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Caisse d'Epargne || The Future of the Past
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 27-12-2012 08:15
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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A nice looking victory for the Dane  |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 27-12-2012 08:31
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice solid riding from the team |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 29-12-2012 20:28
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
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Thanks a lot guys!
As promised, here's AGR. Im currently enjoying PCM 2008 quite a bit after installing it a day ago, but reports shouldn't slow because of it 
 Amstel Gold Race 2012
One of the biggest one day races of the season, and part of the Ardennes Triple held in the Spring, the Amstel Gold Race is a very important race to the riders wanting to finish high up in the CQ Ranking come the end of the year. It is a test of climbing ability, and also recovery. The race as many climbs, and that will wear down the riders. Only the top hilly riders will have a shot at winning this.
Squad
Startlist
The day got off to a 3 man breakaway. Hoogerland was the man in the breakaway for Vacansoleil and was clearly the strongest in the group.
As favourites on the day, Caisse helped a little with the chase back, as either Rodriguez or Valverde had a good chance at winning.
The breakaway was caught, about 30km from the line at which point, Fabian Cancelllara made a move. Not being known as a top hilly rider, it went a bit under the radar, but it was a brilliant move. The peloton had trouble bringing down the gap, as he used his strong flat abilities to increase his attack.
Just under 12km to go, and Purito made a move, looking to lessen the gap, or bridge it. He wasn't able to, but still sat in 2nd place for a good while, with the rest of the peloton largely sitting back for the finishing sprint.
With less than 3km to go, Alejandro Valverde made a move, and actually went straight past his team-mate, Joaquim Rodriguez. Rodriguez and Valverde simply glanced at each other as they passed.
Valverde was in pursuit of Cancellara who was still up the road and had a good 10 seconds gap still, but Valverde was clearly closing in on him. But what would come first for Cancellara? The line, or the catch (for Valverde).
Well, we should have known. Valverde kicked it into the next gear and just flew past Cancellara. It looked very impressive on television and even better witnessing it live. Valverde crossed the line in first, and really showed why he was the favourite for this race, being in great form as well, something that couldn't be said for the #1 favourite, Gilbert. Maybe he just isn't in form this year, but Valverde is thought to be one of the biggest favourites for the triple, since Gilbert did it last season. Would be quite something to see the triple being done two years in a row.
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde | Caisse d'Epargne | 6h41'06 | | 2 | Alexandre Vinokourov | Astana Pro Team | + 26 | | 3 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | + 38 | | 4 | Fabian Cancellara | RadioShack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | 5 | Jelle Vanendert | Lotto - Belisol | s.t. | | 6 | Peter Sagan | Liquigas - Cannondale | s.t. | | 7 | Damiano Cunego | Lampre - ISD | s.t. | | 8 | JoaquÃm RodrÃguez | Caisse d'Epargne | s.t. | | 9 | Óscar Freire | Katusha Team | s.t. | | 10 | Maxim Iglinskiy | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 11 | Sylvain Chavanel | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | s.t. | | 12 | George Hincapie | BMC Racing Team | + 57 | | 13 | Daniel Moreno | Katusha Team | s.t. | | 14 | Greg Van Avermaet | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 15 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | + 2'50 | | 16 | Gerald Ciolek | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | s.t. | | 17 | Nicolas Roche | Ag2r - La Mondiale | + 3'08 | | 18 | Christian Vande Velde | Team Garmin - Sharp | s.t. | | 19 | Levi Leipheimer | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | + 3'34 | | 20 | Mikel Nieve | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 3'49 | | 21 | Bauke Mollema | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 4'09 | | 22 | Lars Petter Nordhaug | Sky Pro Cycling | + 7'02 | | 23 | Daniel Martin | Team Garmin - Sharp | s.t. | | 24 | Paul Martens | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | 25 | Staf Scheirlinckx | Accent.jobs - Willems Veranda's | s.t. | | 26 | Elia Favilli | Farnese Vini - Selle Italia | s.t. | | 27 | Pierrick Fédrigo | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 28 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 29 | Nairo Quintana | Team Geox | s.t. | | 30 | Christophe Le Mével | Team Garmin - Sharp | s.t. |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 29-12-2012 20:40
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Great win for Valv. |
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 29-12-2012 21:26
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8389
Joined: 08-09-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Let's celebrate with the usual dancing fruit.  |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 29-12-2012 21:35
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World Champion
Posts: 10121
Joined: 01-05-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Awesome win! After that dominance, I'm fairly confident that Piti will be able to go for the triple! 
I understand what you mean about PCM08, btw. I also installed it a little while ago, and still play it from time to time. Really fun to play, mainly because of how well the attack button works - unlike in the newer versions of the game...
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-12-2012 21:42
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Pretty great racing there. Cancellara made a brave move, though
Love the pic where Purito and Valverde glance at each other! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 29-12-2012 23:42
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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A Brilliant victory for Valverde
I bet Rodriguez was a bit p****d off with him though  |
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| dienblad |
Posted on 30-12-2012 09:11
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3772
Joined: 10-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Winning the Amstel with a fitness of 88....... Great job!
