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A Tale of Two
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 20-08-2012 10:31
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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Great victory for Stijn 
He is looking stronger everyday  |
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| fernando97 |
Posted on 20-08-2012 10:32
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Small Tour Specialist
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 What a win! |
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| Kritzo |
Posted on 20-08-2012 10:44
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Domestique
Posts: 624
Joined: 12-10-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Indeed! What a win! |
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| baggieboys32 |
Posted on 20-08-2012 13:34
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Sprinter
Posts: 1981
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Congrats! Can i ask, aren't these two meant to be Neo-pro's? They seem to be already almost the worlds best!
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| Ad Bot |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 20-08-2012 14:09
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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Thanks everyone
To answer the question: Yes, they're neo-pro's, but I wanted to make a story about two cycling heroes, two extraordinary talents, so like Sagan, their talents show up early in their career. (+ their stats evolve faster than I thought they would at 0.5) However, his opponents weren't the world's greatest sprinters. He's definitely not faster than Greipel or Cavendish... yet |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 20-08-2012 17:14
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Tour of Pologne - Stage 3
The task of the day was easy: survive (the hills) and finish (possibly first). The finish isn't really flat, but it should come down to a mass sprint, if we put enough speed into it.
From the start I got surrounded by the entire team, it's great to see how much support and respect I get from the team!
Nearing the end and having survived the hills perfectly, all but one rider of the breakaway had been reeled in. Setting up a small sprint train with Bille, Eric and myself, we were sure we'd get him before the finish. After all, he'd been in the attack all day long.
But Efimkin of Team Type 1 never slowed down for a meter. We didn't even came close. He'll ride in the leader's jersey tomorrow, well done of him.
My main target (especially after realizing I just lost the GC jersey) being the points jersey, I still throw myself in the sprint. Kreder finishes second and I finish third, which is pretty good, because that makes 3 podium places in 3 races!
Result
| 1 | Alexander Efimkin | Team Type 1 - Sanofi | 5h01'29 | | | 2 | Michel Kreder | Team Garmin-Barracuda | + 24 | | | 3 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 4 | Jens Keukeleire | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | | 5 | Kristof Goddaert | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | | | 6 | Danilo Wyss | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Davide Appollonio | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 8 | Tomas Vaitkus | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | | 9 | Steven Caethoven | Accent.Jobs - Willems Veranda’s | s.t. | | | 10 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | s.t. | |
Points Jersey
| 1 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | 57 | IanButler | | 2 | Tomas Vaitkus | Orica-GreenEDGE | 47 | | | 3 | Maxime Vantomme | Katusha Team | 36 | | | 4 | Michel Kreder | Team Garmin-Barracuda | 36 | | | 5 | Ben Swift | Sky Pro Cycling | 32 | | | 6 | Jens Keukeleire | Orica-GreenEDGE | 31 | | | 7 | Danilo Wyss | BMC Racing Team | 26 | | | 8 | Mathieu Ladagnous | FDJ-BigMat | 25 | | | 9 | Kristof Goddaert | Ag2r La Mondiale | 24 | | | 10 | Mark Renshaw | Rabobank Cycling Team | 22 |
Well, this isn't won yet. But I'm still in the lead and I don't plan on giving up. There are two more flat stages and I intend to do well there!
Today was just a matter of working for Stijn for me. So I've nothing special to report.
However, today was the race of Albertville - La Toussuire, so an important meeting for Jurgen Van Den Broeck. Let me give you the best news of the day:
Result
Spoiler | 1 | Pierrick Fédrigo | FDJ-BigMat | 4h09'31 | | | 2 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | + 8'12 | IanButler | | 3 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 8'31 | | | 4 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 5 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | + 8'50 | | | 6 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 7 | Bradley Wiggins | Sky Pro Cycling | + 9'30 | | | 8 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 9 | Denis Menchov | Katusha Team | + 10'00 | | | 10 | Igor Anton | Euskaltel Euskadi | s.t. |
GC (TDF)
Spoiler | 1 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 47h20'25 | IanButler | | 2 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 48 | | | 3 | Bradley Wiggins | Sky Pro Cycling | + 49 | | | 4 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 1'56 | | | 5 | Fränk Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 2'25 | | | 6 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 2'58 | | | 7 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 5'53 | | | 8 | Igor Anton | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 7'17 | | | 9 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | + 7'52 | | | 10 | Peter Velits | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 9'28 |
He's doing excellent! We're all curious what he can do. Who knows, maybe he can win this thing, how great would that be?
