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[CT] Spark Team NZ - February Preview
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 24-09-2024 08:21
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Team Leader
Posts: 7298
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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With our new signings means we have new National Champion jerseys to create! We worked with our designer to try make something different. We think these jerseys will stand out and look great in the peloton!
Antoine Duchesne - Canadian Road Race Champion
George Bennett - New Zealand Road Race Champion
We think these jerseys will look great and we are excited to see Antoine and George in these jerseys!
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 22-10-2024 22:11
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Team Leader
Posts: 7298
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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With the season well and truly underway and the team currently racing in the Vuelta al Tachira, we can take a look back over the first 3 races of the season. These are Gisborn GP, Nakhon Ratchasima Trophy and Tour Down Under. Lets take a look and see what our points situation is like at the moment.
Gisborne GP
A home race to start the season off with Beltran sent to lead us. He struggled unfortunately but Jernej Svab was able to stay with the front group. He did struggle in the sprint though and only managed 13th spot. We did manage to get Thompson in the Breakaway of the day and saw Duchesne try follow attacks heading into the finale. Overall, not a bad start. A top 10 was definitely doable but we will take 13th.
Points Earned
Jernej Svab : 7 points
Total : 7 points
(This is just an estimate by me and definitely could be wrong)
Nakhon Ratchasima Trophy
A race dominated by breakaways over the past few seasons turned out to be no different this year. We had to get someone into the attack. As seen in the image, Carlos Rodriguez did just that and got into the break of the day. As you can tell, this breakaway made it all the way. Rodriguez had a bad sprint but still finished a fantastic 6th place! To top it off we also had Cameron Scott come across the line in 13th to add some more points to a race that we didn't think we would score overly great in. Lets see the points breakdown.
Points Earned
Carlos Rodriguez : 19 points
Cameron Scott : 7 points
Total : 26 points
Tour Down Under
The Tour Down Under was a great success for us with 2 podiums on stages and a top 5 on a stage. This is something we didn't know we could achieve. We are a bit frustrated with the GC position due to bad days or splits in the peloton but thats racing. Luke Mudgway had a break out stage race with a podium finish on stage 1 and a top 5 on stage 6. He was also our highest GC finisher. Davila also had a podium finish on stage 4 however was dropped the day before and lost a large amount of time hence the low GC finish. Still a great result. Lets see the points breakdown
Points Earned
Luke Mudgway : 25 points
Luis Enrique Lemus Davila : 6 points
Total : 31 points
Summary
So in total that means we are sitting on 57 points from 3 races. that is an average off 7.125 points per RD. With the way we are racing at the Vuelta al Tachira I think we are off to an excellent start. The back up riders have raced really well for us in the first 3 races of the year and we are already looking great in the C2 division with a win and a couple of top 10s already. Already sitting around 40 points in the Vuelta al Tachira with many stages left is a good start for us. If we can continue we can have a great start to the season. An update on the Vuelta al Tachira will come at a later date when the race concludes.
I hope this was interesting to read and thank you for those who read it.
More updates to follow.
Thanks!
J22
Mananger of Spark Team NZ
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 25-10-2024 19:55
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1120
Joined: 07-07-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Your start to the season was pretty good, Tachira should even have improved your PpRD (apart from the good results themselves). It's nice to see your team performing so well, especially with some active racing. And it's great to see Rodriguez on the attack so often!
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| seancoll |
Posted on 25-10-2024 23:10
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Domestique
Posts: 481
Joined: 20-12-2022
PCM$: 500.00
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Very glad to see such positive results head your way. Great racing by your GC captains in Tachira although I'm sure you were hoping for a bit higher as well. Still, probably faired the best of the favorites which is a good sign.
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 26-10-2024 02:16
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Team Leader
Posts: 7298
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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@KB & seancoll - Definitely happy with how the season has started. We did expect a bit more in the mountains from Bennett but it was amazing to see Davila step up. Great haul of points though!
