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Modern Times, Old Roads | The End
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-04-2014 18:25
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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 Il Lombardia
Time for the end of the season. Paris - Tours was planned for me, too, but this year's edition will be cancelled because of financial problems. Let's hope they can sort them out and return next year, because it's one of the oldest races!
So here is my final effort of 2015!
Profile
 Il Lombardia. It is my fourth monument this season! After a 5th place in Sanremo, a 3rd place in De Ronde and a victory in Roubaix (still not over that shock), I have a chance to finishing my season in style. My goal today is to finish top 10. With my current form, I think I can do it, if I have some luck along the way.
My legs felt good today. I was climbing fairly decent, alongside the World Champion Nibali.
But I couldn't even climb as well as a man like him. At the one-but-last climb, I got caught behind. Luckily, there was some hesitation up front so we were getting the chance to return!
With one more hill coming up, I decided my best chance was to anticipate. So I went on the flat!
But when the big guns came out, I was blasted away on the hillside. No second monument for me in 2015...
Costa denied the new World Champion the victory! Kwiatkowski sprinted to the final podium spot.
I won a little sprint for place 8 again König. Can't be disappointed about that at all!
And this concludes my season. I'll come back with a small review post in a little while, though. But I can safely say this was an amazing season and if I can ever have another season like this, I won't think twice about it.
See you in two weeks, for the final transfer news, UCI standings and a small review!
Matt |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-04-2014 18:27
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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sutty68 - I hope so, too! Thanks  Gilbert hoped for better though! And don't worry about it, it's an understandable mix-up!
Shonak - I sort of like his debut at WC. He's shown himself and rode well on a terrain not to his liking. Most people probably knew him, but it had been a while since they heard his name 
knockout - Really too bad. But he's not in my team so it's not that bad 
the_hoyle - Yeah, quite a result for young Julien
Sorry for the crappy report on Lombardia and the crappy reports that'll follow. I totally lost touch with the story by the pause. Just give me some time to get back into it |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 29-04-2014 18:28
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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8th place was a valiant effort  |
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 29-04-2014 18:29
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Sprinter
Posts: 1765
Joined: 27-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Great 8th in Il Lombardia, good tactic and deserved 8th place! |
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| krisa |
Posted on 29-04-2014 18:33
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3962
Joined: 12-04-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice done by vermote
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| VoetsT |
Posted on 29-04-2014 18:37
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 851
Joined: 29-06-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Strong 2 last races of the season.
Good to see that this story continues
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 29-04-2014 18:43
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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There was nothing crappy about that report! I wouldn't put yourself down so much. Nice top 10 finish for Matt.
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| knockout |
Posted on 29-04-2014 19:06
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7735
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 400.00
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8th is a great result considering his type of rider.
Curious what to expect next season. Perhaps his first appearance (and a stage win) at a GT?
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-04-2014 21:26
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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sutty68 - Sure was
TimoCycling - Thanks! Luckily we anticipated, though! That hill was a bit much for Matthias.
krisa - One day he'll win there!
VoetsT - Glad to hear that
the_hoyle - Thanks for the kind words!
knockout - I sure hope so. It's about time to get his first Grand Tour. Can't wait forever, right? Lombardia isn't exactly his profile so it was a great result indeed.
Thanks for the big support, guys! With the recent problems, the story would've been dead and buried if it weren't without my loyal, enthusiastic fans! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-04-2014 21:26
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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It's been another season. I can't believe that was already my third professional season. And I can even believe less what I've achieved already. It's been a dream season for me and the team. Once again our team took 2 of the 5 monuments.
Here's what I did in the smaller classics.
Obviously what stands out here is my victory in Kuurne. It was the start of my real cobbled career. I'm not sure how I was classified before (sprinter? After Poland last year possibly as a puncher, even), but now I've put myself on the map as a northern classic specialist. All due respect, but Tom Boonen is on his way out, and I'm on my way in!
But the season was not over yet!
I can't even start to tell you what this palmares means to me. I've won the most beautiful race in the whole world. It means everything to me. It pushes me even further to test my boundaries and work hard to achieve even more. I feel like I'm only getting started. My National Jersey is icing on the cake this season. I want to be a worthy Belgian Champion next year in the sprint classics. I know I can win the Amstel, too, one day!
I "only" scored 6 victories this season, but if you look at the size of those victories, I wouldn't trade them for 20 victories in other races. That victory in Roubaix means more than 50 victories anywhere else.
I finished 5th on the UCI Ranking, which is just fantastic.
After Rui Costa won the Vélo d'Or, it was time for more regional awards. Belgium knows me now. Many see me as a follow up for Boonen. But I'm just me, I'm not Tom. I want to be the best I can be.
I have been awarded the 2015 Flandrien-Trofee. Which is a trophy for the best Belgian rider of the year. I'm proud to accept the trophy and it motivates me to come back here and accept it again next year and the year after and so for the next 10 years!
