Jeremy Hunt|British Championships
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 22-07-2009 10:20
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Etoile de Besseges Stage 5
Another crashy stage which meant simulation. 15th for me behind Tom Boonen.
I took 8th in GC with Lloyd just behind me. I dunno how the points classement ended up. meh.
FDJeux will be very happy with that as will Cherel. The AG2R management our happy with our and my results so far.
I screwed up by simulating up to Het Volk which meant that Jeremy is riding the Giro di Sardegna. However he will ride Kuurne.
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 22-07-2009 10:23
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yeah, to start with. I've now upped it to hard.
any suggestions would be good. also any advice i.e does anyone know how to get rid of the circles around the riders?
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alexkr00 |
Posted on 22-07-2009 10:25
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wackojackohighcliffe wrote:
does anyone know how to get rid of the circles around the riders?
use ' . It's left to ENTER.
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 22-07-2009 10:26
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cheers
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 22-07-2009 12:54
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Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
After missing out on Het Volk, I am raring to go for my first cobbled semi-classic of the year. All the favourites are here for the first big Belgian weekend and I joint-lead the team with Martin Elmiger. It's the same course as always with those legendary bergs to split the field up and provide a platform for attack. However, it should be the crosswinds on the long flat section afterward that decide the eventual winner.
Everything was going swimmingly. We were at the front of the group so we would be in all the splits, I was going fine on the climbs and both of us were well protected and nourished. Things were starting to hot up but I felt good.
Then I punctured.
The group sped away from me and others passed me. I stood at the side of the road holding the offending wheel in my hand. Finally the team car reached me. A quick change and I was away but in quite a big deficit. I passed by a lot of riders getting dropped, including some of my own who found a bit more strength to help me.
At the head of the race Martin Elmiger had attacked and I was surprised to hear that he was solo in front.
It was shortlived and soon he was dropping back. I even caught up with him and we began working together. A large group had formed behind us but most were leaching, few working.
I decided that carrying them to the finish wasn't worth it. I turned to them but none were willing to help. So we freewheeled for a bit. Pluischin caught us so rode hard at the front for a while, shelling some of the weaker riders out. Most were still sitting on so I decided enough was enough and launched myself away from them.
I looked back to see that I had blown them away and settled down into a tempo I knew I could hold for the last 4 miles. The race radio told me that Maaskant of Garmin had just edged out Devolder for the win.
I managed to stay ahead of any chasers behind and claimed 11th place, just outside the top 10 I'll be aiming for in April.
A promising result after an annoying puncture. I get a chance to race on the strade bianchi of the Eroica next week so it'll be nice to be in Italy again after quite a while.
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 22-07-2009 13:24
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Monte Pasche Eroica
A race I have never ridden before and the dirt should be interesting to ride. I'm feeling pretty confident in the hills and none of these climbs are too long so I think I can reach the finish in the lead group in what is quite a weak field. I lead the team as Elmiger is in France riding Paris - Nice at the moment.
It would take a brave man to go solo for the whole day today and it was Will Frischkorn who was mad enough to attack on his own. A tough, lonely day for a young rider so congrats to him.
He stayed out a lot longer than any of us thought and deserves real credit for his ride but on the last section of rough stuff he was finally pulled back. This was where I decided to attack.
3 others found there way up to me and we were all together as we hit the final climb, although the hills had been tougher than I'd imagined and I was tiring.
Marco Marcato shot out of the group and I knew I couldn't keep up with him so I just tried to stay with Luca Paolini.
In the end Marcato held Paolini off and I rounded off the podium.
A good result in my eyes and it bodes well for the classics.
However, some of the sting was taken out of the day when I was told that I would return to Belgium, missing out on Tirenno - Adriatico and Milan - San Remo, to ride Nokere Koerse and Dwars Door Vlaanderen instead. In terms of racedays, not a great replacement but, apparently I don't fit into their plans.
My new plan up until April looks like this:
GP de Marseille
Etoile de Besseges
Kuurne - Brussels - Kuurne
Monte Pasche Eroica
Nokere Koerse
Dwars Door Vlaanderen E3 Prijs Vlaanderen
KBC Driededaagse De Panne Koksidje
De Ronde van Vlaanderen
Gent - Wevelgem
Paris - Roubaix
Scheldeprijs
Tro Bro Leon
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 22-07-2009 13:30
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Nokere Koerse
This one day race may not be hard enough to split the field up. With all the classics favourites at Paris - Nice or Tirreno - Adriatico I should have a chance today but other guys in our team will have a chance for the win.
It took until the last lap for the attacks to go and boy did they go! My job was to wait for the sprint so Gatis Smukulis followed the moves and went past all of them.
No one was really working in the bunch and, with everyone up front alone and chasing Gatis, he managed to stay away, just, to win and bolster his palmares hugely.
