To be honest, I firstly didn´t follow the story, especially because I couldn´t stand the team back in the days (especially Schuhmacher, I´m still mad they took over team Stuttgart together with him). But lately I really enjoy your story, your writing style looks reporting style looks really good and the screenshots & how you use them equally.
Keep your great stuff up, you have a follower in me which I wouldn´t even thought of at the beginning of this! :)
The season surely ended on a bright note for the team. Looking forward to seeing the new additions and how they gel and perform along with the rest of the team next season
Sutty68: You know how it is, you are not sure about the budget before it is too late. Anyway we are not swimming in money, but next year we have a lot of contracts to consider, so that will be the year of greater changes. But we did sign some ok additions for the coming season. I guess promotion to world tour next year will be hard. But we are hoping.
Croatia14: Thanks a lot !!
The choice of Christina was just because I am from Denmark, and the skill level suited the story well, after all it is just a game.
AbhishekLFC: An update about next year’s squad, will be up later today. with some information’s about how our existing riders skill have developed over the year.
Top riders: Kenny Elissonde, 23 years old, from Alsace, France. (avg. 74)
In the 2014 season Kenny has proven to be “le Capitaine”, young and not the one taking decisions in the Tour bus, he is indubitably our strongest on the road, if it comes to a hard mountain finish. His weakness is the time trail. Kenny has been improving nicely over the last seasons. Contract to 2016, we will keep him if possible.
Sonder Holst Enger, 21 years old, from Vestfold, Norway. (avg. 74)
Sonder is now our fastest man on the last km, combined with a good flat, hill and downhill he is a very diverse “Sagan type” rider. Sonder has developed perfectly over the last season. Contract to 2016, we will keep him if possible.
Stefan Schumacker, 33 years old, from Baden-Württemberg, Germany. (avg.73)
Stefan is our strongest hill specialist, with a fine TT, giving him the opportunity to do very well in hilly stage races with an ITT. Although he is 33 he has developed a bit over the last year. Contract to 2015, we may or may not keep him.
Francisco J. Pacheco, 32 years old, from Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. (avg.73)
Francisco is the “father” figure for all the young riders, a man you can count on in the tour bus, always supporting always good for a smile, and the most winning rider of the team, over the last two years. Francisco is a little bit weaker than Sonder on the last Km, but with a bit more acceleration, and a perfect downhill, he has been improving a little over the last year. Contract to 2016, we may or may not keep him.
Davide Malacarne 27 years old, from Veneto region, Italy. (avg.73)
David is the strongest of our new riders, able to support Kenny in stage races, or compete on his own. David is a climber, a bit weaker that Kenny on the mountains, but with a little better time trial and a better downhill. Contract to 2016, we expect to keep him if possible.
Lieutenant/Leadout:
Lasse Bøchman, 31 years old, from northern Jylland, Denmark. (avg. 72)
Lasse is our strongest support rider for the mountains, a complex rider with a good fighter spirit, able to do well in stage races, with abilities in hill, mountains and time trail. Lasse has improves a little over the last year. Contract to 2015, we expect to keep him if possible.
Patrick Clausen, 24 years old, from Copenhagen, Denmark. (avg. 72)
Patrick is our best of the new Danish riders, our strongest 2nd tier sprinter, able to act as lead out sprint, or as top sprinter in the less important races. Contract to 2016, we expect to keep him if possible.
Yves Lampert, 23 years old, from Flanders, Belgium. (avg.71)
Yves is our cobbles expert, and will be captain in cobbles races, besides that he had a good flat a fine lead-out man, in a mass sprint. Yves have been developing perfect over the last year. Contract to 2015, we expect to keep him if possible.
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay, 22 years old, from Canberra, Australia. (avg. 70)
Mitchell is a hill rider with some mountain abilities, able to help out in important stage races, or make dangerous breakaways. Mitchell has been developing extremely fast. Contract to 2017, we expect to keep him if possible.
Mads Würtz Schmidt, 20 years old, from Copenhagen, Denmark. (avg. 70)
Another new Dane, just 20 Mads have already got very good cobble’s ability and a fine flat, making him a good addition to Yves in the cobbles races, or a fine lead out. We expect this youngster to develop a lot. Contract to 2017, we expect to keep him if possible.
Martin Pedersen, 31 years old, from Copenhagen, Denmark. (avg.70)
Martin is a fighter type Hill and Flat specialist and a strong downhill, he has an ok sprint for the break-away finish. We don’t expect him to improve. Contract to 2015, we may or may not keep him.
