Fabio Melani | Road to Le Tour | End of Season
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The Hobbit |
Posted on 06-11-2013 10:32
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your back! |
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 06-11-2013 10:44
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Yep
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 07-11-2013 07:34
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A 4 man break got away at the start of the race. No big deal.
On the penultimate climb, a group of 35 riders got a gap to the rest of the peloton, including our main 3. So, I protected Atapuma.
A group of 7 were too strong for the rest and simply dropped them on the last climb. Our main 3 were all there.
Chalapud attacked on the little bump before the finish. The rest tried to stay with him, but had the element of surprise, attacking when everybody else was getting in position for the final sprint.
Atapuma was being left behind but it didn't matter. Robinson was leading with 2.5km - when the people behind were starting to sprint.
And he did it! Robinson Chalapud won the GP Gippingen in a spectacular fashion!
Next up I have the Tour of Qinghai Lake. But there are NC's and transfers to do.
But until then...
ADIOS
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The Hobbit |
Posted on 07-11-2013 08:47
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Well done from Robinson and Fabio, another strong team performance, you must get WT next year at this rate! |
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sutty68 |
Posted on 07-11-2013 09:45
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What a Great win for Robinson |
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 08-11-2013 07:00
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The team has announced its initial shortlist for this transfer season. With promotion looking likely, we need to pick up some talent.
Nacer Bouhanni
Andrea Guardini
Rein Taaramae
Chris Anker Sorensen
Robert Kiserlovski
Giacomo Nizzolo
Barry Markus
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sutty68 |
Posted on 08-11-2013 13:00
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C.A Sorensen has to be the top man in that list |
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 08-11-2013 19:00
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Sorry guys, although I'll try my best I won't have a race report up today. I have rowing training most of the morning, then a friend's coming over for a little bit, then I have guitar, then going to a friend's place, then going to a party.
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 09-11-2013 22:52
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The Tour of Qinghai Lake is almost here, but before then, I will update you on the news that has happened so far in this transfer season. The results will come later.
J.J. Romero finally returned from injury to represent us in the GP de l'Aulne.
Rein Taaramae decided not to re-sign with Cofidis.
Rodriguez re-signed with Colombia.
Fabio Duarte is in advanced talks over a new deal at Colombia.
Mark Cavendish and Giacomo Nizzolo have given up their leaders' roles at their respective teams to both sign new contracts.
Simon Clarke is now on our shortlist after revealing that he will in not in fact re-sign with Orica-GreenEDGE.
Duque and Corti have asked to re-sign, however the Italian has been refused.
Despite other offers, Duarte agreed to re-sign with us.
Roman Kreuziger decided not to re-sign with Team Saxo-Tinkoff.
Duque has also re-signed.
Michael Albasini and Staf Scheirnlickxx have both decided not to re-sign with their respective teams.
Degenkolb also chooses to move on.
Radioshack will not exist next season. Sporza have taken the sponsorship.
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 10-11-2013 00:00
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Results
I might've already posted a couple of these, but oh well
Edited by Cycleman123 on 10-11-2013 00:14
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 10-11-2013 00:13
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Category: 2.HC
Country: China
Leader
John Darwin Atapuma
Sprinter
Edwin Avila
Main Teammate To Climber
Robinson Chalapud
Leadout Man
Juan Sebastian Arango
Loose Teammate To Climber And KoM Man
Fabio Melani
Teammate To Sprinter
Jeffry Johan Romero
All-Round Teammate
Jarlinson Pantano
Domestique
Michael Rodriguez Galindo
DS Version: I think that here we should look for a GC win. The sprinting stages won't be too difficult to ride and the field isn't too hard. There are almost 10 HC climbs here, so the KoM jersey competition should be open. Fabio, you'll go for that, and you can also get more of a free role, but you have to help Darwin when needed.
My Version: There are tonnes of categorized climbs here, so I'm going to go for the Mountains Jersey. The field is wide open so we could have some stiff competition for the GC.
DS: GC Win & KoM Jersey
Sponsor: Top 3 GC & KoM Jersey
Me: Top 5 GC, 2 Stage Wins & KoM Jersey
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Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 18:09
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 10-11-2013 03:42
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Disaster! The team has gone bankrupt! The sponsor is allowing us enough money to stay alive as a team but we won'tbe able to sign any riders for next season. So, we'll have to survive the World Tour (probably) with the team we have!
However, I need to focus on the Tour of Qinghai Lake, starting tomorrow! Until then...
ADIOS
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 10-11-2013 03:59
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A nice flat stage which should allow for us to make our mark in the sprint finish.
Vingerling (MMM) and Delfose (CCB) formed the initial breakaway. They made it to the first intermediate sprint, while in the peloton Max Richeze (PPO) took the 1 point.
