Thanks, everyone. Arredondo is surely one very interesting climber and prospect in our team. Won't say anything about his potentials now, after Ardennes (as I changed most of the stats).

Once again, a rainy day in Belgium. This is really becoming dangerous, as the crash chances are very high. We really hope that our guys are going to stay away of any kind of crashes and problems today. If we achieve that, our second goal is clear - a win.




Definitely the day where young guns are planning an early attack(s) and showing off their teams colours. That, of course, happened and huge breakaway group was created quite early. Styuven, alongisde 8 others were part of that breakaway.



The break got pretty big advantage and it looked like peloton isn't really interested in following that. Quite strange for this type of race. However, as that's normal, somewhere at the middle of the race, few guys attacked from peloton. Vanbilsen, Tsatsevich, Sjimens and Geslin they are.



Despite the fact that the advatange of first group was quite big, they easily caught up with them. Now, 50 kilometers to go and one big group in front with over 5 minutes of advantage is controlling the race. Will peloton really do something about it?



The finish line was getting closer and closer and no one from peloton decided to anything about it. 33 kilometers to go and we decided to make a move there. There was nothing to wait for anymore, so Cancellara, protected by Devolder, made a move. Riders are now in Oversjide and there are only 3 of 5 laps left.



No one but Degenkolb decided to (try) follow that. Did they think it was too early or they just didn't have any energy left, we don't know. 25 kilometers to go and Devolder couldn't really follow Cancellara anymore. It's now Fabian versus E1 and P.



Degenkolb was really giving his all, but he just couldn't manage to follow Spartacus. As the race was going, it was becoming clear that the race winner is someone from breakaway group or Cancellara.



In the meantime, first group was still big one. Few guys dropped off due to high pace and cobbles, but Jasper was still there and he felt great at that point. Less than 20 kilometers to go and it looks perfectly good for us.



Last lap started. Only 10 kilometers to go. Guys in front are exhausted, while Cancellara is slowly arriving. First cobblestone section, Hoolstheide, and Spartacus almost caught up with that first group. With an immediate effect, Styuven started protecting Fabian. It still looks great for us.



Meanwhile behind, few guys tried to catch that hardly, but without success. Sagan, Kwiatkowski, Bozic, Degenkolb are just some of the names. Devolder was constantly in their group. Great form for Belgian champ, aswell.



Soon, E1 group, group of breakaway and Cancellara arrived to Ijskelderlaan, last cobblestone section of todays race. As expected, Fabu made upped the pace a bit and easily got rid of other guys. Only few kilometers left, nothing can go wrong!



And, just as expected, Fabain easily scored a win here, in front of few guys that were in front whole day. Lovely ride on Schavei, last climb and great celebration for our hero! We were once again the most proud team in the peloton!



Styuven finished as 9th at the end, while Devolder crossed the finish line as 12th at the end. Great results for both of them, as they arrived in the group of guys such as Sagan, Kwiatkowski and Degenkolb.

1	Fabian Cancellara	Trek Factory Racing	4h49'12
2	Anthony Geslin	FDJ.fr	+ 33
3	Alexey Tsatevitch	Team Katusha	s.t.
4	Kenneth Vanbilsen	Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise	s.t.
5	Nico Sijmens	Wanty - Groupe Gobert	+ 52
6	Tobias Ludvigsson	Team Giant - Shimano	+ 1'34
7	Moreno Hofland	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
8	John Degenkolb	Team Giant - Shimano	s.t.
9	Jasper Stuyven	Trek Factory Racing	s.t.
10	Peter Sagan	Cannondale	+ 1'50

And, that was more or less everything for De Brabantse Pijl. See ya soon on the Amstel Gold Race, our next race in schedule and our first Ardennes Classic!

Totally. Fabian is on an absolutely great streak and form lately that I can easily say he did his job this season. Even if he scores 0 points (which is impossible, really) until the end of the season, we would be satisfied with his performances.

Woah, time flies. We're already in front of first Ardennes classic and it looks like we started the season yesterday. Anyways, Amstel Gold Race is definitely very interesting race and the one that means alot for us. With this squad and lately form of our puncheurs, we don't really expect anything more than just a solid Top 10 place. We'll see if we can get anything better, tho.




