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Discovery Channel - TdF 2011
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| poiup11 |
Posted on 25-10-2010 14:18
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What eqipment do you use. |
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| Tuco the Ugly |
Posted on 25-10-2010 14:22
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Domestique
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Congrats on finishing a good TDF.
What is the Vuelta team likely to be? |
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| Squire |
Posted on 25-10-2010 14:43
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@poiup11: I use the equipment from a Discovery pack I downloaded. It should be found somewhere on this forum.
@Tuco: Thanks! I'm still annoyed that we didn't win an individual stage though. Our American contingent will target the USPRO championships, so the Vuelta team will be led by Pereiro (2nd in Vuelta last year) and Giro winner Kreuziger. We will have some serious stage winning potensial in Velits and Ciolek.
I've decided to extend the coverage of the season a bit, and report from classics like San Sebastian and Vattenfall, so next up is the Clasica San Sebastian. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 15:33
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| Squire |
Posted on 25-10-2010 18:27
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01.08.2010: Clasica San Sebastian - San Sebastian
A week has gone by since the end of the Tour de France, and parts of our Tour team have travelled down to the Basque country for the Clasica San Sebastian. It's a tough 227km race that includes the famous Jaizkibel and Gurutze climbs towards the end. There, we should see some serious selections.
2009 winner Alexandre Vinokourov skips the San Sebastian Classic this season. The main favourites should be 2008 San Sebastian winner Valverde, Ardennes hero Gilbert and Champs Elysees winner Sammy Sanchez. The startlist contains a host of other strong climbers and punchers as well. In-form riders include the Schlecks, Evans and Sastre.
Lance Armstrong looks to win this race for the second time in his carreer, he was victorious in San Sebastian in 1995. His main support cast is made up by Klöden and Popovych from our Tour team. Paulinho and Di Gregorio could also be useful on the beautiful route through the western parts of the Basque country.
Discovery Channel
 Lance Armstrong
 Andreas Klöden
 Yaroslav Popovych
 Sérgio Paulinho
 Rémy Di Gregorio
 David Millar
 Trent Lowe
 Brian Vandborg |
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 25-10-2010 18:30
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That last stage's sprint was a bit unrealistic.  |
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| Squire |
Posted on 25-10-2010 18:32
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FreitasPCM wrote:
That last stage's sprint was a bit unrealistic.
I know, but I guess that's what you can expect with a lot of second-rate sprinters with horrible recovery |
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| Squire |
Posted on 25-10-2010 19:10
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01.08.2010: Clasica San Sebastian - San Sebastian
Clasica San Sebastian - San Sebastian
San Sebastian - San Sebastian: 226.5km
Tactics meeting
With the last climbs likely to see a flurry of attacks, there is nothing else to do but pick the right move and try to make the final selection. Our team should be able to keep Armstrong fresh and set him up nicely for the finish. There are lots of riders to watch out for though. The temperature is 40 celsius, so it's a hot day in San Sebastian!
With the toughest climb of the race approaching, the Liquigas and Saxo led peloton had the early break in their sights.
Onto the Jaizkibel, Rodriguez started the show, followed by Karpets and Kirchen. The break had already been swept up.
The three instigators were joined by Cobo, F.Schleck, Sastre and Herrero. Over the top of the Jaizkibel, the penultimate climb, these seven riders formed a leading group.
Samuel Sanchez attacked down from the big climb, and was closing in on the seven leaders. He eventually caught up with them.
More riders, including A.Schleck and Gilbert, made a move between the two last climbs, and bridged the one minute gap to the leaders. Armstrong was still sitting patiently in the pack.
On the last climb, the Gurutze, Armstrong made his move together with Evans, Gesink and Basso! Still, the leaders were 1 minute ahead.
Armstrong quickly dropped Evans & co, but struggled to catch the leaders! Had he waited too long?
At 2.5km before the line, Armstrong made it! Unfortunately, there were better sprinters in the leading group, and the world champion was tired from the chase.
Andy Schleck accelrated under the red kite! Herrero was close, but it seemed like Schleck had taken the better sprinters by surprise!
Gilbert launched a desperate sprint for the line, but was he going fast enough for the win?
Andy Schleck! The Luxembourger held on to beat Gilbert by a few inches! His countryman Kirchen grabbed the last podium place.
Armstrong lost contact again during the last kilometer, and rolled in to a disappointing 12th place. World champion's curse, anyone?
Today's winner
Results
1 Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank 5h32'23
2 Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto + 0
3 Kim Kirchen Team Columbia - High Road + 0
4 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 0
5 Juanjo Cobo Fuji - Servetto + 0
6 JoaquÃm RodrÃguez Caisse d'Epargne + 0
7 David Herrero Xacobeo - Galicia + 0
8 Maxime Monfort Team Columbia - High Road + 0
9 Carlos Sastre Cervélo Test Team + 0
10 Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank + 0
Andy Schleck fooled the better finishers today to claim a great win in San Sebastian. This is his second victory of the season, adding to his Tour stage win. It's a good day for Luxembourg, with two riders on the podium and Schleck the older among the top ten. Alejandro Valverde is clearly lacking some form, as he didn't make the final selection. His teammate Rodriguez improved from an abysmal Tour with his 6th place today.