I won the sprint from the bunch for a top 10 but nothing special. Well done Gatis and I continue to search for my first win at the Dwars Door Vlaanderen.
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-07-2009 11:52
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Dwars Door Vlaanderen
One of the easier cobbled semi-classics I would call this nearly the perfect race for me. A few bergs and sections of pave but nothing too attritional. The bookies put me 5th favourite for this but I think I have a better chance because of my sprint and the fact that the top 4 favourites are only from 2 teams.
Also big news: Tom Boonen tested positive for cocaine in-race which means a 3-month ban. It also led to Quickstep sacking him. Sadly Stuey O'Grady will miss the cobbled classics after crashing in Milan - San Remo and breaking his wrist. Couldn't have happened to a nicer person.
It was a quite easy pace up until the final cobbled section. Ista led the attacks from Langeveld, Flecha and De Jongh. We were chasing along with help from De Jongh's Quickstep team, who didn't want two Rabobank riders up front.
We managed to pull back all bar Flecha and when his team-mate Nuyens attacked I went with him. Behind there were a few lone riders but nobody co-operating so we were able to make it clear as Nuyens surprisingly worked to bring back his team-mate.
I was finding the pace hard so let Nuyens drag me up towards a tiring Flecha. As we reached the final few hundred metres this was the situation.
I kicked to try and catch Flecha, a much slower sprinter than me. I made it to his wheel with 100 metres left.
He looked round and saw me reaching him. I dived down his inside and just stole the inside line round the final corner. We were even as the bend straightened. 10 metres left. I dug deep. I strained and struggled as I lunged for the line. But was it enough?
Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Victory!!!
My first ascent to the top step of the podium since February last year. And boy did I enjoy it.
I managed to further my relations with one of the podium girls post-race.
Anyways, my team mates came in 8th, 9th and 10th so all-round a great day for the team.
I have now received a contract extension and have been given the leadership role for the classics! And a personal goal ticked off: a semi-classic win. Just 2 more to go.
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G_Larsson |
Posted on 23-07-2009 11:56
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Wow, what a win! A great story you have here wacko
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 27-07-2009 15:03
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E3 Prijs Vlaanderen
Another cobbled race but a tougher one and with a stronger field. Therefore a win appears out of reach.
I forgot to take screenshots so brief report. I managed to stay in the second group by sitting on wheels and outsprinted all but Cancellara at the finish for 5th place.
This looks good for the imminent classics. De Panne next before we start the Ronde and my most important week of the season.
I have upped to hard for all races after this one so the results should go down a shade or two.
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 06-08-2009 20:51
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3 Days of De Panne
A 4-stage race where I will hope to achieve peak form for the classics week. A relatively easy cobbled stage for starters followed by a sprinters stage then the split day: a long flat stage followed by a short TT.
The field is the weakest I've ever seen at De Panne by a long way because they are worried of the dangers and would rather rest up. It gives me and some other small time riders to gain a big win. We take our northern classics team with us.
Kevin Van Impe attacked as soon as the flag was dropped and quickly forged a solo lead, even if it seemed likely to be only for the publicity.
However, no teams were willing to chase. This included us because none of our lead cobbled riders were great time triallists. So with nobody taking it on Van Impe's gap grew and it soon became apparent that he was going to stay away.
Over the last cobbled section Kevyn Ista sparked some attacks and, mostly to test my legs, I followed.
A group of about 5 of us formed, just dangling off Ista but miles behind Van Impe who had ridden most of the arduous stage into a howling headwind. It was surely the biggest win for him and all but secured GC victory. A deserving win after working faithfully for currently banned Boonen at Quickstep.
I won the sprint from our group, failing to catch Ista by a bike length or thereabouts. We gained enough time for me to think about maybe a podium place if I gain some time bonuses before the TT.
Sprints to come and I think I can maybe win as it's an appallingly weak field that included Cav, Boonen, O'Grady and more last year.
All the better for me.
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 06-08-2009 20:59
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3 Days of De Panne Stage 2
Flat and cross-windy but it should hold together for the sprint.
And lo and behold it did, although not without drama. Elmiger had to lead me out past the remaining fragments of the breakaway as we cut it exceptionally fine.
Martin did a stellar job but I messed up my sprint big time and lost to a Frenchman. Oh the humiliation!
3rd behind Guesdon was depressing but it still leaves me highly placed and with the opportunity to move up into tomorrows double stage.
I was dissapointed with today as I certainly view myself as a better sprinter than Guesdon and Rasmussen and because I feel I let the team down. I need to perform tomorrow. Not for the team but for myself.
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G_Larsson |
Posted on 07-08-2009 10:52
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Good start in de panne! Keep the results coming
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 07-08-2009 11:09
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3 Days of De Panne Final Day
A very long flat stage followed by a short blast of a time trial. I hope for my second win of the year in the first stage, a very achievable goal as I am the most successful sprinter in the field.
