Gonzalez Salas putting in a strong ride on the prolouge and gets rewardet by a second place, still hunting his first win though!
The best Hugo Boss leadout so far, and we still only managed to get a 3rd place out from that, dissapointing
A race we didnt really have huge expectations for, but still belived that some stage wins were possible.. Unfortunatly it didnt pan out like that and we got two podiums but no wins. Leaving us with a pretty dissapointing aftermath considering Ablenado failed to get a decent GC-position on home turf aswell.
Results
Stage 1
Mario Gonzalez Salas
2nd
Stage 4
Jon Aberasturi
3rd
GC
1
Rigoberto Úran
Coldeportes
18h12'43
2
Ian Bibby
Ayubowan!
+ 27
3
Yevgeni Nepomnyachsniy
VisitUkraine p/b Nemiroff
s.t.
...
23
Aberlardo Ablenado
Hugo Boss
+ 4'00
25th
Gisborne GP
C1
Bilbao best of the rest and finishes 7th
Back to the races we belong again! Bilbao were supported by an excellent hilly setup here but unfortunatly for us, he couldnt take advantage of that.
In the end finishes somewhere around his capabillities but it was dissapointing to see him reacting to late to join the battle for the top spots.
Slagter did also have a decent race ending in 16th place, easily season best for him! Mudarra and Landa performed under par here and were a bit underwhelming, hopefully they will perform better as the season progresses though!
Overall decent race. Could be better could be worse.
GC
1
Tomohiro Kinoshita
Meiji - JR East
5h29'16
2
Cyril Gautier
Ayubowan!
s.t.
3
Damiano Cunego
VisitUkraine p/b Nemiroff
s.t.
...
7
Pello Bilbao
Hugo Boss
+ 48
16
Tom Jelte Slagter
Hugo Boss
s.t.
27th
Milan San Remo
PTM
Can you spot a Hugo Boss outfit somewhere?
Here it is: Our first PT-Momument!
It was really a stacked field here as you could expect, but we still had some riders who could challenge the best here. In the end we didnt really show us from our best side and failed to put our mark on that race, but so did alot of other big names aswell, so we are not too dissapointed.
Our new classics king, Roy Jans, managed to be our best finisher in 28th, beating Kump yet again in a classic suiting him; Extra bragging rights!
GC
1
Sam Bewley
Becherovka - Petrof
6h27'10
2
John Degenkolb
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
3
Michael Van Stayen
Evonik - ELKO
s.t.
...
28
Roy Jans
Hugo Boss
s.t.
33
Marko Kump
Hugo Boss
s.t.
And that would conclude our february month of racing, cya in Mars!
I mean decent month considering how great San Luis were for you Rest could've gone better, so up for improvement if the team wants to participate in the Top 10 fight. Good luck, will look out for Slagter, as it might point out what to do with Poljanski when he comes back. See you in Bayern apparently, another GC for Costa I think
Yeah definatly cant complain with how that month went because of San Luis
Agreed that the top 10 fight will be really tough for us, as realistically we wont fight for the wins/big points when Costa isnt participating in these tours with timetrials.
Id be thrilled if Costa takes Bayern, but alot depends on that one hilly stage, a race much more open than San Luis imo so really hope our duo of Kump/Costa + decent support will follow the team plan there!
Manager thoughts: Probably the hardest mountain stage all year, in any division. And considering we stepped away from mountains this year, our expectations aren’t really that great for this race. A breakaway here is probably our biggest chance for a good result. If it turns out to be a passive race though, we might get a surprise result with Aberasturi here who got great finishing skills.