Points So Far
Gisborne GP - 7 points from Jernej Svab
Nakhon Ratchasima Trophy - 26 points from Carlos Rodriguez and Cameron Scott
Tour Down Under - 31 points from Luke Mudgway and Luis Enrique Lemus Davila
Total : 64 Points
Clasico San Jose
Not a lot of highlights to show here as not much happened for us. Rodriguez did attack and thats the highlight we have decided to show above. Beltran did manage to follow attacks and stay in the front group for the final sprint. Unfortunately he just didn't have enough to fight for the win but was able to finish in 10th spot. Rodriguez also came across the line in 25th spot. A decent race for us and we are happy with how our hill squad is shaping up.
Points Earned
Eduard Alexander Beltran : 10 points
Carlos Rodriguez : 1 points
Total : 11 points
Vuelta al Tachira
A race we had high hopes for. We always seem to perform at Tachira when we go and this season seemed to be no exception. Bennett with his debut for the team went quite well. He got a victory, podium in the mountains and 10th overall. While he came here as the leader, Davila was here as support. Davila was able to get that high GC placing we were hoping to get from Bennett and finish in 3rd overall. The TTs had a big impact on this race which meant Davila was able to hold onto the podium in the final day.
Cameron Scott also continued our sprinting form and managed two 2nd places. He was close to the win both times and will have to wait a bit longer to get that 2nd career victory. Still hauling in some excellent points for the team though! Very happy with the overall performance of the squad and the points haul that we have achieved.
Points Earned
Luis Enrique Lemus Davila : 48 points
George Bennett : 48 points
Cameron Scott : 20 points
Total : 116 points
January Points Earned
Luis Enrique Lemus Davila : 54 points
George Bennett : 48 points
Cameron Scott : 27 points
Luke Mudgway : 25 points
Carlos Rodriguez : 20 points
Eduard Alexander Beltran : 10 points
Jernej Svab : 7 points
January Total : 191 points
So 191 points so far for January is a great start. Luis Enrique Lemus Davila leads the way with 54 points followed by Bennett on 48 points. While we definitely could have had more with Bennett, he is averaging 4.8 PPRD which is an excellent start for him. Moving into races that suit him a bit better and that average should rise. Scott and Mudgway start their seasons off in excellent form and we are excited to see their points haul continue to rise. Same with Carlos Rodriguez who has started off really well considering he hasn't even competed in a stage race or mountains race yet. Finally Beltran got a decent result in the hills race and looks great for the future with him. Svab has been great support and seems to be on decent form as well.
Finally, to wrap up the teams points. 191 points for January is a good start. Spending 22 race days means we are averaging 8.682 points PPRD which I think is probably the best start the team has had in a very long time. So yes a fantastic January and excited to see where we go from here.
A preview for February will follow. thanks for reading!
Thanks!
J22
Mananger of Spark Team NZ
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 26-10-2024 07:35
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Team Leader
Posts: 7298
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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An interesting February coming up for the team. 2 of the races we take part in we will hope for a breakaway miracle as they are cobbled races (bad planning from the team's race selector). No time to dwell on this now. We will look toward the races we can do well in like the Volta a Catalunya and Coppa Placci.
