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Modern Times, Old Roads | The End
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 30-04-2014 10:50
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Team Leader
Posts: 7293
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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At least you got 1 national champion in Cameron Meyer
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 30-04-2014 10:53
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Team Manager
Posts: 6508
Joined: 14-09-2008
PCM$: 1090.00
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Nice goals, the WC course sounds tailor made for Matthias. Go for it 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 00:55
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Bot Agent
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 30-04-2014 10:55
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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Mresuperstar wrote:
Ian Butler wrote:
I have been able to race the WC in classic mode with the current database in the career.
I don't get why this isn't more a known thing to do for stories... I use this sort of method quite a bit for NC's/WC's as you can get a lot more control and realism out of a startlist, regardless of any bugs in the game.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-04-2014 11:22
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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tpinot - Thanks, I hope so
Jakstar22 - That's true. He did good.
cunego59 - It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Matthias, I think. His biggest rival will be the Belgian squad, though...
TheManxMissile - I'd do this without a problem but I don't like that you can't edit form in one day mode. Everyone has the same form (or a random form)
Thanks for the support again!
I'll now be posting Matt's first recon of the WC profile. I'd like to build the season around that big goal so I'll bring it up a few times. Hope you like that. If not, just let me know |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-04-2014 11:22
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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World Championships - First Recon
There is only one way to win a World Championship. Only one way to become the best cyclist of the world. And that is to prepare, prepare, prepare. The Championship is at the end of September, but for me it starts today.
How will I prepare for the biggest event on the calendar? Well, firstly, I'll have to get to know the parcours, the profile. I want to know every little corner on the route, every stone, every house along the way. I will come to train on this profile at least twice a week if I'm in the country.
Secondly, I'll need a supporting team, herein lies my biggest difficulty, I guess. With riders like Vanmarcke also riding for Belgium, the leader spot will be fought for. I'll have to prove I'm the best bet for the Road Race during the cobbled season!
Thirdly, my shape will have to be perfect. In the months building up to the World Championship, I will work hard to be 100% on the day of truth. I'll build up in America, followed by several one day races such as Brussels Cycling Classic.
Let's take a look at the profile of the World Championship Road Race.
What does this show us? First of all, it's barely 200 km long. For a World Championship, that's short. This is to my advantage, since I'll be only 24 at the time of the race. My explosiveness will be a big weapon.
We have a big lead-up to the local circuit, with wide roads and some punchy climbs, but nothing that'll split up the pack properly. Beware for the wind, though! However, most part is through the woods, so we're shielded from the wind quite well.
Then we head into the provisions sector, marked in the grey zone. Get some food and prepare for the big finale. The game will begin there.
Finally, we come into the local circuit, which will be raced four times.
The cobbled section will be vital, and that's just the way I like it! The cobblestones are in a good state, unfortunately. But it's uphill, quite steep actually, which plays into my hand! Short and steep, cobblestones, pure on power! Notice the narrow road - We'll have to fight to be at the front. If you're at place 20 here, you can be lost.
When you get to the top, the cobbles don't stop. Many will underestimate this part of the profile, but I think it's essential. Downhilling on cobblestones requires real skill. If it'll rain, falls might happen. On this narrow road, you don't want to get caught behind someone who fell.
Finally, this is where the finish line will be drawn. If we get to the finish in a small group (I don't expect a group larger than 10 men), it'll come down to a proper sprint. The road is straight and wide enough to sprint fairly. The road leading up to the finish is slightly uphill, giving power sprinters a little edge over pure speed sprinters.
This was my first training on the WC profile, but definitely not the last. However, let's focus on the more urgent matters first. With my first race nearing, I'm getting in a decent shape. In Oman I hope to score my first win of the season, to give me plenty of confidence to get to the opening weekend and defend my victory in Kuurne!
See you there,
Matthias |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 30-04-2014 11:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Ah, now I see why he sets this as his big season goal. The odds have never been more in his favour. Great parcour, and I simply love that you're doing a recon of the route. (Did you make it yourself and will you make it available after the race please?  )
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 30-04-2014 11:41
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Sprinter
Posts: 1765
Joined: 27-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice recon, should be an important goal for you! |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 30-04-2014 11:43
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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The recon is a nice touch to the story
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-04-2014 12:00
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Shonak - Yeah, seeing the profile, you'll know why he's going for it 100%. There will never be a better chance for him to win this! The stage just came with the Expansion Pack at the 2017 WC, so you should have it
TimoCycling - It sure is! Biggest of the season I think.
the_hoyle - Glad you like it, thanks |
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| FonsDeSpons |
Posted on 30-04-2014 12:08
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Stagiare
Posts: 160
Joined: 30-10-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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yes, so glad that the story continues. Goodluck in 2016 |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-04-2014 14:13
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Thanks FonsDeSpons Hope you enjoy the coming season! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-04-2014 14:14
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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 Santos Tour Down Under 2016 | 1 | Peter Sagan | Cannondale | 17h29'22 | | 2 | Lars Boom | AG2R La Mondiale | + 10 | | 3 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 4 | Tim Wellens | Team Europcar | + 12 | | 5 | Matteo Trentin | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 14 | | 6 | Carlos Betancur | Movistar Team | + 16 | | 7 | Rigoberto Urán | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 8 | Vincenzo Nibali | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | Michael Matthews | Orica GreenEdge | + 29 | | 10 | Enrico Gasparotto | Astana Pro Team | + 30 |
The Santos Tour Down Under was not our best effort. We left without a stage win and barely a top 10. Like last year, it seems we're starting the season somewhat slowly. But if you look at what we ended up winning in that season, I'd say great!
