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Fabio Melani | Road to Le Tour | End of Season
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 26-12-2013 09:21
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Spoiler 500th post in this thread!
Decent for us in the GP Primavera.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 26-12-2013 17:23
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A Tough day in the saddle for the guys today  |
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 26-12-2013 23:21
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It was, but not all bad.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 12:05
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 26-12-2013 23:37
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 La Fleche Wallone
My first Arsennes classic. I'm doing well on the hills this season, so can I make something happen and maybe get a Top 10?
Leader
Fabio Melani
Sprinter
Leonardo Duque
Teammate
John Darwin Atapuma
Teammate
Esteban Chaves
Leadout Man
Edwin Avila
Domestique
Carlos Quintero
Domestique
Michael Rodriguez Galindo
Domestique
Juan Pablo Valencia
 Peter Sagan
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Alejandro Valverde
Kelly Version: I'm not expecting anything huge, but let's go for a good result.
My Version: I feel that my career is leaning towards that of Valverde - a decent stage racer but mor of a hill rider. If that is true, then a Top 10 should be achieveable.
Edited by Cycleman123 on 27-12-2013 02:05
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 27-12-2013 02:06
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Fabian Cancellara wins his record-equalling 4th Paris-Roubaix
Edvald Boasson Hagen wins the Amstel Gold Race
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 27-12-2013 06:55
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La Fleche Wallone
5 riders thought they had a chance against the peloton today.
The first attacks came from
De Gent
Rolland
Rodriguez
They didn't last and the next attack was almost the same, only Sagan was there instead of Dutchman De Gent. Darwin was protecting me, and we were hoping to also get away.
We caught the above 3, as well as 3 riders from the breakaway, making an 8 man group ahead of the bunch.
With 13km to go, Darwin was dead. With the attackers safely back in the peloton, a few more riders decided to try their luck. Wellens, Bardet and the ever present Rodriguez. Betancur was also in tow.
Esteban was protecting me now. I was the only one not isolated.
With 10km to go a group of 18 favourites formed. Surely it would be the group that would fight it out.
But again the peloton was having none of it. We made our signature attack train with 7km left. I had a lot of energy still left in me.
It seemed to work. With Esteban wasted it now looked like it would be me vs Wellens, with us alone up front with 5km left.
But no! Again the peloton didn't want it. I was waiting for the last climb, but Sagan was leading out even more attacks.
Ok, now, finally. 6 riders away with just 2.5km left. They were
Mollema
Valverde
Me
Betancur
Wellens
Sagan
You've got to be kidding me! We got caught at the base of the climb (1.5km left). I was first onto the hill.
Here it is! I launched my sprint with 400m to go. Unless someone decided to emulate Jarlinson Pantano at last year's Tour of Qinghai Lake, then it was between me, Mollema and Valverde.
I was ahead in the last 100. Could I do it? There was no raising arms this time
NO! Oh so close! Again I am so cruely denied.
I have to be happy with this result though. I mean, 2nd in La Fleche Wallone!? For a 21 year old, too!
Fabio  
Spoiler Sorry guys, the export keeps coming up with an error. But the first 3 won by 11" to the peloton, with Betancur 4th.
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 27-12-2013 07:55
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Sorry, but MOLLEMA YAY. Even more impressive is Fabio, a beautiful performance, showing he is worthy of that leaders role. |
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 27-12-2013 07:56
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Glad you're happy twice 
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 27-12-2013 10:03
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Brilliant result, really  |
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 27-12-2013 10:06
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Thanks
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| baia |
Posted on 27-12-2013 10:09
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Great race this was.. well done.
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 27-12-2013 10:21
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Thanks  Didn't know you were following
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 27-12-2013 10:29
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Liege-Bastogne-Liege
After a great result in Wallone, I now head to the hardest of the Ardennes classics. Positioning will be key as very narrow roads combine with literally scary high gradients.
Leader
Fabio Melani
Sprinter
Leonardo Duque
Teammate
Robinson Chalapud
Teammate
Esteban Chaves
Teammate
John Darwin Atapuma
Leadout Man
Jarlinson Pantano
Domestique
Carlos Quintero
Domestique
Michael Rodriguez Galindo
Peter Sagan
Alejandro Valverde
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Kelly Version: Again, great result last time out Fabio. Now just go out there and show everyone it wasn't a fluke.
My Version: Nothing to add really. I need to keep stringing together these sorts of results.
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| baia |
Posted on 27-12-2013 10:39
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I follow but not commenting... that much.  
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 27-12-2013 15:01
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Lets hope the team have a great race in Liege |
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 27-12-2013 23:04
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Baia: Good to hear
Sutty: Thanks mate
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 27-12-2013 23:20
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Liege-Bastogne-Liege
We had a huge 16 man break today.
Esteban had a nice talk with ex-teammate Fabio Duarte.
And of course, as we had expected, the narrow roads caused problems. Apart from Michael, the whole team was left behind on a 20% climb with roads only wide enough for one rider. I kept a good position up front, but just couldn't keep up.
I led my group for an extremely long time, and we got back just as the attacks started, and Gilbert hopped out of my wheel to join them. I was too tired though.
Kwiatkowski would probably win, while Wellens was just behind. The rest were back by a lot. The battle was on for 3rd.
Again I led my group (this time of 4) up to the next one. However, again, I was tired.
I was dead with 6km to go. I just tried to keep going.
The Pole won, ahead of Wellens and Betancur.
I finished 9th - a decent result.
Fabio
Again the export didn't work. Don't knwo why...
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 28-12-2013 00:03
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9th place in Liege is a great result |
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 28-12-2013 08:02
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You shouldn't have chased yourself, you said your team,sites were there, isn't it their job, and why were you chasing at the end, if he'd waited he could have outdone the others as they chased. You need a stronger team and more race sense |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 28-12-2013 08:13
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Not a bad result |
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