Maikin (RVL) joined the leaders to form the break of the day. He came 2nd in the second sprint, which was won by Vingerling.
There was a huge pace in the peloton, which left us all out of position.
Still though, Avila was released brilliantly by Arango, and had victory in his sights. However, he didn't have much energy due to wheel-getting.
However, an incorrectly placed finish line was the catalyst for a very narrow defeat. This picture was taken when the riders were at the actual finish of the race, which was thus won by Ista (IAM), ahead of Max Richeze and then Avila.
We were still the best team though, thanks to Top 10 displays from our leadout train.
My Views
Overall a good day for us, with 3rd and 4th. However it could've been much different had the finish line been placed correctly. Don't ask me why the other riders knew and we didn't. Anyway, this proves that Edwin is a good sprinter, and that we can hope for a stage win from him before the Tour is over. The next stage is a sprint finish, but with a HC climb in the middle. It will be interesting to see which sprinters can handle it and fight it out. Until then...
ADIOS
Spoiler
I will now put race results in a spoiler at the end of the report, just in case some people don't want to see it, which is completely understandable.
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 10-11-2013 04:06
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"Welcome to who?" you may ask. Well, our team has somehow just managed to sign the two BEST U23 riders in the world. They are:
Virgilijus Grazhys is the best U23 rider in the world. He is a 19 year old puncher, who brings a much needed quality to the team.
Jagoba Aurrekoetxea is the 2nd best U23 rider in the world. The 20 year old is only 1 point behind Grazhys in the rankings and joins the team as already the 2nd best sprinter, after of course Leo Duque. I will just refer to him as Jagoba from now on, for understandable reasons.
Unfortunately, the team has fired all its staff in order to survive as a team. We will need to bring trainers on board to help these lads become the next big things in cycling.
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welker3257 |
Posted on 10-11-2013 04:07
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That is an interesting last name
Gig 'em Aggies
Fast N' Loud Cycling Project - ICL
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 10-11-2013 04:56
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Sure is
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The Hobbit |
Posted on 10-11-2013 07:53
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Hmm, they both have such hard to pronounce names, good thing this isn't a video story!
Have you deliberately gone bankrupt, because you know you can edit in more money? |
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Cycleman123 |
Posted on 10-11-2013 08:00
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As I said yesterday, it will be a battle of the sprinters who can survive the HC climb. This should be a good on for Jarlinson Pantano.
There was a 3 man breakaway, nothing much to report.
And the curse has struck again! Atapuma suffered a front wheel puncture. He luckily got back easily.
With a 23km HC climb ahead of us, I decided to jump as soon as the road rose. I didn't get away, but everybody behind me was out of gas when they brought me back.
I did get away a bit later though, and bridged to the breakaway. We had 2'01" at this point. They were starting to get pulled back though, so I left again.
2 splits! With me solo as E1, there were 38 people in E2, including Atapuma, Chalapud and Pantano. The yellow jersey was back an 8 man E3. The peloton was behind them 126, and A1 had 11, including the white jersey.
3 riders rode away from E2. They were:
Huzarski (TNA)
Wyss (IAM)
Pardilla (MTN)
I won the KoM sprint, as well as the jersey!
Chalapud and Atapuma attacked on the downhill to bridge the gap.
E1 at this point was me, Huzarski, Pardilla and Arredondo (PPO). Atapuma was alone in E2, while Chalapud was back in E3.
Darwin just went past us. I tried to follow, but NOPE ! Our leader was on fire and was looking too good.
E2 increased to 7, then 33, while Atapuma still had 3'11" with 32.5km left.
There was still some downhill left, so it was looking good for our man.
He still 2' with19km left, he had a chance. Either way, we had Pantano for the bunch sprint.
With 4.8km to go he had 48". He was going to win! The peloton had stopped riding ages ago too...
Would you believe it? Atapuma won the stage and the yellow jersey! What a great solo effort.
Pantano, Chalapud, Arango and Avila were all blocked in the middle for the final sprint, but it didn't matter.
Well then, there I am! Can I hold my lead here for the rest of the Tour?
My Views
As I've said, it was a great solo win from John Darwin and he now has the yellow jersey with him too. I'm very happy to have the KoM lead as well, but it's still very early days here. Tomorrow is very much the same, a HC climb at the start, and then a flat 100km at altitude. Until then,
ADIOS
Edited by Cycleman123 on 10-11-2013 09:14
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The Hobbit |
Posted on 10-11-2013 08:05
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Nicely done and brilliant tactics from Colombia! |
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tpinot |
Posted on 10-11-2013 08:20
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Great stage for the team, and good luck for the jersey |
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