Squad:
Tom Jelte Slagter
68
78
77
66
71
73
74
50
61
71
82
79
66
Aberlardo Ablenado
67
78
67
72
73
77
77
52
51
65
59
64
72
Jon Aberasturi
74
59
64
60
73
71
76
57
79
78
60
57
75
Alejandro Valverde
67
74
74
66
71
71
72
50
65
73
61
55
66
Pim Ligthart
72
54
58
78
72
66
68
60
70
74
69
66
78
Klever Cuasquer
68
75
68
65
73
73
73
54
69
68
74
63
64
Carlos Barbero
73
65
73
64
74
71
67
60
69
72
74
71
67
Miguel Minguez Ayala
67
72
73
68
69
71
69
56
66
69
56
72
66
10-15th
Vuelta Pais Vasco
PT
Manager thoughts: Our second PT-wildcard of 2016. This one might be even more special for us considering it’s raced on home turf and its in our leader, Pello Bilbao basque country. Therefore I think it will surprise no-one that we are backing him here. Since it is in Spain, we only sent two non-spanish riders here with Slagter and Lighart.
Squad:
Pello Bilbao
71
67
79
63
77
71
71
51
71
75
67
66
61
Tom Jelte Slagter
68
78
77
66
71
73
74
50
61
71
82
79
66
Mikel Landa
65
69
78
57
70
69
70
50
61
69
74
67
57
Mario Gonzalez Salas
70
57
60
80
74
76
67
60
61
54
78
61
80
Alejandro Valverde
67
74
74
66
71
71
72
50
65
73
61
55
66
Pim Ligthart
72
54
58
78
72
66
68
60
70
74
69
66
78
Carlos Barbero
73
65
73
64
74
71
67
60
69
72
74
71
67
Miguel Minguez Ayala
67
72
73
68
69
71
69
56
66
69
56
72
66
12-16th
Bayern Rundfahrt
C1
Manager thoughts: Costa’s second race of the season. And if it is a Costa-race, it is an important race aswell. Judging by the way he performed in San Luis (he won there btw) he got great chances to repeat that success here. Everything he has to do, is got rid of the stronger timetrialers on the hilly stage and he might win again. But ofcourse, everything is easier said than done.
Squad:
Rui Costa
70
71
80
76
73
72
72
61
69
72
66
63
76
Marko Kump
74
66
76
63
76
73
80
73
79
80
70
73
70
Jon Aberasturi
74
59
64
60
73
71
76
57
79
78
60
57
75
Pablo Mudarra
71
68
77
62
74
70
71
51
64
68
62
64
65
Franscisco Ventoso
73
64
74
58
74
69
72
71
76
74
55
60
58
Roy Jans
76
53
74
63
74
73
65
68
74
74
68
70
66
Taylor Tolleson
76
67
68
65
69
70
72
58
76
75
72
67
72
Marco Marcato
73
69
73
64
72
72
67
73
75
73
71
73
62
14th
Duo Differdange
C1
Manager thoughts: So here it is. The sole reason we splashed the cash on medium tt-ist Pim Lighart. He will get accompanied by our newly evolved TT-star Salas. Which is definitely not the strongest duo on paper, but judging by the way timetrials have gone this year, they might surprise a lot.
Squad:
Mario Gonzalez Salas
70
57
60
80
74
76
67
60
61
54
78
61
80
Pim Ligthart
72
54
58
78
72
66
68
60
70
74
69
66
78
27th
E3 Prijs
HC
Manager thoughts: I guess we had to race one eventually. A cobbled race I mean. Since we got no squad for this cobbled raced, why not use them to experiement a little? Our superstar Kump will be here, but admitely we don’t really belive in any top result here.
Squad:
Marko Kump
74
66
76
63
76
73
80
73
79
80
70
73
70
Pablo Mudarra
71
68
77
62
74
70
71
51
64
68
62
64
65
Franscisco Ventoso
73
64
74
58
74
69
72
71
76
74
55
60
58
Roy Jans
76
53
74
63
74
73
65
68
74
74
68
70
66
Marco Marcato
73
69
73
64
72
72
67
73
75
73
71
73
62
Pim Ligthart
72
54
58
78
72
66
68
60
70
74
69
66
78
Segundo Navarrete
73
60
69
74
69
72
68
56
73
72
66
67
73
27-29th
Corsica International
HC
Manager thoughts: We definitely have good memories here from last year, with Janez Brajkovic winning his first race for us and nabbing us our first HC-win in the process. This year things looks a lot darker though. If we could somehow get a top 10 with Ablenado who won white here last year, that would be great though.
