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Bianchi Factory Team
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| mvhoogdalem |
Posted on 02-01-2014 22:16
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Howson should be able to do better in the TT, although I don't know his exact stats. 
Too bad Earle was forced into a bad position in the sprint. 3rd is not bad though.  |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 02-01-2014 23:41
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@mvhoogdalem: Howson's stat are 73-TT 72-PRL, Issue was fitness, or the lack of it!
As for Earle, he was on the front from the moment he attacked. Tried to drive it hard to drop the rest and resulted in a lead out. Others only started sprinting when he did at 1.6 to go. If I had left any later I could have won it... ah well! Happy with podium though
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 03-01-2014 00:01
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 Tour de San Luis
21st - 27th January 2013
The first official race for the team sees us head to South America and the Tour de San Luis in Argentina. With a maximum 6 riders per team, we have had to try and balance the squad between GC honours and stage wins. Remy Di Gregorio will lead the team, with Linus Gerdemann and Dan Fleeman working as domestiques, whilst Caleb Ewan will battle in the sprints, with the help of Damien Howson and Rasmus Quaade.
Top 10 GC finish is the main aim for the team.
The Route
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4 (ITT)
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
 Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team Squad 
Remy Di Gregorio
Caleb Ewan
Dan Fleeman
Linus Gerdemann
Damien Howson
Rasmus Quaade
Full Start List
Edited by the_hoyle on 03-01-2014 21:20
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 03-01-2014 00:16
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Good team, hopefully you won't get the startlist I had in my story - Quintana, Kelderman, Valverde etc.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 03-01-2014 12:27
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Lets hope for a good race in Argentina |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 13:52
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 03-01-2014 21:17
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@cycleman & sutty: Thanks guys start list has been added to the preview post
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| mvhoogdalem |
Posted on 03-01-2014 21:23
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Top 10 in GC shouldn't be too hard with this startlist.
Looking forward for the team's first race, although I will have to cheer for Moser too.  |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 03-01-2014 21:26
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Could you post the teams stats?
Really liking the team and story so far. Some great names especially Earle! But the jersey is too similar to Sky for me, nice yes, but too similar
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 03-01-2014 22:02
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Tour de San Luis
San Luis-Villa Mercedes -- 163.0km
Three riders got away at the start of the stage, with Jelle Wallays (TSV), Markus Eichler (TNE) and Camilo Suarez (CO4) all showing their team's colours.
Ben King (RLT) set off in pursuit of the 3 breakaway men, and after a long chase, finally bridged the gap after 37km of lone riding.
Time Gap -- 50km
Peleton > 6'47 > Lead Group
Caja Rural, Lampre and Androni took up the control of the peleton and seemed happy to let the break go.
Sprint Point 1
1. B. King // 2. M. Eichler // 3. J. Wallays
The break worked well together, but sadly for them, the peleton had upped their pace.
Time Gap -- 110km
Peleton > 3'44 > Lead Group
Strong winds on the stage were taking their toll on the teams, and as the pace was upped, the peleton was strung out in a long line.
Sprint Point 2
1. C. Suarez // 2. M. Eichler // 3. J. Wallays
Disaster for NetApp! Their leader Bartosz Huzarski suffers a puncture. Two teammates drop back to help him back, but he will lose 4'08 on his rivals at the end of the day.
The break was finally caught with 7km to go, all but setting up a bunch sprint at the finish.
Knowing that there was a tight right-hand bend 1.6km to the finish, we knew whoever got into it first would be in prime spot to win today!
Ewan takes the win! Rapha-Bianchi hit the corner first, and power to the win. Fantastic win for the young Australian and the team. But where was the challenge for the big teams? There was a huge gap to the rest of the sprinters...