Gent - Wevelgem
| Name | FL | MO | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CO | SP | AC | FI | DH | PR | | Jernej Svab | 70 | 71 | 76 | 57 | 70 | 72 | 69 | 66 | 67 | 78 | 68 | 68 | 55 | | Eduard Alexander Beltran | 66 | 76 | 78 | 63 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 56 | 63 | 71 | 75 | 71 | 63 | | Cameron Scott | 72 | 63 | 66 | 56 | 72 | 71 | 74 | 61 | 78 | 78 | 60 | 64 | 57 | | Luis Enrique Lemus Davila | 70 | 77 | 72 | 72 | 75 | 70 | 68 | 56 | 57 | 62 | 71 | 72 | 72 | | Luke Mudgway | 70 | 59 | 64 | 60 | 71 | 66 | 76 | 65 | 76 | 78 | 65 | 65 | 65 | | Panagiotis Karatsivis | 69 | 74 | 70 | 68 | 70 | 72 | 71 | 60 | 64 | 73 | 73 | 67 | 67 | | Reuben Thompson | 71 | 70 | 67 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 67 | 57 | 67 | 68 | 62 | 73 | 63 |
GP Herning
| Name | FL | MO | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CO | SP | AC | FI | DH | PR | | Cameron Scott | 72 | 63 | 66 | 56 | 72 | 71 | 74 | 61 | 78 | 78 | 60 | 64 | 57 | | Jordan Schleck | 64 | 77 | 73 | 53 | 71 | 71 | 78 | 53 | 52 | 73 | 61 | 61 | 61 | | Luke Mudgway | 70 | 59 | 64 | 60 | 71 | 66 | 76 | 65 | 76 | 78 | 65 | 65 | 65 | | Carlos Rodriguez | 68 | 74 | 70 | 71 | 71 | 72 | 72 | 55 | 65 | 70 | 66 | 70 | 68 | | Samuel Welsford | 73 | 59 | 64 | 64 | 68 | 69 | 72 | 65 | 75 | 75 | 64 | 65 | 66 | | Andy Alihonay Diaz Suarez | 66 | 69 | 71 | 62 | 66 | 72 | 67 | 64 | 64 | 72 | 67 | 73 | 61 | | Richard Huera | 67 | 70 | 70 | 61 | 69 | 70 | 68 | 61 | 64 | 69 | 71 | 65 | 62 | | Reuben Thompson | 71 | 70 | 67 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 67 | 57 | 67 | 68 | 62 | 73 | 63 |
Volta a Catalunya
| Name | FL | MO | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CO | SP | AC | FI | DH | PR | | Jordan Schleck | 64 | 77 | 73 | 53 | 71 | 71 | 78 | 53 | 52 | 73 | 61 | 61 | 61 | | Joel Yates | 71 | 65 | 78 | 69 | 77 | 74 | 71 | 63 | 62 | 69 | 73 | 69 | 69 | | Luis Enrique Lemus Davila | 70 | 77 | 72 | 72 | 75 | 70 | 68 | 56 | 57 | 62 | 71 | 72 | 72 | | Antoine Duchesne | 69 | 66 | 76 | 67 | 71 | 70 | 65 | 55 | 68 | 77 | 70 | 50 | 67 | | Jake Marryatt | 71 | 61 | 68 | 77 | 67 | 74 | 67 | 57 | 60 | 58 | 67 | 63 | 77 | | Carlos Rodriguez | 68 | 74 | 70 | 71 | 71 | 72 | 72 | 55 | 65 | 70 | 66 | 70 | 68 | | Samuel Welsford | 73 | 59 | 64 | 64 | 68 | 69 | 72 | 65 | 75 | 75 | 64 | 65 | 66 |
Coppa Placci
| Name | FL | MO | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CO | SP | AC | FI | DH | PR | | Eduard Alexander Beltran | 66 | 76 | 78 | 63 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 56 | 63 | 71 | 75 | 71 | 63 | | Joel Yates | 71 | 65 | 78 | 69 | 77 | 74 | 71 | 63 | 62 | 69 | 73 | 69 | 69 | | Antoine Duchesne | 69 | 66 | 76 | 67 | 71 | 70 | 65 | 55 | 68 | 77 | 70 | 50 | 67 | | Luke Mudgway | 70 | 59 | 64 | 60 | 71 | 66 | 76 | 65 | 76 | 78 | 65 | 65 | 65 | | Samuel Welsford | 73 | 59 | 64 | 64 | 68 | 69 | 72 | 65 | 75 | 75 | 64 | 65 | 66 | | Andy Alihonay Diaz Suarez | 66 | 69 | 71 | 62 | 66 | 72 | 67 | 64 | 64 | 72 | 67 | 73 | 61 | | Richard Huera | 67 | 70 | 70 | 61 | 69 | 70 | 68 | 61 | 64 | 69 | 71 | 65 | 62 | | Reuben Thompson | 71 | 70 | 67 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 67 | 57 | 67 | 68 | 62 | 73 | 63 |
Like I said cobbles aren't our strong suit. Nothing expected from here unless we get a breakaway.
Catalunya we will aim to get a high GC with Davila but the TTT will cause us to struggle. We are excited to see Carlos Rodriguez in his Stage Race debut. Hoping to see a high U25 finish.
