I havn't read the story yet, and i am about to, but i have to say i'm not looking forward to the task. Purely at a visual level this story is rather off putting, at least to me. Some serious chunks of text to read through. Nothing wrong with length, but some if could be broken up a bit more, or just something to make it less foreboding, especially with several updates to try and read. Judging by the comments the content is good but it is hard to get into the actual reading part as the whole thing is just kind of grey and blah.
TheManxMissile wrote:
I havn't read the story yet, and i am about to, but i have to say i'm not looking forward to the task. Purely at a visual level this story is rather off putting, at least to me. Some serious chunks of text to read through. Nothing wrong with length, but some if could be broken up a bit more, or just something to make it less foreboding, especially with several updates to try and read. Judging by the comments the content is good but it is hard to get into the actual reading part as the whole thing is just kind of grey and blah.
Hmm...I don't know what to do about it. I hate to use screenshots and I don't have an idea to another way of doing something for the visual level.
It was my first Tour de France as captain. I was with last year as a helper, but this time it was different. This time it was the pressure of expectations from both my own and the team's side. I would dominate the race. I would be a power. I would start at the first stage to be visible, but it was impossible. A flat, fast stage and the field would have a stage win. I went to see some riders in the middle of the stage, and they would try their luck with me. We escaped, and the field could not agree on who would catch up with us. Within the pursuit was shot hole was too big for us to be obtainable, and we had to fight for the victory. I gave everything I had in me trying to win more seconds and I had to settle for the last place in our group.
The second stage was even better for me. There was a category 2 increase slightly before the finish, and it should be used to attack on. There was run incredibly strong to the foot of it, but it affected me. I had epo day before the tour began, and the effect was still there. I ran smoothly away, and I could make out the victory. The only drawback for me would be if the field were organized hunt, but it did not materialize, and I could celebrate my first Tour de France stage win. It was great for me. Finally I succeeded in something. Finally outshone my brother. I was in focus now. I was felled by emotion as I stepped onto the podium to get my first yellow jersey ever and I was so happy that I could not keep the happy tears.
The third stage, however, I would just stick to the other favorites. I had enough for the moment, and my focus was mostly geared towards the fact that I needed a new epoch in the blood when the stage was over. The attacks did not materialize, but instead it was riders ranked in the back end of the field. It meant that we were only a small group who crossed the finish line, but I remained passive. The focus was directed to the next task today; doping.
I had to continue with large amounts of EPO to maintain my level and I had to have a refill once a week; at least. I had room on the fourth floor, but I took the elevator up to the eighth, where Emanuelle Ciron had booked a room. I knocked four times, which was the deal. He would not want to be visited by strangers while he had all the equipment laying around. He opened the door quietly, and he looked closely at me, I was allowed to enter. He should take his security checks, as he said himself. We talked about everything between heaven and earth. Besides being my doctor, he was also a good friend. I could drop everything when I was in his company, and I could relax. He took EPO in the needle, and he held it to my upper arm. It was the worst thing about it all. It hurted, but it was even worse. I was so weird when I got it. It was as if I was not there, but I was. I left a few brief remarks to him and I tiptoed out of the room. Immediately when I came out, I could hear the sirens weak. They became clearer and clearer, and they stopped in front of our hotel. I hurried to take the elevator down to the fourth floor and I ambled into my room and layed down. I checked up on why they were here and it turned out that they had received a tip that this was illegal drugs in the building and all the rooms would therefore be checked. Fortunately, Emanuelle and I agreed that he disappeared as soon as we had passed EPO to my body, I was calm. I was sure he was gone.
I could hear the knock on the door and I opened it. Two police men in civilian stepped forward, and they wanted to talk to me for a short while. I let them come in, and they wasted no time. I was asked a lot of things, but I denied everything. They tried to be word of mouth on me, but I stood against. It was not pleasant, but it was what was going on that I discovered in my goings and comings. I was aware that they had a suspect to me, and it really was good enough. I was the doped man.
