35
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1282
Joined: 09-12-2008
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well done so far
good luck for March |
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| trueatfirstlight |
Posted on 27-03-2009 06:36
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Free Agent
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Pity about Costa degli Estruchi, that's Petacchi's race!
But great results so far. Hoping for a good showing at T-A & M-SR!
Best of luck. |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 27-03-2009 08:49
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
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G_Larsson wrote:
Wow, Cervelo is just to good But I think that you can take 2nd
yeah, but they've obviously targetted the early season races. If you look at there two main points scorers, Sastre and Hushovd, they've already raced about 30+ days between them. Di Luca and Petacchi have done 11 between them.
also i'm guessing Cevelo will be more involved in pro-tour races then us. hopefully as the season goes on we'll close the gap. |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 27-03-2009 09:03
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
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Classica de Almeria
Petacchi's preparation for the MSR is well and truely under way now. Today is a good opportunity for our squad to ride together. It's classed as hilly for some reason which might get in the way of Petacchi's chances of victory.
Squad: Petacchi, Bernucci, Curcinotta, Ermeti, Marinangeli, Montaguti, Negri, Pietropolli
As the race got over the hilly section it was all still together. The break had gone away and been pulled back and now the big names attacked. I still hoped to keep it all together for Petacchi at the finish so i sent Pietropolli into the break and had a couple of guys pulling the peleton along.
Pietropolli keeps an eye on the dangerous looking break
However the peleton couldn't quite pull the lead group back and they just made it to the line. In the sprint Pietropolli's lack of fitnes showed as he was outsprinted by the likes of Sastre. Even Petacchi nearly caught him from the peleton.
He managed to scrape into the top 10 though. The win went to Herrero ahead of Paulini and Sastre.
Slightly disapointed today. Petacchi had a strong finish and if we could have kept it together he would have been a good bet for the win. Still alot of work needs to be done for the MSR but we've got time on our side. |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 27-03-2009 16:36
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3472
Joined: 03-01-2008
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La Samyn
A short and completely flat 1 day race. Petacchi will lead and should have a good chance of getting a win. He coming into some nice form for the MSR now.
Squad: Petacchi, Bernucci, Curcinotta, Ermeti, Marinangeli, Montaguti, Negri, Pietropolli
Maringeli got into the break of the day and when the peleton started to chase he just sat in and didn't do any work. he was only there to help Petacchi. As the group was being wheeled in a dangerous looking group made a move so i sent Bernucci after them, they quickly realised they were too far from home and fell back into the peleton. However, with about 20k remaining another group made a break for the line. This time i sent Pietropolli with them.
Pietropolli tries to keep control of the late break
The paleton chases the break down but 1 rider, Koen Barbe, is still out in front.
Less then 4k to go!
As the sprint starts the peleton close down fast on the lone Belgian...
Under the 1k banner
....But it's too little too late. Barbe holds on for the win. Petacchi finishes a disapointing 6th.
Slightly disapointing result given the quality of riders at the race, however the sprint was largely disrupted by the attacks.
Eroica
had to sim this race as it kept crashing was a key race to our sponsors so it was important we put up a good shaw. Bernucci (our only rider with 69+ for cobbles) led the team with Ongarato as his leutenant. He finished a respectable 6th so i was quite pleased.
2 more races, 2 6th places. we're consistantly racking up the points so i'm quite pleased. Would have liked to win the La Samyn but it's still early season. |
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