Time to shoot some big transfers at you. I've already told you we signed Jürgen Roelandts. He'll be a big piece in our classic squad and potentially a big help in the lead-out for Matthews, too. But our biggest tranfer had to be kept secret until now. I am excited to announce our new big star in the team: Bradley Wiggins! Brad hopes to find his joy away from Team Sky and will focus on the final part of his career, where he concentrates on Time Trials and Northern Classics.
Other noticable transfers:
Vincenzo Nibali (World Champion) --> Omega Pharma - Quickstep
Rigoberto Uran --> Lotto Belisol
Mark Cavendish --> Team Sky
Thomas De Gendt --> Lotto Belisol
Alexander Kristoff --> Belkin
Tom Van Asbroeck --> Trek Factory Racing
Kenneth Vanbilsen --> FDJ.fr
The 2016 season will be interesting to say the least. Lotto spent its increased budget wisely, while Cavendish returns to Sky, with Quickstep concentrating more and more on stage racing, as Boonen is losing more and more of his appeal to the general audience. Of course he's still popular, but he's fading and his retirement is around the corner. The team has to think ahead. With a World Champion, they are doing just that.
FDJ.fr and Europcar will be returning to the World Tour, while Cofidis and IAM Cycling are back to ProContinental status.
I had 2 weeks away from the bike. That's all a cyclist gets, but I enjoyed it. I started training again and things were good, but then I took a nasty fall and dislocated my wrist. It hurt like hell but fortunately it won't stand in the way of training my legs! I'm building up for an even greater 2016!
As we speak I'm getting ready for the 2016 season. It'll be so very different from all my previous seasons. I'm a (sort of) big name now. I have a leading role at Orica and I have the wage to show for it. But this also means I will have to deliver, it comes with a certain stress. I also don't know if I can lead a team on the road.
What do I want in 2016? It's simple: more, more, more!
I want to shine in the Belgian Jersey. Win at least one of the cobbled classics. But I also want some new things, I want to participate in a Grand Tour, I want to sprint against the world's best on the Champs.
I'll see you in 2016!
Matthias |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 29-04-2014 21:29
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8059
Joined: 22-06-2009
PCM$: 650.00
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 I saved Ian's story.  You owe me.
Great to see it continuing at a fast pace. Good luck in 2016!
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Posted on 25-11-2024 11:00
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 29-04-2014 22:07
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Mresuperstar wrote:
I saved Ian's story. You owe me.
How do you know that it was not SN's suggestion that saved the story
Nice review to finish Good signing with Wiggo.
Cav to Sky... oh god no! I want this story to end - NOW!!!
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 29-04-2014 22:12
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8059
Joined: 22-06-2009
PCM$: 650.00
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Ian Butler wrote:
I have been able to race the WC in classic mode with the current database in the career.
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 29-04-2014 22:16
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 30-04-2014 00:49
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Seeing Matt in a Grand Tour is about time now. I'm sure he can become a very versatile rider, as much a big man for the classic like a stage hunter. Maybe even more some day when the classics start to bore him?
Il Lombardia was a great effort, to crack Top 10 surely wasn't easy. Wiggins as teammate is pretty amazing too, hoping for some decent support from him on the cobblestones?! Not that he pulls a Froome on Matt.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-04-2014 08:24
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Mresuperstar - I owe you one
the_hoyle - Then imagine it ended and never look back Well, OPQS is focusing more and more on stage races in this career. With Nibali and Henao on the team, they're doing an all right job, too.
Shonak - The Grand Tour will be interesting for Matt. I wonder how he can do there, if he can mean anything. Wiggins would be an amazing team mate, but I sure hope he knows he's riding around with a Roubaix winner and not with just some little help for him |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-04-2014 10:16
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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The year 2016 marks a new era for me as a cyclist. This year, I'm starting my fourth professional year as a cyclist and it'll be the first as the leader of a team. Where will I lead? I'm signed as Northern Classics leader and also as a co-sprinter. Matthews and Ewan are rated higher up as pure sprinters but I'll be played out in the hillier sprints, such as Sanremo.
I have some big news for you. My provisional calendar is finished and I have three main goals for this year. Achieving one would put me in the history books forever. Achieving all three will be next to impossible, but I can only do my best.
Goal 1: Cobbled Classics
My first big goal is the (cobbled) classic season. I count Milan - Sanremo with that, even though it's not a cobbled classic. Amstel Gold Race is also part of that season. I will build up in Oman and Tirreno - Adriatico.
I hope to win at least one classic this year. Gent - Wevelgem should be possible, after two 2nd places. Defending my title in Roubaix would be amazing, too. But the most important one of all for this season will be De Ronde. In the Belgian National Jersey, I must do well there!
Goal 2: Tour de France
Finally, I'll be going on my first Grand Tour, and it's the big one! I'll be going to the Tour de France this year. Our team there is based around Ritchie Porte, so I'll have next to no support for the sprints, but I won't let that stop me. Since it's my first Grand Tour, it would be presumptuous of me to say I was going for the Green Jersey. Instead, I'm putting all my money on a stage win. Winning on the Champs would be a dream coming true! But let's get there first...
