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The Astro League (2016)
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 06-01-2013 16:59
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ed. Fischer is from Southern Brazil not Northern 
Sorry if that text is a bit small, it was difficult to upload the image correctly (had to split it into 3 images). Hopefully you can click on it to enlarge it. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 06-01-2013 17:01
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Liking the first picture of The Tour of the Kenyan Highlands  |
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 09:26
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Cheers, an old game and a poor graphics card don't always help with the screens
MARCH RANKINGS
Riders
Visconti nips into 3rd, scoring well in the Italian classics.
Teams
Joker up to 2nd whilst big boys from last year Liberty and QuickStep are down in 18th and 20th positions. |
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 11:10
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APRIL CALENDAR
It's cobble time!
 Ronde Van Vlaanderen
 Paris - Roubaix |
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 11:29
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Posts: 1016
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Season 1 Winner: Bjorn Leukemans
Favourites: Hoste, Boonen, Boom, Quinziato
Ten Dam leads us out of Brugge
Ballan takes us onto the first cobbled section. A crash here ruined his season last year.
Boom leads a team attack from Rabobank!
Boonen and Hoste have made their way back up.
Other major riders will soon follow, but you can see Hoste is not happy and attacks.
Boom made a good recovery and now leads the race!
Great win for Boom! Behind, it's Hoste then Boonen for the second year in a row.
Only 6th for last year's winner. Bjorn announced afterwards that he will retire at the end of this season.
Results:
 1. Lars Boom (RAB)
2. Leif Hoste (LAM)
3. Tom Boonen (QST)
 4. Manuele Quinziato (AND)
 5. Lars Ytting Bak (CSC)
6. Bjorn Leukemans (VAC)
7. Daniel Oss (SAU)
8. Enrico Franzoi (LIQ)
9. Stef Clement (RAB)
10. Bram Tankink (RAB) |
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 12:23
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Posts: 1016
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S1 Winner: Leif Hoste
Favourites: Boom, Hoste, Boonen, Quinziato
The day's break feat. Joaquin 'Rouleur' Rodriguez
The first attack comes, surprisingly, from Gert Dockx. You can see Bak countering further back.
It's Bak, Leukemans and Dockx up front now.
Quinziato launches a big one and flies straight past them.
No response initially, but Boom makes a move eventually.
Meanwhile Quinziato is settling into a rhythm out front.
Boonen steps up the gas behind Quinziato and Boom, but is it too little too late?
It looks like it. Quinziato has a big lead and can see the mythical velodrome.
Best way to enter the Roubaix Velodrome: Solo.
Big win for the Italian after a disappointing Ronde.
In comes Boom...
...And Boonen completes the podium with defending champion Hoste a disappointing 4th.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 06-12-2025 00:42
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Bot Agent
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 13:47
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Posts: 1016
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 18:32
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Posts: 1016
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APRIL RANKINGS
Riders
We have a new leader! Boom's win at Ronde and 2nd in Roubaix see him as the clear leader. Roubaix victor Quinziato now sits 2nd ahead of former leader Fischer. Performances in the cobbles from Hoste and Boonen also lift them into the top 5.
Defending champs Rabobank have taken control of the team classification without even deploying their weapon of mass destruction, Gesink. Meanwhile, Androni, Lampre and QuickStep have all seen their ranking take a turn for the better, whilst Drapac and supposed 'powerhouses' Caisse and Liberty linger at the bottom.
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 07-01-2013 18:37
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World Champion
Posts: 11469
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Boom!, Flens!, Rabobank! and not to forgot "weapon of mass destruction" Gesink!
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 18:41
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Posts: 1016
Joined: 30-07-2010
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Hmm and maybe that "Den Blanken" guy next year, I wonder?
I was kind of hoping for a change of scene this year to be honest, but credit to Rabobank for developing what seems to be a really solid squad. |
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 19:00
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Posts: 1016
Joined: 30-07-2010
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MAY CALENDAR
 GP Luxembourg
Giro d'Italia
The route can now be revealed for the...
Stage 1 - Acqui Terme - Genoa (H)
Stage 2 - Genao - Pisa (F)
Stage 3 - Messina - Etna (M)
Stage 4 - Grosseto - Roma (F)
Stage 5 - Sestriere (MTT)
Stage 6 - Sampeyre - Isola 2000 (via Colle della Bonette) (M)
Stage 7 - Milano - Milano (F)
ps I don't really care much for realistic transfers/start-end cities so if you spot that sort of thing... well it's a fantasy league blah blah blah
Edited by pcm2009fan on 07-01-2013 19:02
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 07-01-2013 19:05
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World Champion
Posts: 11469
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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so your taking the PCM Logic to the next level?
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 19:40
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1016
Joined: 30-07-2010
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For sure I hope it doesn't bother anyone though, just I never really cared too much about that sort of thing. I made some effort to link the earlier stages in the GTs. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 07-01-2013 20:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice to see Thomas getting a good finish in Roubaix  |
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 20:42
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Posts: 1016
Joined: 30-07-2010
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Yes I always like to see Geraint do well too. Although I think he could have got an even better result if he hadn't been working for the weaker Jungels most of the day. Maybe next year he'll get to be outright leader. |
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 21:09
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Posts: 1016
Joined: 30-07-2010
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GP LUXEMBOURG
Last year's winner: Inaugural Event
Favourites: Cunego (LAM), Gerrans (DPC), Jim (BAR)
Outsiders: Uran (COF), Iglisnky (AST), Ignatiev (TKF), Schleck F (JOK), Costa R (DPC)
In the breakaway, Bak is signalling back for a raincoat. Conditions are torrential today.