Helpers:
Morten Høberg, 26 years old, from Copenhagen, Denmark. (avg.69)
Morten is a sprinter with some hill abilities; he can start a sprint as lead out, if no better option is available. Morten has been developing fine over the last season. Contract to 2015, we expect to keep him if possible.
Philip Nielsen, 27 years old, from northern Jylland, Denmark, (avg.69)
Philip is a fine sprinter with good flat abilities, but he is very weak uphill, so he can only preform on the very flat stages. He has not developed. Contract to 2015, we won’t keep him.
Daniele Aldegheri, 24 years old, from Veneto, Italy. (avg. 68)
Daniele is a fighter type rider with some hill and flat abilities, with an ok sprint he is a good option for a breakaway. Daniele has been developing a little over the last year. Contract to 2015, we may or may not keep him.
Sebastian Balck, 26 years old, from Sweden. (avg. 68)
Sebastian is an all-round rider, with some skills in flat, cobble stone, time trail, and hill, but weak in the mountains. He has been developing a little over the last season. Contract to 2015, we may or may not keep him.
Water Carries:
Frederik Wilmann, 29 years old, from Viggja, Norway. (avg. 67)
Frederik is a fighter with some mountain and hill abilities, we don’t expect him to improve. Contract to 2015, we won’t keep him.
Anders Bjerregård, 22 years old, from northern Jylland, Denmark. (avg. 67)
Anders is a sprinter, he has developed a little over the last year. Contract to 2016, we don’t expect to keep him.
Angelo Furlan, 36 years, from Veneto, Italy. (avg.67)
Furlan is a sprinter, his skills is declining fast. Contract to 2015, we won’t keep him.
Simon Bigum, 21 years, from northern Jylland, Denmark. (avg. 64)
Simon is a fighter, he is not developing. Contract to 2015, we won’t keep him.
Lasse Christiansen, 21 years old, from northern Jylland, Denmark. (avg. 64)
Anders is a sprinter, he has developed some over the last year. Contract to 2016, we don’t expect to keep him.
Anton Grøn, 21 years old, from central Jylland, Denmark (avg.59)
Antons best is climbing, he has been developing some over the last year. Contract to 2016, we don’t expect to keep him.
Former coach now assistant sports director Christian Andersen reports:
I am here in Buninyong a suburb of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, with Mitchell Lovelock-Fay. Last year he became 12th, as he has improved since, we hope for a top 10.
Pre-race strategy: The plan is to get in a break, last year the race was won from a breakaway that just might happen again.
Profile
Mitchell try to get away several times, but he peloton won’t let him go, the morning break is Matthew Lloyd (Lampre) Graeme Brown (Belkin) William Clarke (UnitedHealthcare) Ben Dyball (Drapac), but after a few hill’s the peloton settles down, and Mitchell find the opportunity to go. He catch up to the front with about 100 km to the line.
Mitchell finds the moment to attack:
With a good rhythm in the front group, they are able to keep the distance, getting closer and closer to the finish. A few attempts to attack from the peloton, is neutralized, but eventually Simon Gerrans (Orica) gets the decisive gap. Meanwhile on the second last climb Matthew Lloyd attacks and gets away from the front group. Near the last top Simon Gerrans passes group Lovelock-Fay.
Gerrans hunting Lloyd down towards the line:
But it is a surprising Matthew Lloyd winning the Australian Championship, Mitchell Lovelock-Fay takes the last spot on the podium.
Christina in an interview with Australian SBS Television: Mitchell is a fantastic rider, we have a lot of faith in him, a young coming Australian cycling star, proud to have him on my team. Our first race of the season, and he has got his first 40 CQ points.
Rasmussen reports: On a side note, we have been invited to our first World Tour Race, the classic Gent – Wevelgem. Anyway we are here in Malaysia for Tour de Langkawi, last year Kenny Elissonde had a perfect start getting to 2nd in the GC, before a crash took him back to 8th overall. On that background we expect and hope for a top 5, even though Elissonde is not in top shape.
Zahir Mosque (مسجد ظاهير) ,near the first intermediate sprint in Alor Setar. Build in 1912. The state's Quran reading competition is held annually in the mosque.
Pre-race strategy: Last year we felt the pressure of the many race days, so this time we will play it safe from the peloton in the first stages. The first stage was not great for us last year we hope Pacheco might do better today.
Profile:
Roster
Angelo Furlan
Daniele Aldegheri
Francisco José Pacheco
Kenny Elissonde
Lasse Christiansen
Stefan Schumacher
The stage starts with a lot of unfortunate attempts to break away, the peloton won’t let anyone go. It seems the sprinter teams want to get points from the intermediate sprints. Pacheco also try on the first sprint, but he is not fast enough.
