@mvh: they are the sort of cities that I like. I like the whole culture and exploring sort of holiday rather than laying on a beach I am also enjoying exploring the lesser touristic European cities
Well as you can probably see, I am back from my break. I'm feeling refreshed, and after taking in a nice bit of culture in the Baltics, I have some possible ideas for some other projects away from the Rapha-Bianchi story
@baia: The team is going well in the standings, but the achieved goals are more Bianchi than Rapha. I think they are wanting a 'new Team Sky' in the peleton...
Circuit Sarthe-Pays de la Loire
1st - 4th April 2013
The Circuit Sarthe opens with two flat stages, followed by a short Time Trial / Prologue.
Should the stages end in a bunch sprints, then we will work for Rene, whilst making sure that we keep Linus safe from danger in the peleton ahead of the hilly final stages.
Elsewhere, we will look to get in the stage breakaways, and depending on the KoM standings at the end of stage 3, we may have a good attempt at returning home with that on our shoulders.
Stage Reviews
Stage 1 (Fortenay-le-Comte-Ligne -- 179.4km): I love it when a plan comes together! Windy conditions met the riders on stages, and we knew it was going to play a role at the finish. With Damien Monier first stringing out the peleton approaching the finish, Nathan Earle then kicked hard out of a tight right hand bend, opening a huge gap in the process. The whole team stopped riding, and Nathan held on for the win ahead of the big sprinters! Rene surfed the peleton to the finish and came home 12th. Great start for the team.
Stage 2 (Ligne-Angers -- 93.6km): It's amazing how a day can change things in bike racing... Victory yesterday with Earle, and today, we have Rene hit the deck with Bellis and Doull. Perez (EUS) took the stage win, ahead of teammate Tamouridis and Coquard (EUC).
The Perfect Answer to Rapha? Earle takes the win on stage 1
Stage 3 (Angers-Angers -- 6.8km ITT): Tobias Ludvigsson (ARG) took the win in the ITT, ahead of Kelderman (BEL) and Le Bon (FDJ). Gerdemann was the highest Rapha-Bianchi finisher in 17th, 14" down on Ludvigsson, whilst Earle holds onto his Leader's Jersey going into the hilly final two stages.
General Classification after Stage 3
1
Nathan Earle
Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team
5h55'02
2
Bryan Coquard
Team Europcar
+ 2
3
Tobias Ludvigsson
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
4
Ioannis Tamouridis
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3
5
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4
Spoiler
6
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 6
7
Johan Le Bon
FDJ.fr
+ 8
8
Stéphane Poulhiès
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 9
9
Jérémy Roy
FDJ.fr
s.t.
10
Maarten Tjallingii
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 10
11
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 13
12
Gediminas Bagdonas
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 14
13
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
14
Aaron Gate
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
15
Jarosław Marycz
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
+ 15
16
John Murphy
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Linus Gerdemann
Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team
+ 16
18
Jan Ghyselinck
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
19
Dennis Van Winden
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Tomasz Kiendyś
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
21
Jimmy Engoulvent
Sojasun
s.t.
22
Gert Joeaar
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
23
Laurent Pichon
FDJ.fr
+ 17
24
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
25
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
s.t.
26
Sébastien Minard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
27
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
28
Jay Thomson
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 18
29
Benoit Jarrier
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
30
Robert Wagner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 19
31
Mickaël Delage
FDJ.fr
s.t.
32
Jussi Veikkanen
FDJ.fr
s.t.
33
Yauheni Hutarovich
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 20
34
Mateusz Nowak
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
35
Pello Bilbao
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
36
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
37
Christophe Laborie
Sojasun
s.t.
38
Warren Barguil
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 21
39
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
40
Luka Mezgec
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 22
41
Davide Appollonio
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
42
Stefano Borchi
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
43
Pierre Rolland
Team Europcar
+ 23
44
Łukasz Owsian
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
45
Adrian Kurek
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
46
Andreas Stauff
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 24
47
Martin Wesemann
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
48
Daniele Colli
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
49
Sylwester Janiszewski
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
+ 25
50
Jonas Ahlstrand
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
51
Cyril Lemoine
Sojasun
s.t.
52
Christopher Jones
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
53
Pablo Urtasun
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 26
54
Tsgabu Grmay
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
55
Graeme Brown
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
56
Dominique Rollin
FDJ.fr
+ 27
57
Simon Richardson
Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team
s.t.
58
Florent Barle
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
59
Arthur Vichot
FDJ.fr
+ 28
60
Sandy Casar
FDJ.fr
s.t.
61
Kristian Sbaragli
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 29
62
Thierry Hupond
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
63
Stefan Radochla
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 30
64
Rick Flens
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
65
Eduardo Sepulveda
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
66
André Schulze
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 31
67
Edwig Cammaerts
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
68
Florian Guillou
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
69
Jacek Morajko
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
+ 32
70
Youcef Reguigui
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
71
Kiel Reijnen
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
72
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 33
73
David Tanner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
74
Sébastien Duret
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
75
Jetse Bol
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 34
76
Damien Monier
Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team
s.t.
77
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Sojasun
s.t.
78
Robert Förster
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
79
Daniel Summerhill
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
80
Björn Thurau
Team Europcar
+ 35
81
Anthony Delaplace
Sojasun
s.t.
