The Rider - No the sheikh shot them all for the BBQ after the race. I thought that was pretty obvious
Thank you all for following! I decided I want to make this story last long in terms of Cyanide Years, so I'll be moving a bit faster game-wise. Only lengthy reports of big races and special events, hope that's all right by you
I must admit being a DS is much more complicated than I thought. Everyone always has something to say at never a good time. The race days are long and tiring and it's only February. I'm so tired, I could sleep for thousand years.
Anyway, as you notice, tomorrow's already the Omloop, where our actual big season begins. Our first step in conquering Europe is sponsor nation Belgium, like the old German nation once tried before. We hope to succeed, and in a less bloody manner, that is!
We're here with a 8 man squad, ready to prove themselves worthy of being called a rider, but first, some more (late) results!
TOUR OF OH-MAN
Rik Steenacker never matched his speed of the first stage and got a bit lost during the race, only to come back to form in the final stage and getting an 8th place. My grading: great debut, two top 10 places in a strong field, well done, 20-year old!
Dominik Nerz, who had the chance to lead this race, rode a promising mountain stage, but screwed himself out of a good GC place in the next hilly day, where, surprisingly, little Tom Butler threw himself in the mix and finished just outside the top 30. Not a shabby start from little Tom.
Not a bad Tour of Oman, but not spectacular either. Conclusions? Rik is extremely talented, you can see that. Tom had a great start and can climb, but not much more so far, Nerz lacks consistency but he has much more in him. Preidler is a surprise and could reach far with his level of determination!
TOUR DE VAR
Slowly reaching his potential, Matteo Rabottini is doing extremely well this season. After the Tour Down Under, he now managed to get inside the top 10 here. Well done, boy! He's not even in proper shape yet and already scoring.
Final Classification
1
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
8h21'14
2
Thomas De Gendt
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 18
3
Pierre Rolland
Team Europcar
+ 42
4
Richie Porte
Sky Pro Cycling
+ 1'09
5
Geraint Thomas
Sky Pro Cycling
+ 1'23
6
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Pro Cycling
+ 1'35
7
Martin Elmiger
IAM Cycling
s.t.
8
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky Pro Cycling
+ 1'37
9
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel Euskadi
s.t.
10
Matteo Rabottini
Citigroup Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'59
TOUR OF ALGARVE
Finally Algarve.Maxime Monfort was in a bad shape and only made up for a bad start in the time trial. Tyler Farrar won a beautiful sprint stage with the help of Van Avermaet, though!
Final Classification
1
Ion Izagirre
Euskaltel Euskadi
13h31'41
2
Riccardo Zoidl
Team Gourmetfein - Simplon
+ 12
3
Lieuwe Westra
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 19
4
Arthur Vichot
FDJ
+ 22
5
Davide Rebellin
CCC Polkowice
+ 26
6
Robert Vrecer
Euskaltel Euskadi
+ 30
7
Thomas Löfkvist
IAM Cycling
s.t.
8
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 31
9
Maxime Monfort
Citigroup Pro Cycling Team
+ 35
10
Ricardo Mestre
Euskaltel Euskadi
+ 37
Points
1
Tyler Farrar
Citigroup Pro Cycling Team
49
2
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
43
3
Michael Van Staeyen
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
32
4
Riccardo Zoidl
Team Gourmetfein - Simplon
29
5
Sonny Colbrelli
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
28
Analysis? Tyler Farrar is coming back. It's Farrar 2.0 from now on. We're trying to steam him ready for the Giro, where we hope he will win stages like never before!
That's it for now. Tomorrow the Omloop, I can't wait. I might bring you a more detailed report about that, though, with some pictures if I can!
I can't work like this. First Photobucket starts crapping around so I can't upload my pictures. Then I can upload them but they turn out all grey. Then I try to export my result but I get an error. No screenshots and no result
I hope I'll get the screenshots later, though, because I quite like them!
If these problems keep up, I'll have to change tactics for this story, I'm thinking about it.
Today was a big day for the team, real important, like. Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the first race on Belgian soil from a brand new Belgian WT team. We sent the strongest team we could think of, mixed up with some booming talent. Our goal for today? Show our colors and finish top 5.
Believe it or not, the final cobbled section is called The Steenakker. Fate for our debutant Rik Steenacker?
General Tactic: ride aggressively, try to surprise. Eikenberg and Molenberg are good places to go. If a big group stays together, Greg Van Avermaet is the sprinter, Damien Gaudin is free then.
THE RACE
Unfortunately, I have no screens just yet. I'll post them later.
Van Keirsbulck went in the morning breakaway, the good lad. Relieved us from doing any work, pretty good, so.
Then near the end Greg started his raging destruction of the field. With three attacks in a short time, many riders threw in the towel.
After Greg was done, Boonen was off, not to be seen again.
Riding for a second place, there was a slight hesitation. Damien sneaked away and just managed to stay in front of the sprinting peloton!
Sagan and Kristoff stranded on 3 and 4, with Greg finishing 5th.
On his debut, Rik Steenacker finished 15th. What a performance from him!
KUURNE
Tomorrow is Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne. I hope to have some pictures from today then!
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar!
Thanks a lot people, means a lot to me to have this kind of support
Busy days lately, so sorry for the lack of updates. But don't worry, whenever I play PCM, you'll get the update, just can't spend much time on the computer right now.
I'll explain why:
Spoiler
Lastest Purchase:
I'll do my best to get another update soon, but I'm guessing things will settle down next week (I've got rehearsals every evening and every afternoon right now...)
547984 - Yes, though I'm hoping Photobucket finally bucks up and let's me show the screenshots
I'm up early today, couldn't sleep. Today is Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne and I really want the team to perform well. I still have one final decision to make, though. The squad really performed well yesterday, but I might change Benjamin Verraes for Jens Keukeleire today, considering the possibility of a sprinting finish. A tough choice, indeed.
Anyway, finally got around to those pictures from yesterday, so here they are!
Greg with Damien in an attempted attack
Greg never gives up. Giving it another go!
Tom Boonen with a powerful counter
With hesitation in the chase, Damien sneaks off
Tom Boonen, winner of the Omloop 2013
Damien Gaudin with an amazing 2nd place, Greg finishing 5th