@TMM. You're right about the layout thing. There are tons of stories with a better visual level but the content is unique and i think you should try it
Not sure whether he will make it to the end of the Tour. I think he may get to Paris as then the fall will be bigger when he finally gets caught one day but I'm not sure. What I mean is now he would only be one random cyclist who doped but if he wins the tour first he would be a TDF winner that doped.
knockout wrote:
@TMM. You're right about the layout thing. There are tons of stories with a better visual level but the content is unique and i think you should try it
Getting there
What i have read is good and i am interested enough to keep on reading. Can't really do much more as a writer...
I put the bike on the shelf for a few days, and I could relax a little. I could allow myself. I did not do much other than eat, sleep and relax, and it was lovely. I could finally hold a little break after being so much on the mark this year. I was mostly in the living room, which was the first room you entered when you came into the house. I could hear the knock on the door and I opened it. It was the post, who came up with one letter from UCI. Why would they think of me? Would they congratulate me with the victory? I tore up the letter, but it was something else that was there than I had expected.
"Dear Edward Mancini.
In connection with the doping test on the 11th stage, we will invite you to an early meeting. Your doping test showed traces of EPO, and you are possibly facing a suspension.
Best regards,
UCI president Brian Cookson."
It could not be true. It may not be. I had to find a way to get out of this. I lived happily close to Brian, so I would take over as soon as possible. I found my bike quickly, and I went off. He lived a half hour away, so it was no problem.
I knocked on the door and it was closed. I did not wait to get permission to enter, I just went. I told him that it will not come out no matter what. All it took anyway, and they did not quarantines. Why was it special to me?
He kept talking, and he started talking about ethics and morality, but it bored me. I put the cards on the table.
"How much money do you want," I asked eagerly.
"What are you talking about, Edward? Do we discuss bribe now? It can end up with huge implications for both of us," Brian said.
"I do not care. You can probably get the samples disappear. I can get you a million dollars," I argued.
"No one should have to know. Not even your brother".
"Of course not. He is also unaware of my drug test," I said and walked out of the house and rolled back to my own.
I was shaken by this experience, and it surprised me that I would do so much to get away with it. It was also a surprise to him that I dare to think that thought, but I had done it. He had accepted it. He should get the test to disappear, and I was sure that he could handle it.
I let off with fright, but I was thoroughly shaken. I wanted to do something big for next season. I had to find something so that I would be remembered if the hammer to fall again. I had an idea, but it seemed remote and crazy. I would try to win all the Grand Tours in one season.
A huge challenge. 63 stages were run over 3 years and I could not settle for just running these. There were also a warm-up for each Grand Tour, and I was curious as to whether I could handle it. It was one of the hardest things in the sport to do, and I had my doubts on whether it could be done. But was there someone who could do it, it was me. When I announced that I would make the attempt at a press conference in Monaco, it caused quite a stir. There was rumbled and glanced, and I really had staged myself. I received significantly more attention since my Tour de France victory, and it was my way of managing it on; to do something even wilder.
The first time after the press conference I were mainly thinking about how I should plan my form. I was not able to decide if I should be in top form in the Giro and gradually go further and further down through the year, or if I should start the Giro in the middle of the form, tops in the Tour and be on my way down in the Vuelta. The latter seemed like the best plan, but it had obviously been best just to be in top form in all races.
One of the other things I thought about was fatigue. I was nervous about whether I could keep it, or if I would go down with the flag midway. It was either or. If I won the Giro and the Tour, the Vuelta should also home. Otherwise, I would consider the mission as a failure.
The plan for me was to stay completely still until the Tour de Romandie, where I frown mounting position up to the first goal; Giro d' Italia. It went according to plan, and I turned out not very forward. If I could win the race, I would, but if I couldn't, it was fine. The focus was laid on the Grand Tours, so it did not matter. My plan was to follow with the other favorites all the way, and if I had the profits, I would attack in the final meters. It was a tactic that only could go wrong if I did not have the legs. There was not a moment where they could really go wrong if I read over wrong, and it felt like a cut shot.