The race, as every year, features some of the steepest and hardest hills around the Netherlands. Just some of the names are Loorberg, Gulpenberg, Fromberg, Keutenberg, but theere is one climb I am sure you all know off and this race became a popular for. Yes, of course, it's Cauberg hill, the final hill of this years edition, just like many before. Actually, riders will have to ride over it for 4 times this year! So yeah, it promise us some great fight and hopefully some kind of surprise from Trek guys.

As that's expected, all the guys that are considered as puncheurs and are lighter than sprinters, more explosive than TTers and just shorter than Stjin Vanendbergh are here. Alot of favourites here, with one name having a bit more advantage because of his experience here and past wins and it's of course, Phillipe Gilbert. However, there are many different and great puncheurs this year such as Rodriguez, Costa, Betancur, Gerrans, Kwiatkowski, Henao and many others. This should be an really interesting race to follow, as due to a big amount of possible winners and favourites here, we expect alot of action on the terrain!



Review of Trek Factory Racing roster for this race, you say? K den. Unexpectedly, but due to a great form, we brought Fabian Cancellara here and he's on paper our leader. Yeah, I know, it sounds dull and really strange to have such a guy as a leader here, but the situation the team is now is just too bad and it really forced us to do such a thing. However, we still do have Schleck brothers, Arrendondo, Kiserlovski, Jungels, Vandewalle and Zoidl if Fabu runs into some problems on these hills. Should be an really interesting and competetive team for us, here.



Nothing more can be said here except that we're definitely going to try something early (ala Kreuziger 2013) with some of our leaders, as we see that as our only chance to get a good result here. Hopefully, something like that's going to succeed. That was more or less the preview of Amstel Gold Race from our perspective. See ya very soon on the roads of Holland!

DS of Trek FR - admirschleck

Thanks Sutty! And indeed Kimi, I was playing Amstel at that time, actually. And below is the reason I was happy even tho I missed it. Firstly, read the report.

10 AM, 14th April, Netherlands, Province of Limburg. Amstel Gold Race, the first Ardennes classic of 2014 year is about to start. Everyone is well prepared, the weather is cloudy but not rainy and it looks pretty good for cycling. See ya after the race!




Surprisingly, guys that wanted to attack today couldn't find common ground with peloton for over 50 kilometers from start, so the final breakaway group was created pretty late. However, it still had 9 riders in it, but none of them was a puncheur, really. That was the reason peloton let this break. We, however, decided to miss this one and to focus on activity in peloton.



Peloton was relaxed and calm for almost 200 kilometers. Absolutely nothing happened until 30 kilometers to go. Well, nothing really happened even then, but peloton finally came really close to breakaway group and it was getting clear that they'll catch them soon.



After riders finished few short and not so steepy climbs, final 25 kilometers were in front of them. Peloton was chasing the breakaway group, but suddenly, on the bottom of the Gulpenberg, Sagan attacked!



Soon, all the best puncheurs with their helpers got on top of the peloton and started chasing that. Moreno and Katusha were most active there and luckily, on 20 kilometers to go, both Sagan and the breakaway group got caught. Now, there's once again a huge group on the race. Really strange for the race of this length.



As both Frank S. and Cancellara were in that group still, we decided to send Andy to attack, just to stretch the legs of other guys who were alone in the peloton (such as Sagan). Few favourites reacted on that and they clearly lost some energy. Mission accomplished.



Bottom of Keutenberg, less than 12 kilometers to go, still. Sagan is once again attacking, but this time, seems like no one can really follow him. Except one guy. His name is Fabian Cancellara and he's easily following this from his seat, behind. Who could expect this?



Soon, these 2 guys were the first one to come on the top of that hill and start flat/downhill section before Cauberg. Sagan still had a bit of advantage and he struggled alot to keep it, as he knew that Cancellara is just a better at downhill.



They of course, merged into one group quickly. However, guys behind gave their all to catch up with high pace of these 2 great time-trialers. Gap wasn't really huge, so everything can happen on Cauberg. 5 kilometer to go, Fabian is setting some great pace on the downhill, while Rodriguez, Moreno and Gilbert are trying to reduce the gap before final climb.