Lance Armstrong is still without a major win this season. A stage win in Tour de Slovenie right before the Tour is all he can show for in the world champion's jersey. Today, he waited way too long to make his move. As a result, he was exhausted after the tough chase. In two weeks time, we will contest the Vattenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg, where we hope for better fortunes than in San Sebastian. Stay tuned!
Edited by Squire on 26-10-2010 17:12
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| Squire |
Posted on 25-10-2010 22:21
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16.08.2010: Vattenfall Cyclassics
Our winless period has continued since the Clasica San Sebastian, with Klöden failing to defend his 2009 win in Urkiola Igoera, and Larsson only managing 3rd overall in the Tour of Poland. We weren't close to any stage wins in the Polish ProTour race either. We hope to get back to winning ways here in Hamburg.
The Vattenfall Cyclassics is tailor made for sprinters, with its fairly flat profile. The Waseberg, climbed four times during the route, is nowhere near tough enough to force any selections. The field for this race is packed with fast men. Cavendish and Hushovd are just the tip of the iceberg.
We put our faith in Gerald Ciolek, who has notched up five wins for us so far this season. Our German sprinter will enjoy the benefit of having the home fans cheering him. The rest of his lead-out crew is also lining up, with Eisel and Vaitkus looking to position Ciolek perfectly for the sprint.
Discovery Channel
Gerald Ciolek
 Bernhard Eisel
 Tomas Vaitkus
Andreas Klöden
Linus Gerdemann
 Jurgen Van Goolen
Yaroslav Popovych |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 25-10-2010 22:33
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I do rather enjoy this story. It's my guilty pleasure.
[url=cleavercycling.co.uk]  [/url] |
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| Squire |
Posted on 26-10-2010 14:36
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You shouldn't feel guilty
If the guilt is coming from Armstrong being the main protagonist, I can tell you that I don't like the man either, but he makes for a good story! |
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| Squire |
Posted on 26-10-2010 17:41
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16.08.2010: Vattenfall Cyclassics
Vattenfall Cyclassics
Hamburg - Hamburg: 250.4km
Tactics meeting
We will make sure this classic ends with a bunch sprint for Ciolek to prevail in. That's in the interest of a lot of other teams as well, so I guess we'll get enough help. With Vaitkus and Eisel acting as Ciolek's launch ramp, the victory should be within our reach. Our young German sprinter is coming into some decent form after riding the Tour de Pologne.
Jurgen Van Goolen was our representative in the breakaway, just to ease the pressure on our riders back in the peloton. The break also contained Katusha rider Cunego.
The pack left it late to catch the breakaway, but on the last climb of the Waseberg, they were reeled in. Things were shaping up perfectly for Ciolek.
4km from the finish, four strong attackers tried their luck! Devolder, Flecha, Rosseler and Pozzato attempted to disrupt the sprinters' day.
With just 2km remaining, Pozzato was still avoiding the Columbia train behind him!
The Quickstep rider was about to spoil the party! Under the red kite, he was still hanging on! Rabobank's Flecha was also still ahead of the peloton in second position.
Eisel led Ciolek into a good position for the dash for the line, but it was probably too late!
Ciolek got the jump on the other sprinters, but Pozzato hung on to win the Vattenfall Cyclassics! Another attacker, Flecha, finished strongly in 2nd, just ahead of Ciolek who got 3rd.
Today's winner
Results
1 Filippo Pozzato Quick-Step 5h53'06
2 Juan Antonio Flecha Rabobank + 0
3 Gerald Ciolek Discovery Channel + 0
4 Bernhard Eisel Discovery Channel + 0
5 Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - High Road + 0
6 Kristof Vandewalle Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 0
7 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C + 0
8 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank + 0
9 Enrico Gasparotto Lampre - N.G.C + 0
10 Fabian Wegmann Team Milram + 0
Pippo Pozzato pulled off an amazing task today, by attacking just a few kms away from the line. The Quickstep strongman held on to his lead all the way, to claim a great win for the Belgians. Neither the Columbia train nor the Discovery train had enough steam to bring him back.
Our home favourite Gerald Ciolek was the best of the rest behind Pozzato and Flecha, and will be pleased with his podium placing. However, if we'd been able to keep the race together, he might as well have won.
Another winless race, but at least it was a good result. During the next week, some of our Vuelta team will finetune their form in the Eneco Tour, while the American part of Discovery go to Seattle for the American Championships. Stay tuned!
Edited by Squire on 26-10-2010 18:05
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| Squire |
Posted on 26-10-2010 21:03
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29.08.2010: American Championship
The same day as the Vuelta starts, our American riders took part in the American Championship. Last year we sent Levi Leipheimer to the Vuelta, but this year he gave the national TT title a try. Not surprisingly, Levi cruised in to a solid victory, and will be seen in the American colours when he races against the clock next year.
Levi eating up the road on his way to his first national TT title.
