It´s hard to make a story in shadow of Pro Tour team´s stories, especially Guido´s one. Especially now, when he starts with first Grand Tour of season
I understand that people much preferably read about true cyclists stars like Basso, Contador, Di Luca, Armstrong fighting themselves. I can´t offer it to you. People much preferably read about Grand Tours, Flanders Classics or big Pro Tour races. I can´t offer it to you either. I manage Continental team with no true stars, mostly join smaller races or one day classic races and mostly fight against same "noname" riders or top riders in mediocre race condition. I understand that it can´t be so interesting like as mentioned above.
But now, it´s time for my personal Grand Tour, 8-stages long race Paris-Nice. This is real challenge for me, I look forward to this race very long. I´m sure I´ll enjoy it and hope that YOU will enjoy it too.
Stage 1 - short individual time trial. Nothing special, nothing more to say.
Stage 2 - first and only stage for sprinters. We can´t probably expect succesfull breakaway
Stage 3 - first hilly stage with several mountain sprints, very long. Real battle will start here. It will show us strenght of each possible favourite.
Stage 4 - second hilly stage, shorter one with longer but less steep climbs. If I have a chance to make good result, it´s here!
Stage 5 - Mt. Ventoux, hardest climb of tour. But there is almost 40km long descent until finish, good chance for skilled puncheurs to make up for lost time from climb.
Stage 6 - another filly stage, almost 200km long. But again, last 40km are flat or mild descent. I think good puncheurs/sprinters will dominate here. Maybe another chance for my captain?
Stage 7 - last hilly stage, very long with very steep climb to finish. Probably great climber will succeed but I don´t expect big gaps between main contenders.
Stage 8 - last stage, mountain time trial. Good chance for climbers to mix with overall classification.
next: short view on teams
Edited by beagle on 26-03-2009 20:48
Good luck in Paris Nice An the keep it up, your story is good and I think that people read your story if it's good, not just because it's a pro tour story. Maybe it's more exciting with Pro Tour races and GTs but nothing can be better than a great story
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
[url=(color=#0000ff]Team Info[/url] Media Room
G_Larsson wrote:
Good luck in Paris Nice An the keep it up, your story is good and I think that people read your story if it's good, not just because it's a pro tour story. Maybe it's more exciting with Pro Tour races and GTs but nothing can be better than a great story
thanks a lot
But that is what I´ve talk before. It´s a big difference to read about battle between Contador, Sastre, Schlecks and Basso and between Fedrigo, Ardila and Champion...I think big names give true greatness to stories
G_Larsson wrote:
Good luck in Paris Nice An the keep it up, your story is good and I think that people read your story if it's good, not just because it's a pro tour story. Maybe it's more exciting with Pro Tour races and GTs but nothing can be better than a great story
thanks a lot
But that is what I´ve talk before. It´s a big difference to read about battle between Contador, Sastre, Schlecks and Basso and between Fedrigo, Ardila and Champion...I think big names give true greatness to stories
Maybe it is so, maybe it isn´t. I have been enjoying your story very lot since you started. Because your fight against sponsors, lack of riders and wild cards is interesting to read. Keep up in a good work.
+ Continental Tour leader Fedrigo
- very weak support
My prediction: My personal goal is TOP10 overall. Time will show, if it is possible or not. One thing is clear, Fedrigo is only short step from condition peak.
One of main favourite Kim Kirchen, how is his form? 28. +22"
Excellent ride from Olaf Pollack, 4. +11"
My former star Manuel Medina, 15. +18"
Mitja Mahoric with excellent time, 5. +13"
Thomas Dekker with same time, 6. +13"
Very nice performance from cobble specialist Nick Nuyens, 10. +16"
Great ride by Manuel Lloret, 7. +13"
George Hincapie in French services, 3. +10"
Carlos Sastre, not bad ride, 27. +22"
Thor Hushovd looks in good shape, 18. +18"
Tony Martin, flying rocket, best time and yellow jersey
Jens Voight looks well prepared, 2. +2"