82
Tristan Valentin
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
83
Luke Keough
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
84
Pierpaolo De Negri
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 36
85
Luca Mazzanti
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
86
Fabien Schmidt
Sojasun
s.t.
87
Romain Hardy
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 37
88
Johann Van Zyl
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
89
Jake Keough
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
90
Roy Curvers
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 38
91
Sam Bennett
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
92
Ronan McLaughlin
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
93
Kess Heytens
Team 3M
s.t.
94
Adam Yates
Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team
+ 39
95
Angelo Tulik
Team Europcar
s.t.
96
Carlos Alzate
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
97
Francesco Chicchi
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 40
98
Alexandre Pichot
Team Europcar
s.t.
99
Josef Cerny
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
100
Martin Reimer
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 41
101
Jean-Marc Bideau
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
102
Benjamin Le Montagner
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
103
Julien Simon
Sojasun
+ 42
104
Michele Merlo
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
105
Leonardo Giordani
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
106
Alister Ratcliff
Team 3M
s.t.
107
Sébastien Chavanel
Team Europcar
+ 43
108
Jon Aberasturi
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
109
Glenn O'Shea
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
110
Michael Vingerling
Team 3M
s.t.
111
Bryan Nauleau
Team Europcar
+ 44
112
Mike Terpstra
Team 3M
s.t.
113
Jens Schuermans
Team 3M
s.t.
114
Etienne Tortelier
Sojasun
+ 45
115
Joop De Gans
Team 3M
s.t.
116
Frederik Verkinderen
Team 3M
+ 46
117
Renaud Dion
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
118
Jonathan Bellis
Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team
+ 2'58
119
René Mandri
Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team
+ 3'07
120
Cheng Ji
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 3'45
121
Mattia Pozzo
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 3'58
122
Owain Doull
Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team
+ 4'46
123
Jack Wilson
An Post - Chainreaction
+ 5'27
124
Kieran Frend
An Post - Chainreaction
+ 5'31
Points Classification
1
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
39
2
Bryan Coquard
Team Europcar
34
3
Stéphane Poulhiès
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
27
4
Ioannis Tamouridis
Euskaltel - Euskadi
26
5
Nathan Earle
Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team
25
Mountains Classification
1
Eduardo Sepulveda
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
8
2
Aaron Gate
An Post - Chainreaction
7
3
Owain Doull
Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team
7
4
Alister Ratcliff
Team 3M
5
5
Sam Bennett
An Post - Chainreaction
5
Under 25 Classification
1
Nathan Earle
Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team
5h55'02
2
Bryan Coquard
Team Europcar
+ 2
3
Tobias Ludvigsson
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
4
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 6
5
Johan Le Bon
FDJ.fr
+ 8
Team Classification
1
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
17h45'38
2
FDJ.fr
+ 2
3
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 4
4
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 13
5
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
+ 19
Mid Race Debrief
I may come to regret these words at a later date, but wow that is one way of answering the critics at Rapha! They wanted results and Nathan pulls it out the bag at the first attempt. The tactic was a similar one to that in San Luis when Caleb got our first ever win, but this time, it would just be Nathan going for the win.
He holds the Yellow Jersey going into stage 4, and it is terrain that will suit him. Linus is also well placed on GC going into the stages, so we have a good back up on offer.
The team is slightly weakened after Rene, Jonny and Owain hit the deck, but they will ride on and finish the race. A gentle few stages will be in store for them to help their recovery. It is a shame with Owain being a long way down on GC and currently 3rd in KoM standings. We might have to see how he is and decide on the day.
As for the ultimatium from Rapha and a request for improvement... I think the French say it best: 'Jusqu'ici, tout va bien'
@ian: glad you are liking it. I am enjoying playing with the team, and I am a lot more motivated for a team story this time around. I think the varied report writing is helping with that
@cunego: it is one of my favourite French films, so there may have been a small influence from that
I have now finished the Circuit Sarthe and also played the Klasika Primavera. Sadly no time to post tonight, but should be able to get up to mid April. Some interesting PCM logical transfer rumours as well to come
I am afraid however, that there is going to be another break in the story. I am in the process of moving house, and my housemate has wonderfully moved out and taken the Broadband with him... I am currently hijacking my neighbours internet, but the connection is not the best. I should be moved in to my new place after the weekend, with my own more reliable internet set up
So... I'm back! Finally got my own broadband internet set up, and my new place is looking good!
Bad news however... the story is going to be remaining on hold for the time being. I haven't played much pcm since the last story update, and quite a successfully career on Football Manager 14 has taken over my gaming time.
Another reason for the delay in starting back up, is that I am unsure how I want my story to develop, so that my followers (if you are still out there :/) stay interested reading the game, and so that I stay motivated to play it. I think it is obvious that I do not want Rapha as sponsor any more and this was something of a mistake from the start. mvh commented about it being another British team within the first few post, and to be honest, I agree with him.
I want this story to be a success and have a long life in the storymaking world of PCM. I know where I want my story to go this season, but I need to work out what paths it needs to take to get there.
I am also enjoying exploring the lesser touristic European cities 
Circuit Sarthe-Pays de la Loire 
Tobias Ludvigsson
Ioannis Tamouridis
Rubén Pérez
Eduardo Sepulveda
Alister Ratcliff
Sam Bennett
Wilco Kelderman
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