It was so much the right tactics, and it gave value for money. I massacred them, and they did not stand a chance against me. It promised really good for the Giro, which was the first goal in the plan. I won a mountain stage and a time trial, but on the penultimate stage the whole team slept, and there was a single man who won, and it was just enough that he won by 10 seconds, but the GC game, I won.
Now it was time for the first goal, the Giro d' Italia. I was ready, both mentally and physically. I had a perfect start to the race, and I was very motivated. Motivated to make history. The first stage was flat and it was not for me. I was wrapped up in cotton wool and cotton, and I ended up in the middle of the field. The next stage was a team time trial, and it was I who was the engine behind. I was nervous center for this team discipline. I was the strongest on the team, and I was the captain. I had to take responsibility and initiative. I pepped the other up, and they seem just as motivated as I. We were ready to fight. We were not well off, as there was a little chaos when we rolled down, but then we ran like a well-oiled machine. We were a unit and we smashed the others. Michael Valgren got 'Maglia Rosa', but it meant nothing. Not for me, anyway. He had to sacrifice himself already at the next stage which I could win overall on. In the beginning of the third stage he was sent up in the front with the rest of the team. We were responsible for the peloton now and so we should have the rest of the race. I felt good at the start, and in the last climb there was an attack by an unknown rider, and we got away. We had a good working relationship, and he was allowed to get the victory, as I now was in the front of the race. Now it should be kept to the end, until we hit the beautiful, enchanting streets of Brescia.
The stage after I felt better running. I felt that I was Jesus who could walk on water. I felt as if nothing could stop me today. That I simply was better. I was so sure that I would win today's stage, I put the whole team up and pull hard and make life miserable for the rest. I did not feel that it tired me, but I could see the strained faces all around me. Anguished faces. I attacked at the bottom of the rise, and no one could roughly follow me. I had diamonds in my legs and I went solo finish. It was as if the tension had already been taken out of the race. It was as if I already had won together, and the rest to struggle on secondary places.
Next came a pair of flat, boring stages where everything calmed down. Except for doping. That I would still have and use it for the rest of the stages. I went against my word, and I had told Emanuelle Ciron, I would try other dope before the Giro started. I got the collected blood, and I should try blood doping. The thing I was most nervous about was getting it removed but when it was done, it was not that bad. I could feel it, but it was no heart screaming. I felt fine. I had been up at Emanuelles room in the evening, where I had sprayed it in again. It was great and I could almost feel right away that I was stronger.
The next stage was a hilly one of them, and the tactic of the day was that Nicolai Buus should try to get a stage win. It cheered me, but it was in the sponsor's interest, and their word is law. At least for sports director ears. He was also getting the decisive break, and when he was there, I could not go up and lead or attack, so I had to settle for a small time loss for him and Rafal Majka from the standings.
The following day was a trial, and I felt bad going. The day started badly, and I had a distinguished presence of that would go wrong. That I would be revealed. The intermediate times were also poor, and though I should be the best, I lay a few rankings further down. I was furious. Nothing played. I could not take proper round. I was so mad I stomped as hard as I could and then I had to go belly-up, should it get that far. I wanted to win this stage. It seemed to go a bit better, but I felt I could go faster if played properly, so I threw the brain in front of me and took even more. It burned in my feet, but I did not care. I just wanted to run. I could see the finish line ahead of me, and I gave the last of me. "Vinci Tore della tappa, Edward Mancini, a 1 secondo," someone shouted from the audience. I had won the stage.
The first mountain stage was lovely. I had been looking forward to it, and now it finally was here. I ordered my teammates to pull all day as the champion I was. I got better and better as the day progressed, and as the final climb began, I sat up in the front. No one could follow me, and I was in splendid isolation. I did not look back, and I ran faster and faster every pedal revolution. Nothing could stop me, and I felt invincible. No. I was invincible. The lonely struggle with myself, I celebrated the victory over the finish line. Then I would take it easy in the next stages.
