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The Danish Puncheur
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| niconico |
Posted on 26-08-2008 17:57
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
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I wanna go to Sierra Leone, I just watched Blood Diamond today and if it's based on actual events like they claim, we should find DiCaprio there. Now that's quite a looker B)
Okay I'm gonna stop now
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| niconico |
Posted on 26-08-2008 18:07
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
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Milano-Torino
It’s been just two days since Paris-Tours but my form is very good taking the part of the season into account, so I will be a top-favourite in almost any terrain at this point and I will be looking to go with the strongest riders today. We decided to ride for me today and then tomorrow in Giro di Lombardia Bettini will captain in his last race as a Team High Road rider. I would have liked to be captain there too as it’s the race I would most like to win besides the World Championships, but I will get my shot.
We put 20-year-old Diego Ulissi in the break today and a 12-man group formed up the road. As they hit the decisive hill with about 25 kilometres to go they still had two minutes on the pack before the favourites made their move as the pack hit the climb. I made my move a bit late so when I got clear of the pack the other favourites were a bit longer up the road, still trailing the early break.
It would all come together though, so a 19-man group formed as we splashed down the descent into the finish. I had Ulissi with me and he gave me some nice shelter to keep me out of the wind for just a few kilometres. The group also counted the likes of Pietropolli, Capecchi, Bellis (from the early break), Gadret and Peter Velits. With six kilometres to go Gadret put in a powerful attack on the flat with me and Pietropolli trying to go with him.
The Italian couldn’t make the junction, but I kept going and as Gadret quickly hit the wall I surged into the lead and came into the twisty finish with a small advantage. Because of the many ninety degrees bends in the finish it was hard to reel someone in who had a gap and eventhough Capecchi and Pietropolli are great finisher they couldn’t haul me in and I won the race!
It’s my first win in Italy ever and it’s kind of special because I love to race in Italy. I’ll definitely go into tomorrow’s Giro di Lombardia with winning ambitions.
1 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team High Road 4h42'47
2 Daniele Pietropolli LPR Brakes s.t.
3 Eros Capecchi Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.
4 Edgar Pinto Tinkoff Credit Systems s.t.
5 John Gadret AG2R - La Mondiale s.t.
6 Davide Bonuccelli Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce s.t.
7 Denis Flahaut Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.
8 Enrico Gasparotto Barloworld s.t.
9 Peter Velits Team Milram s.t.
10 Gabriele Balducci Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo s.t.
11 Christian Kux Team Milram s.t.
12 Francesco Ginanni Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli s.t.
13 Diego Ulissi Team High Road s.t.
14 Jonathan Bellis NGC Medical - OTC Industria Porte s.t.
15 Baden Cooke Barloworld s.t.
16 Francesco Tomei CSF Group - Navigare s.t.
17 Julien El Fares Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 1'34
18 Alessandro Petacchi Team Milram + 2'09
19 Marco Bandiera Lampre s.t.
20 Luca Paolini Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo s.t.
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| niconico |
Posted on 27-08-2008 11:02
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
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Giro di Lombardia
I have been racing and training almost non-stop for 10 months now but still I’m enjoying the prospect of racing, especially because this race is very special to me. There’s something about this race that, in my world, makes it stand out of the pack and I would much more like to win this race than Amstel Gold Race for instance. Unfortuneately Bettini has been named our captain today, but after Milano-Torino I’m designated a free role to try something if Bettini doesn’t have anything in his legs when we hit Madonna del Ghisallo.
From the outset we tried to sent off Ulissi like yesterday but that didn’t work out today as we didn’t manage to get in the early break. The break wouldn’t turn out to have any influence on the outcome of the race though as they were caught on Madonna del Ghisallo, where Ivan Basso and Matteo Carrara had jumped across from the pack, and they led the pack by a minute descending the climb.
At this point Bettini had radioded the support car with Brian Holm and Rolf Aldag to let them know he wasn’t up for it today. I felt a bit sorry for him as this might have been his last chance of winning his homecountry’s biggest classic race. One man’s loss is another man’s gain I guess, and I was feeling up for it, I had great legs so when Valverde attacked with after the descent a few kilometres before the Cirviglio climb I jumped right on his wheel. So did Serramanti’s Ginnani, LPR’s Di Luca, Gerolsteiner’s Rebellin and CSC’s Frank Schleck. Di Luca turned out the strongest as was the only rider who managed to bridge up to Basso and Carrara right away.
On the Civiglio with 20 kilometres to go we had 1’15 on the pack and about 25 seconds to the Italian trio in front. Me and Valverde put in some powerful relays to try and make the junction, but Basso, Di Luca and Carrara were really strong. The podium seemed a long way off.
