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Modern Times, Old Roads | The End
Ian Butler
Top  #41 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 09:38
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GP Costa degli Etruschi
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I can talk all I want about how great the team is and how I want to prove myself, but now it's about time to put it into action. My first race of the season was GP Costa degli Etruschi, the new opener to the Italian season.

Temperatures were cold at the start, but luckily the 190 km wouldn't invite to a long wait. Many teams and riders were keen on reeling in this particular fish. We were all ready to race!

Profile
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I spend the last three days here. The final hill is not very long, but after 180 km, it might invite certain punchers to attack. The roads leading up to the climb are not too wide, so we should be at the front in time.


I had enjoyed a nice breakfast but I had some problems with missing shoes in the hotel. I arrived at the start just in time, I took my place at the back of the peloton and got ready to race.

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As tradition dictates, several riders got busy forming the break of the day. We tried to get Santaromita in the break.

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And he was successful. The biggest name in his group was Tiralongo, winner of two Giro stages.

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Giant - Shimano, here with sprinter Tom Veelers, took most of the workload in the chase.

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I stayed in the middle of the pack for the most part of the race, but having reconned the route, I came to the front just in time for the final climb of the day. I started the climb in about 20th position.

We had the breakaway riders in sight on the climb.

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However, we were unable to catch them on the climb. At the top, we were still half a minute behind. Things would get tight! I survived the climb quite well, you can see me taking the bend right there, before the Astana rider.

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At the front, Tiralongo went solo. Nobody could or wanted to follow.

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Strong Luke (Luke Durbridge) helped organize our sprint train. I was right behind him, ready to lead out Leigh Howard. At that moment, we couldn't find Caleb Ewan and there was no time to wait, either.

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Caleb found our train just in time. I started the sprint, but there were still riders ahead. We wouldn't be going for the victory today, I fear.

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And, indeed, Tiralongo finished off a brilliant solo. Santaromita did good by finishing on the podium.

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In the sprint for place 10, we came in 2nd and 3rd (so 11th and 12th overall) with Caleb and Leigh. I finished a surprising 14th!

Result
1Paolo TiralongoAstana Pro Team4h22'43
2Alberto LosadaTeam Katusha+ 21
3Ivan SantaromitaOrica GreenEdges.t.
4Kristjan FajtAdria Mobils.t.
5Mattia CattaneoLampre - Meridas.t.
6Diego RosaAndroni Giocattolis.t.
7Francesco GavazziAstana Pro Teams.t.
8Marco MarcatoCannondales.t.
9Michal GolasOmega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Teams.t.
10Nikolas MaesOmega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Teams.t.
11Caleb EwanOrica GreenEdges.t.
12Leigh HowardOrica GreenEdges.t.
13Fabio FellineTrek Factory Racings.t.
14Matthias VleminckxOrica GreenEdges.t.
15Wout PoelsOmega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Teams.t.
Spoiler


For me, this is a good start. I survived the hill extremely well and I did a decent job in bringing Leigh and Caleb for the sprint. Too bad we didn't get a chance to sprint for the victory, though.

Well, maybe next time!
Matt
Edited by Ian Butler on 12-04-2014 10:00
 
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Ian Butler
Top  #42 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 09:38
baia - Great to be back, too Smile I agree, there are lots of quality stories at the moment. I hope to contribute, too! Thanks!

Jakstar22 - Thanks, mate Wink Tour Down Under is a big sponsor goal for an Australian team, so it's amazing to start the season this way.
 
Dippofix
Top  #43 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 09:42
Ah, Matt already showing what he's worth in the first race of the season. Smile
 
Jakstar22
Top  #44 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 09:46
A great first race for Matt. Great job!
 
baia
Top  #45 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 11:27
Good stage, Matthias did a good job but Caleb was better.. Smile
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Ian Butler
Top  #46 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 12:08
Dippofix - So it seems Wink I had a good position on the climb, which helps a lot!

Jakstar22 - Thanks! A good start is always important!

baia - Caleb is the boss Pfft still only 19, that guy. But Matthias is a bit more polyvalent. Caleb is just a monster sprinter Wink


Thanks for the support here!
 
Ian Butler
Top  #47 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 12:08
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Hi again! It's time to report back from my first stage race of the season. The Tour of Oman counts six stages, the first three are classified as flat, but don't let that fool you. Then we move into the mountains and the hills, to finally end the Tour with a final stage for the sprinters.

We're right in the middle of the Tour now. Here's the report from the first three stages, it's been one hell of a ride so far.

Tour of Oman - Stage 1
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Oman is a real hot country. I never thought I'd say this but I miss good old cold, wet Belgium. But we're not here to lay in the sun, we're here to race!

