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[PT] Festina-Canal+ (2015)
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| SotD |
Posted on 27-05-2015 15:08
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CountArach wrote:
Nice preview.
I look forward to seeing what Van Keirsbulck can do for you this season. Hopefully he can stick around for the later parts of any cobbled race.
Thanks.
Yeah I hope he will be able to get a few top 20s atleast. If he can somehow get into a break or two during the cobbled races I would be pleasantly surprised.
It really is somewhere where my team is weak, so if we can get any result we are very happy 
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 27-05-2015 15:23
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Grand Tour Champion
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Jesus, this team is going to be killer next year, you've built so well.
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| SotD |
Posted on 27-05-2015 15:54
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World Champion
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wackojackohighcliffe wrote:
Jesus, this team is going to be killer next year, you've built so well.
Thanks mate...
Last season everyone expected us to be atleast 3rd in the PT, yet we struggled to even get into the top 10. Even without all the crashing around by Ricco, and if Guerao had performed well I wouldn't have made it into the top 3.
Preview: Winner
Preview: Winner
Preview: 3rd
I have a hard time believing we should be much better this season. Guerao out, Coppel in. Ratiy ouy, Lecuisinier improving. That is basically it.
So if I can get a 5th place overall I would be very happy
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| SotD |
Posted on 27-05-2015 20:49
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Aidan has been doing an ace job lately getting our national jerseys done. Here they are:
Bolivia RR:
France TT:
Greece TT:
Greece RR:
Ethiopia TT:
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 27-05-2015 20:57
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Love Grmay's jersey, I hope we'll see it at some point this year (maybe in a TTT somewhere?). If not he'll hopefully be a good domestique for you at least, and help Spilak and Ricco to great seasons. Especially interested in if Spilak can dominate the other GT contenders with his new training. |
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| SotD |
Posted on 28-05-2015 07:00
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FroomeDog99 wrote:
Love Grmay's jersey, I hope we'll see it at some point this year (maybe in a TTT somewhere?). If not he'll hopefully be a good domestique for you at least, and help Spilak and Ricco to great seasons. Especially interested in if Spilak can dominate the other GT contenders with his new training.
He will ride some timetrials this year, that's for sure
When all the planners have been handed over I will send you a PM regarding the races he will ride, so you can follow him
Spilak should be strong, but clearly he is not going to win everywhere. Next season when he is 84HI, then he should be the new Cunego though! If I will train him 
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| SotD |
Posted on 02-06-2015 14:22
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Simon Spilak reveals his calendar
There has been many speculations as to what races Simon Spilak would target for the 2015 season, and the former Tour de France winner is now ready to put any pundit speculations to the grave.
On the 21st of May Spilak more than alluded that he would love to ride the Giro d'Italia 2015, but it has been known within the team, for a fair bit of time that Simon Spilak will infact not ride a single Grand Tour this season at all!
Simon Spilak told the shocked press that he wants to focus on doing well in a long season instead of just picking 4 races, like last season, where he needed to perform. He also implied that risk of being ill or out of form on that few races throughout the year was too high, and he felt like he was training way more than he was actually competing. And while the team have always wanted to do well in the Tour de France, the manager, Andreas Jøhnke, unveils that the race is not specifically targeted this season - while next season it would probably be the team's main goal.
Andreas Jøhnke went on to say that fans all over the world had been Tweeting that they missed seeing Spilak in larger parts of the season aswell as a few talking about major classics as favorable for the strong slovenian rider. While Spilak secretly training for the ardennes week we felt that this season would be a great one to go for several big goals throughout the course of the season.
Simon Spilak will therefor target the following races, this season:
-Badaling International
-Tirreno-Adriatico
-Tour of California
-Amstel Gold Race
-Fleche Wallonne
-Liege-Bastogne-Liege
-Tour de Suisse
-Vuelta a Colombia
-GP Liecthenstein
So rather than Spilak riding 2-4 races pr. season we will now see him in a total of 9 races during this season, and he starts the season straight off the gunshot with targetting the first race of the season, Badaling International. Simon Spilak declared that this race would suit him perfect as it was very hard for 180 of the 230 kilometers, and having a great endurace he expect to be in the front group fighting for the win.