With five time winner David Zabriskie completely out of shape, it was youngsters Taylor Phinney and TJ Van Garderen who provided Leipheimer with the toughest challenge. Maybe we should pick up Phinney from our development team for next year? Lance Armstrong finished in an anonymous 9th place, just ahead of Zabriskie.
Time trial
1 Levi Leipheimer Discovery Channel 49'41
2 Taylor Phinney Trek Livestrong + 54
3 Tejay Van Garderen Rabobank CT + 54
4 Danny Pate OUCH presented by Maxxis + 58
5 Tyler Farrar Garmin - Slipstream + 1'19
 
Taylor Phinney placed 2nd in the TT. BMC's Jackson Stewart outsprinted everybody take the road title.
For the flat road race, defending champion Tyler Farrar was the big favourite. Our George Hincapie was in the break of the day, but Garmin brought him and the others back before the finish. Farrar crashed during the last kilometers, so the sprint was won by Jackson Stewart of BMC. A good win for the small Swiss-American team, who'll get some more publicity with the national champion on board.
Road race
1 Jackson Stewart BMC Racing Team 49'41
2 Jesse Anthony Team Type 1 + 0
3 Taylor Kuphaldt Trek Livestrong + 0
4 Daniel Holt Team Type 1 + 0
5 Sergio Hernandez Rock Racing + 0
We reached our goal of winning the national TT championship, and I think Levi will look great in the stars and stripes next year. This is our first win since the TTT of the Tour de France. Let's hope there are more to come in the Vuelta a España! Stay tuned! |
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| janne_837 |
Posted on 26-10-2010 21:18
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Nice win with Levi! Hope you can get more at the Vuelta 
Where will Lance compete in the rest of the saison? |
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| Tuco the Ugly |
Posted on 26-10-2010 21:33
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Domestique
Posts: 720
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janne_837 wrote:
Where will Lance compete in the rest of the saison?
Lance doesn't compete after July
Looking forward to the Vuelta. |
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| Squire |
Posted on 26-10-2010 21:33
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janne_837 wrote:
Nice win with Levi! Hope you can get more at the Vuelta
Where will Lance compete in the rest of the saison?
Yeah, looking forward to make a cool NC jersey for him 
Lance has a lot of defending to do before the end of the season. He will try and reproduce his wins from the Tour of Missouri, the Worlds and Giro di Lombardia last year. With the flat worlds course, that could be hard though.
I will only report from the Vuelta, Worlds and Lombardia, so you have seen the last of him in the WC jersey if he doesn't pull off something spectacular in Melbourne.
Edit: @Tuco: I'm making Lance work for his salary! Late-season racing proved very successful for him last year.
Edited by Squire on 26-10-2010 21:35
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| Squire |
Posted on 29-10-2010 15:50
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29.08.2010: Vuelta a España
At the same time as Leipheimer surges to victory in the Seattle TT, the third Grand Tour of the year begins in Spain.
The Route
The parcourse this year is tough, especially the last week, which is brutal! The first days include some difficult finishes, and looks to be designed for our accomplished attacker Peter Velits. The first week ends with a 41km TT, the second week holds two mountain finishes, the second being the insane Alto del Angliru. The last week puts the riders up against three mountain top finishes in four days, before a 28km TT in Madrid wraps it all up.
The riders
Alejandro Valverde. That's all you need to know about the startlist. The field in this Vuelta is shockingly weak, including only three riders from last year's top ten: Lövkvist (8th), Tondo (10th) and our own Oscar Pereiro (2nd). Valverde's main rivals should be David Lopez (Euskaltel), said Lövkvist and Iker Camaño (Fuji), in addition to Pereiro of course. The fact that Valverde has a team of pure climbing power (LLS, Moreno, Arroyo, Kiryienka) doesn't make it easier for anybody gunning for the overall.
As for the sprinters, there are no one here. Well, you do have the Renshaws and the Isasis, but that doesn't really count. Ciolek will have a ball. I wonder what Boonen are up to, because his absence from the Vuelta means that he hasn't ridden a GT this year. And where are the Worlds favourites going to get their form from?
Our goals
First and foremost, we are going for stage wins! With Ciolek, Kreuziger and Velits, we have a lot of opportunities, and I'll be disappointed if we leave Spain with less than five wins. The first week contains a lot of Velits stages. Our overall prospect is last year's surprise runner-up Oscar Pereiro, who will get very good support from Giro winner Kreuziger, although Kreuziger hasn't ridden a race in a few months. The Spanish climbers Martinez, Rubiera and Noval will also be useful. With the weak field, we're aiming to put Pereiro on the podium once more.
Discovery Channel
 Óscar Pereiro
 Roman Kreuziger
 Peter Velits
Gerald Ciolek
Bernhard Eisel
Tomas Vaitkus
José Rubiera
Egoi MartÃnez
BenjamÃn Noval |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 29-10-2010 15:57
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Pereiro for a top 3?
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| Squire |
Posted on 29-10-2010 16:03
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Squire wrote:
we're aiming to put Pereiro on the podium once more.
Yep |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 29-10-2010 16:15
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World Champion
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Oops, missed that 
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 29-10-2010 17:32
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Grand Tour Champion
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Good luck, bring a stage win with Velits please! |
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