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Antonio Andolini :: The Last of the Legends
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 11-07-2017 22:38
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Tour de France Champion
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Antonio is simply the Best (as said by Tina Turner)  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 12-07-2017 09:07
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Tour de France Champion
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VoetsT wrote:
History is written! Antonio is riding in a league on his own.
But the press doesn't like it, curious what will happen ...
He's certainly on top of the world right now. but we know how the press can make of break a person!
Masterblaster01 wrote:
The double 
Although Antonio is starting to look like an arrogant bastard towards his team and the press right about now.. Curious to see if intellect comes with age.
Well maybe that's a bit harsh, but he is definitely very egoistic on the bike. But then again, with a rider of those capabilities, can you blame him for trying to get the maximum out of it? 
rogvi97 wrote:
Double rainbow  He doesn't seem to be good at both cycling and caring about other at the same time 
Haha well at least he does one thing really well 
She had the gift of foresight  |
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 13-07-2017 14:40
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The press likes a winner, but what the press hates is a winner that keeps winning.
Just as most spectators - how many WANT Froome win the tour
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| Masterblaster01 |
Posted on 13-07-2017 19:35
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Ian Butler wrote:Masterblaster01 wrote:
The double
Although Antonio is starting to look like an arrogant bastard towards his team and the press right about now.. Curious to see if intellect comes with age.
Well maybe that's a bit harsh, but he is definitely very egoistic on the bike. But then again, with a rider of those capabilities, can you blame him for trying to get the maximum out of it?
Hahaha bit harsh maybe yeah, can't blame him for being absolutely superior haha
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 21-11-2024 11:33
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| Reveille |
Posted on 13-07-2017 20:42
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Antonio is not overpowered not at all |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 20-07-2017 03:33
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I thought I recognised Ando from somewhere
Interesting developments, Ando is a monster already but a bit of a dick apparently
Edited by jandal7 on 20-07-2017 08:08
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
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5x  x5
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 20-07-2017 10:37
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Thanks for all the wonderful comments. Indeed, while Ando's strength is skyrocketing, his ego is also inflating.
That's the angle played right now
However, with many other things going on right now (including UCL) and a bit of a motivation struggle at the moment, I'm taking a bit of a break here. Ando doesn't strike me as the most patient man but he'll have to wait for a while |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 19-07-2018 12:11
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Tour de France Champion
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3.1 The World Champion & Media
Andolini's break with the press didn't happen overnight. It was the little things, which over time accumulated, that soured his relationship with most journalists. One such instance was Paris - Tours of 2018, Andolini's final race of that season. Earlier in Lombardia he had managed to finish 6th, so with a decent enough result in Paris - Tours, Antonio would finish the year on top of the CQ and the UCI Ranking.
In a rather dull race, the winner would be decided in a 20-man group sprint. Antonio showed his strength for the last time that season and won his second consecutive Paris - Tours. His season had been an immense success and it seemed like the cycling world had officially entered the 'Age of Andolini'. He would dominate cycling for years to come, that much was certain.
All the more reason the press was astonished when Andolini refused to talk and disappeared rather quickly. Two days later, some vague apologies came, along with a believable excuse, but the damage was done.
All through the off-season of 2018, little things like that popped up. By the time Andolini finally raced again, in his opening race in 2019, he had a lot of the media against him.
Winning Paris - Tours 2018
Whether this was the reason for his slow start of the 2019 season, we're not entirely sure. Andolini has always denied this, but you can't help wondering that it messed with his head a little bit. The fact is that Andolini was not up to his usual level at the start of 2019.
The opening races in Italy proved to be a disappointment, with a 5th place in Trofeo Laiguaglia, which he had won the previous two years. Strade Bianchi saw him in the leading group, but without any strenght in the final kilometer, also finishing 5th. These results are not bad per se, but the world had seen a different Antonio Andolini. His form was not what it should be, and that gave hope to many riders for the upcoming Tirreno - Adriatico and Milan - San Remo!
As the media sought all different reasons for Andolini's lack of form, he stayed away from journalists and even isolated himself in the team a bit. Team leaders said he was very focused and had a different schedule, attempting to explain what was going on.
Il Ghiottone had to wait until the final stage of Tirreno - Adriatico to bag his first win of the season, a time trial. Landing just outside the top 15 in the General Classification was a correct measure of his current form. He was okay, but nobody was impressed with this Andolini.