The sprinters wait for the bunch after the first sprint:
The peloton stays together over the next sprint, then eventually a solo breakaway from Andrea Fedi (5-Hour Energy), a pretty strong fighter type rider, for the coming hills. There is now about 95 km left.
Stefan Schumacher has got exceptional good legs, he just can’t sit and wait, with about 50 km left, he attacks trying to get up to Fedi.
But Stefan can’t get enough pace to get close to Fedi, and the peloton is also getting closer and closer, with 20 km left it is over for Stefan, and soon also for Fedi, it is time for the teams to get the trains up. Pacheco takes the wheel of Daniele Aldegheri, but they are not fast enough, we have no perfect lead out in this race. Pacheco have to start his sprint early and burns out to fast. The race is won by Davide Cimolai (Vini Fantini), Pacheco gets in as 12th.
Rasmussen, later in the tour bus: “Not the best start, but we got over the line without losing time and with no bruises. The plan was a nice quit day and we got just that, so better luck tomorrow.”
Stage:
1
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
3h48'10
2
Jempy Drucker
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
3
Tony Gallopin
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
4
Tosh Van der Sande
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
5
Shawn Milne
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Davide Appollonio
Jamis - Hagens Berman
s.t.
7
Romain Bardet
FDJ.fr
s.t.
8
Jan Bakelants
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
9
Mateusz Nowak
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
10
Tim Farnham
Jamis - Hagens Berman
s.t.
GC:
1
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
3h47'38
2
Jempy Drucker
Accent Jobs - Wanty
+ 14
3
Andrea Fedi
5-Hour Energy
+ 22
4
Tony Gallopin
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 24
5
Enrico Montanari
Lampre - Merida
+ 26
6
Davide Appollonio
Jamis - Hagens Berman
+ 30
7
Tosh Van der Sande
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
+ 32
8
Shawn Milne
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Romain Bardet
FDJ.fr
s.t.
10
Jan Bakelants
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
Points:
1
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
37
2
Jempy Drucker
Accent Jobs - Wanty
26
3
Tony Gallopin
RadioShack - Leopard
16
Mountain:
1
Andrea Fedi
5-Hour Energy
6
2
Andreas Klöden
RadioShack - Leopard
4
3
Janier Acevedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
2
Team: RadioShack - Leopard
Young: Tosh Van der Sande (CCC Polsat - Polkowice)
Edited by Tamijo on 22-01-2016 21:44
22/2 Stage 2/10 Serdang - Kuala Kangsar : 116.5 km
Rasmussen reports:
The Caravan has traveled just 26 km south from Kulim to the town of Serdang.The stages crosses over the mountains range between the Sungia Perak (river) delta and the west coast, with a hard climb to Bukit Sumpitan (cat. 1) mid stage, but otherwise a flat stage, most likely with a mass sprint finish. The stage takes place in forest and rural areas, only the finish is in a larger town Kuala Kangsar with a population of about 40.000.
Small waterfall on the A6 road towards the cat.1 climb:
Pre-race strategy: The day before the first important mountain stage, the only priority is to get Elissonde safely through this stage without losing time.
Profile
After some turmoil at the beginning, a morning break of 4, with the KoM jersey holder Andrea Fedi, David Boucher (FDJ.fr) takes the first intermediate sprint:
At the climb the peloton sets a much higher pace and break over, 38 riders lose contact. It is the front group crossing the top first, Andrea Fedi extend his KoM lead.
With a little less than 15 km left, the breakaway is over it is time to set up the sprint trains.
Davide Cimolai (Vini Fantini) wins the stage over Geoffrey Soupe (FDJ.fr), our train works fine and we get Pacheco in 5th. Kenny Elissonde gets in 12th, not losing time.
Rasmussen debriefing after the stage: Good stage today, we used as little energy as possible, and got a fine result.
Stage:
1
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
2h33'45
2
Geoffrey Soupe
FDJ.fr
s.t.
3
Tony Gallopin
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
4
Bartlomiej Matysiak
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
5
Dominique Rollin
Synergy Baku Cycling Project
s.t.
6
Francisco José Pacheco
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
7
Jempy Drucker
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
8
Rafael Andriato
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
9
Rubén Pérez
Liberty Seguros - Würth
s.t.
10
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
GC:
1
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
6h21'03
2
Jempy Drucker
Accent Jobs - Wanty
+ 34
3
Andrea Fedi
5-Hour Energy
s.t.
