Today’s stage is in Quebec City. We will sit in the peloton, and try to do something in the finish.
Quebec :
No attacks today, maybe due to the short distance. Schumacher took the first points sprint, and Kerby the first mountain.
Peleton moving calmly around Quebec City:
We did not do very well in the uphill mass sprint, but did not lose anything in the GC either. Ryan Anderson (Optum) won the stage over Janier Acevedo (Jamis)
17/6, Final stage 6, Ville de Saint-Georges : 122,2 km
Profile:
Today’s stage is in Saint-Georges city. Another flat stage, we will concentrate on a better sprint setup today.
Saint-Georges city:
Again no attacks, the stage was all about the mass sprint. Our sprint train was better today. Schumacher came 2nd after Edgar Pinto (LA Alumínios); We have filed an official complaint about that car, in the middle of the sprint
Stage:
1
Edgar Pinto
LA Alumínios - Antarte
2h57'08
2
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
3
Graham Briggs
Team Raleigh
s.t.
4
Alex Candelario
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
s.t.
5
Juan José Haedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
s.t.
6
Mauro Abel Richeze
Team Nippo - De Rosa
s.t.
7
Tommy Nankervis
Bissell Cycling
s.t.
8
Ryan Anderson
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
s.t.
9
António Carvalho
LA Alumínios - Antarte
s.t.
10
Alexandre Blain
Team Raleigh
s.t.
GC:
1
Janier Acevedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
18h25'11
2
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 15
3
Ryan Anderson
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
+ 1'26
4
Lawson Craddock
Bontrager Cycling Team
+ 1'32
5
Edgar Pinto
LA Alumínios - Antarte
+ 2'06
6
Frederik Wilmann
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 2'58
7
Jordan Kerby
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 3'18
8
Evan Oliphant
Team Raleigh
+ 3'26
9
Ben Jacques-Maynes
Jamis - Hagens Berman
+ 3'47
10
Edson Calderon
4-72 Colombia
+ 3'58
Points:
1
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
0
83
2
Ryan Anderson
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
0
61
3
Janier Acevedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
0
59
1
Jordan Kerby
Christina Watches - Onfone
4
30
2
Jonathan Patrick McCarty
Bissell Cycling
12
26
3
Janier Acevedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
2
18
Christina on the phone from London: Good race,2-6-7 in GC, Sprinter and KoM Jerseys, and the overall Team first.
Rasmussen: Would have been nice with a stage win, but the boys was good over here.
Edited by Tamijo on 03-09-2015 16:32
Nice Reading Your stories as always! I see you using default leader jerseys a lot. Its on my plan to make the leader jerseys from tour of norway. Right now im upgrading my own game With lot og New stages so it might take a couple of weeks before i done them.
Christina: I am here in beautiful Kranj in the northwestern part of Slovenia. To support the team in the GP Kranj. This is the only priority race in June, just before the transfer season, it is important that we get a top result here, so that we can safely invest in the new riders for the 2014 season. We need a top 5.
Rasmussen:
We have chosen this roster:
Constantino Zaballa
Daniele Aldegheri
Francisco José Pacheco
Frederik Wilmann
Marc Hester
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Morten Høberg
Stefan Schumacher
A relative large break of 7 riders got away in the morning, we decided to front the peloton to keep them in line. It was hard work draining the team , so instead we chose to give Francisco José Pacheco the chance to attack and catch the front group.
Pacheco has caught the front group:
The break was caught on the second last climb, the fighting for position began. Pacheco, Schumacher and Zaballa all got over the top in the front group. Zaballa scarified himself, leading the other to a sprint. Christina Watches took a double!
1
Francisco José Pacheco
Christina Watches - Onfone
4h25'17
2
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
3
Julian Arredondo
Team Nippo - De Rosa
s.t.
4
Constantino Zaballa
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
5
Matija Kvasina
Team Gourmetfein Simplon
s.t.
6
Hugo Sabido
LA Alumínios - Antarte
s.t.
7
Riccardo Zoidl
Team Gourmetfein Simplon
s.t.