In even other news, it turns out that rumors are mostly true in the cycling milieu: Ian Stannard has just signed a one year contract with Lotto-Belisol! He'll be a great addition to our team, can't wait to meet him!
See you tomorrow, for another flat stage! |
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| Brunel Steinhold |
Posted on 20-08-2012 21:40
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Amateur
Posts: 1
Joined: 20-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Hey Ian, I'm really enjoying following the struggles of Eric and Stijn. Two Flemisch souls who started conquering their own backyard. At the moment I'm working for a company in Oudenaarde and I also make the trip back to Ghent by bike. I look a bit silly riding my old grandfathers bike, but the other bikers don't seem to mind. They invit me to join them and together we form our own Scheldepeleton. They also give me signs when another group of bikers is coming or when a blind myxomatose-rabbit is crossing the road.
Greetings, Brunel Steinhold |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 20-08-2012 23:47
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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I know the feeling. When I go riding (I ride next to the Schelde a lot as well), I always pick up some other riders so we can help each other. In Belgium there are enough cyclist on the road, so that's great! I used to ride my grandfather's bike myself, but recently my dad gave me his bike, which is a bit newer (a Peugeot)
Thanks a lot for following, Brunel!
Ian |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 21-08-2012 10:30
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Tour of Pologne - Stage 4
This is quite flat, so it should be another mass sprint. However, the sprint won't be easy, as our reconnaissance showed us the final streets are very narrow and with a lot of turns, and it's easy to get boxed in.
Bille was in the breakaway of the day, so we didn't have to worry about chasing them down. Rabobank did that.
The sprint came, and thanks to the recon we did during our long break, I was able to go at the right moment, and cross that finish line first!
However great this victory is, I have to make a note that Francesco Gavazzi & Jacopo Guarnieri (both Astana) were faster than me today. Hadn't it been for the recon, I wouldn't have won. But I did, so that's great! (On this here photo you see them flying me right by after the finish line)
Well, I'm in an excellent shape. This has been a great 4 days so far, with two wins and two times third. A year ago I wouldn't even dream of this!
Result
| 1 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | 3h00'01 | IanButler | | 2 | Francesco Gavazzi | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | | 3 | Jacopo Guarnieri | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | | 4 | Adam Blythe | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 5 | Juan Pablo Forero | Colombia Coldeportes | s.t. | | | 6 | Mark Renshaw | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Jens Keukeleire | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | | 8 | Mathieu Ladagnous | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | | 9 | Daniele Colli | Team Type 1 - Sanofi | s.t. | | | 10 | Julien Simon | Saur - Sojasun | s.t. | |
GC
| 1 | Alexander Efimkin | Team Type 1 - Sanofi | 18h45'08 | | | 2 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | + 4 | IanButler | | 3 | Maxime Vantomme | Katusha Team | + 21 | | | 4 | Francesco Gavazzi | Astana Pro Team | + 28 | | | 5 | Michel Kreder | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | | 6 | Mathieu Ladagnous | FDJ-BigMat | + 30 | | | 7 | Tomas Vaitkus | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | | 8 | Jacopo Guarnieri | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | | 9 | Rinaldo Nocentini | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | | | 10 | Julien Vermote | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | |
Points
| 1 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | 77 | IanButler | | 2 | Tomas Vaitkus | Orica-GreenEDGE | 47 | | | 3 | Jens Keukeleire | Orica-GreenEDGE | 45 | | | 4 | Mathieu Ladagnous | FDJ-BigMat | 38 | | | 5 | Mark Renshaw | Rabobank Cycling Team | 37 | | | 6 | Maxime Vantomme | Katusha Team | 36 | | | 7 | Michel Kreder | Team Garmin-Barracuda | 36 | | | 8 | Jacopo Guarnieri | Astana Pro Team | 34 | | | 9 | Ben Swift | Sky Pro Cycling | 32 | | | 10 | Adam Blythe | BMC Racing Team | 29 | |
This is looking great! I'm ready to go full speed ahead in the last day, where the final sprint will be raced. The following two days will be for the uphill riders (Eric isn't at top shape yet, but I reckon he can get a good result).
In other news, Gregory Henderson surprised everyone by signing a contract with continental team CCC Polkowice. At first we were a bit confused, but the 35 year old sprinter wants to end his career, taking it easy, and passing on his experience to younger talent (there are some promising, young sprinters there), and the paycheck isn't bad. So we're sad to see him leave, but we wish him the best of luck in the limelight of his career!