Results
1 Tony Martin Team Columbia - High Road 7'26
2 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank + 2
3 George Hincapie Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 10
4 Olaf Pollack Silence - Lotto + 11
5 Mitja Mahoric Cervélo Test Team + 13
6 Thomas Dekker Silence - Lotto s.t.
7 Manuel Lloret Fuji - Servetto s.t.
8 Mauricio Ortega Lampre - N.G.C + 16
9 Rodrigo García Team Milram s.t.
10 Nick Nuyens Rabobank s.t.
11 Tomas Vaitkus Astana Cycling Team s.t.
12 Svein Tuft Garmin - Slipstream + 17
13 Sébastien Minard Quick·Step s.t.
14 Koos Moerenhout Besson Chaussures - Sojasun s.t.
15 Manuel Medina Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 18
16 Vladimir Gusev Team Katusha s.t.
17 Steven Cozza Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
18 Thor Hushovd Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
19 Beñat Intxausti Fuji - Servetto s.t.
20 Sebastian Lang Silence - Lotto s.t.
21 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
22 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank + 19
23 Nicolas Jalabert Silence - Lotto s.t.
24 Laurens Ten Dam Euskaltel - Euskadi + 20
25 Sébastien Rosseler Quick·Step s.t.
26 Radoslav Rogina Cervélo Test Team + 22
27 Carlos Sastre Cervélo Test Team s.t.
28 Kim Kirchen Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
29 Lars Boom Rabobank s.t.
30 Jérôme Coppel Française des Jeux + 24
31 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
32 David Moncoutié Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
33 Maxim Iglinskiy Astana Cycling Team s.t.
34 Andrey Zeits Astana Cycling Team + 25
35 Jose Enrique Gutierrez Cataluña Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
36 Alexis Rodríguez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
37 Jason Donald Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
38 Christian Knees Team Milram s.t.
39 Tom Boonen Quick·Step s.t.
40 Yoann Le Boulanger Agritubel + 26
41 Stef Clement Rabobank s.t.
42 Frantisek Rabon Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
43 Luca Zanasca Astana Cycling Team s.t.
44 Sébastien Joly Française des Jeux s.t.
45 Tom Stamsnijder Rabobank s.t.
46 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux + 27
47 José Angel Gómez Marchante Cervélo Test Team s.t.
48 Javier Aramendía Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
49 Yauheni Sobal Cervélo Test Team + 28
50 Rigoberto Urán Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
.
.
. 53 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole + 29
60 Maxime Bouet Roubaix Lille Métropole + 32
Only flat stage of Tour. Who will be fastest? Boonen, Napolitano, Hushovd, Freire or someone else?
Glen Suray joined earlybreakaway group. Next participants are Coyot, Belgy, Zanasca, Perget, Urtasun, Jeandesboz, Donald and Albasini. Later on, Albasini, great puncheur, will secure KOM jersey for next stage.
20km to go and peloton is all together, it´s time for sprinters.
My men bet on Lampre´s boys, Lemair can´t follow, Passeron is exhausted too, but Fedrigo feels great today (+5). Santos leads Hushovd into sprint.
His job is over, Hushovd moves in front, Fedrigo still holds his rear wheel!
Thor Hushovd takes a win, Fedrigo is 2nd, Tombak 3rd. What a great surprise! It will be long night
Results
1 Thor Hushovd Lampre - N.G.C 3h58'37 2 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole s.t.
3 Janek Tombak Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
4 Nilceu Santos Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
5 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
6 Tom Boonen Quick·Step s.t.
7 Óscar Freire Rabobank s.t.
8 Guennadi Mikhailov Team Katusha s.t.
9 Geert Omloop Quick·Step s.t.
10 Alexandre Usov Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
11 Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto s.t.