8
Lawson Craddock
Bontrager Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Matej Mugerli
Adria Mobil
s.t.
10
Fortunato Baliani
Team Nippo - De Rosa
+ 1'04
Christina : Francisco, first race for you in a long time, and you did it again !
Congratulations !
30/6 2013
Beaumont Trophy:
Stamfordham- Stamfordham: 186,5 km (cat. 1.2)
Profile:
Rasmussen: here in Stamfordham, Northumberland, England for the Beaumont Trophy.
A relative flat race, but with some short steep climbs. We have a huge field here with 178 riders.
St Mary the Virgin parish church, Stamfordham:
Roster:
Constantino Zaballa
Daniele Aldegheri
Jordan Kerby
Marc Hester
Martin Pedersen
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Morten Høberg
Stefan Schumacher
It’s an awful weather today, morning break of 6 riders, later Morten Høberg and McCarty (Bissel) attacked and caught up with the front group.
With about 35-40 km to go, the peloton broke up on the steep climb, we were not sitting good, and most of our riders lost contact, Zaballa, Schumacher, Pedersen. They got back, but we lost energy. Near the end Riccardo Zoidl (Team Gourmetfein Simplon) attacked from the front group, just in time before they got caught by the peloton. He made it to the finish, and won the race.
Schumacher was our best today, crossing the line 4th.
Christina: “Rasmussen, It now time for the contract negotiations, even though I can’t give you an exact budget, I want you to strengthen the team for the 2014 season. I know Zaballa will end his career after this season, what else can I expect.”
Rasmussen: “First of all we have extended Schumacher and Morten Høberg. Jordan Kerby and Jimmi Sørensen are not extended so far, we are undecided about that.
We have signed 3 Danish amateurs, to strengthen our local profile, and we are in the marked looking for 2-3 new stronger riders. I will update you on any developments in the squad.”
7/7 2013
Tour de delta, cat. 1.2
Tsawwassen (circuit): 151.2 km.
Profile:
Rasmussen: I am here in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada. It’s 37 degrees Celsius, too hot ! The strategy today is to sit in the Peloton, helping Angelo Furlan in the sprint.
Boundary Bay near Tsawwassen:
Not much happened on the route, besides a bad crash just before the sprint.
We did not get the best train going, Furlan came in 9th. The race was won by Ken Hanson (Optum).
Norwegian 19 years old, Sondre Holst Enger, his strength is flat and sprints, with a fine hill ability. Our best sprinters are getting older, we need him to take over in the future.”
French 21 years old, former “FDJ.fr” rider Kenny Elissonde. His strength is the mountains, and the hills.
9/7-14/7 2013
Giro della Valle d'Aosta (category 2.2)
Stage 1, Ville-la-Grand - Ville-la-Grand : 147.5 km
Profile:
Christina: How in here in Ville-la-Grande in France close to the Italian border, for the Italian race Giro della Valle d'Aosta, the most important race for us in July. We expect a top 5 here, not that strong a field, should be possible.
Église Saint Mammès, Ville-la-Grande:
Rasmussen: We have a strong squad here, but not in prime condition, but I think we can make a top 5. The plan for today, is to get Mitchell Lovelock-Fay in a break, to collect points for a mountain jersey. We expect Schumacher or Zaballa to fight for a GC position.
Riders:
Angelo Furlan
Constantino Zaballa
Daniele Aldegheri
Francisco José Pacheco
Marc Hester
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Morten Høberg
Stefan Schumacher
A hot race today about 27 degrees out there, we got Morten Høberg in a break, with Sütterlin (Thüringer) and Bani (Amore), not what we had planned, but better that nothing. Now others had to set the pace.
There was a lot of attempts to attack on the last category 2, but it ended in a mass sprint, won by Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani). We did ok with 5 and 6.
Belgian 22 years old, former “Topsport Vlaanderen” rider, Yves Lampaert, his strength is cobblestones and flat, with an ok sprint. We have no descent cobble rider, so we had to get one.
Danish 30 years old, former “Glud & Marstrand” rider Lasse Bøchman, his strength is the time trail, mountains, and the hills. So we expect him to do well in stage races with TT stages.