Stage 3
220 km of racing allowed the break of 4 a 10 minute lead but, with help from Saxo Bank, FDJeux and Quickstep we pulled them back. My lead-out man Martin was tired from the chase so I decided to bluff my way into a lead-out train. It was Saxo Bank's and I was on Alex Rasmussen's wheel right as he launched his sprint, a little too early I might add.
I let him drag me along in his slipstream from 300m to go to 150m to go. Then I engaged the afterburners.
I didn't look back and went for it as Rasmussen faded to my right. I crossed the line for my first sprint win of the year!
An awesome start to the day and I managed to grab a surprise midday copy of France's 2nd best sports newspaper...
I went for a quick massage and found my Time Trial bike for the contre la montre.
Stage 4
A 10k TT where my aim was to preserve 3rd overall. I had quite a good buffer over the riders behind but TT is a bad spot for me. Brad Wiggins was the outright favourite and he had just set the best time as I left the start ramp.
I rode a steady race and did my best but it was only good for 94th behind Wiggo.
My time was enough to hold 3rd place on GC so I was happy enough with my performance.
It was also enough for the green points jersey, which pleased my manager no end. I got to step up to the podium again and pull on a jersey this time.
Now there's no room for failure - I need to repay my manager's faith in me by performing in the 3 big cobbled classics. I have failed here in my career before so there's even more motivation for me.
Bring on De Ronde!
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 12-08-2009 12:08
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sorry but the game crashed before i could get any screenshots
De Ronde Van Vlaanderen
One of the monuments and a hugely prized race, it seems like the whole of Flanders turns out for this each year, beer and frites in one hand (skilful) and massive yellow flag emblazoned with a lion in the other. These are wave fervently from every berg until they reach fever pitch on the Muur van Geraardsbergen. However, they will be missing their favourite son, a certain Mr. Boonen, due to ...
So support will probably be diverted to Lief Hoste, Stijn Devolder (last years winner) or Nick Nuyens.
Just looking at the profile gives me goosebumps: 250 or so kilometres filled with steep cobbled climbs. So many are forced to get off and walk each year which is why it's especially important to stay near the front.
I'm leader today because of the results I have achieved on the cobbles so far this year. Martin Elmiger is lieutenant while the rest of the squad is full out support. This puts a lot of pressure on me to perform.
After a leisurely start out of the glorious city of Bruges the pace picked up as a break went away. Silence Lotto wanted to keep them in check and kept us flying along. Renaud Dion was protecting me and I was well sheltered. Sooner than I expected we hit the first climb of the day and the deadweights at the back of the peloton started to drop off.
Soon it was really splitting up and the big attacks were going. I was well placed near the front but I started to drop back once the front group disintegrated. I fought hard but I couldn't stop other riders passing me. I can't remember much more than the pain and the relief of finishing.
At the head of the race it was a Belgian who took victory, turning last years second place into this years first, attacking Phillipe Gilbert over the Bosberg to solo away.
I came in 15th and dissapointed, behind such relative unknowns as Pieter Jacobs and Christain Knees. Hopefully Gent-Wevelgem will be a bit more succesful. I still search for that cobbled classics top 10.
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 12-08-2009 12:40
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Gent - Wevelgem
A slightly kinder profile for me. The race is more likely to break up in the crosswinds later on rather than on the double ascents of the Kemmelberg. This favours me and, if it does come down to a sprint from a small group, I will be one of the favourites.
The team is the same as the Tour of Flanders one:
Long breakaways can be successful here and it was a 2-man one that escaped the bunch after 20km. LPR were trying to justify their inclusion and it was their Daniele Pietropolli who made the break along with Perez of Caisse d'Epargne. As I kept a low profile in the bunch they stayed away over both ascents of the Kemmelberg.
The peloton had been trimmed down to 50 riders as we hit the final crosswind section and we gained 2 more as we pulled the two escapees back, although they were'nt with us for long. With 20km there were mass attacks at the front of the group and I decided I should be in them.
A group of 9 formed up front, driven by Simon Spilak for his Lampre team-mate Allesandro Ballan and Sebastien Langeveld for his Rabobank team-mates Nick Nuyens and Juan Antonio Flecha. Meanwhile I had settled into a group of about 11, where Quickstep were riding hard as they had missed the front group. We had the front group in our sights as we entered the finishing straight but they were too far and Martijn Maaskant won the sprint. I won the sprint from our unravelling group, nearly catching Langeveld and finishing 10th.
I've achieved my goal to make this my most successful cobbles season ever. Only the Hell of the North and the Scheldeprijs to finish.
Other good news is that I've made the provisional 10-man line up for the Giro. It will be trimmed down to 9 before the event but I'm pretty confident now.