Meanwhile, my first race of the season is very close now. I'm already in Oman and the race starts in 2 days. I feel ready to test my legs.
See you there!
Matt
Edited by Ian Butler on 30-04-2014 14:14
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 30-04-2014 16:26
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Really liking the look of that cobbled climb on the Worlds recon |
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 30-04-2014 18:22
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15274
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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I love that WC. It's not an ordinary variant though, I can see. Isn't it the Pino Cerami profile
I love the gameplay at that stage, though. 
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| VoetsT |
Posted on 30-04-2014 19:54
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 851
Joined: 29-06-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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One thing you can't say is that you aren't interested in winning the WC
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| Martial1 |
Posted on 30-04-2014 22:35
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 388
Joined: 30-04-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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With that course, Matthias should have a good chance at the world championships! Hopefully there won't be a rainbow curse... |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 01-05-2014 09:02
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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sutty68 - I do, too. Hope it'll be a great race
Jesleyh - Strange, I didn't add it to the WC variants, not that I remember  but a great stage for a WC indeed.
VoetsT - Amen! Going for it 100%. I'm just afraid his perfect profile has come one year too soon. Though it's still 9 months away.
Martial1 - Great to see you here. Hope you enjoy the story! Yes indeed, but let's worry about the curse until he can actually win the WC
Got a busy schedule ahead of me today. But I'll try to get in an update or two! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 01-05-2014 10:40
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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 Tour of Oman 2016
The Tour of Oman was my first competitive race of the season. For three years now I've been starting quite late compared to some others, who start in Argentina, Australia or France. Orica has been an absolute dream team for me so far. They have taken my youth into consideration and really put my career on the tracks by giving me a schedule suited to my age. I think it's about time to increase this. When I turn 25 this October, I'll have raced the Tour de France and I'll have won Paris - Roubaix. For next year, I'll request a full-scale season.
But back to the now. The Tour of Oman saw a close encounter between two World Champions.
| 1 | Rui Costa | Lampre - Merida | 22h18'28 | | 2 | Vincenzo Nibali | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 4 | | 3 | Chris Froome | Team Sky | + 28 | | 4 | Diego Ulissi | Lampre - Merida | + 1'18 | | 5 | Tom Slagter | Garmin Sharp | + 2'08 | | 6 | Yury Trofimov | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 7 | Michał Kwiatkowski | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 2'35 | | 8 | Jan Polanc | Tirol Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | Giovanni Visconti | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 2'57 | | 10 | Arnold Jeannesson | FDJ.fr | s.t. |
As for me, I had a tough start of the season. I got close to a victory in stage 3, when I finished 2nd. But with Cavendish here, it wasn't easy to get that win.
Stage 4 and 5 were horrible. The climbing legs I sort of had in September last year are completely gone. I traded them in for my cobbled legs and I felt it here.
But on the final stage, our lead-out did another brilliant job and I was finally able to finish the hard work, on a finale featuring three steep hills, which broke the peloton apart, thanks to Roelandts! So I return home with my first season victory!
Conclusion? First of all, Roelandts is an amazing guy to have in the team. He did some truly impressive lead-out work and is in excellent shape.
Secondly, my first win of the season is always sooner and sooner. Going from a stage in Paris - Nice to Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne and now in Oman. I hit a decent shape sooner and sooner.
Tour of Oman: In Pictures  Démare and Cavendish were the two main sprinters and their teams showed this
 The World Champion was 5 seconds short of his first victory in this jersey
 The boys did some outstanding lead-out work. I can't thank them enough!
 On stage 3 I almost hit gold. But Boasson Hagen overtook me in the final 3 meters.
 Sweet relief! My first of the season, and hopefully not the last!
That's it for the Middle East! Now all eyes are on the Belgian opening weekend. I haven't hit my top shape yet, but that's a good thing. I'm peaking for De Ronde so I should be at about 95% now. In Kuurne I'll try to defend my win. But The Omloop should suit me even better this year.
See you there,
Matthias
Edited by Ian Butler on 01-05-2014 18:29
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 01-05-2014 11:29
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Sprinter
Posts: 1765
Joined: 27-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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well done in Oman, goodluck in the Omloop! |
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| VoetsT |
Posted on 01-05-2014 12:40
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 851
Joined: 29-06-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Oman was good, good luck in opening weekend
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