Squad:
Aberlardo Ablenado
67
78
67
72
73
77
77
52
51
65
59
64
72
Jon Aberasturi
74
59
64
60
73
71
76
57
79
78
60
57
75
Mario Gonzalez Salas
70
57
60
80
74
76
67
60
61
54
78
61
80
Taylor Tolleson
76
67
68
65
69
70
72
58
76
75
72
67
72
Alejandro Valverde
67
74
74
66
71
71
72
50
65
73
61
55
66
Klever Cuasquer
68
75
68
65
73
73
73
54
69
68
74
63
64
Carlos Barbero
73
65
73
64
74
71
67
60
69
72
74
71
67
Miguel Minguez Ayala
67
72
73
68
69
71
69
56
66
69
56
72
66
29th
Ringerike GP
C1
Manager thoughts: Oh gosh, finally we are racing another hilly race again! First and one of the few races Bilbao and Costa are having this season. Considering our monster hilly setup here with 80-79-78-77-77-74-73-69 makes us very positive in beliving this will be a huge race for us. Thought having that expectation it can go one way only really.
Squad:
Rui Costa
70
71
80
76
73
72
72
61
69
72
66
63
76
Pello Bilbao
71
67
79
63
77
71
71
51
71
75
67
66
61
Tom Jelte Slagter
68
78
77
66
71
73
74
50
61
71
82
79
66
Mikel Landa
65
69
78
57
70
69
70
50
61
69
74
67
57
Pablo Mudarra
71
68
77
62
74
70
71
51
64
68
62
64
65
Roy Jans
76
53
74
63
74
73
65
68
74
74
68
70
66
Marco Marcato
73
69
73
64
72
72
67
73
75
73
71
73
62
Segundo Navarrete
73
60
69
74
69
72
68
56
73
72
66
67
73
Manager's note:
That will round of our races for March. We don’t really belive its possible to repeat the success from Jan and Feb, as nearly every race then suited us a lot. But still a very important month with a few key races and lots of racedays spent for our leaders.
Edited by dev4ever on 18-08-2016 12:28
Having got rid of our three best climbers by far from last year, we knew right from the start that a good result here would be hard to achieve.
And achieve nothing we did aswell, although I was kinda expected, its still frustrating to see our team so inactive with several capable break-away riders. Especially when a similar rider from Coldeportes got a top result here aswell, resulting in another top result from a medium contender for them.
Bilbao's shot at showing himself at the highest level. Unfortunatly he didnt seem ready for such a responsobillity..
With a very decent team here we hoped to show ourself from an agressive and positive site on the highest level in cycling. That, we didnt manage to achieve. The lack of results and showing here was underwhelming.
Hopefully our next PT-showing will be better, after two relatively weak attempts.
GC
1
Yuri Trofimov
Tinkoff Sport Academy
15h45'05
2
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Aker - MOT
+ 1'19
3
Tejay Van Garderen
Movistar - US Postal
+ 1'22
12-16th
Bayern Rundfahrt
C1
Kump crossing the line first on stage 3
Rui Costa making a great TT, to ensure a top GC-placing
A race where we had a stacked team, with stars like Kump and Costa on the line, adding to the relatively few teams that were here, we expected to score quite a bit here.
We did score okay here, but not nearly as much as we could have. All that because of a bad hilly stage here. Firstly, Rui Costa massively underachieved that, by getting gapped by weaker puncheurs and barely hanging onto other worse puncheurs. Secondly because Kump sacrificed himself for Costa who clearly had a pretty shit day.
To top it all off Kump was clearly the strongest on the last stage of the favourites, but the stage win got 'wasted' to a breakaway.
Surprisingly he still managed to hang onto a 3rd place in GC, but it could and should been a better ending to the race.
Results
Stage 1
Marko Kump
3rd
Stage 3
Marko Kump
1st
Points
Marko Kump
1st
GC
1
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
Netia - Norske Skog
18h35'18
2
Ian Bibby
Ayubowan!