Milan - San Remo was the first big goal of the season, and it finally started to look like Andolini had built up well. On the Poggio, he was setting a very high pace, one only Peter Sagan and Alexis Gougeard could follow. A three-man sprint followed. Andolini was in a decent position to win his 3rd Milan - San Remo at the age of 26. He started the sprint from far out and held out his hand for the win, but Peter Sagan was experienced in these types of sprints and beat the World Champion on the line. No third for Antonio.
Asked about his performance, Antonio was short.
The fastest man won. I tried my best. I'm trying to peak a bit later this season and be in form for Liège.
The avid reader might remark that Andolini had said something about his schedule a year earlier after Liège. It appeared that he had put together a schedule, peaking for the Ardennes. After this slow season start, he had finally put his cards on the table for everyone to see. Andolini was eyeing his next Monument. Punchers beware!
| 1 | Peter Sagan | MTN-Qhubeka | 7h10'10 | | 2 | Antonio Andolini | Cattelan Italia | s.t. | | 3 | Alexis Gougeard | FDJ | s.t. | | 4 | Francesco Fontana | Cattelan Italia | + 1'09 | | 5 | Tim Wellens | Lotto Soudal | s.t. | | 6 | Michal Kwiatkowski | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 7 | Tony Gallopin | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | 8 | Moreno Moser | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 9 | Alexander Kristoff | Team Sky | + 2'12 | | 10 | Salvatore Puccio | Sky Dive Dubai Pro Cycling Team - Al Ahli Club | s.t. |
Edited by Ian Butler on 19-07-2018 12:28
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 19-07-2018 12:18
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World Champion
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 I love you Ian!
Seems like Ando, whilst still in "regular" world class form, is peaking hard or bluffing a bit. Can't wait for spring!
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 19-07-2018 12:19
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Woooow! Great to see this story back!
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 19-07-2018 12:32
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Tour de France Champion
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@jandal
Cheers man
@Aquarius
Great to be back!
So for almost a year now I've not really played any computer games, so also no Pro cycling Manager.
Lately I've been writing a lot again and I remembered the stories I wrote here and I went back to re-read some stuff when I came across this one. I felt it would be great if it could still be finished.
So don't expect regular updates, but whenever I have some time to spare, I'll try to keep this going forward.
For example: I'm leaving on vacation tonight for a few weeks, so the next update will already be at least 2 weeks. (or tonight if I can still manage one) But I hope I can do an update every once in a while and slowly but steadily bring Andolini's story to a close. And since it's only getting started, it could take quite a while |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 19-07-2018 12:45
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World Champion
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Awesome Great to have you and your talents back in any form
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 19-07-2018 14:00
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Ian welcome back! Just in time for the MG transfer season
But seriously though always a great read from you! Hopefully you find the motivation you need to continue this amazing story!!
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 06-08-2018 13:56
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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3.2 A Blue Spring
It was becoming obvious that Andolini's change of schedule wasn't going according to plan at all. Only one victory so far was far below expectations of this amazing talent. 26 years old, Andolini was expected to come into his top years of cycling. He would, eventually, but he'd have to endure some tough moments along the way.
Winning Wevelgem and finishing 3rd in his first Ronde the previous season had given the cobbled specialists plenty of worry going into the cobbled races this year. Andolini skipped E3 and went into Gent - Wevelgem with the full support of his team.
A crash early in the race ruined his chances. Team mate and friend Fontana managed to finish 3rd, but Andolini himself wasn't even in the top 100.
Next came De Ronde, where the World Champion was keen to at least equal his last result. He wasn't the favorite for the win, but people wouldn't be surprised if he pulled it out of his hat anyway.
During the race, Antonio was practically invisible. Finishing in 20th position was neither dramatic nor very good. It was a mediocre performance, the umpteeth one of the season 2019.
Ready for his first Paris - Roubaix, Andolini was in doubt. When he finished 2 minutes down on Peter Sagan (who completed a Ronde - Roubaix double), he was clearly disappointed. A 10th position in his first Paris - Roubaix was not what he had expected.
And so his planning was slowly turning into a major disastor. Antonio Andolini, the World Champion, the biggest talent of his generation and arguably one of cycling's greatest, was having a very mediocre year, just as he was expected to take the throne for years to come.
The upcoming Ardennes campaign would be very decisive of how people would rate the World Champion's season. If he didn't at least won one big classic, his spring (and by extension, his entire season) would be ruined.
There was a lot of pressure on Antonio's shoulders... |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 06-08-2018 17:28
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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Nice to have you back mate |
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 06-08-2018 22:48
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Let's hope that this means that Antonio is just taking his preparation slower in order to peak in the Ardennes, like he promised last year
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 06-08-2018 23:08
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Great read!! Hopefully he can pull something crazy off in the Ardennes!! Go Antonio!!!
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