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[EPIC] Belkin Pro Cycling Team
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 22-10-2013 14:58
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15274
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Hehehe, I Lol'd while doing the report 
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 22-10-2013 15:29
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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One for the break
No stage win today, as a strong Laurens De Vreese gave Topsport Vlaanderen a nice win from the breakaway. Willem Brouwer did outsprint the competition to make his GC claim a bit stronger. We're happy with the results, hoping the team is strong enough to defend the lead in the last few days.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 22-10-2013 18:29
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Everything seems to be going well at Belkin |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 23-10-2013 08:08
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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San Luis Startlist
With some good results in Gabon, it's time to look forward to the Tour de San Luis. Robert Gesink will lead the team and show he's not dead yet. We're only sending 6 riders, as this race is low priority. Any point we gain is a point won!
 Jetse Bol
 Manuel Garate
Robert Gesink
Marc Goos
Steven Kruijswijk
 Robert Wagner
Edited by Ollfardh on 25-10-2013 08:51
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 24-10-2013 09:34
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Podiums to wrap up the GC
While we prefered a win of course, Willem Brouwer pretty much wrapped up the GC with 2 podiums in stage 5 and 6. Tomorrow is the last day of the 2013 Tour de Gabon. Main mission: keep everything together. Secondary mission: get our second stage win.
Edited by Ollfardh on 24-10-2013 09:34
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 24-10-2013 12:13
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15274
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Hi there, it's Willem
I just finished my first stage-race for Belkin, and I'm too excited to wait with reporting about it until I get back.
I got here(Gabon) with quite high hopes, seeing the startlist. I might actually make some Top 3s, or even a win here, with Ciolek & Markus being my main rivals here. I didn't have GC hopes at all, considering some strong puncheurs like Reda & Sella, but especially Cervero, are here.
The race started well for me, very well in fact, I won stage 1! Really, you cannot imagine what that does with me. A lot of pressure fell of me. I'm not sure if there was really pressure, or if I imagined it, but at least it was gone.
Stage 2 went a little less. I was boxed in at some point. Still, I managed to get a 5th place, I was still pretty satisfied with that.
Stage 3 was... Well... Awkward.
I think the picture says enough...
I got third, and I'm pretty happy with the result in the end. No Belkin win, but I actually even won time on most puncheurs, and we got a lot of ranking points here.
I even started to win more time in Stage 4, after doing a late attack with Ciolek & Cervero, and edging them out in the last few 100 meters. Unfortunately, there was a breakaway ahead.
Stage 5 was a bit of a strange sprint. I must compliment Ciolek here, he was a great wheelsucker! Not sure if that's good or not, actually, but a nice win for him, and I got myself a nice podium spot. I don't like to be used as a leadout, but I do like this picture though:
Stage 6 brought me an other podium spot. Man, Tsatevitch really came out of nothing, he'd really deserve the win, but well, having a fellow-Dutchman(Markus) win it is no problem either
The last stage was won by a breakaway. It was a pretty hectic stage, but my yellow jersey was never in danger. Yeah, that's right, I won the general classification in my first race! I cannot believe it yet! 
I also managed to grab the points jersey, in a close fight with (surprising) Gavazzi, and of course the U25 jersey. The team also easily took the Team Classification, but well, look at the second picture, it was pretty clear that Belkin was really strong
It was a great week for me, and the team, and I hope I can bring the team some more jerseys later
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| Selwink |
Posted on 24-10-2013 12:29
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8856
Joined: 17-05-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Congratulations on a totally deserved win here
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 24-10-2013 13:29
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Great win for Belkin in Gabon, totally deserved  |
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| LLDS |
Posted on 24-10-2013 13:30
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Domestique
Posts: 700
Joined: 10-02-2013
PCM$: 400.00
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Well done Belkin in first tour of the season.
Cycling
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 02:31
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 24-10-2013 14:35
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Thanks all, it was a gamble to send our best sprinter with strong support, but it definitely payed off. Although a second stage win would've been nice.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 24-10-2013 18:16
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Tour Down Under Startlist
For the first World Tour race, we're sending a decent squad. Not our elites, but we have a decent chance everywhere. Mark Renshaw will contest the flat stages, while we're counting on Jorge Cristobal Riquelme for the GC. Paul Martens have a free role and somehow we're expecting something from Tom-Jelte Slagter as well. In support, we're sending a few Australian to their home nation. Here's the full team:
 Jack Bobridge
Graeme Brown
 Jorge Cristobal Riquelme
Paul Martens
Mark Renshaw
Tom-Jelte Slagter
David Tanner
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 24-10-2013 19:54
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Mission accomplished!