Lasse Bøchman:
We have now got the riders we need for the 2014 season. We are sorry to say, but we have to say goodbye to Jordan Kerby and Jimmi Sørensen.
9/7-14/7 2013
Giro della Valle d'Aosta (category 2.2)
10/7, Stage 2, Megéve – La Salle : 138,9 km
Profile:
Christina: Here in Megéve, a popular ski resort, in the French Alps. The stage today is a true mountain Stage. We still hope to get Lovelock-Fay in a break to collect mountain points, and for Schumacher or Zaballa to be placed in the top of the GC.
Megéve:
Rasmussen: Lovelock-Fay did get away in a solo break, and took the points on the “Beaufort” (cat.1). Shortly after, he was reeled in. Other unsuccessful breaks was created and caught, the tempo was rather hard, and many riders were left behind. On the last climb, the final break took off, with Blika (Øster Hus) and Bosisio (Utensilnord).
Schumacher or Zaballa tried to follow, but was caught, Bosisio was strong and Blika couldent keep up, Bosisio had about 2’30 on a much reduced peloton, crossing the top of the “Col du Petit Saint-Bernard” (cat.1), The peloton was fast, on the descend towards “La Salle”. In the moment the peloton caught Bosisio, on the short but steep uphill finish, Zaballa attacked and flew by.
Zaballa sprinted to a solo victory, gaining 10 sec. on the other CG contenders.
Stage:
1
Constantino Zaballa
Christina Watches - Onfone
4h04'39
2
Enrico Battaglin
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
+10
3
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+10
4
Daan Olivier
Rabobank Development Team
+10
5
Gabriele Bosisio
Utensilnord - Ora24.eu
+10
6
Ben Jacques-Maynes
Jamis - Hagens Berman
+10
7
Riccardo Chiarini
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+10
8
Ivan Rovny
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
+10
9
Janier Acevedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
+10
10
Diego Rosa
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+10
GC:
1
Sonny Colbrelli
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
7h42'19
2
Constantino Zaballa
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 0
3
Enrico Battaglin
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
+ 18
4
Janier Acevedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
+ 22
5
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 22
6
Gabriele Bosisio
Utensilnord - Ora24.eu
+ 24
7
Enrico Barbin
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
+ 28
8
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 30
9
Daan Olivier
Rabobank Development Team
+ 30
10
Riccardo Chiarini
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 30
Points:
Sonny Colbrelli
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
10
35
Enrico Battaglin
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
20
27
Constantino Zaballa
Christina Watches - Onfone
25
25
Mountain:
1
Gabriele Bosisio
Utensilnord - Ora24.eu
28
28
2
Jasha Sütterlin
Thüringer Energie Team
0
24
3
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Christina Watches - Onfone
18
24
Christina: Still a lot of work to do in this exciting race, but what a wonderful start.
9/7-14/7 2013
Giro della Valle d'Aosta (category 2.2)
11/7, Stage 3, La Salle - Valgrisenche: 144,9 km
Profile:
Christina: Here in Valgrisenche, a small town and ski resort in Italy, the destination of today’s race. Another very tough stage, this time with a mountain finish. Having Zaballa on a podium position, we won’t send anyone out today; everyone is needed close to Zaballa today.
Valgrisenche:
An adventurous morning break, of 7 riders got about 5 minutes. The peloton took it easy, they had no chance in the terrain to come.
Francisco José Pacheco, getting water for his teammates:
At the climb towards “Verrogne” (cat. 1), the fighting began. A series of attacks forced “Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox” to set a high pace; in defend of the yellow jersey. At the top we were down to 3 riders in the front group, Constantino Zaballa, Stefan Schumacher and Mitchell Lovelock-Fay.
Zaballa at the top of “Verrogne”:
On the Climb to “Les combes” (cat.2) Schumacher lost contact with the front group, Zaballa was now alone. At the start of the last climb, the front group caught the reminding attackers, now it was up to the strongest climbers to decide the outcome on the stage, the group was now down to 18 riders.