+ 8
3
Rui Costa
Hugo Boss
+ 16
...
15
Marko Kump
Hugo Boss
+ 2'22
21
Roy Jans
Hugo Boss
+ 3'36
22
Marco Marcato
Hugo Boss
+ 3'37
25
Pablo Mudarra
Hugo Boss
+ 3'48
28
Francisco Ventoso
Hugo Boss
+ 4'19
14th
Duo Differdange
C1
A race where brought a solid duo, Salas and Lighart, who were clear top 5 contenders here. Unfortunatly, they didnt act like it and finished in a dissapointing 9th place.
Results
1
Novatek-Panarmenian.net
1h08'08
2
Shimano - Siam Cement
+ 16
3
Valio - DeLaval
+ 18
...
9
Hugo Boss
+ 34
GC
1
Janez Brajkovic
Novatek-Panarmenian.net
1h08'08
2
Fabian Cancellara
Novatek-Panarmenian.net
s.t.
3
Rasmus Quaade
Shimano - Siam Cement
+ 16
...
17
Mario Gonzalez Salas
Hugo Boss
+ 34
18
Pim Ligthart
Hugo Boss
s.t.
27th
E3 Prijs
HC
Kump with plenty left in the tank in the final and almost managed to grab a podium spot in the end
A rare cobbled race in our calender. This could only be about rescuing minor points, right? Right?!
Apparently not, with a cobbled trio of 73,73 and 71 cb-stat we had an amazing race!
Captain Kump showed that he was definetely worthy of the first-class tickets we had to buy him to go. He delived a super strong 4th place by him in a cobbled race. We couldnt have asked for more!
Marcato and Ventoso made the race even better for us by finishing 10th and 11th, making this easily our best race in mars. That was for sure one thing I didnt expect at the start of the month!
A race we won last year with Brajkovic. Not bringing the same caliber leader this time, but still some reasonable expectations with last years white-jersey winner Ablenado present. This time fully maxed aswell.
Sadly it turned to be a sorry afair from us resulting in Ablenado finishing in another bad GC-placing (25th this time).
Highlight of the race was easily Aberasturi with another top-sprinting result with a podium in the opener here.
Results
Stage 1
Jon Aberasturi
3rd
GC
1
Rigoberto Úran
Coldeportes
5h53'39
2
Magno Nazaret
Karcher-Adira
+ 56
3
Andrei Amador
Team UBS
+ 1'02
...
25
Aberlardo Ablenado
Hugo Boss
+ 4'51
29th
Ringerike GP
C1
Costa and Bilbao finishing good to salvage a decent placing
Another race this month filled with expectetations. And those usually turns out pretty badly.
Eventhough it really didnt seem like our race, with the way it was panning out. We endet up with a result we definetely could be contempt with. Considering two guys top ten in such a stacked field is pretty decent.
With march wrapped up and a little under 1/3 of our season over with, it's time to look at where we are sitting.
Apparently, we have found a pretty good spot. We are even looking like the top favourite for the PCT-crown if the positive racing trend continues. Which is definetely unrealistic, due to the remainer of our calender, but we are still sitting left with a reasonable chance for an automatic promotion spot which was our goal for the start of the season and still is.
Anyway, lets take a look at how things are looking like after march, please have in mind that not all teams have raced equally much yet;
March rankings;
1
5
Coldeportes
1090
2
1
Ayubowan!
