@ baseball - Great to see you in one of my story threads, just like in the past Thanks for the nice words about my screens. I actually only play on medium settings, my old laptop (which I had for PCM 13) died, so I got a new one with a lesser gfx card since I ended up barely playing video games on the old one, and this one seems to be enough.
@ the hoyle - Yeah, GVA would have likely won the sprint in real life too, so I cant be too mad for losing it, I just keep getting so close to winning, which is frustrating.
@ Tamijo - Yeah, we really did well in the sprint from the peloton, it was a good decision for Ala to attack though, or else we would have only finished 3rd or 4th depending on if GVA would have stayed away.
Certainly must be painful for a second straight lost sprint at MSR for Alaphilippe, but that big big win will come for sure, he's doing the right things and riding very well
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
@ Croatia - Yeah, for us its really all about wins, so not good enough imo
@ jandal - Its been tough, but I've played a bit ahead and am starting to feel less frustrated...
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (2.UWT) 2019
Stage 1
1
Primoz Roglic
Team Jumbo - Visma
+00:00
2
Simon Spilak
Team Katusha - Alpecin
+00:03
3
Georg Preidler
Groupama - FDJ
+00:07
Stage 2
1
Pascal Ackermann
BORA - hansgrohe
+00:00
2
Adam Blythe
Lotto - Soudal
+00:00
3
August Jensen
Israel Cycling Academy
+00:00
Stage 3
1
Enric Mas
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+00:00
2
Daniel Martin
UAE - Team Emirates
+00:49
3
Primoz Roglic
Team Jumbo - Visma
+00:49
Stage 4
1
Daniel Martin
UAE - Team Emirates
+00:00
2
Pieter Serry
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+00:00
3
Patrick Bevin
CCC Team
+00:00
...
6
Enric Mas
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+00:00
Stage 5
1
Chad Haga
Team Sunweb
+00:00
2
Primoz Roglic
Team Jumbo - Visma
+00:21
3
Daniel Martinez
EF Education First Pro Cycling Team
+00:21
...
12
Enric Mas
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+01:44
Stage 6
1
Daniel Martin
UAE - Team Emirates
+00:00
2
Davide Formolo
BORA - hansgrohe
+00:00
3
Thibaut Pinot
Groupama - FDJ
+00:00
Stage 7
1
Adam Blythe
Lotto - Soudal
+00:00
2
Pascal Ackermann
BORA - hansgrohe
+00:00
3
Andrea Pasqualon
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
+00:00
4
Michael Mørkøv
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+00:00
Final GC
1
Primoz Roglic
Team Jumbo - Visma
+00:00
2
Enric Mas
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+00:54
3
Gregor Mühlberger
BORA - hansgrohe
+01:36
4
Daniel Martin
UAE - Team Emirates
+01:37
5
Esteban Cháves
Mitchelton - Scott
+01:44
Youth
1
Enric Mas
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+00:00
2
Gregor Mühlberger
BORA - hansgrohe
+00:42
3
Antwan Tolhoek
Team Jumbo - Visma
+01:27
Mas (DQT) celebrating his solo victory on Stage 3
Catalunya was overall a great race for us. Mas was the leader and despite losing a small amount of time in the prologue on stage 1, he made up for it, with a great solo attack on Stage 3, which resulted in him moving into the leaders jersey and taking a 53 second advantage over the other favourites. Mas lost the lead on Stage 5, as he blew up on the final climbs of the day, mostly due to Roglic and Martins strength, He held on to 2nd overall, and was able to not lose any time on Stage 6. The final stage was a sprint with no real GC changes. In the end, 2nd is a great result for Mas this early into the season.