Profile
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This will go fast. The sprint is pancake flat. Today I'm listed as the last lead-out for Matthews. It's an important moment for me. I hope to do well.


Simon Yates is a talent and he's keen to prove it. He attacked as soon as the flag went down.

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Together with Goesinnen and Claeys, he formed the break of the day.

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It was an easier day than I had participated. The peloton took it easy for a while and the breakaway never went too far, either. Simon won the mountain sprint. When the break was caught, we knew we had to move forward and prepare the sprint.

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Our train got caught up in the pack for a while, but fortunately we had a good pilot to get us out of there. Matthews stuck to my wheel. Luckily I was riding purely on instinct, if I had thought about how important it was to get Matthews into the perfect position for the sprint, I might've become too nervous to do my job properly.

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As soon as Meyer brought us to the front, I took the wheel of Cavendish. Things were moving fast, now.

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Then my job was only getting started. I got up from my seat and started my lead-out sprint. I think I did an okay job. I didn't accelerate too quickly, but I built up speed gradually.

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Matthews went at the perfect moment, but he couldn't beat Mark Cavendish. We had to be happy with a second place.

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We were disappointed for only a little while. After all, coming in second after the best sprinter of the past 5 years is not a bad achievement. Matthews specifically thanked me for my work on the team bus. What a great guy.

Result - Stage 1
1Mark CavendishOmega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team3h26'39
2Michael MatthewsOrica GreenEdges.t.
3Daniele BennatiTinkoff - Saxos.t.
4Mark RenshawOmega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Teams.t.
5Heinrich HausslerIAM Cyclings.t.
6Taylor PhinneyBMC Racing Teams.t.
7Sébastien ChavanelFDJ.frs.t.
8José Joaquín RojasMovistar Teams.t.
9Daryl ImpeyOrica GreenEdges.t.
10Jérôme PineauIAM Cyclings.t.
11Matthias VleminckxOrica GreenEdges.t.


Tour of Oman - Stage 2
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There are many different teams; teams with strong leaders, teams with base strength... What makes Orica - GreenEdge so strong is the fact that we're not just team mates. No, we're a team, and we're mates. Big difference. After a second place, we were ready to bounce back!

Profile
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This is a flat finish, but the final 30 kilometers are up and down. There is one slope which will prove decisive. It's my job today to bring Matthews over the top. It'll be hard, we'll have to fight to stay at the front.


Once again we got a man in the breakaway. this time it was Mouris, the strong Dutchman.

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The stage was uneventful, which is good. But when we came to the final climb, I felt I wasn't up for today's task. The heat was too much for me to handle. I looked at Matthews and he knew by the look of my eyes I wasn't going to take him to the top today. Luckily Impey was around.

Impey and Matthews stayed at the front wonderfully. They even crossed the mountain point first. The peloton was disorganised and Impey smelled a golden opportunity. Instead of waiting, he threw himself in the downhill, with Matthews stuck to his wheel.

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Meanwhile, I found my way to the top. I was quite exhausted and had some trouble breathing. Who the hell can race in temperatures above 40°C?

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Impey and Matthews sped to the finish and the peloton was too late to react. What an amazing victory today. I feel like I didn't contribute at all, but we celebrated the victory all together on the bus like we had all won.

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This is a beauty, a victory to frame. The entire team has gotten a morale boost now, I'm sure!

Result - Stage 4
1Michael MatthewsOrica GreenEdge3h18'23
2Daryl ImpeyOrica GreenEdges.t.
3Chris FroomeTeam Sky+ 29
4Sam BennettTeam NetApp - Enduras.t.
5Maxim BelkovTeam Katushas.t.
6Nairo QuintanaMovistar Teams.t.
7Nikolai TrussovTinkoff - Saxos.t.
8Peter KennaughTeam Skys.t.
9Alejandro ValverdeMovistar Teams.t.
10Yury TrofimovTeam Katushas.t.
(...)
51Matthias VleminckxOrica GreenEdges.t.


Tour of Oman - Stage 3
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The third day. Weather predictions are to my advantage. Clouds might block the sun later in the afternoon, temperatures may drop. Let's hope they do!

Profile
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After my bad day yesterday, I won't be leading out Matthews as final guy. Instead, I'll be fourth man in the lead-out. This finish is made for Matthews, we can win this. He's the best when it comes to uphill sprints.


To my great joy, it cooled down, almost 10°C down from yesterday. The clouds were grey and I was feeling so much better already. We set up the lead-out for Matthews. The order of the day was: Mouris - Docker - Vleminckx - Meyer - Impey - Matthews.

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If you look at the profile closely, you'll notice a tiny but very steep bump near the finish. That was my point to go. I had to drag the lead-out over the bump as fast as possible. Just when I got to the front to do my job, we rolled up the break of the day, one by one.