12 Sébastien Rosseler Quick·Step s.t.
13 Baden Cooke Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
14 Olaf Pollack Silence - Lotto s.t.
15 Sébastien Chavanel Française des Jeux s.t.
16 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
17 Tony Martin Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
18 Tomas Vaitkus Astana Cycling Team s.t.
19 Carlos Torrent Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
20 Joaquín Sobrino Team Milram s.t.
21 Tristan Valentin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
22 Tom Stamsnijder Rabobank s.t.
23 Jérôme Coppel Française des Jeux s.t.
24 Heinrich Haussler Team Milram s.t.
25 Steven Cozza Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
26 Yauheni Sobal Cervélo Test Team s.t.
27 Lars Boom Rabobank s.t. 28 Aurélien Passeron Roubaix Lille Métropole s.t.
29 Staf Scheirlinckx Silence - Lotto s.t.
30 Allan Davis Silence - Lotto s.t.
1 Tony Martin Team Columbia - High Road 4h06'03
2 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank + 2
3 George Hincapie Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 10
4 Olaf Pollack Silence - Lotto + 11
5 Thor Hushovd Lampre - N.G.C + 12
6 Mitja Mahoric Cervélo Test Team + 13
7 Thomas Dekker Silence - Lotto s.t.
8 Manuel Lloret Fuji - Servetto s.t.
9 Tomas Vaitkus Astana Cycling Team + 16
10 Nick Nuyens Rabobank s.t.
11 Mauricio Ortega Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
12 Rodrigo García Team Milram s.t.
13 Sébastien Minard Quick·Step + 17
14 Svein Tuft Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
15 Koos Moerenhout Besson Chaussures - Sojasun s.t.
16 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 18
17 Steven Cozza Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
18 Sebastian Lang Silence - Lotto s.t.
19 Vladimir Gusev Team Katusha s.t.
20 Manuel Medina Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli s.t.
21 Beñat Intxausti Fuji - Servetto s.t.
22 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank + 19
23 Nicolas Jalabert Silence - Lotto s.t.
24 Sébastien Rosseler Quick·Step + 20
25 Laurens Ten Dam Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
26 Lars Boom Rabobank + 22
27 Radoslav Rogina Cervélo Test Team s.t.
28 Carlos Sastre Cervélo Test Team s.t.
29 Kim Kirchen Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
30 Jason Donald Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
.
. 35 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole + 25
1 Tony Martin Team Columbia - High Road 29
2 Thor Hushovd Lampre - N.G.C 28
3 Olaf Pollack Silence - Lotto 25
4 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank 22 5 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 22
6 Janek Tombak Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 20
7 George Hincapie Bbox Bouygues Télécom 20
8 Nilceu Santos Lampre - N.G.C 18
9 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha 16
10 Mitja Mahoric Cervélo Test Team 16
1 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road 8
2 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi 3
3 Fabrice Jeandesboz Besson Chaussures - Sojasun 2
4 Mathieu Perget Caisse d'Epargne 1
It seems I have big chances to promote...but: as in your story Cervelo bets on early season´s races, so do I. Reason is simple, one of my sponsor´s goals is to gain WC for TdF and I really want join Le Tour And you know, it´s easier to gain points in early season, when most riders are out of condition
ringo182 wrote:
who got promoted with cevelo in your game?
Serramenti...but they will have big difficulties to avoid relegation back, they lost their best riders, Ginanni and Rebellin made over 1500 points together.
Edited by beagle on 27-03-2009 11:01
Long stage with some hard climbs. I hope main favourites won´t attack until last climb, I don´t want to loose much time with Fedrigo in GC.
Morizot and Pauriol decided to break shortly after start, Morizot starts to collect mountain points.
Both escapees were caught by another riders. Polka dot jersey (Albasini) is presented too.
Nice battle for KOM jersey. 1st Morizot, 2nd Albasini.
Col du Beal, hardest climb of stage, 100km to go - 1st Albasini, 2nd Morizot. Peloton is +8´30" back.
49km to go, bottom of Col de la Croix de l´Homme mort, gap is about 5min
Leading group was split, on the top there are Calzati, Pineau and Pauriol in front. Morizot collects some points too and will wear polka dot jersey tomorrow!
And here it comes, Jens Voight opens wave of attacks. My hopes were listened, attacks started 1km from peak of last climb.
Group of favourites formed before main pack, Fedrigo is presented.