Then we have Coppa Placci where we have Beltran and Yates which we hope for a strong finish there to add on the points we will miss from the cobbles races.
Excited to see what happens!
Thanks
J22
Mananger of Spark Team NZ
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 24-11-2024 06:03
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Team Leader
Posts: 7298
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Gent Wevelgem
The cobbles. A great choice for us to go to these without a single cobbles rider...Great job team management...
In Gent Wevelgem we got into the breakaway. That's all. Next race
GP Herning
Oh that's right, another cobbles race.
We got into the breakaway again. That was all
Volta a Catalunya
This is where our month really began! Stage 1 hills, no time lost for Davila but no major result. There were attacks and we were seen near the front but nothing big or major. Stage 2 was a flat stage and Welsford was given the opportunity to sprint. He took 8th and 1 point for the team. The TTT in stage 3 was actually much better then we expected only losing 43 seconds. Excellent for Davila considering the next 2 stages suited him to get a top 10 in GC. Stage 4 didn't disappoint and Davila got 8th place losing 1'22s to the winner but he moved up to 10th in the GC. Unfortunetly the final stage wasn't his best and he got knocked down to 11th in GC. Still a decent points haul for the team though.
Coppa Placci
Beltran was excellent here! 5th place and a great show with him finding and starting the decisive attack and really showing some form which was excellent to see. A great result and excited to see him in the coming races for him!
February CT Rankings
| Pos | Last | | Team | Total | RD | PpRD | Proj | | 1 | 6 |  | Duvel-Tsingtao | 402 | 34 | 11.82 | 1655 | | 2 | 4 |  | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | 377 | 28 | 13.46 | 1884 | | 3 | 11 |  | Newton Foundation p/b Zwift | 359 | 28 | 12.82 | 1795 | | 4 | 2 |  | Glanbia | 352 | 40 | 8.8 | 1232 | | 5 | 7 |  | Euskotren - Pays Basque | 348 | 32 | 10.88 | 1523 | | 6 | 8 |  | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | 336 | 30 | 11.2 | 1568 | | 7 | 10 |  | Team Würth MODYF | 330 | 38 | 8.68 | 1215 | | 8 | 1 |  | Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh | 286 | 30 | 9.53 | 1334 | | 9 | 5 |  | Spark Team NZ | 242 | 34 | 7.12 | 997 | | 10 | 16 |  | Trans Looney Tunes | 237 | 34 | 6.97 | 976 | | 11 | 3 |  | Cervelo Test Team | 234 | 34 | 6.88 | 963 | | 12 | 14 |  | Euskadi-Murias | 210 | 32 | 6.56 | 918 | | 13 | 9 |  | Zain-Omantel | 192 | 28 | 6.86 | 960 | | 14 | 12 |  | Ethiopian Airlines | 129 | 26 | 4.96 | 694 | | 15 | 17 |  | SEE Turtles | 122 | 23 | 5.3 | 742 | | 16 | 13 |  | Babymetal | 103 | 18 | 5.72 | 801 | | 17 | 15 |  | Air New Zealand-Alfa Romeo | 73 | 32 | 2.28 | 319 | | 18 | 18 |  | Hilcona Racing Team | 47 | 30 | 1.57 | 220 |
Overall a decent month. Could be better but still for a month without our star rider racing we can be content. In the CT rankings we have been pushed down to 9th and according to our current PPrD this is where we are expected to finish the year. However, Bennett still has plenty of big races to go as well as Davila, Beltran and Scott so plenty of time to improve our position to the top 5.
Excited to see what happens in the Middle East!
Thanks
J22
Mananger of Spark Team NZ
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 25-11-2024 08:37
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1124
Joined: 26-04-2020
PCM$: 800.00
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A tough month for you, but that was to be expected with the cobbles schedule. Hopefully Bennett can score in TOME to get you back in contention 
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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| Caspi |
Posted on 25-11-2024 10:44
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 375
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 10400.00
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Your PPRD will probably increase some, giving us the opportunity to become true frenimies! Looking forward to our fight 
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