| 1 | Caleb Ewan | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 3h45'24 | | 2 | Manuel Cardoso | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | + 26 | | 3 | Ariel Maximiliano Richeze | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 4 | Moreno Moser | Cannondale Pro Cycling | s.t. | | 5 | Marco Haller | Katusha Team | s.t. | | ... | | 9 | Rasmus Quaade | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 13 | Damien Howson | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 24 | Rémy Di Gregorio | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 25 | Daniel Fleeman | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 33 | Linus Gerdemann | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. |
| 1 | Caleb Ewan | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 3h45'24 | | 2 | Manuel Cardoso | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | + 34 | | 3 | Ariel Maximiliano Richeze | Lampre - Merida | + 38 | | 4 | Markus Eichler | Team NetApp - Endura | s.t. | | 5 | Jelle Wallays | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | s.t. | | ... | | 13 | Rasmus Quaade | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | + 46 | | 17 | Damien Howson | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 28 | Rémy Di Gregorio | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 29 | Daniel Fleeman | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 37 | Linus Gerdemann | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. |
| 1 | Caleb Ewan | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 25 | | 2 | Manuel Cardoso | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | 20 | | 3 | Ariel Maximiliano Richeze | Lampre - Merida | 16 | | 4 | Moreno Moser | Cannondale Pro Cycling | 14 | | 5 | Marco Haller | Katusha Team | 12 | | ... | | 11 | Rasmus Quaade | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 7 | | 16 | Damien Howson | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 3 |
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Young Rider Classification
| 1 | Caleb Ewan | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 3h45'24 | | 22 | Jelle Wallays | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | + 38 | | 23 | Ben King | RadioShack - Leopard | + 40 | | 33 | Camilo Suárez | 4-72 Colombia | + 44 | | 2 | Moreno Moser | Cannondale Pro Cycling | + 46 | | ... | | 8 | Rasmus Quaade | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 9 | Damien Howson | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. |
| 1 | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 11h17'04 | | 2 | Katusha Team | + 26 | | 3 | Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela | s.t. | | 4 | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 5 | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | s.t. |
**NEW** Stage Debrief **NEW**
Well... where do I start? First of all, great win for the team and Ewan. Really nice to get off the mark at our first try in a stage race.
But the question is what happened to the rest? We knew it was necessary to hit that final corner first, but it seems there was more to it. The high winds blew the finish to pieces, and the slowing of the riders for the bend behind our leadout meant a gap opened up. Rasmus didn't look back from there, and the rest writes itself. There is no chance that this will happen again tomorrow, right?
Edited by the_hoyle on 06-01-2014 23:21
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 03-01-2014 22:11
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@mvhoogdalem: I think I was under estimated the race... I should have aimed for top 5 in the season goals p.s. is there a shorter version of your name I can call you?
@TMM: Here are the full team stats
As for the jersey design, it is a little similar to Sky, but honestly that is a big coincidence! 
here is the proof:
Spoiler Rapha Jersey Template
Bianchi Jersey Template
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| mvhoogdalem |
Posted on 03-01-2014 22:24
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Great win in the first race for the team. The others tried, but Ewan is just that awesome. 
@the_hoyle You can just cut some letters at the end if you want. |
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 03-01-2014 22:34
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What a win for Ewan! First pro race too
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 03-01-2014 23:55
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Quaade did well to grab 9th place |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 04-01-2014 00:29
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@mvh: I have no idea what happened in the lead-out / sprint. Quaade just rode off the front on 90 dot effort 
@cycleman: the first of many
@sutty: Quaade just rolled in after his work was done. That is how much he rode the lead out away from the main sprinters
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| baia |
Posted on 04-01-2014 02:16
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Amazing sprint... well done.
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 06-01-2014 22:11
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@baia: thanks
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 06-01-2014 23:21
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Tour de San Luis
Tilisarao-Terrazas del Portezeuelo -- 171.4km
Again it was group of 4 riders who tried to escape at the start of the stage, with Ben King (RLT) active for the second stage running. He was joined by Wilson Marentes (COL), Diego Ochoa (CO4) and Russell Downing (TNE),
Pieter Vanspeybrouck (TSV) tried to bridge the gap, but with King present and lying 6th in the GC, the peleton was not going to be letting this one go.
It was not all together for long, as Downing attacked again, this time with Carlos Uran (CO4) for company.
Mountain Sprint
1. R. Downing // 2. C. Uran // 3. L. Gerdemann
With a Orange Jersey to defend, we took up the pace making, with Lampre and Caja Rural helping out.