I was sure of the victory. Sure to tick off the Giro d' Italia. How I did it anyway, and so it was said among the riders in the field. I was not going to put a stop to. I was untouchable. I started to think ahead of Tour de France, and it was this that filled my head. For me the Giro a closed chapter. A happy chapter but over. Only crash or illness could stop it.
It was so much said I would take it easy. I won a few steps more, but I only accelerated away in the final meters. It was another thing I was good at. I was a complete rider, the best in the world at present. No one had a chance against me.
I increased and increased my lead up to Brescia, where I could let my shelf. I was asked about everything under the sun, but I managed to answer it. I was asked what the plan for the rest of the season was, and it was here, I announced that I would win the Tour and the Vuelta. There was a shock in the press, and no one believed me. No one thought I could do it. But I knew I could. I knew I could take it. It was only a matter of believing in it, and I did.
I took a few days break with the bike and I charged depots. I felt already well again, and I was in a good mood. Better mood than I had ever been before. I did not think that way, I had achieved this on was wrong. The thing that filled my mind was that I had to stay focused. I had arranged a meeting with a journalist, and when he came I offered for cookies and coffee. I was keen that it should have a good mood, because I could not bear to defend myself. But it was different. The reporter brought this article:
"Visiting Edward Mancini
A peaceful place in a forest live Edward Mancini, the first thing you feel when you get is that it's nice to be here . When we met him, he had just been training and when we stepped inside, we were promptly offered cookies and coffee.
You just won the Giro d' Italia, what is your reaction?
I'm very happy, and I'm especially relieved. It was a lot of pressure, I got on my shoulder, and I'm happy to have won the race.
You have since announced that you will try to win all the Grand Tours, can you handle it?
I think that I can. Is there anyone who can do it, then it's me. I still feel fresh, and I think I can keep the level of long term too. I feel like I have the others clearly superior.
It seems very suspicious that you last year came out of nowhere, and now you have won both the Tour and the Giro. Are you drugged, the big question is?
I know what I've done to get here. Everything I have achieved is in a fair way, and I feel I'm running like the others. I do not have any advantage in what I'm doing. The thing I do, the other also. You can take anything you want in it, but I know that I am clean.
How do you see your future?
Hopefully I win the Giro, Tour and Vuelta several times and I also dream of becoming world champion. I believe that it is possible, and I will do everything to ensure that this happens. I also hope I can win the Ardennes one day, but it is not in my plans now.
Tour de France starts in a few days, what do you expect?
I expect to win. Everything else can not be used for anything. To be number two will be a great disappointment to me."
I was ready for the next goal, the Tour de France. I was ready to win another Grand Tour this year, and I knew it could be done. I had a feeling deep inside that this project would succeed. The start this year was in Sedan and it was a good, old-fashioned prologue, we started with. After seven stage wins in the Giro d' Italia I had had enough of gain stages, but welcomed the chance itself, I would take it. It was clear. I had won the run-up during the Tour de Suisse, and I felt quite ready. I started good and finished 2nd in the prologue. Then I lost a little bit of time, but it was irrelevant. I felt still confident of victory, and the first mountain stage, I got something to get my word in. I massacred them, and no one could catch up with me. I was in a class by myself, and I had such a big lead that I was more than confident of victory. The day after I did the same, and it was settled. It was time to go very wrong before I would not win.