Ouch! Bak goes down whilst putting on his raincoat. His chances look to be over today.
Further back, Rui Costa also needs assistence. He has a flat tyre but his team-mates help him rejoin the race.
Uran is less fortunate after going down on a treacherous descent. His team-mates are unable to pace him back to the peleton. One of them (Mate) even crashes soon after, going uphill no less!
There's certainly no shortage of action, as now Cancellara has a dig behind and soon catches a battered and bruised Bak.
The pack has misjudged its efforts and the break looks increasingly likely to succeed!
Amongst the carnage, some desperate attacks are coming from the likes of Roubaix victor Quinziato.
Up front, Luis Leon Sanchez is applying the pressure and his breakaway companions can't handle the heat.
Engoulvent gives chase on the final descent...
...But Sanchez hangs on for a shock victory! The conditions surely played a part today allowing him to slip away whilst the peleton rode with caution on the slippery undulating roads.
Cunego catches the other escapees on the line to round out the podium but he'll be gutted to have missed out on the win.
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 07-01-2013 21:52
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1016
Joined: 30-07-2010
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Last year's podium:
1 - Gesink
2 - Valverde
3 - Nibali
Robert Gesink has opted against defending his title, evidently turning his attention to the grand tour action later in the year.
The route has already been revealed but here it is again for those who've forgotten.
Spoiler Stage 1 - Acqui Terme - Genoa (H)
Stage 2 - Genao - Pisa (F)
Stage 3 - Messina - Etna (M)
Stage 4 - Grosseto - Roma (F)
Stage 5 - Sestriere (MTT)
Stage 6 - Sampeyre - Isola 2000 (via Colle della Bonette) (M)
Stage 7 - Milano - Milano (F)
 FAVOURITES
 Nairo Quintana
Last Year: 5th
The "Wonderkid" is back and promises to be better than ever. For a 21 year-old, Quintana was incredibly impressive last season and returns to Italy looking to improve on his 5th place finish last year. Though he may be Colombia's champion in the discipline, time-trialing is not a particular strength of his, so he will like the lack of a flat time trial.
 Alejandro Valverde
Last Year: 2nd
The Spaniard completed all 3 Grand Tours last season and incredibly still hasn't finished lower than 4th place. We can expect at least podium finish out of him, though unlike Quintana he didn't use Luxembourg to stretch his legs so his form is unknown.
PODIUM CONTENDERS
 Jose Rujano
Last Year: 13th
He is one man who will rue the lack of a specialist's time trial. After several impressive results throughout last season, he has been proclaiming his confidence in the run-up to the Giro (as usual). However, he has yet to prove himself as having the climbing capabilities of some of the other favourites.
Ivan Basso
Last Year: 4th
The Lombardian may be getting on a bit but Liquigas have put their faith in him as their designated leader this year, instead of Nibali like last year. He helped Nibali to last year's podium, but (a-la-Froome) looked stronger at times. In any case, Nibali or even Timothy Duggan can take over leadership duties if the old diesel begins to splutter.
OUTSIDERS
Andy Schleck, Vincenzo Nibali, Cadel Evans, Nicolas Roche, Aleksandr Dyachenko, Timothy Duggan
 SPRINTERS
With such a heavy route, it looks highly unlikely for a sprinter to claim the points jersey, though that hasn't detered the peleton's fastmen from flying to Italy.
 Tyler Farrar won in Florence last year and the American returns hunting for more of the same this year.
 Murilo Fischer is also present after showing the fastest legs in the early season. However, with Liquigas' focus on the GC and no Bennati for support, it could be tough for the Brazilian to continue his success here.
 Mark Cavendish is a man who has the undying support of his team. Daryl Impey will look to set him up as he did in Qatar.
Matti Breschel has been quiet so far this season. He needs to get things kickstarted soon, so it's no surprise to see him travel to Italy. He might be a little less than pleased at seeing the competition upon arrival though.
 YOUTH
One name stand above the rest here, who has already been discussed: Nairo Quintana. In the event of a fall or spectacular collapse (akin to the one he had on Bola del Mundo last season), compatriot Sergio Henao or German Dominik Nerz would be more than happy to pick up the pieces.
Edited by pcm2009fan on 07-01-2013 21:53
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 07-01-2013 23:21
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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My money will be on Basso |
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 08-01-2013 12:32
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World Champion
Posts: 11469
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Valverde
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 08-01-2013 16:42
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1016
Joined: 30-07-2010
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Haha Valverde winning the Giro would be a good one. I seen it happen to people a lot, but he's only ever shown up in the Diamond League for me, never in career etc.
Support for the old man too... I think I'll cheer him on also but realistically I don't think he has the strength to take the overall title without some luck. He might be retiring this season though so he will give it his all.
I'll post the first stage within an hour or so. It didn't go as I expected! |
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