1053
3
2
Hugo Boss
1014
4
3
Arrinera
902
5
16
Strava
873
Spoiler
6
6
Valio - DeLaval
836
7
11
Wiesenhof - Andritz
803
8
4
VisitUkraine p/b Nemiroff
801
9
15
Porto - Prio
800
10
9
Spotify - Haglöfs
793
11
10
Banc na hÉireann
739
12
14
Novatek-Panarmenian.net
708
13
18
Netia - Norske Skog
699
14
12
Team UBS
691
15
8
Team Telkom for Africa
644
16
21
Karcher - Adira
599
17
7
Vontobel
599
18
13
Flores - Ceitec
583
19
20
Shimano - Siam Cement Team
426
20
19
Euskaltel
426
21
25
Meiji - JR East
420
22
27
Aeropostal Venezuela Ciclismo
405
23
17
Generali - AXA
384
24
22
SanCor
343
25
29
Azteca - NBCSN
336
26
28
Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
335
27
26
Indosat - ANZ
289
28
24
Eritel - Sonatrach
227
29
23
Compal-Merida
219
30
30
In-n-Out p/b Carrefour
160
So, as you can see, we are currently sitting in a brilliant third spot. If he could finish here we would over the moon. With quite of the pre-season favourites failing so far, we have alot of definetely have alot of teams comming up behind who we gotta fear. Still, we can't be dissatisfied with a start like this.
Infact, we started so good that we are even leading the PpRD rankings, which is probably the most important rankings for most. With 44 race days done, we have somehow managed to make the most of them in the entire division and we are looking really good for the remainer of the season.
PpRD Projections rankings;
Team
Total
RD
PpRD
Proj
1
3
Hugo Boss
1014
44
23,05
3227
2
5
Strava
873
39
22,38
3133
3
7
Wiesenhof - Andritz
803
36
22,31
3123
4
9
Porto - Prio
800
37
21,62
3027
5
8
VisitUkraine p/b Nemiroff
801
38
21,08
2951
Spoiler
6
15
Team Telkom for Africa
644
31
20,77
2908
7
2
Ayubowan!
1053
51
20,65
2891
8
1
Coldeportes
1090
53
20,57
2880
9
4
Arrinera
902
44
20,5
2870
10
14
Team UBS
691
36
19,19
2687
11
12
Novatek-Panarmenian.net
708
38
18,63
2608
12
6
Valio - DeLaval
836
45
18,58
2601
13
13
Netia - Norske Skog
699
39
17,92
2509
14
26
Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
335
19
17,63
2468
15
10
Spotify - Haglöfs
793
45
17,62
2467
16
11
Banc na hÉireann
739
48
15,4
2156
17
17
Vontobel
599
42
14,26
1996
18
16
Karcher - Adira
599
44
13,61
1905
19
18
Flores - Ceitec
583
43
13,56
1898
20
21
Meiji - JR East
420
33
12,73
1782
21
25
Azteca - NBCSN
336
30
11,2
1568
22
23
Generali - AXA
384
35
10,97
1536
23
20
Euskaltel
426
39
10,92
1529
24
28
Eritel - Sonatrach
227
21
10,81
1513
25
22
Aeropostal Venezuela Ciclismo
405
39
10,38
1453
26
19
Shimano - Siam Cement Team
426
53
8,04
1126
27
24
SanCor
343
52
6,6
924
28
27
Indosat - ANZ
289
45
6,42
899
29
30
In-n-Out p/b Carrefour
160
25
6,4
896
30
29
Compal-Merida
219
50
4,38
613
If we take a look at the induvidual standings, its quite clear that Rui Costa is clearly our top scorer so far, however Kump has done pretty good aswell and Bilbao has just gotten started and only had 4 racedays so far. So plenty of scoring potential left.
Manager's thoughts: With a squad consisting of our superstar Kump, it was obvious that we were comming here to hunt some stages. Tons of flat/hilly sprint stages made this a fit for Kump. We also brought Ablenado here to get a decent GC, considering what he have managed so far this season, our expectations werent exactly too high.
Squad:
Marko Kump
74
66
76
63
76
73
80
73
79
80
70
73
70
Aberlardo Ablenado
67
78
67
72
73
77
77
52
51
65
59
64
72
Franscisco Ventoso
73
64
74
58
74
69
72
71
76
74
55
60
58
Mario Gonzalez Salas
70
57
60
80
74
76
67
60
61
54
78
61
80
Roy Jans
76
53
74
63
74
73
65
68
74
74
68
70
66
Marco Marcato
73
69
73
64
72
72
67
73
75
73
71
73
62
Klever Cuasquer
68
75
68
65
73
73
73
54
69
68
74
63
64
Segundo Navarrete
73
60
69
74
69
72
68
56
73
72
66
67
73
9-16th
Tour of South Afrika
C1
Managers thoughts: A hilly race including a TTT is bound to scare away some of the top puncheurs precious racedays. Atleast we thought, therefore we sent a stacked team here including both Bilbao and Costa, with podium ambitions and a pretty reasonable hope for two top 10.