Then came the time trial to Mont Ventoux, where I have two years earlier had promised myself that I would not suffer as much upward again. It had changed since then, and I was sure that I would feel much better this time. I started, like last time, quietly out, and then it was full wondering the last 15 kilometers. I had to smash up, and I just had to run everything I could. It did so much. I put my competitors more in place than I had ever done before, and they could do nothing but stand gaping back. I was the king, I had the power. It was also reflected clearly in the peloton where I got even more respect than before, and I had won the Tour and the Giro before. My fatigue started to sign up, and I took it easy the rest of the race. This did not mean that I did not win the stage, it just meant that I won them with less margin. Rather than wear them out over an entire mountain, I accelerated in the last few meters. I was so versatile, and I was glad that I was. The stages where I did not try anything, my teammate Ole Kristian Aasbrenn did it instead. He was just behind me in the standings by a large margin to No. 3 all set the stage for that we should join the number 1 and 2, and so did we. Nothing could beat us, we were the other superior.
Another triumph was at home, and I had won 5 stage win. I was proud, but my form was coming down too fast. I had been nervous about the Vuelta a España, and I contacted a new doctor. I should have more and better drugs. Emanuelle Ciron had been taken by the French police at customs, but fortunately he had not mentioned my name to anyone. It was the least I have been told. I therefore contacted Daniel Swimmer, who was the best doping doctor in the industry. I had allowed myself to hear. There wouldn't be what he could not do, and I could also hear when he asked me what I wanted. I replied that I just had to have a little of everything, but it should do, so I recovered afterwards. I could also feel that I did. My line was much easier, and I felt much fresher. I was ready at the next target; Vuelta a España.
Then it was the last goal, Vuelta a España, which should be run. It was necessary that I should win this Grand Tour, both for my own sake but also for the team's image. Saxo - Tinkoff had decided to withdraw, and there was yet to come some sponsorship deals. I was still tired, but it was significantly better after the tour. All the major GC stars had driven the Giro and the Tour, so I felt that my worst competitor was my own teammate Nicolai Buus, but I was sure that he would not get in the way of my mission. I was sure I was the team's only captain, and that he would be loyal to me. Nicolai had an ability to be very strong in the last week, and when there was a team time trial, he had a knack for always being first over the line and tweak the lead. We always won the team time trials, but that he had the jersey would not mean anything. It would not matter one bit. I started out good. Really good.
I took almost 3 minutes on all competitors already on the first mountain stage, and I also won the 3rd stage. We let outbreak escape the following days, which meant that I lost the jersey again, but it was okay. I knew I would win. I knew I was superior. Nothing could stop me, and I felt already sure of the final victory. I was sure that my project would succeed. I would be the first rider ever would win all the Grand Tours in the same year, but I had to take a deep breath. Injuries and crashes would still be able to stop it.
I drove safely rest of the Vuelta, and I took no chances. But I had to run a bit offensively, as the rider of the outbreak should be. Luckily he was not good up and he was easy to set. I took a few more victories, but the rumors started going around me. Apparently there should be a report on the way, a comprehensive one, about my drug abuse, and there had to be a man who was very close to me who had put all the cards on the table. It was not something that reassured me, and I was a little nervous about it, but I just had to continue. I had beaten the excitement out of the race, and Nicolai Buus and Ole Kristian Aasbrenn was also on the podium. It was almost inevitable that we all three would end up on the podium. We did too, and then the final stage was run, we could all breathe a sigh of relief. I was moved. Touched to tears. I had performed something no one else had done before. I had written the story. I had not just won all the Grand Tours, I had also won 10 out of 12 jerseys this year, and not only that, I had also won 20 stages. Great. I was embraced by my teammates, and journalists rushed towards us, but I had no time to many questions. I was up on the podium.
The triumph was at home and I was rewarded. Rawarded lots of times over the last couple of years. Nobody had approximately could catch up with me.
I observed the many audiences, who cheered me, but in all eyes I could feel that their were someting... Something mistrustful. I looked after any man with a suspicious face. I could be discovered every second. The hammer may fall, when it should be. I was paranoid to everyone who came too close to me. They had stood speechless and looked on me while I had driven my competitors behind, and I could not believe they didn't have a suspicion of what I was doing.
I was perplexed that it had made such a big difference. I was stunned that it was possible - that I could get that far. Longer than I could even dream of. But I knew what it was. Too good to be true.
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