As the next 3,5 kilometers were all descent, guys quickly reached the bottom of the Cauberg. Spartacus & Tourminator are first ones to feel the percentages of this deadly climb in their legs. And suddenly, Sagan's struggling! That was somewhat expected even before, but definitely not on Cauberg. Looks like he's paying the price of all of these attacks early in the race.



Meanwhile behind, Rodriguez placed an attack! It looks like Spaniard can't really wait anymore and he attacks! No one decides to react behind. Still, there's a huge group behind with around 30 guys in it. Still, all the favourites are in it.



Group behind quickly reduced the gap on Cauberg from some 30 seconds that was before to only 10 right now. Still, Cancellara was the leader of the race, while Sagan dropped. Can Spartacus do something that no one ever expected from him to do? Can he win the Amstel Gold Race?



And, the action starts in peloton! All the favourites, including Valverde, Martin, Henao, Gerrans, Uran, Gilbert were attacking! Big mess behind! Huge pressure on Fabu now!



However, Cancellara resisted and he was the first one to reach the top of the Cauberg. Only 1,8 kilometers of Maastricht roads for him and we can celeberate another win here! He even finds the energy to jumps out of his seat and get some acceleration before this short, solo time trial.



Rodriguez was however really close in that point, while guys behind him were even closer. Still, everything can happen here. Who could even imagine this kind of race before it started? Crazy, just crazy.



Only one kilometer to go! Fabian still has the advantage! Is this real life? He really looks exhausted, but can anyone prevent him from winning this classic now? W.o.w.



As definitely better time trialist than the guys behind, it was pretty much expected that Fabian will keep his lead if he reaches the top of Cauberg alone. That was exactly what happened and after 6 hours, 28 minutes and 46 seconds of amazing ride, Fabian finally arrived to the finish line and guess how - AS A WINNER!



The fact that he couldn't even raise his hands talks about how tough race this was for him. However, fight behind was a bit closer, as Rodriguez got 2nd position just in front of the big group behind, while Henao outsprinted Martin, Sagan, Valverde, Gerrans and many others for the last podium position. Frank Schleck finished as 12th at the end, which is pretty good result, also.



What a race for us, what a raceeeeeee! I mean, Fabian was clearly the main favourite for cobblestone-classic and it wasn't big surprise to see him dominates them, but this? Who could expect this? I think no one on this planet.

1	Fabian Cancellara	Trek Factory Racing	6h28'46
2	Joaquím Rodríguez	Team Katusha	+ 37
3	Sergio Henao	Team Sky	+ 1'01
4	Daniel Martin	Garmin Sharp	s.t.
5	Peter Sagan	Cannondale	s.t.
6	Simon Gerrans	Orica GreenEdge	s.t.
7	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	s.t.
8	Rigoberto Urán	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step	s.t.
9	Philippe Gilbert	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
10	Cadel Evans	BMC Racing Team	s.t.

He was once again surrounded by beautiful podium girls. I know, we're all jealous, but it's not like he didn't deserve it. It doesn't really happen so of then that someone wins all the cobblestone-classics and Ardennes opener.



Do I really have to mention that Spartacus appeared on almost every newspappers in Netherlands next morning? However, it really looks like they weren't so impressed by this race from Fabu, as they wanted home-winner this time.



But who cares anyways? Fabian has one more win in his 2014 palmares. This year is just dream coming true for him. Unbeliavable. That was all for 2014 AGR, see ya soon on Giro del Trention, Fleche Wallone, LBL and many other races!

Shonak wrote:
What's next the next surprise you have in store for us, Andy winning le Tour?

Thanks alot, everyone! And no, the story won't end now and with doping scandal, that's for sure.

While the Ardennes season already started and is on its top at the moment, on another side of Europe, the totally different part of peloton is preparing for first GT this year, Giro d'Italia. There's no better way of preparing yourself for such a race then preparing on its own, Italian terrain. Welcome to Giro del Trentino 2014.




The route is, as you can see, very interesting for different kind of pucnheurs, climbers and stage-racers. The idea of this race is also quite funny, as you have all flat, mountainous and hilly stages all in 5 days. As the continental race, this one is very popular for Italian PCT and CT teams, so expect alot of them attacking here. The race is finishing on Sega di Ala climb, on the king 5th stage that became some kind of trademark for this race.