4
Tony Gallopin
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 36
5
Geoffrey Soupe
FDJ.fr
+ 40
6
Aldo Ino Ilesic
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 44
7
David Boucher
FDJ.fr
s.t.
8
Francisco José Pacheco
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 52
9
Bartlomiej Matysiak
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
10
Jan Bakelants
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
Points:
1
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
62
2
Jempy Drucker
Accent Jobs - Wanty
35
3
Tony Gallopin
RadioShack - Leopard
32
Mountain:
1
Andrea Fedi
5-Hour Energy
22
2
David Boucher
FDJ.fr
12
3
Aldo Ino Ilesic
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
10
Team: Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
Young: Andrea Fedi (5-Hour Energy)
Edited by Tamijo on 23-01-2016 18:36
23/2 Stage 3/10 Sungai Siput - Cameron Highlands : 137.6 km
Rasmussen reports: The Caravan has traveled a few km west for a start in Sungai Siput for a hard mountain stage towards the Cameron Highlands, with an HC climb just 9 km before the finish. Cameron Highlands was first discovered by Sir William Cameron in 1885, later developed by the British (1930’s) into a hill station with a nice temperature compared to the lowlands, and Agricultural Experiment Station.
From “Sam Poh” Buddhist Temple (1972) located in Brinchang, close to the top of today’s Hors catégorie climb.
Pre-race strategy: Today is all about helping Ellisonde as long as possible, and then it will be the favorites against the mountain.
Profile:
The morning break is Walter Proch (Lampre) Giuseppe Muraglia (Nippo) Simon Clarke (RusVelo) Martin Lind (Øster Hus)
At the start of the climbing others attack, amongst them Chun Feng (Champion System), Bostjan Rezman (Team Vorarlberg) and Matthew Busche (RadioShack – Leopard). Small groups of riders are now spread over the mountain, in front of the peloton.
Half way up the cat.1 to Kampung Raja, Francisco José Pacheco attacks to put the pressure on the other teams.
Pacheco does not get a gap, he just sits 10-20 seconds in front of the peloton, instead it is Juan José Oroz (Liberty Seguros) who gets away, seemingly inspired by Pacheco. The attacking puts pressure on the weaker riders, a lot of riders fall back.
The pace is constantly increased at the short but hard Hors catégorie climb, Schumacher and Francisco José Pacheco are empty, they can no longer help Elissonde, so he decides to stir things up on his own, with 5 km to the top he attacks, followed by Janier Acevedo (Jamis), Jan Bakelants (RadioShack) and Romain Bardet (FDJ.fr)
Group Elissonde passes most on the breakaway groups fast, now only two riders are left in front of the favorites, the situation with 2.8 km to the top:
With just 1.5 km left the four favorites catches the two riders from the breakaway, in the same second Romain Bardet attacks.
But it is Jan Bakelants who has the most energy left for the last km, he wins in front of Janier Acevedo, Ellisonde gets in 3rd. in front of Bardet.
Rasmussen to a Danish journalist on the phone: We are very excited about the stage today, we did expect something like a top 10, but a podium that is a surprise.
Stage:
1
Jan Bakelants
RadioShack - Leopard
3h32'08
2
Janier Acevedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
s.t.
3
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
4
Romain Bardet
FDJ.fr
s.t.
5
Simon Clarke
RusVelo
s.t.
6
Juan José Oroz
Liberty Seguros - Würth
s.t.
7
Ion Izagirre
Liberty Seguros - Würth
+ 1'07
8
Joseph Dombrowski
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
9
Tony Gallopin
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
10
Rafael Valls
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
GC:
1
Jan Bakelants
RadioShack - Leopard
9h53'43
2
Janier Acevedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
+ 8
3
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 12
4
Romain Bardet
FDJ.fr
+ 20
5
Simon Clarke
RusVelo
s.t.
6
Juan José Oroz
Liberty Seguros - Würth
s.t.
7
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 35
8
Tony Gallopin
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 1'11
9
Joseph Dombrowski
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 1'27
10
Ion Izagirre
Liberty Seguros - Würth
s.t.
Points
1
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
62
2
Tony Gallopin
RadioShack - Leopard
39
3
Jan Bakelants
RadioShack - Leopard
36
Mountain:
1
Simon Clarke
RusVelo
26
2
Andrea Fedi
5-Hour Energy
22
3
Chun Feng
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
22
Team: Liberty Seguros - Würth
Young: Kenny Elissonde (Christina Watches - Onfone)
Edited by Tamijo on 23-01-2016 18:22
23/2 Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia (cat 1.1)
Murcia – Alto Castillo de Lorca: 163.9 Km
Christina reports: While Kenny is doing great in Malaysia, we are here in Murcia south-eastern Spain for the Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia. A Mountain stage moving through Sierra Espuña Regional Reserve with a tough climb over Alto del Collado Bermejo 45 km before the finish, and a uphill finish to Castillo de Lorca.