Squad:
Rui Costa
70
71
80
76
73
72
72
61
69
72
66
63
76
Pello Bilbao
71
67
79
63
77
71
71
51
71
75
67
66
61
Aberlardo Ablenado
67
78
67
72
73
77
77
52
51
65
59
64
72
Mario Gonzalez Salas
70
57
60
80
74
76
67
60
61
54
78
61
80
Alejandro Valverde
67
74
74
66
71
71
72
50
65
73
61
55
66
Pim Ligthart
72
54
58
78
72
66
68
60
70
74
69
66
78
Miguel Minguez Ayala
67
72
73
68
69
71
69
56
66
69
56
72
66
Segundo Navarrete
73
60
69
74
69
72
68
56
73
72
66
67
73
18th
Philadelphia International Championship
C1
Managers thoughts: A flat race with some hills.. Kump anyone? Considering Demare won here last year it is pretty obvious that we got winning ambitions here with Kump and super strong team to support him throughout the entire race.
Squad:
Marko Kump
74
66
76
63
76
73
80
73
79
80
70
73
70
Mikel Landa
65
69
78
57
70
69
70
50
61
69
74
67
57
Jon Aberasturi
74
59
64
60
73
71
76
57
79
78
60
57
75
Franscisco Ventoso
73
64
74
58
74
69
72
71
76
74
55
60
58
Roy Jans
76
53
74
63
74
73
65
68
74
74
68
70
66
Taylor Tolleson
76
67
68
65
69
70
72
58
76
75
72
67
72
Marco Marcato
73
69
73
64
72
72
67
73
75
73
71
73
62
Carlos Barbero
73
65
73
64
74
71
67
60
69
72
74
71
67
23-28th
Tour of Romandie
HC
Managers thoughts: Another foolishly chosen goal race. That might be one of the many reasons the crazy manager chose to send Costa here? Either way with him here + Slagter who is a very strong combo rider on paper, we expect some positive showing atleast.
Squad:
Rui Costa
70
71
80
76
73
72
72
61
69
72
66
63
76
Tom Jelte Slagter
68
78
77
66
71
73
74
50
61
71
82
79
66
Aberlardo Ablenado
67
78
67
72
73
77
77
52
51
65
59
64
72
Mario Gonzalez Salas
70
57
60
80
74
76
67
60
61
54
78
61
80
Alejandro Valverde
67
74
74
66
71
71
72
50
65
73
61
55
66
Klever Cuasquer
68
75
68
65
73
73
73
54
69
68
74
63
64
Carlos Barbero
73
65
73
64
74
71
67
60
69
72
74
71
67
Miguel Minguez Ayala
67
72
73
68
69
71
69
56
66
69
56
72
66
30th
Amstel Gold Race
PT
Managers thoughts: So here it is. Our third PT-appearance of the 2016 season already and our 4th throughout our existence! Due to the hilly profile, this kinda feels like a home race. And if we should be so lucky to end up promoting, it is on such parkours we want to build and excel even more in the future, so obviously a very important test for us this!
Squad:
Rui Costa
70
71
80
76
73
72
72
61
69
72
66
63
76
Marko Kump
74
66
76
63
76
73
80
73
79
80
70
73
70
Pello Bilbao
71
67
79
63
77
71
71
51
71
75
67
66
61
Tom Jelte Slagter
68
78
77
66
71
73
74
50
61
71
82
79
66
Mikel Landa
65
69
78
57
70
69
70
50
61
69
74
67
57
Pablo Mudarra
71
68
77
62
74
70
71
51
64
68
62
64
65
Carlos Barbero
73
65
73
64
74
71
67
60
69
72
74
71
67
Miguel Minguez Ayala
67
72
73
68
69
71
69
56
66
69
56
72
66
Due to a busy PR-manager, the april preview came kinda late, so not ideal this but it might not be the last late update for the season this.