Time Gap -- 60km
Peleton > 4'32 > Leaders
Sprint Point 1
1. R. Downing // 2. C. Uran // 3. A.M. Richeze
Sadly though, it was soon just Rapha-Bianchi on the front, with Linus Gerdemann and Damien Howson working tireless all day.
Reaching the final part of the stage, a short, but very steep climb lay ahead. Lampre rushed to the front, clearly trying to put Ewan under pressure.
It was pointless though, as Gerdemann and Dan Fleeman keeping the young Australian towards the front. He was enjoying his day in the Leader's Jersey.
Sprint Point 2
1. C. Uran // 2. R. Downing // 3. F. Felline
Downing was the final rider to be brought back into the bunch, and with 8km to go, the lead-outs began to form.
We wanted Caleb to be in the best possible place, and hit front as the line approached, but Katusha looked a threat to our right-hand side
Haller takes the win for Katusha! It is a great win for the Austrian rider, with Caleb fighting hard to take second, whilst Florencio (KAT) holding off Vigano for 3rd.
| 1 | Marco Haller | Katusha Team | 3h51'45 | | 2 | Caleb Ewan | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 3 | Xavier Florencio | Katusha Team | s.t. | | 4 | Davide Viganò | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 5 | Marco Frapporti | Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela | s.t. | | ... | | 13 | Damien Howson | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 24 | Rasmus Quaade | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 26 | Rémy Di Gregorio | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 35 | Daniel Fleeman | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 38 | Linus Gerdemann | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. |
| 1 | Caleb Ewan | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 7h36'37 | | 2 | Marco Haller | Katusha Team | + 38 | | 3 | Manuel Cardoso | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | + 46 | | 4 | Ariel Maximiliano Richeze | Lampre - Merida | + 48 | | 5 | Carlos Uran | 4-72 Colombia | s.t. | | ... | | 14 | Damien Howson | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | + 58 | | 16 | Rasmus Quaade | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 29 | Rémy Di Gregorio | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 32 | Daniel Fleeman | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 37 | Linus Gerdemann | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. |
| 1 | Caleb Ewan | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 45 | | 2 | Marco Haller | Katusha Team | 37 | | 3 | Manuel Cardoso | Caja Rural - Seguros RGA | 29 | | 4 | Ariel Maximiliano Richeze | Lampre - Merida | 25 | | 5 | Fabio Felline | Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela | 17 | | ... | | 18 | Rasmus Quaade | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 7 | | 20 | Damien Howson | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 6 |
| 1 | Russell Downing | Team NetApp - Endura | 6 | | 2 | Carlos Uran | 4-72 Colombia | 4 | | 3 | Linus Gerdemann | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 2 |
| 1 | Caleb Ewan | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 7h36'37 | | 2 | Marco Haller | Katusha Team | + 38 | | 3 | Jelle Wallays | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | + 50 | | 4 | Ben King | RadioShack - Leopard | + 52 | | 5 | Fabio Felline | Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela | + 58 | | ... | | 7 | Damien Howson | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. | | 8 | Rasmus Quaade | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | s.t. |
| 1 | Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team | 11h17'04 | | 2 | MTN - Qhubeka | + 26 | | 3 | Team Saxo - Tinkoff | s.t. | | 4 | Colombia | s.t. | | 5 | Garmin - Sharp | s.t. |
That was more like a proper stage! No wind at all, and proper bunch sprint to finish. Another excellent finish from Caleb. He was kicking himself back on the Team Bus, but Linus, Remy and I had to remind him that he is only an 18 year old neo-pro and he has just finished in front of some amazing sprinters!
Great work by the team all day. It was a complete team effort from start to finish. Linus and Damien worked tireless on the front of the peleton, Rasmus looked after Caleb, and Remy and Dan chipped in with the bottles collection. Hats off to all of them!
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 06-01-2014 23:23
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Great result for Caleb |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 19-01-2014 21:56
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Some of you may have noticed that I have not posted for a while, and I just wanted to say sorry to any of the followers who might be left.
Busy schedule, new relationship, renewed motivation to play FM14 and lack of PCM time has resulted in the stoppage of the story.
Do not worry, this is not a dead story! I will be back soon and it will pick up from where we left off
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 19-01-2014 22:02
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Sounds good. Was waiting for some word
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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)
