@sutty: It was pointless wait for an offer that might not appear from MTN if any offer like that!
@mvh: Glad you are happy Europcar South Africa is a genuine team created in 2014, so I thought it would be nice addition. Plus I love racing with Europcar
@fernando: thanks so much
*****
Now that I am due to start the 2014 season, I will update you on the change of db. National Champions have been changed as per the story so far, apart from World Champions, who remain the same (Costa WC RR / Martin WC TT). Martijn's stats are as per the end of the 2013 season.
Game Information
Database: FCD-Spain DB 2014 v1.3 Patch: 1.0.4.0 Attribute Evolution: 0.3 Difficulty: Hard
I returned back from Paris a happy man. I was a WorldTour rider, and now the face of a campaign to develop young cyclist in South Africa. Back at my parent's house in Manchester, I walked through the door to my Dad opening a bottle of champagne. I made sure that the celebrations would be much more conservative this time around.
The next day, my search began of somewhere to live away from Manchester. Despite the setback with Trek, I still needed to escape the city and live somewhere where I could get the best out of my training.
Whilst I opted for Girona in Spain the first time around, I decided to chose Geneva, Switzerland this time around. Like Girona, the Swiss city is picturesque, with a relaxed way of life, and on the doorstep of the Alps. Like with Girona, it was perfection in my eyes.
It felt like deja-vu, packing up all my belongings to move to another country as I begin my life with a WorldTour team. I had just done this two earlier. The only difference this time was that my goodbye was a nice meal in Manchester with my parents, some close friends and my girlfriend of 5 months, Lizzie.
In early January, the team met up in Paris for the Team Presentation, and it was nice to final meet my team-mates for the 2014 season. I was in the presence of Thomas Voeckler, Pierre Rolland and Bryan Coquard, and I am not shy to admit, I was a little starstruck by them. This was fantastic.
After all the Press Pictures, interviews and lots of smiling for the gathered crowd, it was time to sit down with Bernaudeau and discuss my plan for my first season in the WorldTour.
Like last season, I wanted to peak for the March races, but this time for a completely different reason. March was the time of the South African National Championships and the course suited me very well. From there, I take part in a few races in April before tackling my first WorldTour events, La Fleche Wallonne and Tour de Romandie. I will ride a few races in June, before my mid-season break from mid-June til the end of August. I will then look to target the Canadian WorldTour races, the World Championships (if I am selected) and ending my season in China.
Great races for his first season. Even though I'd like Martijn to win the NC, it might be better to go the realistic route and simulate it, instead of breakaway win, but it's your choice.
Is Martijn a puncher or a climber, kind of lost track.
@fernando: The SA championships will be good especially with the large db from FCD-Spain with every UCI team included
@mvh: I will see how many take part in the race, and judge it from there. I would like to race all the races, so simming the race will be the last option
As the saying goes, 'Old Habits Die Hard', and I think is certainly the best way of summing up how I will ride this season. From the outside, particularly the Press, people think I should be scared or nervous due to the step up in class and the level of riders in the WorldTour.
Stage 2 was an ITT, and it was just test of how I could possible compete with the bigger riders in the race. I lost 1'58" to the winner, Tony Gallopin (Lotto), and sat in 58th place on the GC going into the hilly stages. With KoM lead to defend, I went on the attack again on Stage 3. It was a little like deju-vu for the TV cameras as well, as the day's break was the same group from Stage 1. My lead extended with little trouble, and we say Pierre moved up to 11th on GC.
The big stage to Mont Faron saw me revert to Domestique duties for the team. The day's breakaway was no threat to my KoM lead, and the focus had to be on Rolland and Tommy. Ion Izaguirre (Movistar) would take the stage win, but an amazing attack on the lower slopes of Mont Faron moved Pierre into yellow.
Protecting Yellow was now the key for the final stage, but it would be very strange day in the saddle for me. Early in the stage, a small group attacked, and again like Stage 4, caused no threat to me in the KoM lead. The team took control of the peleton, and kept the gap in check.
Suddenly panic ensued, as a small group of favourites, plus Lawson Craddock (Giant) attacks with 3km to go to a Cat.HC climb. The favourites could be pulled back, but Craddock was a threat to my KoM jersey. I had to attack to defend my lead, but not work in the group to defend Yellow. I didn't know whether I was coming or going!
Over the final climb of the day, my lead was suitable defended, and as the pace picked up, Pierre made his move to take the pressure off me in the break. He soon joined us in the lead group, before attacking again to take the stage win, and sealing the GC. Hearing the news, I started to celebrate out on the route, and some people must have thought I was mad.
Official team duties recommence at the Tour du Haut Var, where I will ride as a full domestique to Thomas Voeckler. A Top 3 place on GC is required by the Sponsors, and in Tommy, we think that is very achievable.
Race Report
Whatever Tommy wanted he got during the first stage of the Tour du Haut Var. Stage 1 was classed as flat, but a rise with 1km to go, should rule out any pure sprinter.
Yoann Offredo (FDJ.fr) took the victory, as Voeckler allowed me to finish 5th in the uphill sprint. My best finish so far with the team, and I was so happy at his repayment after my work during the stage.
Stage 2 would be where Voeckler could really show his colours, and that would be the team priority. The plan was to keep the pressure on until the final Cat.1 climb on the stage, that was 11km from the finish. My work was used up with 40km to go, and Malacarne took over duties. Like I had said, It was all for Tommy.
Everything went to plan, as Voeckler attack as the group crested the top of the climb, taking Simon Spilak (Katusha) with him. In the sprint for the finish, the Russian Champion showed more strength in the end and took the win. More disappointing was that our leader missed out on the GC podium by 3". I really felt for him on the team bus.
In the starting gate, I was the 11th rider to hit the course. At the same time though, I was also the penultimate rider. It was a very small Start List for the National Championships. In front of me I had 2013 Champion, Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (Giant) and behind was Daryl Impey (Orica), the defending champion. The three of us were the favourites for the victory, so no pressure!
First checkpoint, and I was feeling good. I had settled into a nice rhythm, and was very comfortable on the bike. My time was also good, as the DS shouted encouragement in my ear.
CheckPoint 1
1. D. Impey
2. M. North
3. R. Jense Van Rensburg
25'01
+ 8
+ 14
Approaching the second CheckPoint, I was beginning to hurt. The climb, plus to slightly incline, to the Sprint really took it out of my legs, but still the DS cheered me on. The TV screens were showing Impey in all sorts of pain, and Jense Van Rensberg was also beginning to struggle.
CheckPoint 2
1. M. North
2. D. Impey
3. R. Jense Van Rensburg
52'42
+ 59
+ 1'28
The downhill to the finish was where I knew I could really make the most of my advantage. I love to descend, but I needed to save enough back for the final 3km to the line. I knew my parents and Lizzie were in the crowd at the finish, and it pushed me on further. Crossing the line, I looked at the time, and I was the Provisional Leader, with a time of 1h13'49. I just had to wait for Impey and watch the second tick by... He crossed the line 8" slower. I was the National Champion!
Europcar South Africa is a genuine team created in 2014, so I thought it would be nice addition. Plus I love racing with Europcar
France
South Africa
Belgium
Switzerland
Luxembourg
Canada
Spain
Rui Costa
Riccardo Zoidl
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Wilco Kelderman
Simon Spilak
Eros Capecchi
Lawson Craddock
Sky ProCycling