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| andy222c |
Posted on 30-12-2012 09:55
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Sprinter
Posts: 1537
Joined: 23-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Fantastic win by Valverde! And what a drama between Purito and him
- Though i have to say, that Matti winning the PR was even more excellent. It really made my day
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| ste_18 |
Posted on 30-12-2012 18:43
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1430
Joined: 06-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Domination in AGR
Surely Purito wasn't so happy to see Valverde attack and pass him... |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 13:26
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 30-12-2012 22:25
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
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@ Miguel: Thanks
@ Freitas: Yay 
@ Pelli: Thanks a lot. Im not sure Valv can do it, but personally Im hoping for a Caisse Triple.
And Agreed. I think having the game for 2 years before getting PCM10 also helps the nostalgia. It feels like I played 08 forever.
@ Ian: Thanks a lot. I was surprised honestly. Didn't think a move would come from him. And yeah. I saw that, and thought it was a great moment to take a screen.
@ sutty: Thanks. And Both just went their best, so there shouldn't be any hard feelings. Valverde was just stronger, and Purito didn't even catch Canc.
@dienblad: True, but its only on Hard, and he had +5 daily form Thanks
@ andy: Thanks a lot. Glad you think so. So much for detail sim though, so unrealistic
@ ste: Thank you. Probably not at the time, but Im sure he'll be happy to have the team win, and still get Top 10 himself.
Playing Fleche Wallone as I type.
Edited by valverde321 on 30-12-2012 22:26
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 30-12-2012 23:00
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Its nice to know that the guys are still friends and not enemies |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 01-01-2013 18:37
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
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Indeed Sutty
 La Fleche Wallone 2012
The middle of the 3 Ardennes classics, and probably considered the easiest of the 3 as well, due to its shorter race distance, less amount of time climbing overall, and the slopes being not as steep in the finale as the other 2 as well. Still, its got its own feel, and many are targeting the race.
Caisse Squad
For Caisse, the plan is to have either Uran or Purito make an attack on the 2nd to last climb. The descent should provide a good platform to extend any attacks made at the top of the climb, and then if a large enough gap forms for the final hill, there will be no chance of bringing them back. If it comes to a sprint, we will position Valverde well and hope for the best. Maybe make an attack on the flat section too.
Startlist
We start the day off with a breakaway! Van Garderen, Barry, and Juul-Jensen are the ones doing most of the work, and Van Garderen looks to be the strongest in the group by far.
But the peloton couldn't allow a break to get a gap larger than 4 minutes due to the prestige of this race and so they were caught quite early, leaving a gap for Iglinsky to attack after just have a "puncture". Maybe it was a pre-meditated move, but he gets a gap of about a minute and must hold it for 30km still.
Now at he foot of the final slope to the finish. Caisse's previous plans all failed and so it would be all for Valverde, who was in fairly good position, while Purito was halfway down the group. The catch of Iglinsky was just being made, and the sprint begins! Gilbert looks prominent again, can he win on home turf?
Well, the answer to that, is a resounding no! Bauke Mollema shocked everyone with the power in his legs to sprint away (even outsprinting Valverde) for the monumental victory. Valverde does grab 2nd place, and will now move up in the PT and CQ rankings, but a win would have been nice, leaving the opportunity for a Triple going to LBL. At this point, being on the podium in all 3 would still be quite the achievement, so thats something to work for!
The Excel file wouldn't open for some reason, so I had to take a screen. Hopefully this was just a one-off
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| ste_18 |
Posted on 01-01-2013 19:05
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1430
Joined: 06-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Good race for Valverde.
Mollema? That's a surprise. A bit disappointing today Purito's performance though... |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 01-01-2013 19:34
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Brilliant startlist spoiler |
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| dienblad |
Posted on 01-01-2013 19:35
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3772
Joined: 10-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Wow, Mollema......
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 01-01-2013 23:50
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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So unlucky for Valverde, but it is still a Brilliant result |
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| fcancellara |
Posted on 01-01-2013 23:57
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5194
Joined: 18-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Well, I'm glad Mollema, one of the few Rabo-cyclists that I'm fan of, snatched the victory from you, instead of a rider I really hate. 2nd place isn't bad, after all.
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 02-01-2013 04:42
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
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@ ste: Yeah, he rode well, but I was hoping he'd win. Mollema did great, I think he's got 78 or 79 hill (I can take a screen) and the highest hill stat in the game is 82 for Gilbert.
@ Ian: Thanks Its fixed for LBL
@ dienblad: Yeah, not surprising to me though. I think he's in great form and has good stats. Must be those PCMFocus guys Overrating the Dutch riders
@ sutty: Yeah, but looking back it is still great as you say. Puts him in the lead of the rankings, which you guys will see after LBL
@ fcanc: Yeah, I like Mollema too.
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