|
Roberto Velásquez: The Story of A Legend |
|
| JuanMotr |
Posted on 17-10-2012 22:31
|
Domestique
Posts: 701
Joined: 29-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Great wins  I´m looking forward to first ardennes win yes I can smell it  |
| |
|
|
| whitejersey |
Posted on 17-10-2012 22:47
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2905
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
|
Nice story so far!!
|
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 18-10-2012 07:47
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Wild Dog: Nice Thanks for your contribution 
Jakstar22: Thank you!
JuanMotr: Since you're almost always right with it, I start to wonder what Ardennes classic he will win 
whitejersey: Thanks! |
| |
|
|
| Daggen |
Posted on 18-10-2012 08:03
|
Sprinter
Posts: 1849
Joined: 08-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
"What i think of that Colombian guy? He's a beast! When he has a good day no one can beat him!"
-Bradley Wiggins, Volta a Catalunya stage 7, 2013. |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 18-10-2012 08:15
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Great, thanks |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 18-10-2012 08:20
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
GP al Pais Vasco
The second Spanish WT stage race of the year was not a great success for Roberto, but also definitely not a complete failure.
Roberto started off on the wrong foot, and the final time trial was deadly for his GC plans. But he did get one stage win and the King of Mountain jersey.
Final Standings
| 1 | Bradley Wiggins | Sky Pro Cycling | 20h04'18 | | | 2 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | + 3'05 | | | 3 | Andy Schleck | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 3'10 | | | 4 | Jelle Vanendert | Lotto Belisol | + 4'41 | | | 5 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo Bank | + 5'06 | | | 6 | Igor Anton | Mipfre - Euskadi | + 5'26 | | | 7 | Peter Velits | Mipfre - Euskadi | + 6'20 | | | 8 | Luis León Sánchez | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 6'45 | | | 9 | Geraint Thomas | Sky Pro Cycling | + 6'50 | | | 10 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 7'24 | | | 11 | Rui Costa | Movistar Team | + 7'58 | | | 12 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 8'15 | | | 13 | Joaquin Rodriguez | Katusha Team | + 8'24 | | | 14 | Roberto Velásquez | Colombia Coldeportes | + 8'36 | IanButler | | 15 | Fränk Schleck | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 10'28 | |
Points
| 1 | Bradley Wiggins | Sky Pro Cycling | 79 | | | 2 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | 54 | | | 3 | Matthew Goss | Orica-GreenEDGE | 43 | |
KoM
| 1 | Roberto Velásquez | Colombia Coldeportes | 42 | IanButler | | 2 | Simon Geschke | Team Argos-Shimano | 35 | | | 3 | Santiago Azparren | Caja Rural | 31 | |
|
| |
|
|
| Wild Dog |
Posted on 18-10-2012 08:24
|
Domestique
Posts: 425
Joined: 17-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
"Well. What we saw in this race is that Roberto can actually be defeated. I was beginning to doubt about it, but now there's hope again."
Bradley Wiggins, GP al Pais Vasco, 2013. |
| |
|
|
| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 18-10-2012 08:32
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7294
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Still a good race getting a stage win and the KOM. Everyone has an off day and this was Roberto's.
|
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 18-10-2012 09:01
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Wild Dog: Thanks, I like it. It's also very true
Jakstar22: Let's hope he has a compensating super-day in the Amstel Gold Race! |
| |
|
|
| Pinktay3 |
Posted on 18-10-2012 09:04
|
Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 959
Joined: 08-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Ian Butler wrote:
Jakstar22: Let's hope he has a compensating super-day in the Amstel Gold Race!
I don't think we have to worry about that happening |
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 05:28
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| Wild Dog |
Posted on 18-10-2012 09:08
|
Domestique
Posts: 425
Joined: 17-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Can he go for the triple of the Ardennes? I have some kind of feeling, but also I don't really believe it. Not yet. |
| |
|
|
| whitejersey |
Posted on 18-10-2012 10:43
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2905
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
|
It would be crazy!
|
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 18-10-2012 11:17
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Triple Ardennes is certainly something he could achieve in his career, but with a Gilbert at his height, it will be very difficult. Plus he's still very inexperienced in those races. One day |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 18-10-2012 12:22
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Amstel Gold Race 2013
This was, along with the Vuelta, WC and Lombardia, Roberto's biggest goal of 2013. Would he be invincible on the slopes of the Cauberg? Or would Gilbert put a stop to the killing machine that went by the name of Roberto Velásquez?