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 12-08-2009 13:10
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Paris - Roubaix 2009
The most important classic of the year, it is incredibly selective due to the 28 sectors of pave. I would love to do a ride here but most people would rather just finish.
The team is the same again.
It was all going swimmingly until the Tranchee d'Arenberg. That's when I really started to feel it. I kept with the leaders until the Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes to Sars-et-Rosières section where I dropped off with 2 Quickstep riders and Roger Hammond.
Roger was working hard and, as a friend, former team-mate and fan of his, I felt obliged to work. However, the Quickstep riders didn't share the same feelings. They even attacked us on the Cysoing to Bourghelles sector, much to the disgust of us Brits. By then we were both really feeling it in our legs and just soldiered on in true English fashion.
We reached the velodrome to see Juan Antonio Flecha crushed in a media scrum as he embraced Nick Nuyens. I had decided that, as much as I respected Roger I would still sprint for it. He seemed to have the same idea but I finally found my second wind, taking it quite comprehensively.
Ballan and Cancellara joined Flecha on the podium, while I ended 13th, my best ever position in the Queen of the Classics.
I will carry my form over to the Scheldeprijs. After the hilly classics I will find out if I will ride the Giro.
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 12-08-2009 13:23
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Scheldeprijs
A lot easier than Paris - Roubaix but certainly no walk in the park. I hope to be in the mix on the late cobbled sections.
This is the last time I will ride with this exact squad this year and I feel kind of sad. I've really bonded with these guys.
I made the lead group as the cobbled sections sifted out the wheat from the chaff. Pozzato decided to take the race on instead of waiting for the sprint and made a big attack.
As the group split behind the Italian I made my way into a group of 5, the second on the road. Chasing the wheel of Pozzato was a group of 4 including the two Rabobank leaders. Our group was to gain one more as the Quickstep rider leading us in the picture below was soon caught by us.
On the final bit of cobbles I decided to take a leaf out of Pozzato's book. I attacked hard and that was the last I saw of that group.
I found a rhythm just on my limit and rode towards the finish. I came in solo to take 6th behind Pozzato.
This may make up for a slightly dissapointing classics campaign from Pozzato but I doubt it.
Although I'll probably miss them by July I'm glad to see the back of those cobbles, at least for now.
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 12-08-2009 17:07
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Shock Horror! No Giro!
Despite making the provisional 10 for the Giro d'Italia squad, I was left out of the final 9, the team management deeming that I wouldn't be able to help Tadej Valjavec in his GC quest. Therefore, my next race will be the Dauphine Libere in June, as preparation for the National Championships.
I have been persuaded to do a Question and Answer on this thread so if you have any questions for me, feel free to ask away.
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wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 13-08-2009 11:31
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Dauphine Libere 2009
The traditional Tour de France warm-up race, although we leave out our two TDF leaders, Vladimir Efimkin and Aurelien Clerc. John Gadret leads our GC attempt but the main aim is a stage win. There is one sprint stage, stage 2, and I hope I can get a top 10 among a myriad of star sprinters.
Stage 1
It begins with a flat 10km TT and I was first rider off in the whole race. I misjudged the course epicly, with a lot left in the tank, but still managed to take the lead. Until the second rider came in of course.
A little side story to the Dauphine will be Lance Armstrong. Twice a former victor in this race, his comeback this year has re-ignited American interest in the sport and a his result here should indicate how strong he will be come July. He rode exceptionally well to finish a provisional 2nd behind the surprising Mikel Astarloza, flying from 4th place in the Giro (a place ahead of Tadej).
One more rider surpassed Lance's time, a certain Aussie by the name of Cadel Evans. It was not enough to beat Astarloza but beating Armstrong would certainly suffice.
In the end my time was good enough for 154th.
At least it's not last.
Stage 2
This is the stage I've targeted out of the whole Dauphine. Looking at the profile it should come down to a sprint.
Sadly I couldn't get any screenshots as the game crashed before I could get to the replay ( a recurring theme throughout the Dauphine). In the end it came down to a sprint as expected. With no lead-out man I managed to infiltrate the Katusha train. I followed the wheels to the front but I didn't have enough strength to make my own move. I was quietly pleased with 6th place behind Luca Paolini.
Stage 3
Into the hills and out of the team bus window go my personal aspirations. I'll be bottle boy for the week now John Gadret is leading.
John was part of the attacks on the final hill where I was dropped.
However, he failed to make the front group, coming in alone in 9th behind Sandy Casar.
Stage 4
A 40km TT that will show who can challenge in the long Annecy TT in the Tour, a stage that echoes this one.
I went off early and faded to 5th from last. Yeah, I'm no tester. But Lance is and this was another chance for him to prove himself. He did amply, beating Astarloza this time, even if Cadel did take first.
This shows that he can at least challenge in the TT's. But what about the mountains? Ventoux up next.
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