Goal 3: World Championship
My biggest, most ambitious goal of my career so far, without a doubt. This year, the World Championship Road Race will be raced on Belgian ground, in Frameries. The profile finishes with 4 laps on a local circuit with a cobbled section!
At the time of the World Championships, I'll be 24 years and 11 months old. I think that makes me just old enough to endure the toughness of a World Championship. After all, this is a golden opportunity for a rider of my capacities to go for the Rainbow Jersey. A bit hilly, some cobbled sections and on my home turf. A chance like this isn't very likely to offer itself in a long time.
Therefore I will have to use the cobbled classic season to show the national coach I deserve a leader spot at those championships. In the Belgian selection, that won't be easy to demand...
2016 will be the season where I'll be going for the biggest possible honor: becoming the World Champion Road Racing!
My entire season will be around that. I'll be riding my first Grand Tour to make me a complete rider so I can handle the toughest terrain possible. I'll be kept relatively fresh despite that Grand Tour. If all goes well, I will be at the start of the World Championship with only 72 race days in my legs.
As the season has already started for some of our riders, here are the first results of the year!
 New Zealand - Time Trial | 1 | Jesse Sergent | Trek Factory Racing | 48'09 | | 2 | Sam Bewley | Orica GreenEdge | + 1'36 | | 3 | Jack Bauer | IAM Cycling | + 2'03 | | 4 | Tom Scully | Team Differdange - Losch | + 2'30 | | 5 | George Bennett | Torku Seker Spor | + 2'40 | | 6 | Hayden Roulston | Team Kuota | + 2'46 | | 7 | Shane Archbold | An Post - Chain Reaction | + 3'37 | | 8 | Patrick Bevin | Bissell Development Team | + 3'50 | | 9 | Greg Henderson | Lotto Belisol | + 4'40 | | 10 | Dion Smith | Type 1 | + 5'20 |
New Zealand - Road Race | 1 | Greg Henderson | Lotto Belisol | 4h43'59 | | 2 | Patrick Bevin | Bissell Development Team | s.t. | | 3 | Shane Archbold | An Post - Chain Reaction | s.t. | | 4 | Michael Northey | Madison Genesis | s.t. | | 5 | Tom Scully | Team Differdange - Losch | s.t. | | 6 | Dion Smith | Type 1 | s.t. | | 7 | Alexander Ray | Type 1 | s.t. | | 8 | Hayden Roulston | Team Kuota | s.t. | | 9 | George Bennett | Torku Seker Spor | s.t. | | 10 | Jack Bauer | IAM Cycling | s.t. |
 Australian National Championships - Time Trial | 1 | Cameron Meyer | Orica GreenEdge | 51'50 | | 2 | Charlie Pearce | Orica GreenEdge | + 17 | | 3 | Rohan Dennis | Garmin Sharp | + 25 | | 4 | Richie Porte | Orica GreenEdge | + 58 | | 5 | Damien Howson | Orica GreenEdge | + 1'06 | | 6 | Luke Durbridge | Orica GreenEdge | + 1'14 | | 7 | Campbell Flakemore | Drapac Pro Cycling | + 1'37 | | 8 | Travis Meyer | Team Joker | + 1'38 | | 9 | Michael Hepburn | Orica GreenEdge | + 1'57 | | 10 | Cadel Evans | MTN - Qhubeka | + 2'14 |
Australian National Championships - Road Race | 1 | Rohan Dennis | Garmin Sharp | 4h15'20 | | 2 | Michael Matthews | Orica GreenEdge | + 10 | | 3 | Simon Gerrans | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 4 | Cameron Meyer | Orica GreenEdge | + 42 | | 5 | Lachlan Morton | Team Joker | + 55 | | 6 | Wesley Sulzberger | Drapac Pro Cycling | s.t. | | 7 | Richie Porte | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 8 | Michael Rogers | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 1'28 | | 9 | Jack Bobridge | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 10 | Cadel Evans | MTN - Qhubeka | + 1'42 |
One jersey is better than last year, where we left without a single national jersey. But we sure would've loved that Road Race title in Australia...
I'll see you in Oman, where I start my (rainbow?) season!
(But first, let us enjoy the tricolere jersey a bit more!)
Matt
Edited by Ian Butler on 30-04-2014 10:22
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 30-04-2014 10:18
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Team Leader
Posts: 6690
Joined: 11-10-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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No one can beat Sergent in TT!
And I believe that "Rainbow season" is the one after you win WC, so in this case Matt's 2017 year (in case he wins it). Not a big deal, anyways.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-04-2014 10:21
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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admirschleck - I know that's the official rainbow season but since his 2016 season will revolve all around that WC, this is also partly a rainbow year. (the quest for the rainbow year). Everything he does is in prep for the big race in September |
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| tpinot |
Posted on 30-04-2014 10:21
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 885
Joined: 13-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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With all these goals, Matthias won't have time to get bored good luck for the World Championships and I think that the cobbled classics will go just fine. |
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