It had been a long time since they met, but in the pack Roberto got acquainted with Johny Piqué, the young Dutch puncheur.
It was a nervous edition of the Amstel, with many attacks.
But eventually a group of over 20 would start at the foot of the Cauberg together.
Gilbert sped away and Roberto was the only one who made an attempt to follow him worth mentioning.
But Gilbert was still king over his Cauberg...
Roberto sprinted to a second place, disappointed.
Result
| 1 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | 7h21'29 | | | 2 | Roberto Velásquez | Colombia Coldeportes | + 42 | IanButler | | 3 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | + 1'19 | | | 4 | Joaquin Rodriguez | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 5 | Daniel Martin | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | | 6 | Jelle Vanendert | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | | 7 | Arthur Vichot | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | | 8 | Anthony Roux | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | | 9 | Fränk Schleck | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 10 | Luis León Sánchez | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | (...) | | 21 | Johny Piqué | Cyclingteam Jo Piels | s.t. |
I had the privilege of asking him a few questions only minutes after the arrival.
Ian Butler: Roberto, you sprint to a second place. Are you happy?
Roberto Velásquez: Happy? I don't know. This was just...
Ian Butler: Too fast?
Roberto Velásquez: Just so damn hard. I had some problems breathing near the end.
Ian Butler: What do you expect of the next two Ardennes Classics?
Roberto Velásquez: What do I expect? I don't really know, probably Gilbert. Listen, I gotta go.
Ian Butler: Thanks.
As you can read, he was pretty confused. So I talkde to his coach later that evening, trying to find out what was the matter.
Well, he overdid himself here today. That final sprint after such a long and hard stage was just too much. He's still only 23, don't forget that. It was just too much. But I think he'll learn from this, this will toughen him up.
Whether it did, you'll find out in the next chapter, La Flèche Wallonne. |
| |
|
|
| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 18-10-2012 12:27
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7294
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Still a great race.
Good luck in La Flèche Wallone.
|
| |
|
|
| whitejersey |
Posted on 18-10-2012 12:28
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2905
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
|
Again we see that Gilbert is too big for Roberto.
|
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 18-10-2012 12:29
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Jakstar22: Thanks!
whitejersey: Indeed. He may have found his equal in Contador qua stage races, but for hilly classics it's another story. However, that Amstel Gold Race toughened him up, like his coach said. |
| |
|
|
| baggieboys32 |
Posted on 18-10-2012 12:32
|
Sprinter
Posts: 1981
Joined: 01-10-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Nice ride there from our favourite young columbian! Hopefully as he ages his legs will get stronger and he'll be able to take the top spot in these longer classics
|
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 18-10-2012 13:02
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Thanks
He's only still 23, so he has time! |
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 18-10-2012 13:02
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
La Flèche Wallonne 2013
Damn it!
- Roberto Velásquez 18/04/2013 -
Although this was only his first Flèche Wallonne, Roberto had high expectations of himself. He said that he "came here to win".
The two Schleck brothers side by side, riding for different teams.
It was a calm race, until Jelle Vanendert opened the race. Roberto was very eager and was the first one to react.
Some more riders followed, Roberto set a high pace. His coach remembers that day:
I kept telling him to stop, let others ride. But he was way too eager. He felt he needed to win, to prove himself. Not to me, or to the public, but to himself. And that's why he lost.
For the first time, the world saw a frustrated Velásquez. For the first time he allowed his emotions to get the better of him. When asked about his race, he stormed into his bus, saying but two words: "Damn it!"
Result
1. Gilbert
2. Valverde
3. Velásquez
4. Vanendert
5. Martin |
| |
|