See you tomorrow! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 21-08-2012 12:06
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Stijn is just looking brilliant ion Poland at the moment
Just four seconds off the lead |
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| fernando97 |
Posted on 21-08-2012 15:43
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2167
Joined: 01-01-2012
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What a win, again! Congrats Stijn! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 21-08-2012 18:00
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Thanks, sutty and fernando, I couldn't ask for better followers! Thanks for the many replies |
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| PCM rulezz |
Posted on 21-08-2012 19:09
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1467
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great wins for Stijn.
I don't know the route this race but is there a chance that he can win the GC?
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 21-08-2012 20:17
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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PCM rulezz wrote:
great wins for Stijn.
I don't know the route this race but is there a chance that he can win the GC?
Unfortunately, no. His main goal is green, as the next two stages are too hilly for him to survive, I believe. (Two more hilly stages and one more flat)
Points jersey would be great, though!
Eric could win the GC, but he'd have to be in a better shape, so he's going for any place below 20 (which should be possible, considering the top riders are in France) |
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| Faillu |
Posted on 21-08-2012 20:26
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Domestique
Posts: 418
Joined: 14-02-2011
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Great win. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 21-08-2012 21:19
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Tour of Pologne - Stage 5
The objective of today is easy.
Stijn: Try to minimize time losses in this hilly stage.
Eric: Try to gain as much time in this hilly stage.
How on earth would we do that?
The peloton was nervous at the start of the race, and the first one to know it is old-timer McEwen, who takes a fall.
Here is the breakaway of the day, tackling the Droga Do Olczy, a short but steep hill that had to be climbed 3 times today.
Then it was up to the mountains (from far to closer: mountains, me, Stijn)
Another unlucky cat today was Gasparotto, who punctured as soon as he'd gotten back into the peloton after a fall.
And then, at 15km left to go, I felt that the peloton was moving too slowly, so I went. I may not be in the best shape, but I think nobody is here in Pologne.
I get company from Ladagnous, and we head together into the final turn, 2km left to go.
But he's too damn fast for me. I'm not explosive enough to finish it off and I finish second, barely...
By some miracle I survived the entire race. I even had enough power left for the final sprint, for which I had positioned myself perfectly. Without any other good sprinter left in the peloton except Vaitkus(I was protected brilliantly today) I felt I could even win this stage!
But Eric and Ladagnous were too far ahead. I nearly caught Eric, but I never came close to the winner of today's stage:
I'm third, and increasy my lead in the points jersey. Even better, I'm back in the yellow jersey, 0" ahead of the previous leader, Efimkin. I'm really on fire here, with the following results from stage 1 to stage 5, respectively: 3rd, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 3rd. So I guess I'll win tomorrow, huh? Well, that's very unlikely.
Result
| 1 | Mathieu Ladagnous | FDJ-BigMat | 4h52'47 | | | 2 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 3 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 4 | Joaquin Rodriguez | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 5 | Michele Scarponi | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 6 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Dominique Rollin | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | | 8 | Tomas Vaitkus | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | | 9 | Przemyslaw Niemiec | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 10 | Maarten Wynants | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | |
GC
| 1 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | 23h37'55 | IanButler | | 2 | Alexander Efimkin | Team Type 1 - Sanofi | s.t. | | | 3 | Mathieu Ladagnous | FDJ-BigMat | + 20 | | | 4 | Francesco Gavazzi | Astana Pro Team | + 28 | | | 5 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 6 | Tomas Vaitkus | Orica-GreenEDGE | + 30 | | | 7 | Rinaldo Nocentini | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | | | 8 | Jonas Aaen Jörgensen | Team Saxo Bank | + 32 | | | 9 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | + 34 | | | 10 | Julien Simon | Saur - Sojasun | s.t. | |
But the objective of the day is completed! I didn't lose time as I came in third, while Eric gained time, by getting boni seconds! How's that for a stage!
See you tomorrow, for an even hillier stage (Eric hopes so, I hope not)
Edited by Ian Butler on 21-08-2012 21:22
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 21-08-2012 21:21
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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3th, 1th, 3th, 1th, 3th.
should be 3rd, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 3rd
nice results
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 21-08-2012 21:23
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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TheManxMissile wrote:
3th, 1th, 3th, 1th, 3th.
should be 3rd, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 3rd
nice results
Thanks for pointing that out to me  |
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| JuanMotr |
Posted on 21-08-2012 21:46
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Domestique
Posts: 701
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nice stage i think Green jersey is in the pocket now  |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 21-08-2012 23:57
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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What a great stage for both Eric and Stijn today
And now first and fifth on the GC |
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