The front group catching the last attackers:
Janier Acevedo (Jamis) make a strong attack, getting a good gab instantly, two “Androni Giocattoli” riders tried to follow. Zaballa did not have the energy to follow, so decided to just keep a steady pace, not to lose, too much time.
Janier Acevedo take a solo win, gaining almost 3 minutes on Zaballa:
9/7-14/7 2013
Giro della Valle d'Aosta (category 2.2)
12/7, Stage 4, Rivara – Rivara, 149,4 km
Profile:
Christina: Here in Rivara, Italy. today will be a flat stage with only a few category 4 climbs, we intent to relax in the peloton, to save energy for the harder stages coming up.
The Castello Vecchio:
A break of 7 riders got away early on the stage. The peloton didn’t want to work too hard today so the break made it to the finish, just in time to avoid the mass sprint.
Kristjan Fajt from the breakaway took the stage today:
9/7-14/7 2013
Giro della Valle d'Aosta (category 2.2)
13/7, Stage 5, Chatillon – Torgnon : 152,4 km
Profile:
Christina: Here in Torgnon, destination of today’s stage, the hardest stage of the race, with a “Hors catégorie” climb, and a mountain finish; the last ordinary stage before tomorrow’s ITT. We expect everyone to ride for Zaballa's GC position.
Cappella di Triatel:
Rasmussen: The first 70 km was calm for us, a small break of 6, and the peloton moving slowly. Even the climb to the “Hors catégorie - clo Tsecore”, was not very hard and most riders was able to keep up with the peloton.
Peloton riding together up to “col Tsecore”:
The fighting started at the foot of “Col Saint Pantaleon” (cat 1), Rider after rider broke from the pack, including a strong Jonathan Monsalve (Vini Fantini - Selle Italia) they formed a front group, and got a nice gab back to the peloton, at the top of the climb.
Jonathan Monsalve attacks:
Schumacher trying to protect Zaballa, as long as he could, up the final climb.
Zaballa managed to hang on most of the way to the finish, but he could not follow Acevedo, when he attacked trying to catch Jonathan Monsalve. Zaballa came in 5th (at 1’33).
Jonathan Monsalve winning just in front of Janier Acevedo:
9/7-14/7 2013
Giro della Valle d'Aosta (category 2.2)
14/7, Stage 6, Champdepraz - Champdepraz : 9,1 km
Profile:
Christina: Here in Champdepraz, for the last stage, a short 9.1 km ITT, but with a mountain profile, we don’t expect this to affect the GC, but who knows.
Hotel Parc Mont Avic, Champdepraz:
Rasmussen : We had a bit of trouble finding a god rhythm of this steep ITT, so our first riders, Pacheco, Furlan, Hester. Got very bad times, and ended up in the botton of the stage result. But after that we found the strategy, and got better times, we got Stefan Schumacher & Constantino Zaballa in top 20, not losing Zaballa’s position in GC.
Stage top 5:
1
Janier Acevedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
26'09
2
Diego Rosa
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 3
3
Franco Pellizotti
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 18
4
Daan Olivier
Rabobank Development Team
+ 34
5
Ivan Rovny
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
+ 38
Our Riders:
13
Constantino Zaballa
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1'11
19
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1'31
58
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1'44
153
Daniele Aldegheri
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1'55
163
Morten Høberg
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1'56
181
Francisco José Pacheco
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 2'07
182
Angelo Furlan
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 2'07
183
Marc Hester
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 2'31
GC top 3:
1
Janier Acevedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
20h53'14
2
Franco Pellizotti
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 3'51
3
Diego Rosa
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 3'54
Our riders:
4
Constantino Zaballa
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 5'45
18
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 12'48
42
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 33'13
55
Daniele Aldegheri
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 42'28
62
Francisco José Pacheco
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 45'23
90
Morten Høberg
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1h00'48
115
Marc Hester
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1h09'51
129
Angelo Furlan
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1h15'36
Christina:
Janier Acevedo (Jamis - Hagens Berman) won the race, the sprint and the mountain cat., a very good race for him.
But also a good race for us, we came for a top 5, and we got it. ! Thanks boys.