@Croatia Well, truth to be told, Philadelphia is actually the race which I have the biggest expectations for this month (atleast similary to South Africa), so I defintely expect to do well there.
Romandie is a big joker race though, no clue how we will do there for sure!
Random funfact: Kump has yet to leave a stage race without a stage victory this season. Impressive feat, how long can he keep this up?
Kump doing what he's paid for - winning! His results made this race an okay.
A race decidet by mountain stages and a TTT, made it clear that we werent gonna compete for a top spot overall atleast. But due to sending Kump here we were hoping for stage success and taking the points jersey. That plan worked, kind off. Kump got a win and a podium, but that was it. He could surely have done even better, especially on stage two where a group of top sprinters gapped the rest and made us fight for peanuts.
Results:
Stage 3
Marko Kump
3rd
Stage 5
Marko Kump
1st
GC
1
Riccardo Ricco
Team Telkom for Africa
21h09'58
2
Beñat Intxausti
Indosat - ANZ
+ 4
3
Andrei Amador
Team UBS
+ 1'51
...
23
Aberlardo Ablenado
Hugo Boss
+ 8'33
9-16th
Tour of South Afrika
C1
ToSA started off nicely, with margins on our side and Costa 2nd on the opener. Unfortunatly, this was also our best stage throughout the race.
A race which scared most of the top riders due to a long TTT, a TTT we fight would play into our advantage due to our strong setup. Unfortunatly, skills arent everything and we had a horrilble day out there and we lost any chance of fighting for a top GC-spot. So even with the super-weak lineup here and our stacked squad, we only managed 6th and 9th, which is pretty devasting due to the circumstances. Both Costa and Bilbao beaten by much weaker puncheurs here.
Results:
Stage 1
Rui Costa
2nd
Stage 5
Rui Costa
3rd
GC:
1
Diego Ulissi
Generali - AXA
23h30'00
2
Hassen Ben Nasser
Team Telkom for Africa
+ 1'03
3
Nicolas Roche
Arrinera
+ 1'39
..
6
Rui Costa
Hugo Boss
+ 2'00
9
Pello Bilbao
Hugo Boss
+ 5'15
18th
Philadelphia International Championship
C1
Why couldnt we look like this in the final aswell?
A race that would define our month, after a decent-ish start, this would really see if was gonna a great or ok-ish month. Turned out to be the latter one..
Supported by the best in the division, Kump easily had winning ambitions here. Unfortunatly, our stacked team here was anywhere but in the final.. So somehow Kump had to manage himself there, that didnt end to well and he endet in a super-dissapointing 8th place. To top it off, the ''poor mans Kump'' Reimer, won the race easily, while also having much weaker support than Kump. It definetely didnt look like it though. So, another almost perfect classic for Kump failed.
Despite the results not being as good as the previous ones, it was still a good month for Hugo Boss! Nice to see one of my favourite jerseys at the front and taking victories
Volta a Catalunya 
Rigoberto Úran
Ian Bibby
Yevgeni Nepomnyachsniy
Gisborne GP 
Tomohiro Kinoshita
Cyril Gautier
Damiano Cunego
Tom Jelte Slagter
John Degenkolb
Michael Van Stayen
Marko Kump
Kandy Cycling Classic 
Klever Cuasquer 
Rui Costa
Pablo Mudarra 
Taylor Tolleson 
Duo Differdange 
Ringerike GP 
José Rujano
Gilber Zurita
Yuri Trofimov
Fabian Cancellara
Rasmus Quaade
Magno Nazaret
Jay McCarthy
Tour of Vancouver 
Tour of South Afrika 
anyway...Kump sweeping the season? 
) but I have confident you will continue to pick up the points needed for promotion
Hassen Ben Nasser
Nicolas Roche
Martin Reimer
well it looks like I shouldn't report races of your team