We did it! The team made sure no attacks on the GC were made, and Willem Brouwer enjoyed his first professional stage race win! The team gave him all the support he needed, and Willem was really outstanding both on the hills and in the sprints. Aside from the yellow jersey, he also won the points classification and the youth classification. We also won the team ranking. It was a very succesfull season opener for us!
A full review will follow later, but we'll let you enjoy his win with this picture from stage 1
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| jaxika |
Posted on 24-10-2013 23:04
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3148
Joined: 16-07-2008
PCM$: 9200.00
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Congrats for Gabon, nice race by Brouwer
A question: you cloned Paul Martens ? |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 25-10-2013 08:04
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Nope, just made some mistakes with setting startlists. Too much work done too fast, you get the picture
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 25-10-2013 12:22
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Second comes right after first
A day of mixed feeling for us. We lost David Tanner in a crash and Paul Martens can forget his GC. Jorge Cristobal Riquelme did absolutely wonderful today though, grabbing the 2nd place behind Arnaud Démare. He gets a few unexpected boni seconds that can come in handy for the GC.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 29-10-2013 11:00
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Another podium for Riquelme
Jorge Cristobal Riquelme had another great result on stage 4 of the Tour Down Under, finishing 3rd in a mass sprint. With this nice result, he made sure he is a good position to start Willunga Hill.
In San Luis, the team did not do much in stage 1, as we are targetting the hills.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 02-11-2013 10:17
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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TDU finish
Jorge Cristobal Riquelme did what was expected of him, hanging on on Willunga Hill to make sure we got a top 10 on the stage and a top 10 in the rankings. Compared to Gabon, it was all a bit less because of the stronger field, but we are happy about the results. Jorge has shown he has great potential for the Ardennes later this season.
Next up is the GP La Marseillaise, where Willem Brouwer will try to get another win. The idea is to get him over the hills so he can finish it in the sprint.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 04-11-2013 13:27
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Underestimating
We thought GP La Marseillaise wouldn't be to heavily contested, we were wrong. A strong startlist meant a heavy pace on the hills and most of our guys were dropped. Dennis Van Winden was in the break, but couldn't follow towards the end. Lars Boom couldn't close the gap and Willem Brouwer came too late to fight for the win. It would be a sixth place for us, while we were secretely hoping for more.
Edited by Ollfardh on 04-11-2013 13:27
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 05-11-2013 11:11
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3507
Joined: 06-10-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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JORGE CRISTOBAL RIQUELME
Spoiler Apologies English not first language of me 
TOUR DOWN UNDER WRAP-UP
Apologies for this update for you being rather late, but it was being difficult to reach home from Australia - first I have to catch plane to Santiago then another plane to Punta Arenas down in south Chile but service is not daily!
Anyhows, the Tour Down Under was being first professional race for me - an exceptional honour to be part of wonderful Belkin squad. The first stage was fairly tricky flat stage which good for me, and I came 2nd behind Demare! I am very pleased with result!
I am in green and black coming 2nd in first race! Vamos!
Second stage was a bit tougher with difficult Corkscrew hill near the end, but I hang on to main group to secure 3rd overall for time being!
Third stage is with slight uphill sprint, good for me, and I 5th get!, though Meersman is too quick for me.
Fourth stage is slightly flatter, normally chances for myself I wouldn't fancy but I find myself being in right position at being right time to have another podium behind Degenkolb and Kristoff! Estoy en una buena racha!
Me is on near right ahead of Eisel.
Fifth stage is being She-King stage to Old Willunga Hill! It is being a bit hilly for me, especially with the beaters (?) like Moreno and Henao around. Never the less, I only concede the 25 seconds and end up 7th, which means 7th overall so far!
Last stage is boring I cannot be bothered to sprint as I is thinking of coming back home to Chile. Have been having nice time in Australia but it too hot and me miss family and friends. I end up 8th and Kristoff pushes me down a place. Very succesful result it is being though for me in first race!
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 08-11-2013 14:32
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Great season start for Belkin
While we are on a break until Omloop Het Volk, we can look back to the season start with a great satisfaction. Most of the credit goes to our two new riders, Willem and Jorge. Their combination of speed and power gave us some nice results and quite some points already. Both are nominated for the Rider of the Month award, which will be chosen after San Luis finishes (not that any of our riders there are going to win  ).
We know we can't stay on top of the rankings, but we're going to enjoy it while we can!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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