Talking about the startlist, it's not really strong as on other 2.HC races but reason for that is clear - Adennes Classic who no one wants to miss. However, few really strong guys such as Wiggins, Sanchez, Brajkovic, Kangert, De Gendt, Monfort, Zubeldia decided to sign up for this race, as they definitely don't stand a chance in Ardennes. Most of these guys are more or less on the same level, so it will be very interesting to see who'll take the win here.



As always, Trek team is focusing on classics, so this is some kind of side-race for us. However, we still do have Haimar as our leader and we're sure he'll be able to follow the best guys over here. On the topic of climbers, we also do have Didier and Busche who are surely going to help Zubeldia alot to get some good results. Rest of the squad is more or less the youngsters, as Silvestre, Alafaci, Felline, Watson are all here, alongside old japanese gun, Fumiyuki Beppu.



Definitely not the best squad over here, but surely not the worst either. We don't have any exact plans and goals for this race, but a stage win and Top 10 GC would be a great achievemenst here. We're sure we have the guys, staff and the tactics for that. Preview is done, the racing can start. See ya on these beautiful, Italian roads.

DS of Trek FR - admirschleck

Read the report. I think we don't need Spartacus anymore.

First stage of Giro del Trentino 2014 is quite simple one, featuring only one hill at around 10 kilometers to go and is only 128km long. Actually, it's kind of "city race" as the guys starts in the Lienz, Austria and finishes the stage in the same place.




The breakaway with only few guys and actually few weak guys were expected and it was really like that. Only 3 guys, all of them from Pro-Continental teams decided to make a move today. It's first stage, the breakaway is quite weak, so it's pretty much expected that the peloton will catch them.



Peloton didn't want to let that go too far, as the stage is really short, so the biggest gap of breakaway group was 4 minutes. However, just when peloton reached 30 kms to go, few guys decided to attack. And of course, one of them was Hoogerland. He, alongside Mori and Elmiger, tried to escape!



Surprisingly, nothing important happened on the first and last hill on this stage. We, of course, kept our leaders on the top of the peloton, but no one really decided to attack. However, on the top of it, peloton finally caught the BOTD and late breakaway (Hoogerland's) group. As it's now descent and a bit of flat terrain all to the finish, a mass sprint finish is expected here.



As most of our guys were fresh at that point, we had to try something. Therefore, we decided to send Matthew Busche in a late attack! Who knows, maybe he can make a good gap and even win the stage. Still, there are 6 kilometers and absolutely everything can happen.



3 kilometers to go, Busche is still on the top of the race and is the first one to enter the banner-zone. He still has around 8 seconds of advantage, which can be more than enough, but can be insufficient. It's now all on him and the energy he still has in his tank.



Meanwhile behind, BMC and Cannondale were most active teams. They really wanted to catch Busche. However, we didn't want to gamble too much, so we set-up our little Zubeldia-Felline train there. It's looking awesome for us, once again!



1,5 kilometers to go and thanks to great effort that Cannondale's and BMC's domestiques put in, peloton finally managed to catch Matthew. Really brave and great ride for him, but we had to focus on the sprint there. Zubeldia and Felline were on top and it still looked great for us!



Felline was the first one to launch the sprint and thanks narrow roads and huge amount of the corners before the finish line, it wasn't really hard for him to keep the leading position. Yet another win for Trek this is!



Absolutely fantastic. This is just the season start no one ever expected from us. What a great way to get a 2nd win this season for Fabio Felline! However, on the finish line, we spotted one very interesting banner in the crowd. It said "His name is Admir Schleck, he can't stop winning with Trek"!

1	Fabio Felline	Trek Factory Racing	2h56'46
2	Davide Villella	Cannondale	s.t.
3	Sergey Lagutin	RusVelo	s.t.
4	Alessandro De Marchi	Cannondale	s.t.
5	Sonny Colbrelli	Bardiani CSF	s.t.
6	Ben Hermans	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
7	Brent Bookwalter	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
8	Stephen Cummings	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
9	Thomas De Gendt	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step	s.t.
10	Andrew Fenn	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step	s.t.

GC	Fabio Felline [Trek]	2h56'26
Points	Fabio Felline [Trek]	25 points
KoM	Yves Lampaert [Tosport]	10 points
U25	Fabio Felline [Trek]	2h56'46
Team	Cannondale	8h50'18