Murcia was founded in AD 825 by Abd ar-Rahman II, who was then the emir of Córdoba. For a short period around 1100 AD Murcia was the capital of an independent Muslim kingdom.
Trapería Street, Murica old town:
Pre-race strategy: The management has set a goal of top 5 in this race, but with the likes of Urán, Navarro, Caruso, Kelderman and many other good climbers in the race, that may be a hard challenge. Anyway we will only protect Davide Malacarne, we won’t attempt a breakaway.
Profile:
Roster:
Anders Bjerregård
Davide Malacarne
Lasse Bøchman
Mads Würtz Schmidt
Morten Høberg
Patrick Clausen
Sebastian Balck
Sondre Holst Enger
The first breakaway is 7 riders, a little later another 7 riders, and 3 more before the climb starts towards Alto del Collado Bermejo, the breakaway is about 4 min ahead before the climb, it is not likely they can win the stage.
The first 14 breakaway riders:
Near the top the favorites starts their moves with a series of attacks, and the peloton is broken off into smaller pieces over the top. In front 5 riders from the early breakaway, 24” after a group of 6 riders with Damiano Caruso (Vini Fantini), another 50” behind a group of 11 with Urán & Moreno, another 40” behind Davide Malacarne, with Kelderman and Matthias Frank.
Group Urán passing over the top:
The situation passing over the top, 45 km to go:
But the pace towards the finish is not high, and the peloton catches the favorites, the front group is now up to more than 60 riders, Bøchman and Holst Enger is now back to help Davide Malacarne. In the tunnel just a few km before the finish, Javier Moreno (Garmin) attacks, Rigoberto Urán (Astana) and Steve Morabito (IAM) counters, everyone else resigns.
Not unexpected it is Urán who has the legs to finish this hard stage, he wins over Morabito with 19”, our best is Malacarne (9).
Christina from the plane back to London: Not precisely our goal, but I am satisfied with a top 10 in a tough race with many good riders.
Stage:
1
Rigoberto Urán
Astana Pro Team
4h29'40
2
Steve Morabito
IAM Cycling
+ 19
3
Javier Moreno
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
4
Luis León Sánchez
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Egor Silin
Katusha Team
s.t.
6
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 42
7
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
8
Peter Velits
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
9
Davide Malacarne
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
10
Peter Stetina
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
11
Lasse Bøchman
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
12
Jarlinson Pantano
4-72 Colombia
s.t.
13
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
14
Michael Albasini
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
15
Marcel Wyss
IAM Cycling
s.t.
16
Damiano Caruso
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
17
Simone Stortoni
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
18
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
19
Daniel Navarro
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
20
Gorka Verdugo
Liberty Seguros - Würth
s.t.
Team: Astana Pro Team
Edited by Tamijo on 24-01-2016 09:58
Rasmussen reports: The Caravan has traveled back down to the lowlands, 60 km south east to Tapah, from there a pancake flat stage to Kapar just 50 km west of Kuala Lumpur. Today’s route runs mostly through farmland south along the Malacca Strait cost. Many river flows through this area, from the highlands into the Strait.
Jeti Seafood Restaurant build on the Sungai Selangor (river) in Kuala Selangor near the last intermediate sprint:
Pre-race strategy: It is still about protecting Elissonde, but on this flat stage Angelo Furlan or Lasse Christiansen is free to grab some TV time is they like. Last year Pacheco got in 6th in the sprint, we hope he can do the same or better this year.
Profile:
Both Angelo Furlan and Lasse Christiansen try to get in breakaways, but they are not strong enough today. The morning break is 3 riders they get about 6.30 with some 90 km to the finish.
The sprinter teams are not up for a breakaway win, many teams share the pursuit, and the distance disappears fast.
We try to get a train up on the last 15 km, but it does not work well, several times the riders lose contact with each other. In the end we use to much energy and Pacheco have to start his sprint to far back. The stage is won by Davide Cimolai (Vini Fantini) his 3rd win in this race. Francisco José Pacheco gets in 10th.
Rasmussen after dinner on the hotel: Not the stage we were hoping for, but of course as long as nothing is lost in the GC we are fine.