The Tirreno-Adriatico might well be a race targeted by the best climbers in the world, but Simon Spilak is here to try to win, and we believe he can. Infact we hope that the best riders will be present here so we can match Spilak against the best in the world to see what we should expect from him next season where he is likely to target Tour de France.
There is a relatively long break from the Tirreno-Adriatico and to the next race he will ride, but we only felt that Vuelta al Pais Vasco could potentially be of some interest to him, but we had another rider who wanted to ride there, so instead we build the strongest possible setup for Spilak in the Tour of California, where Spilak and Lecuisinier will aim to reach the top 10 both, while we aim to win the Team Time Trial in the hope that some of the best TTT teams will aim to get Maglia Rosa in the Giro d'Italia. Because of this we only really expect Oz Cycling Project to threaten us in Tour of California - Where our strongest setup is available in form of Coppel, Paillot, Vlatos, Bernaudeau, Spilak and Lecuisinier supported aswell by Vasyliv and Eibegger.
While being, hopefully, on the top of his A-game Spilak will ride the trio of ardennes: Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. He will be accompagnied by Riccardo Ricco in Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege where Ricco did very well last year.
The biggest goal of the season, for Spilak is Tour de Suisse where we will, once more, try to give him the best possible riders at his service, except for Ricco and Lecuisinier who are targeting other races in that area of time. We expect heavy competition here, but Simon is one of the most versatile riders in the division, so we hope the combination of stages will be at his favour, and while there are both a long flat TT and a hilly TT we expect him to lose less than 2 minutes in total to his biggest rivals there, which should be doable to get during the hilly and the mountain stages.
After Tour of Suisse Spilak will have a good break before riding his first ever Vuelta a Colombia. A race where we yet again expect the biggest climbing stars to be. Like the Vuelta a Colombia the competition is likely similarly hard in the GP Liechtenstein which will be the final race of the season for Simon Spilak.
We expect atleast 3 overall wins this season, from the 9 possible races - Preferably Tour de Suisse, Tour of California and one of the hilly classics if we can decide.
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 02-06-2015 15:13
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Didn't expect competition from Spilak in California. Will be a great battle between him and Phinney!
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| SotD |
Posted on 02-06-2015 15:18
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Sykkel_Freak wrote:
Didn't expect competition from Spilak in California. Will be a great battle between him and Phinney!
Atleast I expected Phinney to be there
I just have to hope that I can nullify the TT difference because of a slightly better TTT setup. Well depending on who you bring of course. If Duarte isn't there, then I guess my TTT setup could potentially take 20-30 seconds on your team, and then Phinney can take 1-1½ minut on the TT. I hope that Spilak being +3MO and +5HI will make him gain that minute or two he needs in the hills and mountains
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 02-06-2015 15:36
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It's an interesting move for Spilak. I felt that GT avoidance would be less likely this year with a reduced calendar, but the hill training does make your option more worthwhile. Kind of a shame that the best rider in the DB, by OVL, is not in any GT - but good news for those who will be there.
I can see some tough battles for Spilak in all of those races, but will be great for you I am sure to have 9 races to look forward to, rather than the 5 that I have for Andy.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 19:06
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 02-06-2015 16:27
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Copycat.
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| SotD |
Posted on 02-06-2015 16:35
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SportingNonsense wrote:
It's an interesting move for Spilak. I felt that GT avoidance would be less likely this year with a reduced calendar, but the hill training does make your option more worthwhile. Kind of a shame that the best rider in the DB, by OVL, is not in any GT - but good news for those who will be there.
I can see some tough battles for Spilak in all of those races, but will be great for you I am sure to have 9 races to look forward to, rather than the 5 that I have for Andy.
Yeah it was mainly because I felt it was boring to have such a super rider and only see him 4 times pr. season. Next season I will target Tour de France with both him and Lecuisinier I think.
I have played the game for so long that I want to make new goals each season, so instead of just picking what I am used to, I try to diverse the game a bit.
I do agree though. There are no easy wins for Spilak, which is why the goal is to win 1/3 of the races he ride Last season he won 1/4
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| SotD |
Posted on 02-06-2015 16:36
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alexkr00 wrote:
Copycat.