E3 Harelbeke (1.UWT) 2019
1
Sep Vanmarcke
EF Education First Pro Cycling Team
+00:00
2
Peter Sagan
BORA - hansgrohe
+00:00
3
Philippe Gilbert
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+00:00
4
Oliver Naesen
AG2R La Mondiale
+00:00
5
Tiesj Benoot
Lotto - Soudal
+00:00
6
Jurgen Roelandts
Movistar Team
+00:00
7
Greg Van Avermaet
CCC Team
+00:00
8
Zdenek Stybar
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+00:00
9
Bob Jungels
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+01:32
10
Wout Van Aert
Team Jumbo - Visma
+01:32
E3 was a tough one for us. Jungels was super strong today, and was very strong in support of our two leaders, but Stybar and Gilbert couldn't create a gap away from the lead group and Vanmarcke was somehow stronger than Sagan in the sprint. 3 in the Top 10, so we cant really be too upset, but we are still missing a big classics win.
Gent - Wevelgem (1.UWT) 2019
Photo finish in Wevelgem
1
Fernando Gaviria
UAE - Team Emirates
+00:00
2
Álvaro José Hodeg
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+00:00
3
Dylan Groenewegen
Team Jumbo - Visma
+00:00
4
Elia Viviani
Deceuninck - Quick Step
+00:00
5
Marcel Kittel
Team Katusha - Alpecin
+00:00
6
Sonny Colbrelli
Team Bahrain Merida
+00:00
7
Caleb Ewan
Lotto - Soudal
+00:00
8
John Degenkolb
Trek - Segafredo
+00:00
9
Arnaud Démare
Groupama - FDJ
+00:00
10
Peter Sagan
BORA - hansgrohe
+00:00
"The Sprinters Classic" once again proves to be an apt nickname for the race as it came down to a sprint! Viviani and Groenewegan were the favourites, but Gaviria made it over the cobbles well, and narrowly took the win ahead of our lead out man, Hodeg. Viviani was simply blocked in the sprint, but it really was a close finish. Probably 6 riders spread across the line, challenging for the victory. The fans waiting at the finish were certainly rewarded for their wait!
(PREVIEW)
We've now arrived at the 2nd monument of the season. The most important race in Flanders of the year! Its been held annually since 1919 (originated in 1913), although not without its route changes. This years edition will see the riders climb the Oude Kwaremont three times. It has often been the decisive sector in the race, as a steep cobbled climb, but you cant discount the Paterberg which is ridden twice and the Koppenberg!
Coming off his Milano San Remo victory, Greg van Avermaet is seen as the favourite for his 2nd Monument of the season. Could this be a historic season for the Olympic Champion? Peter Sagan has won the race before, and could do it again this year. He hasn't been having a great year thusfar, but perhaps he's saving himself for the Tour of Flanders. Stuyven, Vanmarcke and Van Aert are also notable favourites, but the trio from Deceuninck, Stybar, Gilbert and Lampaert can take the win as well, and with probably the strongest team you cant look past either 3. Mads Pedersen came 2nd last year, so should be viewed as an outsider, but was that result just a flash in the pan? He has no other real great cobbled results, so he will need to prove himself again to show that result was no fluke!
4 riders will be looking to win the race for their 2nd time and tie the great Eddy Merckx and many other Belgians (plus one Dutchman). Gilbert is one of the names who will be looking to join the list of many other Belgians, while Sagan, Kristoff and Terpstra will look to be only the 4th non-Belgian with multiple wins of De Ronde!
Great ride from Mas in Catalunya! Good result for Gilbert, too. But boy, what a sick photo finish in Harelbeke! Unlucky for you, of course, and yeah, it had to be Gaviria to beat you. But at least a thriller
Continue to pick up some strong results, especially from Mas in Catalunya! 3 in the Top 10 at E3 is not too shabby and that damn Gaviria comes back to haunt you again in Gent-Wevelgem.
Looking forward to RvV with Paris Roubaix just around the corner as well
Awesome start! I like this format. Very different and doesn't take too long for the reader to get back up to date! Some great results so far! Hopefully De Ronde will be no different
@ tsmoha - Thanks, I wasn't planning on taking a screen, but I dont think I've ever seen a sprint go 6 wide like that, and all within half a wheel length too! Simply crazy. If there was an extra 15meters, Viviani would've won
@ the hoyle - Yeah, we've been consistent at least Wont be much longer for RvV
@ sutty - Indeed
@ Jakstar - I really appreciate comments like this! Im glad you enjoy this format, I tend to like it better too for playing. Progressing faster is nice, but it is also easier to follow along too. I can bring my best material for the really important classics, but advance through the less important races quicker.