Morizot has just been caught, he will help to Fedrigo as long as possible. Calzati, Pauriol and Pineau are still ahead.
14km to go, only Pineau stays in front.
12km to go, he was caught, huge group of 22 riders are in front now.
Carlos Sastre attacks front group. I´m really surprised, he looks very strong!
Only Moncoutie and Dekker are able to follow.
Pineau crashes!
And Medina is another victim.
Leading trio cooperates very well, finish is getting close.
Group of chasers. Rider in upper left corner is early escapee Baden Cooke, he was able to rejoin his group back, great spirit.
Last short hill, Fedrigo attacks chaser´s group!
Carlos Sastre wins the stage ahead of Moncoutie and Dekker.
Fedrigo comes as 4th, brilliant performance of my captain.
Tony Martin knows he has just lost yellow jersey.
Results
1 Carlos Sastre Cervélo Test Team 5h18'44
2 David Moncoutié Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
3 Thomas Dekker Silence - Lotto s.t. 4 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole + 23
5 Rodrigo García Team Milram + 48
6 Christian Pfannberger Team Katusha s.t.
7 Tony Martin Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
8 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
9 Kim Kirchen Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
10 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank s.t.
11 Sébastien Joly Française des Jeux s.t.
12 George Hincapie Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
13 Mauricio Ortega Lampre - N.G.C s.t. 14 Florian Morizot Roubaix Lille Métropole s.t.
15 Koos Moerenhout Besson Chaussures - Sojasun s.t.
16 Baden Cooke Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
17 Rémi Pauriol Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
18 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank + 1'40
19 Nick Nuyens Rabobank s.t.
20 Alexis Rodríguez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
21 Pierre Rolland Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
22 Beñat Intxausti Fuji - Servetto s.t.
23 Lars Boom Rabobank s.t.
24 Björn Leukemans Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
25 Nicolas Vogondy Agritubel s.t.
26 Arnold Jeanneson Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
27 Staf Scheirlinckx Silence - Lotto s.t.
28 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
29 Iván Velasco Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
30 Francesco Ginanni Team Katusha s.t.
1 Thomas Dekker Silence - Lotto 9h24'58
2 Carlos Sastre Cervélo Test Team + 5
3 David Moncoutié Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 9
4 Tony Martin Team Columbia - High Road + 37 5 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole s.t.
6 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank + 39
7 George Hincapie Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 47
8 Rodrigo García Team Milram + 53
9 Mauricio Ortega Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
10 Koos Moerenhout Besson Chaussures - Sojasun + 54
11 Kim Kirchen Caisse d'Epargne + 59
12 Baden Cooke Garmin - Slipstream + 1'02
13 Sébastien Joly Française des Jeux + 1'03
14 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux + 1'04 15 Florian Morizot Roubaix Lille Métropole + 1'14
16 Rémi Pauriol Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 1'15
17 Christian Pfannberger Team Katusha + 1'17
18 Nick Nuyens Rabobank + 1'45
19 Beñat Intxausti Fuji - Servetto + 1'47
20 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
21 Vladimir Gusev Team Katusha s.t.
22 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank + 1'48
23 Nicolas Jalabert Silence - Lotto s.t.
24 Laurens Ten Dam Euskaltel - Euskadi + 1'49
25 Lars Boom Rabobank + 1'51
26 Jérôme Coppel Française des Jeux + 1'53
27 Alexis Rodríguez Caisse d'Epargne + 1'54
28 Christian Knees Team Milram s.t.
29 Yoann Le Boulanger Agritubel + 1'55
30 Nicolas Vogondy Agritubel + 1'57
1 Tony Martin Team Columbia - High Road 43 2 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 40
3 Thomas Dekker Silence - Lotto 35
4 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank 33
5 George Hincapie Bbox Bouygues Télécom 29
1 Florian Morizot Roubaix Lille Métropole 30
2 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road 28
3 Rémi Pauriol Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 15
4 Sylvain Calzati Agritubel 14
5 Jérôme Pineau Quick·Step 13