Hehe... Are you going for that approach this season again?
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 02-06-2015 16:43
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SotD wrote:
alexkr00 wrote:
Copycat.
Hehe... Are you going for that approach this season again?
No, it's Vuelta time this season. But, just like SN with Andy I'll only be able to see him in 5 races.
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| SotD |
Posted on 02-06-2015 16:54
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World Champion
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alexkr00 wrote:
SotD wrote:
alexkr00 wrote:
Copycat.
Hehe... Are you going for that approach this season again?
No, it's Vuelta time this season. But, just like SN with Andy I'll only be able to see him in 5 races.
Still one more than Spilak had last season 
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 03-06-2015 07:22
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Still three more than Pluchkin will have this year.
But i wont complain with your decision SotD,as i will avoid Spilak for whole year and also maybe Schleck and dont know about Madrazo.
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| SotD |
Posted on 03-06-2015 09:07
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Still three more than Pluchkin will have this year.
But i wont complain with your decision SotD,as i will avoid Spilak for whole year and also maybe Schleck and dont know about Madrazo.
Yeah I am pretty happy about not going H2H with Pluchkin either. He was one of just 4 riders beating Spilak last season:
Andy Schleck
Aleksandr Pluchkin
Rein Taaramäe
Daniel Martin
Daniel Martin shouldn't be able to beat Spilak at all this season, and Taaramäe needs to be extremely lucky to do so more than once. So the more I can stay away from those + perhaps Madrazo and Tenorio the better the chances of Spilak having a great season
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| SotD |
Posted on 08-06-2015 10:10
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Funny Facts:
- The first ever edition of Badaling International was won by Festina (Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez).
- We have been in the top 10 of the race in all editions.
Statlist:
31. Simon Spilak
32. Markus Eibegger
33. Tsgabu Grmay
34. Charalampas Kastrantas
35. Clement Koretzky
36. Laurent Pichon
37. Guillaume van Keirsbulck
38. Yuriy Vasyliv
We controlled the race from the gunshot, and tried to keep things together for Spilak to make a late jump for victory. And that part of the tactics went incredibly well. Spilak tried to jump free from the pack twice, but just did not have the legs to compete with the strongest on the day. We are composed as it is the first race and far from the part of the season where Spilak should peak.
Looking solely at Simon Spilaks result it is hugely dissapointing to see his name as far down as 21st, but the way the race progressed it made perfect sense to go for another rider to sprint for grabs. Clement Koretzky ended up winning the bunch sprint for 7th, while we managed to put a massive six riders inside the top 25.
Results:
| 1 | Yuri Trofimov | Tinkoff Bank - Tinkoff Insurance | 5h47'06 | | 2 | Jan Bakelants | Bouygues Telecom | + 25 | | 3 | Tejay Van Garderen | Movistar - US Postal | + 1'02 | | 4 | Frank Schleck | Vesuvio - Accumalux | + 1'20 | | 5 | Damiano Cunego | Meiji - JR East | + 1'36 | | 6 | Peter Sagan | Becherovka - Petrof | s.t. | | 7 | Clement Koretzky | Festina-Canal+ | + 1'58 | | 8 | Nico Keinath | Pokerstars.com | s.t. | | 9 | Robert Kiserlovski | Siam Cement - Lenovo | s.t. | | 10 | Toms Skujins | Red Bull - Huawei | s.t. | | 12 | Yuriy Vasyliv | Festina-Canal+ | s.t. | | 13 | Charalampas Kastrantas | Festina-Canal+ | s.t. | | 19 | Markus Eibegger | Festina-Canal+ | s.t. | | 21 | Simon Spilak | Festina-Canal+ | s.t. | | 22 | Laurent Pichon | Festina-Canal+ | s.t. | | 99 | Tsgabu Gebremaryam Grmay | Festina-Canal+ | + 5'31 | | 114 | Guillaume Van Keirsbulck | Festina-Canal+ | s.t. |
Points:
Coming out of the race we have to be extremely pleased with our overall pointshaul. Thanks to our support riders for the massive amount of work, also being awake for the final kick to get us the best possible outcome when Spilak didn't have the needed. It was also nice to see our two loanies making their entré to the Pro Tour, and they put a huge effort in front of the race for a major part of the race. It is still evident, however that they need more time to adapt to the pace.