But as we entered the final six kilometres of the race and hit the foot of the San Fermo, a short but very steep climb, the two groups merged and I was in it again. It was going to be between the eight of us and I was still feeling relatively fresh eventhough countering Valverde 20 kilometres ago had taken its tow on me, but I figured the other riders were as exhausted as me. It is the final race of the season after all and if you aren’t hurting here then when will you? Anyway, Di Luca set the pace up the San Fermo, which I now know is a dreadful little bastard. The pain was almost unbearable and it got to Matteo Carrara who had to let go early on the climb.
I got over it though but now it was all about the sprint. Normally I would beat riders like Di Luca, Ginnani and Rebellin, but I was worried about Valverde. Due to inexperience I splashed down the descent storming into the lead, which meant I had to lead out the sprint, I might have lost the win already.
I felt strong as I hit the throttle but I had Valverde right behind me and as we blew through the last right hand bend he started moving up on me. Another second place seemed inevitable.
But what is this? I won!
I was speachless and I didn’t know what to do when I recieved the compulsory pad on the back by Valverde. I couldn’t believe it. Two years ago I was prepping for a season with Team GLS – Pakke Shop on the Continental Tour, I even think I said something about me wanting to be like Valverde and now I’ve beaten him. I have beaten him in one the monuments and if standing on the podium about a week ago in Denmark was big then this is huge. I had to shed a few tears on the podium because this was just too much for me to handle. I can’t believe the progress I have made over this one season. Who would have thought that I was going to win Giro di Lombardia and take silver at the World Championships, when I was dropped by the pack on the last stage of Tirreno-Adriatico back in March? I know I didn’t and frankly I was quite worried back then if I could live up the big expectations I had for myself.
But I have confirmation now. I have confirmation that I can do anything I want on the road and I’m not going to stop here. Already, at age 23, Valverde fears me, Di Luca fears me and Frank Schleck fears me. I want to take them all on next season.
Outta my lane, I’m going too fast to change.
1 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team High Road 6h33'56
2 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
3 Danilo Di Luca LPR Brakes s.t.
4 Francesco Ginanni Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli s.t.
5 Ivan Basso Liquigas s.t.
6 Davide Rebellin Gerolsteiner s.t.
7 Fränk Schleck Team CSC s.t.
8 Matteo Carrara Quick•Step + 1'22
9 Samuel Sánchez Bouygues Télécom + 3'27
10 Matej Mugerli Liquigas s.t.
11 Yuri Trofimov Team Astana s.t.
12 Peter Velits Team Milram s.t.
13 Mathieu Sprick Bouygues Télécom s.t.
14 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
15 Pierrick Fédrigo Bouygues Télécom s.t.
16 Francesco Bellotti CSF Group - Navigare s.t.
17 Daniele Pietropolli LPR Brakes s.t.
18 Thomas Voeckler Bouygues Télécom s.t.
19 Sébastien Joly Française des Jeux s.t.
20 Laurent Lefèvre Bouygues Télécom s.t.
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| stuartmcstuart |
Posted on 27-08-2008 12:11
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Sprinter
Posts: 1682
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Big wins in italy JAJ! Congrats! 
And some outstanding homosexuality on the previous page - what hasn't this story got?!  |
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 27-08-2008 15:51
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Sprinter
Posts: 1779
Joined: 25-03-2007
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Really nice wins in Italy.
Go JAJ!
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
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| t-baum |
Posted on 27-08-2008 18:39
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2153
Joined: 07-09-2007
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Ah, great win!
Can't wait for next year!
Macquet wrote:
"We all know that wasn't the real footage of the Worlds anyway. That was just the staged footage to perpetuate the coverup that it was actually Vinokourov that won the race." |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 28-08-2008 10:53
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
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Jonas!
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| niconico |
Posted on 28-08-2008 21:22
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Grand Tour Specialist
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| ladagnous |
Posted on 28-08-2008 21:41
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Stagiare
Posts: 214
Joined: 21-02-2008
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isn't the vuelta a bit to much |
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| niconico |
Posted on 28-08-2008 21:44
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Maybe, but I'll give it a go. It's the easiest of the three Grand Tours to win.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 01:28
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| ladagnous |
Posted on 28-08-2008 21:53
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Stagiare
Posts: 214
Joined: 21-02-2008
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if your in peak condition 76 mountain should be enough |
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| niconico |
Posted on 28-08-2008 21:57
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Grand Tour Specialist
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I think so too and Jonas will pop to 70 mountain when he reach his final experience level which will be sometime next season. After that I will begin to train him as a climber, which will still develop his hill stat.