@ Tamijo - Thanks, Mas' stage win was definitely the highlight of the race. Late stage solo wins have always been my favourite way to win
The breakaway reaches the first cobble sector 85km into the race
Early on, the race was not at a very high pace, allowing a group of about 13 riders to break clear. No real notable riders though, but we will see how the race develops.
Bob Jungels (DQT) leads the chasing peloton onto the Oude Kwaremont
As the pack reaches the first of 3 passes of the Oude Kwaremont, they trail the break by only 45 seconds. Deceuninck have really put the hammer down, and reduced the "peloton" into a group of 50-60 riders already, with still about 150km to ride. Notable names behind include, Greipel, Bak, Stannard, Gaudin, Boom, Van Baarle, Demare, Cortina, Durbridge. Jasper Stuyven one of the big favourites crashed out just before this as well!
Deceuninck continue to put the hammer down
Now, all the way onto the Koppenburg, Deceuninck have decimated the field. There is one lead rider ahead of them, and only a group of 16 riders able to follow, who will be contending for the victory now. In this group is, Gilbert, Stybar, Jungels, Devenyns, Senechal and Lampaert for Deceuninck, and Vanmarcke, Sagan, Naesen, Van Avermaet, Van Aert, Benoot, Dillier, Pedersen, Politt, and Trentin.
The leaders group splits up!
Now just before Steenbeekdries a split in the leaders group, who are now at the head of the race. Sagan, Naesen, Vanmarcke, Dillier, Schillinger, Gilbert and Senechal are caught behind.
The leaders climb the Oude Kwaremont for the final time
Amazingly, the leaders all get back together! They begin to slow down considerably, letting riders who had cracked, join back on. One rider, Jurgen Roelandts, went right past them, with little to no urgency in response from the group.
Deceuninck try to demolish the competition
With Jungels and Senechal having dropped off, Deceuninck call on Lampaert to pull for Gilbert and Stybar! Only Sagan, Naesen and Vanmarcke can keep up! Roelandts is very soon caught and can not keep up with the leaders.
Stybar (DQT) attacks!
After the final cobble section, the Patterberg, Deceuninck have two in the lead group! Not for long though as Stybar makes a move. Vanmarcke shadows him, but the others cant keep up! Will these two work together to pull away?
All back together! The lead 5, with only 6km to the finish!
Stybar cant maintain his pace, so him and Vanmarcke fall back to the other 3. But is it smart to let it come down to a sprint with Sagan in their midst?
Now Gilbert goes!
Looks like Gilbert was thinking the same thing. With Stybar just returning to the group with Vanmarcke, Gilbert launches his attack! And theres no response. This is the perfect situation for Deceuninck now, as the others will have to chase down Gilbert if they want any chance at the win, so if it does come back together, you'd have to think Stybar will be the freshest.
Gilbert goes under the 1km kite
Gilbert still has his lead going under the 1km banner! Its looking good for him, but the gap isn't too big and Sagan is quite a fast finisher, he could easily close the 50m gap if he has the energy!
Gilbert celebrates his biggest win of the season!
But Sagan just narrowly misses! Gilbert holds on to take a brilliantly executed win for Deceuninck! The manager will be very happy with that one, as the team was ultra strong today, and likely wouldnt have gotten away if Stybar hadn't made his attack at the bottom of the Patterberg before Gilberts winning move. Stybar completes his performance by rounding out the last podium spot behind Sagan!
For a second, I thought we were in for another story of Quickstep outnumbering the opposition only to get beaten in the final, but the team played it perfectly. Great win for Gilbert! Tons of great minor placings too.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
Thanks for the nice words about my screens. I actually only play on medium settings, my old laptop (which I had for PCM 13) died, so I got a new one with a lesser gfx card since I ended up barely playing video games on the old one, and this one seems to be enough. 
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (2.UWT) 2019
E3 Harelbeke (1.UWT) 2019
Thanks for the banana.