= 215pts
Edited by SotD on 27-07-2015 09:50
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| SotD |
Posted on 11-06-2015 21:17
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Funny Facts:
- The first time Tour of Qatar became a PT race it was won by Festina (Thor Hushovd), despite Vesuvio winning the TTT and taking up 6 top 10 spots. Festina came second and had a total of 7 riders in the top 20.
- Ever since the first PT edition we have struggled to be competitive. The best GC result was in 2015 where Mathieu Bernaudeau came 15th.
- We have a total of 3 stagewins (Thor Hushovd x2 and Clement Koretzky). Neither are present this season.
Startlist:
61. Jerome Coppel
62. Mathieu Bernaudeau
63. Robert Bush
64. Bryan Coquard
65. Enrico Gasparotto
66. Yoann Paillot
67. Georgos Tzortzakis
68. Panagiotis Vlatos
Despite being out gunned by top sprinters, Tzortzakis remained ever optimistic about his chances bagging a 3rd, 6th and a 9th place in the proces, as well as taking an overall 8th in the points competition. While Tzortzakis remained a constant threat for the subtop results, Bryan Coquard was very alert on the 5th stage getting a few bonus seconds. The windy stage almost made 17 riders break free, including Coquard and Coppel. A perfect scenario for us, where our two best bets of a good results were suddently present.
In the end things got merged back together, and we had to "settle" for a larger group of contestants including, however our own TT trio of Vlatos, Paillot and Bernaudeau - The latter having previously done well in the race. The final TT was looking good for Jerome Coppel, and he won in some style even jumping as high as 6th in the GC. We had hoped for something similar when we planned the race - looking at previous results, but with the new added seconds-bonus we were unsure if it would paid out. It did. Panagiotis Vlatos and Bryan Coquard both entered the top 10 in the youth competition aswell.
Results:
| 1 | Ben Swift | Vesuvio - Accumalux | 14h19'13 | | 2 | Sam Bewley | Becherovka - Petrof | + 7 | | 3 | John Degenkolb | Pokerstars.com | + 38 | | 4 | Romain Vanderbiest | Ayubowan! | + 44 | | 5 | Jacopo Guarnieri | Good Energy | + 48 | | 6 | Jerome Coppel | Festina-Canal+ | + 1'11 | | 7 | Ivano Lo Cicero | Quickstep | s.t. | | 8 | Michael Van Stayen | Venchi | + 1'12 | | 9 | Michael Ford | Oz Cycling Project | + 1'14 | | 10 | Kiril Yatsevich | Bacardi Limited | s.t. | | 22 | Panagiotis Vlatos | Festina-Canal+ | + 1'17 | | 29 | Bryan Coquard | Festina-Canal+ | +1'20 | | 43 | Georgos Tzortzakis | Festina-Canal+ | + 1'26 | | 45 | Yoann Paillot | Festina-Canal+ | s.t. | | 47 | Mathieu Bernaudeau | Festina-Canal+ | s.t. | | 136 | Enrico Gasparotto | Festina-Canal+ | + 5'22 | | 150 | Robert Bush | Festina-Canal+ | + 5'27 |
Points:
We have to look back at this race considering it a succes. We did not know exactly what to expect, and seeing as this race has all the top sprinters in the world we are happy to see that Tzortzakis seemed to be constant in his performance, getting 8th in the end - In terms of stability. We hope that will keep on going for him throughout the season. Bryan Coquard also showed his worth, and he should be a valuable rider here next year. Jerome Coppel also showed that he is here and ready, and while we are now far behind Vesuvio and Becherovka in the rankings we have to be happy that we are still within striking distance with just a few good races.
= 281pts
Edited by SotD on 05-08-2015 19:53
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 11-06-2015 21:22
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Pretty strong showing. Tzortzakis doing well (better than Goss  ) and Coppel delivered, too. Good to see a few TTlers making the Top-10, I only wish Durbridge wouldn't have sucked that hard Coppel of course as the one, who needed to end winning the epilogue.
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