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I felt amazing today, what a little sunshine (or the lack of it) can do! Our team was in perfect position and we rolled up the final breakaway member.

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Then I heard a crash. I looked behind me and saw Meyer had gone down! Impey and Matthews were able to avoid him, luckily. Impey leeched himself to my wheel and shouted: "Go!" Normally, it was up to Meyer now, but it was too early to let Impey take the front. I took a double shift. But I was hurting bad now!

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Impey launched the sprint and finally I could hold my legs still for a moment. They were burning up, but I had done well today, extremely well!

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In uphill sprinting, Matthews knows no equal. He proves this once again here. what a victory!

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Today was a beautiful example of great team work. This sort of feels like my victory, too. I had a hand in this. And it feels great.

Result - Stage 3
1Michael MatthewsOrica GreenEdge4h35'19
2José Joaquín RojasMovistar Teams.t.
3Daniele BennatiTinkoff - Saxos.t.
4Gianluca BrambillaOmega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Teams.t.
5Daryl ImpeyOrica GreenEdges.t.
6Chris FroomeTeam Skys.t.
7Gert SteegmansOmega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Teams.t.
8Gerald CiolekMTN - Qhubekas.t.
9Luke RoweTeam Skys.t.
10Nicolas RocheTinkoff - Saxos.t.
(...)
76Matthias VleminckxOrica GreenEdges.t.


General Classification after Stage 3
1Michael MatthewsOrica GreenEdge11h19'29
2Daryl ImpeyOrica GreenEdge+ 40
3Mark CavendishOmega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team+ 57
4Daniele BennatiTinkoff - Saxo+ 1'05
5José Joaquín RojasMovistar Team+ 1'09
6Kevin ClaeysAn Post - Chain Reactions.t.
7Chris FroomeTeam Sky+ 1'13
8Daniel TeklehaimanotMTN - Qhubeka+ 1'15
9James VanlandschootWanty - Groupe Goberts.t.
10Bobbie TrakselAn Post - Chain Reaction+ 1'19
(...)
31Matthias VleminckxOrica GreenEdge+ 1'21


Well, we took a flying start here in Oman. Two out of three, that's not bad. Personally I'm very happy with my work here. I let the team down on the second day a bit but I more than made up for it today.

Tomorrow we finish on the Green Mountain, not exactly my terrain. But we'll do our best to keep that jersey around Matthews' shouders!
I'll report when I get back in Belgium, because the internet here is just terrible.

See you then,
Matt
Edited by Ian Butler on 12-04-2014 12:09
 
Jakstar22
Top  #48 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 12:17
What a great turn from Matt in Stage 3. Amazing!! Keep it up
 
The Hobbit
Top  #49 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 12:32
Great racing from Matthias, and a few strong wins from Matthews
(Not on the 'The Hobbit Banana Scale' though Wink )
 
Cycleman123
Top  #50 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 12:41
Great racing so far. Hopefully Cameron can take over when the road goes up. How's his support?
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Ian Butler
Top  #51 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 12:44
Jakstar22 - Stage 3 was indeed a good one by Matt. Hope the next 3 can be equally good Wink

The Hobbit - What does a man have to do to earn a banana 'round here? Pfft

Cycleman123 - Unfortunately Cameron lost quite some time on the third stage. So he'll have to go for a stage win. He's got decent support in the form of Chaves. Hope it's enough Wink
 
Cycleman123
Top  #52 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 12:45
Ahh Chaves, some nice moments with him and Fabio Smile Maybe he should take the lead?
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Ian Butler
Top  #53 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 13:05
Hmm we'll have to see how the race pans out. With Froome and Quintana and Valverde here, we'll be happy to take a top 5 on a mountain finish Smile
 
Cycleman123
Top  #54 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 13:14
Jesus...
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sutty68
Top  #55 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 13:50
It has not been a bad start to the season for Matthias Wink
 
baia
Top  #56 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 15:17
Matthews is doing great..Wink
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MrUfo87
Top  #57 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 16:23
You've already started, but good luck! Looks very promising so far. Smile And a nice team choice for the Belgian rider. The start of the season is good for the team.


 
the_hoyle
Top  #58 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 17:57
Amazing start to life in the team for Matt. Some good results all around as well
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Ian Butler
Top  #59 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 19:18
sutty68 - Not at all Smile

baia - Yeah, his national jersey gave him the confidence he needed!

MrUfo87 - Thanks a lot Wink We're off to a good start indeed!

the_hoyle - I agree. Orica doing well so far. Hope we can keep this up a long time!


The rest of Oman probably later today Smile
 
Batista15
Top  #60 Print Post
Posted on 12-04-2014 20:40
Just saw, that you´re back Ian! Good to see a new story, good luck. Wink
 
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