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| ladagnous |
Posted on 28-08-2008 22:16
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Stagiare
Posts: 214
Joined: 21-02-2008
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what about a stage racer even if TT isn't that important for vuelta
but basically your going to try and turn him in a kirchen or valverde |
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| Ennyzor |
Posted on 28-08-2008 22:20
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Free Agent
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I really depends on alot of things really. The serious lack of stars at the vuelta in PCM07, makes it possible to win with a rider like JAJ. I remember finishing 5th or so one time with JAJ.. Think he had 72 mountain rating or so, so its indeed possible. |
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| niconico |
Posted on 28-08-2008 22:32
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Grand Tour Specialist
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ladagnous29 wrote:
what about a stage racer even if TT isn't that important for vuelta
but basically your going to try and turn him in a kirchen or valverde
I thought about stage racer aswell, but I think I'll end up with just climbing as that is THE most important attribute for a Tour rider, his recovery might be a problem too. He'll be at 70 mountain at age 24 before I start training him for the Vuelta and the climbing training is concentrated more on improving the mountain stat, I think, so that's what I'll most likely go with.
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| niconico |
Posted on 28-08-2008 23:16
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
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2009 Season Wrap-Up
My first season with High Road has come to its conclusion and for it’s been beyond everything I expected. I ended up with 8 wins, which is about 8 more than I thought I would end up with. At this point last year I was very edgy and nervous coming into the off-season, because I wanted a contract with a bigger team so badly. This year I can sit back and relax, and think about what I want to achieve next season.
I have been talking to Brian about racing a Grand Tour and I look set be part of our Giro d’Italia team. So no Tour de France for me next season either, but I think it’s good that I start off with the Giro, because the Tour really is something else and you need some indredible toughness to get through because of the high pace. In the Giro it’s a bit more relaxed, from what I have heard, and I think the Giro is a race I will end up racing a lot in my career, simply because it’s in Italy.
Transfers
Quite a few riders have left our team. Out the door are Bettini , Horner (Retired), Zanini, Mares, Hacker, Barbosa, Turgot and Davis.
Joining the team are Christian Knees, Dominique Cornu and Nico Keinath.
So we’ll only be 25 riders, which will most likely mean more race days, but that’ll do just fine.
The most prominent transfer, besides the one I mentioned some time ago are Valverde who in late December left a shocked Caisse d’Epargne team for Saunier Duval. Also Kroon didn’t like the prospect of being in the same team as Basso, so he left CSC for his old team Rabobank.
Talking of Rabobank. The Dutch outfit apparently wanted to sign me during the off-season. They weren’t alone in trying to get my signature. Also Caisse d’Epargne and Astana, were interested. I only heard this after my manager had turned the offers down. I thought a bit about Rabobank when I was told that he had declined a bid from them. It’s a very talented team, who has three Grand Tour captains in Gesink, Dekker and Mollema. But High Road is where I want to be. With me, Hagen, Ulissi, Keinath and Cavendish, we’re sure to dominate in the years to come.
2009 Final Rankings
Not surprisingly CSC remained their stronghold on the ProTour with another win in Team Rankings this season. We finished 10th, but we don’t really care about the ProTour, after all the big races were excluded from it.
Cadel Evans won the Individual Rankings. I finished 27th lifted in particular by my overall 3rd in Tour de Pologne.
On the Continental Tour Barloworld took 1st ahead of Tinkoff. That’s good news for Niki Østergaard’s Tinkoff team. Fuglsang is not as lucky as he surprisingly decided to move to some minor Polish team called Mroz.
Luca Paolini took the individual honour.
Here’s an overall round-up on the biggest events of the 2009 Season. Notice my name is on there.
2010 World Championships
The route for the next World Championships has also been unveiled. It’ll take place in Koper in Slovenia. Unfortuneately it’s a flat race with just one small on the circuit we will be riding. I wonder what happened with the Worlds in Mendrisio as that was a very nice route for me. Because of the route I won’t aim for the World Championships next season. How my schedule is going to look I don’t know yet. Now I’m off relaxing for the remaining of 2009 and on January 6 I will meet up with the team on our training camp in Monaco. I think it’s going to be a great season but now I’m just enjoying to be out of competition for another few days.
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 29-08-2008 13:49
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Sprinter
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Looking forward to 2010  Go JAJ !
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| BB95 |
Posted on 29-08-2008 14:36
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Stagiare
Posts: 242
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Great Storie about a good rider. I Am also looking forward to 2010  |
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| svadim12 |
Posted on 30-08-2008 08:49
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Amateur
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great story.... |
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| Smoothie |
Posted on 30-08-2008 09:04
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Team Leader
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Wow the pro tour individual was close! Well done keep up on this Fantastic story!! |
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