Jakstar22 wrote:
Dimension Data. A good decision I think. Hopefully everything works out at Dimension Data

DiCyc wrote:
That was a big plot twist! Good decision and good luck in Dimension Data

sutty68 wrote:
Well i didn't see that coming

Tamijo wrote:
Money is a good motivator after all.

I have decided to start using people comments and feedback in the story, so be careful what you say comments made so far might come up in some future updates, whilst anything beyond this post will be worked in later on down the line. You guys are going to be my public reaction to Nico's racing!

Selwink wrote:
Good to see this nice new opportunity has come up. I think a free role in races like Paris-Nice is already a possibility at this team, would be a nice way to provoke the French

Tamijo wrote:
Nice twist

sutty68 wrote:
This souns interesting

The reaction to my signing with Dimension Data was phenomenal. Lots of positive reactions and even some shocked faces. Yes, it had pissed the French a bit more (as well as some sectors of the Italian press after my pre-agreement with Wilier was cancelled) but all in all, the general cycling community was behind me. One thing that made me laugh though was those who said I went for money because I picked a WT team over a CT or PCT squad. Given the salary I was on and what was offered by the likes of UHC and Wilier, it was definitely not the case.

In early December, I flew out to Mallorca with the team for a post-season gathering / training camp. It was here that I made Sa Calobra my home for the 10 days. I went with the intention of building my fitness and showing off what I could do to my new employers. I came away knowing every inch of road my wheel would pass under on that the infamous 9.5km climb.

The time in Majorca gave me chance to sit down and chat to the Di-Data management and Directeur Sportifs about my ambitions for the season. There was much back and forth between them and me about a lot of things - preferred races, changes to my diet and even talk about where I should live when I am inbetween races and training.

In the end though, I came away with a plan for the year; Peak for Paris-Nice in March, peak for the Dauphine in June and, should all go to plan, then peak for the Vuelta a Espana in September.

Tamijo wrote:
Looking good with three impotant WT races in sight

sutty68 wrote:
Bring on the Vuelta (form considering of course)

Aquarius97 wrote:
Great story so far. Let's see how Nico manages the WT competition

Selwink wrote:
Interesting choice to immediately go for a Vuelta in the first season. I fear it may come a little too soon, but maybe this toughness is a good step towards a bright future.

My first race of the season came at the Ruta del Sol in Spain, where myself and Omar Fraile would lead the team. I would ride a little more free than Omar, but I still had to consider the General Classification.

The opening stage was an ITT Prologue, where I looked to start off on the right foot. Just 25" down on stage winner early leader Tom Dumoulin and within touch of the bigger GC names.

Stage 2 saw me forgot the team brief and attack from the flag drop. I didn't really plan to do it, it was just instinctive. I wanted to blame it on nerves, but sadly I couldn't. Before I knew it though, I was in the day's break and fighting for the KoM points over the main summits.

In the break on Stage 2 with Rodolfo Torres (AND)

My day up the road could have been made sweeter by a jersey at the end of it,
but sadly I didn't have enough left to steal the KoMs from Torres, my breakaway partner. In fact, I didn't even have enough left in the tank to stay with the GC men was I was caught 5km from the line. 5'42" lost and I saw me laying 42nd on GC.

The words from my DS was still ringing in my ears as we set off on the Mountainous Stage 3. The climb to the finish would suit me, and as Omar has worked to bring me to the line the day before, any GC hopes were out of the question for everyone. Ride my natural game, and see how I get on when I go toe-to-toe with the main GC riders. I would come in 9th on the stage and jumping up to the 34th on GC in the process.


Stage 4 was one for the sprinters, so I spent my day just sat in the main group, before a lumpier Stage 5 would give the GC riders that final chamce to make a difference. In the end, it all stayed together, and I was happy to see the back of a tricky stage that I could have lost time on... especially when I found myself on the ground earlier in the day.

The race ended with a flat criterium race, where the sprinters would finish off a tough first week in the ProPeleton for me. Sadly, just like the day before I would hit the deck... A tangle of wheels with Jonathan Castroviejo (MOV) saw me come down hard with just 8.9km remaining on the stage. It would cost me just over 5 minutes on the day, and see me tumble down the GC standings. A disappointing way to end my first race with the team.

Things can only get better from here I suppose...


Overall Standings

1	Romain Bardet	AG2R La Mondiale	20h13'09
2	Tom Dumoulin	Team Giant - Alpecin	+ 37
3	Nairo Quintana	Movistar Team	+ 59
4	Thibaut Pinot	FDJ	+ 1'02
5	Alexandre Geniez	FDJ	s.t.
6	Simon Spilak	Team Katusha	+ 1'22
7	Joaquím Rodríguez	Team Katusha	+ 1'39
8	Andrew Talansky	Cannondale Pro Cycling Team	+ 1'40
9	Ilnur Zakarin	Team Katusha	s.t.
10	Sam Oomen	Team Giant - Alpecin	+ 1'55
...
48	Nico Moreau	Dimension Data for Qhubeka	+ 10'37

Mountains Standings

1	Rodolfo Torres	Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec	41
2	Nico Moreau	Dimension Data for Qhubeka	23
3	Tom Dumoulin	Team Giant - Alpecin	12
4	Yoann Bagot	Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	11
5	Romain Bardet	AG2R La Mondiale	10